Stillwater · Old Red Sandstone · South West / Cork

Lough Allua

Lough Allua — Lough Allua, Ballingeary - geograph.org.uk - 483752

A long, shallow widening of the upper River Lee near Ballingeary, Co.

Fair · Pike
Sooty Olive (12) · 14–18
A side-water session, not the main event
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
49% confidence
limited data

Lough Allua is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSW 16 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Sooty Olive (12)
Sooty Olive (12)14–18
Cast to rising fish and let it drift drag-free.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
SW 16 km/h
N
SW
from the south-west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp—
Air temp22°C
CloudBroken
Pressure—
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

Freshness unknown· 2 mm in 48h

Conditions are moderate — some water movement possible.

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

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Bibio on the bob and Murrough 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

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

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

Ranked for today
Pike 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
65%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp60%

A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 5
River Sullane
2.0 km
Brown trout
River Sullane
2.0 km
Brown trout
Gougane Barra
9.0 km
Brown trout
Lough Bofinne
22 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Lee Reservoirs (Inniscarra & Carrigadrohid)
26 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout · Pike
Gallery · 2
  1. Lough Allua — Lough Allua, Ballingeary - geograph.org.uk - 483752
    Lough Allua, Ballingeary - geograph.org.uk - 483752
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

A long, shallow widening of the upper River Lee near Ballingeary, Co. Cork. IFI surveys (2023) show it is now primarily a pike fishery; brown trout are historical/secondary and the former char population has declined. Soft, acidic water best fished from a boat.

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 modest buzzer and sedge activity with freshwater shrimp along sheltered margins — treat this as a general expectation, not an observed hatch.

  • Lough
  • Old red sandstone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Unknown
  • Chemical: Unknown
Why this score
  • Daddy longlegs are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 February → 30 September
Related guides
Irish Loughs Playbooklough-style fishingSmall Stillwater Playbookstillwater tacticsThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Permits & access