Spate · Granite · Co. Down / Mourne Mountains

River Shimna

River Shimna terrain map
Terrain map

The Shimna is a beautiful mountain spate river flowing from the Mourne Mountains through Tollymore Forest Park to the sea at Newcastle.

Fair · Atlantic Salmon
Cascade · 10-14
Fairlive now
Decent — worth a look
Low and clear — careful approach country. Low water tactics — small singles, riffling hitch in the smooth glides.
50% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelDry recentlyNo gauge reading
  • Water temp15.2°C
  • ClarityClear
Today’s fly
Cascade
Cascade10-14
Regional salmon default — river-specific evidence is thin.
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp15.2°C
ClarityClear
Weather13°C
WindNW 15 km/h
Pressure1022 hPa
Rain · recent0.3 mm
Rain · ahead1.8 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Warm — slow
15°C est.ideal 1014°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
Good — water clarity is working for you, but time of day is the limiting factor today.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 5 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalModerate confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
About this water

The Shimna is a beautiful mountain spate river flowing from the Mourne Mountains through Tollymore Forest Park to the sea at Newcastle. Clear granite water, fast-draining — rises within hours and drops just as fast. Sea trout from June are the main draw, with small runs of salmon from May. Brown trout are plentiful but small. The Shimna Angling Club manages access. The forest park setting makes this one of the most scenic rivers in Northern Ireland. Fish on the drop after rain — low water means it runs almost dry in summer. Atlantic salmon are managed under DAERA and Loughs Agency conservation byelaws, with mandatory catch-and-release on many waters; check current rules before fishing.

  • Granite
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature7230% weight
  • Flow4525% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 March → 31 October
Related guides
Booking & contacts