Spate · Old Red Sandstone · South West / Kerry, IE

River Flesk

River Flesk — River Flesk viewed from the Muckross Road Bridge, Killarney

A Kerry spate river draining the mountains south-east of Killarney into Lough Leane — part of the Laune/Killarney system.

Marginal · Atlantic Salmon
Cascade · 8–10 doubles
Marginal — persistence required
River lifting fast on the rain. A short window at best — fish the sure lies and move on.
40% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • Level0.56 mLifting fast
  • Water temp14.2°C
  • ClarityVery colouredColouring up
Today's fly
Cascade
Cascade8–10 doubles
Universal SW Ireland salmon fly. Works on everything from the Cork Blackwater to the small Kerry spate rivers. Fish on a relaxed swing through the main pools; downsize for low summer water.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Rising
0.56 m
Lifting fast
Water temp14.2°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather14°C
WindW 23 km/h
Pressure1007 hPa
Rain · recent3.2 mm
Rain · ahead11.0 mm

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

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal
14.2°Cideal 10–16°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
Poor — water temperature is working for you, but water clarity is the limiting factor today.
Likely species
Mayflies
Stoneflies
Caddisflies
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 2pm

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 active hatches hour by hour as a supporter.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 as a supporter.

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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 · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Sea trout runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box

Munster Blackwater and neighbouring SW spring rivers: when the water is cold or running high, a tube fly fished deep on a Skagit head or sinking shooting head with a heavier leader finds fish that a floating line can't reach. Comes down to a 9'-10' single-handed rod and small flies on an 8lb tippet once the river drops into summer trim.

Munroe Killer
Munroe Killer
10–14 doubles · Salmon fly
Traditional Irish salmon fly with long local history. Popular on the Munster rivers; the black/yellow combination has worked reliably for grilse fishing throughout the summer.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 5
River Roughty
12 km
83
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Sheen
21 km
74
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Lough Leane (Killarney)
14 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Sullane
21 km
Brown trout
River Sullane
21 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. River Flesk — River Flesk viewed from the Muckross Road Bridge, Killarney
    River Flesk viewed from the Muckross Road Bridge, Killarney
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

A Kerry spate river draining the mountains south-east of Killarney into Lough Leane — part of the Laune/Killarney system. Salmon, sea trout and brown trout run on a flood; old red sandstone water that needs rain to fish. Atlantic salmon and sea trout are managed under IFI's Wild Salmon & Sea Trout Tagging Scheme — many rivers are catch-and-release and harvest is allowed only where a confirmed surplus exists, so check the river's current status before fishing.

Hatches & food

EPA freshwater monitoring on the River Flesk confirms mayflies, stoneflies, caddis, aquatic diptera and freshwater crustaceans are present across its monitored segments. The records establish food presence rather than adult emergence timing or a dependable rise.

  • Old red sandstone
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
  • Temperature10030% weight
  • Flow8025% weight
  • Clarity1520% weight
  • Feeding Time9515% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 17 January → 30 September
  • Sea trout 17 January → 12 October
  • Trout 15 February → 12 October
Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsIrish Salmon Rivers Guidefive great salmon fisheriesConnemaraIrish fishing
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Permits & access