Freestone · Mixed · Ayrshire, GB-SCT

River Irvine

Photo of River Irvine

The River Irvine is a declining Atlantic salmon system where declining Atlantic salmon populations are Category 3 under Scottish Government classification; every fish returned matters.

Fair · Atlantic Salmon
Fairlive now
Decent — worth a look
River high but settled. Stay with the seams and the slacker tail-outs.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • Level1.30 mDropping in the last 6h
  • Water temp12.7°C
  • ClarityClearClearing
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Falling
1.30 m
Dropping in the last 6h
Water temp12.7°C
ClarityClear
Weather10°C
WindE 23 km/h
Pressure1020 hPa
Rain · recent22.1 mm
Rain · ahead11.4 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal
13°C est.ideal 10–16°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
Fair conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Likely species
Mayflies
Stoneflies
Caddisflies
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 active hatches hour by hour as a supporter.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

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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 · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Hawthorn FlyHatch
2
2
GrannomHatch
2
2

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

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Loch Lomond
54 km
50
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Avon Water (Lanarkshire)
37 km
Brown trout
River Kelvin
40 km
Brown trout
Endrick Water
50 km
Brown trout · Sea trout · Atlantic salmon
Upper Clyde
60 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. Photo of River Irvine
    River Irvine
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The River Irvine is a declining Atlantic salmon system where declining Atlantic salmon populations are Category 3 under Scottish Government classification; every fish returned matters. Mandatory catch-and-release applies. Industrial history has been unkind to the lower reaches but the upper and middle river above Kilmarnock fishes respectably for brown trout, and summer sea trout run the system in modest numbers. Most of the fishable water is controlled by local clubs (Kilmarnock Angling Club and others) and day tickets are accessible. Best fishing is mid-season for trout on small wets and spiders, and from mid-July onwards for sea trout after dark. Not a river to travel for, but if you live in central Ayrshire it will give you a lot of honest fishing over a season.

Sea trout here

Summer-autumn runs (June–September), nocturnal pattern in peak season

  • Mixed
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
  • Chemical: Unknown

SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC010391

The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal0.0
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftNot Applicable0.0
Water temperatureCool To Moderate0.0
Time in seasonOpening Period0.0
ClarityClearing0.0
Hydrology base0.0
Legal gate: Unknown Check Local Rules
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 11 February → 31 October

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingAtlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsYorkshire & SpidersNorth Country methods
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts