Stillwater · Old Red Sandstone · South West / Cork, IE

Gougane Barra

Gougane Barra — Gougane Barra Reflection

A small, scenic mountain lake at the source of the River Lee in west Cork, ringed by the Shehy Mountains.

Fair · Trout
Perch Fry · 8-10_long_shank
Fairlive now
Buzzer expected on Gougane Barra
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
55% confidence

Gougane Barra is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindW 20 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
Perch Fry
Perch Fry8-10_long_shank
Retrieve
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Moderate breeze
W 20 km/h
N
W
from the west
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp12.0°C
Air temp13°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1013 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Stale water· No rain in 48h

Little recent rain — fresh fish runs unlikely. Focus on resident fish and established lies.

Head to
Wind driftW wind
Eastern end

A westerly has held for 7 hours, running warmer than the water (14°C air against 12°C water). Expect fish at the eastern end — the bank it is blowing into — where the drift piles food, colour and warmth together. This reads the upper water, though — a bottom bait at range feels it far less than a floater or a fish in the margins. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
May–September; mayfly peak late May–June
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Muddler Minnow on the bob and Perch Fry on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Muddler Minnow on the bob and Perch Fry on the point.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

Bank

Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Claret DunHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Trout fly box
Permits & access
Free state water
State rod licence required for trout / salmon as applicable.
  • Permit/ticket required; confirm operator dates.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
77%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp100%

A good match for Gougane Barra — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.

Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
  1. Gougane Barra — Gougane Barra Reflection
    Gougane Barra Reflection
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

A small, scenic mountain lake at the source of the River Lee in west Cork, ringed by the Shehy Mountains. Holds small wild brown trout in acidic, soft water — modest fishing in a spectacular setting.

Hatches & food

No venue-specific hatch data yet; as an oligotrophic upland lough in this Cork/Kerry sandstone-freestone system, expect the typical acid-water stillwater character of light buzzer and sedge activity supplemented by wind-blown terrestrials — treat this as a general expectation, not an observed hatch.

  • Lough
  • Old red sandstone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Unknown
  • Chemical: Unknown
Why this score
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for autumn fishing.
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 17 March → 12 October
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Permits & access