Limestone · South / Limerick

Mulkear

River Mulkear venue image
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Ireland's premier limestone brown trout river, the Mulkear drains the Slieveardagh hills and flows into the River Suir near Limerick.

Fair · Atlantic Salmon
Willie Gunn · 8-12 / small tube
Fairlive now
Decent — worth a look
Low and clear — careful approach country. Low water tactics — small singles, riffling hitch in the smooth glides.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.17 mLast reading 15h ago
  • Water temp17.1°C
  • ClarityVery colouredColouring up
Today’s fly
Willie Gunn
Willie Gunn8-12 / small tube
From the river-specific salmon pack.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Rising
0.17 m
Last reading 15h ago
Water temp17.1°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather16°C
WindSW 16 km/h
Pressure1017 hPa
Rain · recent9.2 mm
Rain · ahead2.1 mm

Live readings only. Trends shown where the gauge supports them.

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Warm — slow
17.1°Cideal 1014°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.
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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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1

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

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • IFI rod licence (RoI)
  • Dry-fly trout season 15 May–12 October
  • **2026 conservation: salmon catch-and-release ONLY
  • Single barbless hooks required for all species
  • Worms, prawn, and shrimp prohibited.** Fly-only stretch between Ballyclough Weir and Brownes Weir; fixed-spool reels and bubble floats prohibited on this section
  • Beats managed; day tickets €25–€50 depending on season
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Ireland's premier limestone brown trout river, the Mulkear drains the Slieveardagh hills and flows into the River Suir near Limerick. A classic limestone river — clear, technical, and rich with insect life. The Mulkear is justly famous for its resident wild brown trout (average 12–14 oz, specimens to 2 lb+) and exceptional dry-fly fishing. Spring salmon from February; sea trout June–September. The river is gin-clear in summer — sight-fishing and fine-tippet nymphing the standard approach. Managed beats; day tickets available. Comparable in standard to the Nore and Barrow. For 2026 this is a catch-and-release fishery under the Wild Salmon & Sea Trout Tagging Scheme — all salmon and grilse must be returned.

  • Limestone
Water quality (WFD)
  • EcologyGood
  • ChemicalGood
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 temperaturelive gauge readinggauge
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 March → 30 SeptemberC&R
  • Trout15 March → 12 October
Related guides
Booking & contacts