Spate · Granite · East / Wicklow

River Dargle (Tinnehinch Fishery)

River Dargle (Tinnehinch Fishery) terrain map
Terrain map

One of Ireland's prime sea-trout rivers within striking distance of Dublin — a short Wicklow spate stream rising on Djouce, dropping through Powerscourt and Enniskerry, and entering the Irish Sea at Bray Harbour.

Species

About as good as it gets

Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.

90% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Ideal
12°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
The full read · show the working · for brown trout · confidence 90%
How the 85 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time70 × 13%9.1
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity60 × 12%7.2
Conditions total= 85
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
Conditions
○Regional est.
Level
Light rain recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
11.5°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
11°C
Wind
W 20 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1015 hPa
Rain · 48h
5.3 mm
Light rain
Rain · ahead
12.6 mm
Moderate rain · next 48h

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though insect activity could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sea trout runRun
1
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
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.
  • Tinnehinch Fishery — fly-only, ~1 mile from Tinnehinch Bridge downstream to the top of the Dargle Glen gorge
  • Evening tickets traditionally available
  • Book direct with Hugh Duff, Tinnehinch House, Enniskerry (+353 1 286 8652) — flyfishingwicklow.com
  • State rod licence required.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

One of Ireland's prime sea-trout rivers within striking distance of Dublin — a short Wicklow spate stream rising on Djouce, dropping through Powerscourt and Enniskerry, and entering the Irish Sea at Bray Harbour. The Tinnehinch Fishery downstream of the bridge at Enniskerry is the fly-only stretch most visitors will fish — about a mile of water down to the top of the Dargle Glen gorge, with evening tickets traditionally available and the best sea-trout fishing at and after dusk. Sea trout the headline; small salmon run also present. Bookings through Hugh Duff at Tinnehinch House — flyfishingwicklow.com markets the adjacent stocked-rainbow lake as the lead product, but the river beat is the serious offering for the dedicated sea-trout angler.

  • Granite
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Unknown
  • Chemical: Unknown
Seasons & zones
  • Sea trout1 May → 30 September
  • Trout15 February → 30 September
Other water nearby · 5
Related guides