Spate · Old Red Sandstone · South West / Cork

River Coomhola

No photos yet for this water.

A West Cork spate river draining the uplands above Bantry Bay, running south through Kealkil to enter the Bantry estuary east of Bantry town.

Species

Closed season

Season reopens 1 June. File this water for the right month.

Closed — confidence not applicable today.
Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Cool — slow
7°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature3430% weight
  • Flow4525% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
6.9°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
8°C
Wind
W 18 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1012 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.8 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
35.5 mm
Heavy rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for atlantic salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • South Western Fisheries District
  • Coomhola Salmon and Trout Anglers Association — daily and weekly permits available
  • Designated catch-and-release for 2026 under IFI conservation measures (verify before trip)
  • State rod licence required.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

A West Cork spate river draining the uplands above Bantry Bay, running south through Kealkil to enter the Bantry estuary east of Bantry town. Old Red Sandstone geology gives the water a peaty, amber character that clears quickly after rain. Sea trout and grilse run from June on high water. Not a large river by Irish standards, but genuine migratory fish use it, and the brown trout in the upper reaches are wild and willing on the dry fly through spring. Local club access. The Bantry Bay setting — mountains, sea inlets, southwest light — makes this worth visiting even on a quiet day.

  • Old red sandstone
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 June → 30 September
Other water nearby · 5