Spate · Old Red Sandstone · South West / Kerry

River Roughty

No photos yet for this water.

The longest independent Kerry river outside the Laune/Flesk/Killarney system, draining the Shehy and Caha mountains through Kilgarvan to the Kenmare estuary.

Species

Marginal — persistence required

Low and clear — careful approach country. Hard going on bright water. Favour cloud and shadow.

50% confidence in this read
Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Cool — slow
6°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature1630% weight
  • Flow4525% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
5.8°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
5°C
Wind
W 13 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1012 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
30.0 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
Poor 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
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.
  • Kerry Fisheries District
  • Kilgarvan, Roughty and District Angling Club controls fishing
  • Permits from John O'Hare (21 Main Street, Kenmare) or Quills Shop (Kilgarvan)
  • State rod licence required
  • Spring salmon catch-and-release only under 2026 IFI brown-tag conservation measures (verify annually).
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The longest independent Kerry river outside the Laune/Flesk/Killarney system, draining the Shehy and Caha mountains through Kilgarvan to the Kenmare estuary. Rougher and less celebrated than its neighbours, but a genuine salmon and sea-trout river with more consistent water than smaller Kerry spate systems. A larger catchment means it holds a freshet longer — useful when the smaller rivers have dropped out. Some spring fish historically; grilse from June. Brown trout fishing in the upper reaches through spring. The Kerry Fisheries Board manages some access; local clubs hold others.

  • Old red sandstone
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon17 January → 30 September
Other water nearby · 5