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.

Today · A good day — worth the effort
Black Gnat
Forecast · Today
A good day — worth the effort
A reliable day. Match the fly size to the water height and cover the lies.
50% projected
Today's fly
Black Gnat
Black Gnat
Conditions on the water · Today
Proxy gauge
Level
Steady
Proxy
via Laune
Water temp12.5°C
ClarityClear
Weather13°C
WindN 28 km/h
Pressure1014 hPa
Rain · recent12.3 mm
Rain · ahead0.7 mm

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

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal
13°C est.ideal 1016°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 water temperature is the limiting factor today.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am

12pm(now) Daddy Long Legs

Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 95%
Also:Heather Fly95%Autumn Needle Fly56%Autumn Dun51%
Degree-days at peak12 food groups active

Peak activity at 6am — Daddy Long Legs (Daddy Long Legs, Degree-days at peak)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 with Pro.

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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
Other water nearby · 5
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
  • Temperature3430% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time8515% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 17 January30 September
  • Sea trout 17 January12 October
  • Trout 15 February12 October
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Permits & access