Spate · Granite · East / Wicklow

River Ow

River Ow terrain map
Terrain map

The Ow rises in the Lugnaquilla foothills and runs south through compact granite uplands to join the Derry Water at Aughrim village, where the two streams together become the Aughrim River.

Species

A side-water session, not the main event

Low and clear — careful approach country. Long leader, small flies, slower casts.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Cool — slow
6°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature4128% weight
  • Flow6022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Prey Activity3312% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
6.4°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
7°C
Wind
W 20 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1008 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
24.4 mm
Moderate rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Fair conditions. Clarity is favourable (95), Prey activity is weakest (33).
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
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.

Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Ow rises in the Lugnaquilla foothills and runs south through compact granite uplands to join the Derry Water at Aughrim village, where the two streams together become the Aughrim River. Small wild brown trout, fast response to rain, intimate water that fishes best the first day after a spate. The Aughrim & District Trout Angling Club holds the rights and tickets the Ow, the Derry Water and the lower Aughrim as three separately named waters — one connected system, three pieces of named water, one day ticket. Tourism copy that loosely refers to 'the Ow or Aughrim' is collapsing the names of the lower mainstem; the Ow proper is the upland tributary above the village confluence.

  • Granite
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 March → 30 September
Other water nearby · 5