Spate · Peat · South West / Kerry

River Owenmore (Kerry)

River Owenmore (Kerry) terrain map
Terrain map

Small peat-stained spate river on the south side of the Iveragh Peninsula, flowing from the Sneem uplands into Kenmare River (Kenmare Bay) near Sneem village.

Species

Decent — worth a look

Low and clear — careful approach country. Low water tactics — small singles, riffling hitch in the smooth glides.

50% confidence in this read
Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Cool — slow
7°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature3430% weight
  • Flow4525% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
6.9°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
9°C
Wind
W 26 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1011 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.4 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
41.8 mm
Heavy rain · next 48h

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

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. Clarity is favourable (95), Feeding time is weakest (10).
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
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.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • State rod licence required (IFI)
  • Private and club water mixed — enquire locally in Sneem
  • **2026 conservation: catch-and-release ONLY for salmon and sea trout** — Owenmore is meeting only 92% of its Conservation Limit, no harvest surplus
  • Small system, easily over-fished; fish light and move regularly.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

Small peat-stained spate river on the south side of the Iveragh Peninsula, flowing from the Sneem uplands into Kenmare River (Kenmare Bay) near Sneem village. Not to be confused with the Owenmore in Mayo (carrowmore_owenduff system) or the Waterville Currane system on the same peninsula. The Kerry Owenmore holds a respectable grilse run from late June and a useful sea trout population through high summer. Blanket-bog headwaters mean the water carries a permanent peat tinge — fish it like a classic small spate river, heavy flies in coloured water, spiders and small wets as it clears.

  • Peat
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon17 January → 30 September
  • Trout15 February → 30 September

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Other water nearby · 5