Spate · Old Red Sandstone · South West / Kerry

Kerry Blackwater (Kenmare)

Kerry Blackwater venue image
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The Blackwater enters the head of Kenmare Bay — a Kerry spate river, and not to be confused with the Munster Blackwater away to the east.

Poor · Atlantic Salmon
Poorlive now
Slow going — better windows ahead
River lifting fast on the rain. Cover the water properly, fish each lie once.
90% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelProxyvia River Sheen
  • Water temp21.3°C
  • ClarityVery colouredColouring up
Conditions on the water
Proxy gauge
Level
Rising
Proxy
via River Sheen
Water temp21.3°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather26°C
WindSE 18 km/h
Pressure1012 hPa
Rain · recent1.0 mm
Rain · ahead16.2 mm

No gauge on this water — conditions are inferred from River Sheen. The trend transfers, the absolute level does not.

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Warm — slow
21°C est.ideal 10–14°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
⛔ Water at 21.3°C. This is the line where catch-and-release kills atlantic salmon. Do not fish for them today.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 4 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · June 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
1
Trout seasonSeason
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.

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 21°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The Blackwater enters the head of Kenmare Bay — a Kerry spate river, and not to be confused with the Munster Blackwater away to the east. It is open for 2026. Spring fish come first, then grilse and sea trout running on a flood; without a rise of water there is little doing. Permits through the Blackwater Tavern and locally around Kenmare. Carry the Salmon and Sea Trout State Licence.

  • Old red sandstone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Unknown
  • Chemical: Unknown
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature130% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity1520% weight
  • Feeding Time8515% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon15 March → 30 SeptemberC&R
  • Sea trout15 March → 30 SeptemberC&R
  • Trout15 February → 30 September
Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsIrish Salmon Rivers Guidefive great salmon fisheriesConnemaraIrish fishing
Booking & contacts