Spate · Old Red Sandstone · South West / Cork

River Glengarriff

River Glengarriff terrain map
Terrain map

A short, scenic West Cork spate river running through the village of Glengarriff and into Bantry Bay — one of the most photogenic river mouths in Ireland, emptying into the sheltered waters below the Caha Mountains.

Good · Atlantic Salmon
Goodlive now
A good day — worth the effort
Low and clear — careful approach country. Small, sparse flies, long leader, careful approach.
50% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelLight rain recentlyNo gauge reading
  • Water temp14.2°C
  • ClarityClear
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Level
Light rain recently
No gauge reading
Water temp14.2°C
ClarityClear
Weather13°C
WindNW 14 km/h
Pressure1027 hPa
Rain · recent4.5 mm
Rain · ahead3.7 mm

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

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Warm — slow
14°C est.ideal 1014°C
0°14°28°
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.
Why this works
Good — water temperature is working for you, but time of day is the limiting factor today.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 7 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

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

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Sea trout runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2

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

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Glengarriff Angling Association controls the fishing
  • Permits from The Maple Leaf, Glengarriff, Co Cork
  • State rod licence required.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
About this water

A short, scenic West Cork spate river running through the village of Glengarriff and into Bantry Bay — one of the most photogenic river mouths in Ireland, emptying into the sheltered waters below the Caha Mountains. Small, fast to rise and fall, and access-limited, but a genuine sea-trout and late grilse system when conditions are right. Best fished opportunistically by anglers already in the area rather than as a planned destination. The Glengarriff Oaks nature reserve flanks much of the lower river, adding an ecological context beyond the fishing. For 2026 this remains an open fishery — salmon may be retained in season under the Wild Salmon & Sea Trout Tagging Scheme and bag limits, with catch-and-release at other times.

  • Old red sandstone
Water quality (WFD)
  • EcologyUnknown
  • ChemicalUnknown
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature9530% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon17 March → 30 September
  • Sea trout17 March → 12 October
Related guides
Booking & contacts