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

River Roughty

River Roughty terrain map

Open for 2026 with a brown-tag harvest surplus (S.

Prime · Atlantic Salmon
Cascade · 8–10 doubles
Primelive now
Prime conditions — go now
River dropping into shape after a lift. Classic taking window — fish through the heads and tails.
85% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelProxyvia Laune
  • Water temp16.1°C
  • ClarityClearClearing
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
Proxy gauge
Level
Steady
Proxy
via Laune
Water temp16.1°C
ClarityClear
Weather15°C
WindS 24 km/h
Pressure1016 hPa
Rain · recent5.1 mm
Rain · ahead23.5 mm

No gauge on this water — conditions are inferred from Laune. The trend transfers, the absolute level does not.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow
16°C est.ideal 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
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though river flow could be better.
Likely species
Mayflies
Stoneflies
Caddisflies
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am

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 3 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
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.
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
  • Open for 2026 with a brown-tag harvest surplus (S.I
  • 129/2026, tag code T10); harvest to 31 August under tag and bag limit, catch-and-release from 1 September.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
River Sheen
12 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Flesk
12 km
Salmon · Sea trout · Brown trout
River Sullane
18 km
Brown trout
River Sullane
18 km
Brown trout
Lough Leane (Killarney)
19 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
About this water

Open for 2026 with a brown-tag harvest surplus (S.I. 129/2026, tag code T10): salmon may be retained up to 31 August under tag and the bag limit, catch-and-release from 1 September. 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.

Hatches & food

EPA freshwater monitoring on the River Roughty confirms mayflies, stoneflies, caddis, aquatic diptera and freshwater shrimp and hoglice are present across its monitored segments. The records establish riverbed food presence rather than emergence timing.

  • Old red sandstone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Unknown
  • Chemical: Unknown
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
  • Temperature9530% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time8515% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 15 March → 30 September

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsIrish Salmon Rivers Guidefive great salmon fisheriesConnemaraIrish fishing
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts