West Cork spate river flowing to Roaringwater Bay. Wild brown trout with some sea trout. Mixed geology in a mild Atlantic-coast catchment.
- Mixed
Rules at a glance
- Permit plus club or public
A good day — worth the effort
Low and clear — careful approach country. Small and bright, long leader, careful approach.
75% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
6.9°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
8°C
Wind
W 23 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1011 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.4 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
29.5 mm
Heavy rain · next 48h
Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.
How to fish · for sea trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for sea trout
When
From dusk into the first half of the night.
Where
Deeper pools and slower glides · hold water and current seams.
Method
Fish dark patterns on a sink-tip or lightly sunk line, especially near structure.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 rod, floating line with a sink-tip option, 8–10 lb fluoro tippet for the swing.
Why this works
Good conditions. Clarity is favourable (85), Prey activity is weakest (37).
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Detail · next 12h
Water temperature & rain
The two readings most likely to move the verdict
Water temperature for sea trout
Cool — slow7°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
6 factors, signed
- Temperature6928% weight
- Flow8022% weight
- Clarity8518% weight
- Feeding Time4013% weight
- Pressure857% weight
- Prey Activity3712% weight
About this water
River Ilen, end to end
Field guide · contributor-editedRiver Ilen · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
River Ilen · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
River Ilen · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 February → 30 September
River Ilen · permits
Licences, sorteo, the rules
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- South Western Fisheries District
- River Ilen AC manages the river around Skibbereen
- Permits from Field Newsagents, The Square, Skibbereen (+353 28 21400)
- Shrimp prohibited (fly, spinning, worm only)
- Night fishing prohibited to visiting anglers
- State rod licence required.
River Ilen
Google Places
West Cork spate river flowing to Roaringwater Bay.
Species
A good day — worth the effort
Low and clear — careful approach country. Small and bright, long leader, careful approach.
75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for sea trout
Cool — slow7°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for sea trout
- Temperature6928% weight
- Flow8022% weight
- Clarity8518% weight
- Feeding Time4013% weight
- Pressure857% weight
- Prey Activity3712% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
6.9°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
8°C
Wind
W 23 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1011 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.4 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
29.5 mm
Heavy rain · next 48h
Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.
How to fish it · for sea trout
When
From dusk into the first half of the night.
Where
Deeper pools and slower glides · hold water and current seams.
Method
Fish dark patterns on a sink-tip or lightly sunk line, especially near structure.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 rod, floating line with a sink-tip option, 8–10 lb fluoro tippet for the swing.
Why this works
Good conditions. Clarity is favourable (85), Prey activity is weakest (37).
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- South Western Fisheries District
- River Ilen AC manages the river around Skibbereen
- Permits from Field Newsagents, The Square, Skibbereen (+353 28 21400)
- Shrimp prohibited (fly, spinning, worm only)
- Night fishing prohibited to visiting anglers
- State rod licence required.
Directions
About this water
West Cork spate river flowing to Roaringwater Bay. Wild brown trout with some sea trout. Mixed geology in a mild Atlantic-coast catchment.
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 February → 30 September
Other water nearby · 5