Spate · Mixed · West / Mayo

Moy

Moy fishing venue photo
Good · Atlantic Salmon
Sunray Shadow · small to medium tube
Goodlive now
A good day — worth the effort
Low and clear — careful approach country. Small, sparse flies, long leader, careful approach.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.16 mLast reading 2h ago
  • Water temp14.7°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Sunray Shadow
Sunray Shadowsmall to medium tube
From the river-specific salmon pack.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.16 m
Last reading 2h ago
Water temp14.7°C
ClarityClear
Weather19°C
WindW 9 km/h
Pressure1019 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead1.2 mm

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

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow
14.7°Cideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Spring February to May, grilse from June with a July peak. Fish the dropping water 12 to 36 hours after rain. Lower beats: time the falling tide.
Where
Ridge Pool and Cathedral Beat at Ballina for the famous water; East Mayo Anglers stretch above for accessible day tickets; Foxford-area beats for technical pools.
Method
Spring: tube 6 to 8, sink-tip, swung deep through the main pools. Summer grilse: small doubles 10 to 12 across-and-down on a floating line. Darken in peaty water, brighten in clear.
Kit
13 ft #8 double-hander for spring; 10 ft #7 single fits the summer grilse work. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12 lb fluoro.
Why this works
Conditions are looking excellent for salmon. Peak summer — grilse and summer salmon are active and willing. Small flies, lightly dressed, fished with purpose. August is a decent month for salmon here, though not the peak.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 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 · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Sea trout runRun
1
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
Beats · 15 · 6 reaches

The Moy is not one fishery — it is a beat-led salmon system that runs from the IFI-managed water at Ballina, through association, private and hotel beats in the lower-middle river, up to the big association stretches at Foxford and East Mayo. For 2026 the Moy is open with an optional harvest surplus, but a state salmon licence does not give you access to any beat, and it does not let you keep a fish: salmon or sea trout over 40 cm need a licence, a gill tag attached immediately, a logbook entry and a bag-limit check. Always confirm the beat's permit route, rod limit and method rules before travelling — and note the lower IFI beats are tidal.

Ballina — IFI Moy Fishery · 6 beatsDay rods
Ridge Pool (IFI Moy Fishery), Weir Pool (IFI Moy Fishery), Cathedral Beat (IFI Moy Fishery), Polnamonagh & Spring Wells (Lower Beat)…
The 6 beats
Ridge Pool (IFI Moy Fishery)Public
Inland Fisheries Ireland — Moy Fishery
The iconic lower-river pool at the head of the tide in the centre of Ballina, and the most recognised salmon water on the system. A small number of rods fish it on a rotating booking through the IFI Moy Fishery office; demand at the July grilse peak is intense.
State rod licence required, plus a gill tag for any retained salmon or sea trout over 40 cm, attached immediately, with a logbook entry. 2026 is open with optional harvest surplus but bag limits apply — confirm current rules with the fishery. Tidal: the lower pools can drown out for up to two hours either side of high water, so plan around a falling tide.
Weir Pool (IFI Moy Fishery)Public
Inland Fisheries Ireland — Moy Fishery
A short, tightly-booked space associated with the Ridge Pool, historically released on a limited short-window basis. Treated as a marquee IFI beat alongside the Ridge rather than a casual day rod.
Same IFI licence, tag and logbook regime as the Ridge Pool, with bag-limit checks for any retained fish. Restricted availability — booking is short-window and not guaranteed.
Cathedral Beat (IFI Moy Fishery)Public
Inland Fisheries Ireland — Moy Fishery
Immediately below the Ridge Pool, a fly-suitable IFI beat with a ghillie in attendance for booked anglers. One of the marquee public-access pools on the lower river.
State rod licence plus gill tag, immediate tagging and logbook entry for any retained salmon or sea trout over 40 cm; bag limits apply. Tidal influence on the lower beats — fish a falling tide.
Polnamonagh & Spring Wells (Lower Beat)Public
Inland Fisheries Ireland — Moy Fishery
The IFI Lower Beat below the town pools, with Polnamonagh slower and deeper and Spring Wells the more fly-friendly water. Booked through the Moy Fishery office.
Method rules vary by water level and beat — confirm whether fly only or spinning is permitted before booking. State licence, tag and logbook regime applies to any retained fish over 40 cm.
Ash Tree PoolPublic
Inland Fisheries Ireland — Moy Fishery
A town-park IFI beat where a boat can be provided and tidal influence matters strongly. Fishes best when the lower-river lies are not drowned out by the backwater.
Strongly tidal — can be unfishable for up to two hours either side of high water. State licence, tag and logbook regime for any retained fish over 40 cm.
The PointDay tickets
IFI / local permit route (verify)
A public-style lower beat down at the Brusna/Bunree mouth, historically the most affordable Moy water and a useful entry-point fishery for fresh fish and sea trout on the tide. Day-permit access through a local route.
Tidal lower-river water — fish a falling tide. Confirm current permit seller and method rules. Note the Brusna tributary itself is closed in 2026 in Ballina District; The Point sits at its mouth but is a separate Moy beat, not the closed tributary water.
Ballina Salmon Anglers waterMembers
Around 5 km of double-bank association water from the Ballina weir up to the Corroy confluence, with day, evening and weekly permits — the practical ordinary-angler alternative to the premium IFI beats.
Lower-middle Moy — private & hotel fisheries · 3 beatsMixed
Mount Falcon Salmon Fishery, Coolcronan Fishery, Knockmore & Attymass club water
The 3 beats
Mount Falcon Salmon FisheryGuide / lodge
Mount Falcon Estate
Around 2 miles of mostly double-bank lower-middle Moy water run as two roughly one-mile beats for up to six rods each, with a resident ghillie. The upper beat includes Wall Pool and Connor's Gap. Access is geared to estate/hotel guests, with external rods depending on availability.
Estate/hotel-led access — confirm whether external rods can book or whether it is guests-only. State licence and the tag/logbook regime apply to retained fish over 40 cm.
Coolcronan FisheryEnquiry
Coolcronan Fishery (private)
A named private fishery in the lower-middle river with a good run of catch reports, but its current official booking route and rod limits need stronger verification before it is treated as a clean day-ticket water.
State licence plus the tag/logbook regime for retained fish over 40 cm. Booking route unconfirmed — verify before relying on it.
Knockmore & Attymass club waterMembers
Knockmore Salmon Anglers / Attymass Angling Club
Local club-controlled stretches in the lower-middle river. Useful context for the patchwork of ownership between Ballina and Cloongee, but visitor access and permit routes are unconfirmed.
Club membership or association permit likely required in addition to the state licence; the tag/logbook regime applies to retained fish over 40 cm. Verify current visitor route before travelling.
Foxford · 2 beatsMixed
The Foxford Fishery, Foxford Salmon Anglers & town water
The 2 beats
The Foxford FisheryGuide / lodge
The Foxford Fishery (private)
A private Foxford-area fishery offering roughly 2.5 km of double-bank plus 1.5 km of single-bank water, with a resident ghillie looking after guests and stated maximum rod numbers. Strong, technical Foxford fly water and an import-ready booked fishery.
State licence and the tag/logbook regime apply to retained fish over 40 cm. Confirm current tariff, ghillie inclusion and rod limits when booking.
Foxford Salmon Anglers & town waterMembers
Foxford Salmon Anglers / local permit route
Association and town-water access around Foxford, an important ordinary-angler option in the middle river. Boundaries and the current permit seller need confirmation before it is treated as a clean day-ticket water.
Association/day permit likely required alongside the state licence; tag/logbook regime for retained fish over 40 cm. Verify current permit route.
East Mayo & Ballylahan · 2 beatsMixed
East Mayo Anglers Association water (Ballylahan), Cloongee Fishery
The 2 beats
East Mayo Anglers Association water (Ballylahan)Members
East Mayo Anglers Association
Over 9 miles (more than 22 km) of prime upper-river association water around Ballylahan Bridge, with salmon and trout permits sold online and through local sellers — the most accessible serious Moy fishing for a visiting angler. The association publishes the live Ballylahan OPW water level, the key gauge for upper-river decisioning.
Association permit required in addition to the state licence; salmon season here runs 1 February to 30 September. Tag and logbook regime for retained fish over 40 cm; confirm hook, C&R and method rules on the association's rules page.
Cloongee FisheryEnquiry
IFI / controller (verify)
A middle-river fishery historically linked to state management, sitting between the Foxford and East Mayo water. An important ordinary-angler candidate, but its current controller and permit route need confirmation before it is treated as cleanly bookable.
State licence and the tag/logbook regime apply to retained fish over 40 cm. Controller and booking route unconfirmed — verify before relying on it.
Loughs & tributaries (context)Access varies
System context only: Lough Conn and Lough Cullin in the headwaters, plus tributaries such as the Deel, Gweestion, Glore, Trimogue and Mullaghanoe.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • IFI Moy Fishery — book through Ballina office
  • Ridge Pool €20–€125 depending on season
  • The Point (public) ~€25/day
  • Catch and release encouraged
  • State rod licence required.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Lough Conn / Lough Cullin
16 km
Brown trout · Salmon
Lough Conn / Lough Cullin
16 km
Brown trout · Salmon
Lough Conn / Lough Cullin
16 km
Brown trout · Salmon
Easkey River
23 km
58
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Lough Beltra / Newport
27 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Gallery · 7
  1. The River Moy at Foxford
    The River Moy at Foxford
  2. Wide panoramic view of the River Moy flowing through Ballina, County Mayo.
    River Moy in Ballina
  3. Salmon weir on the River Moy at Ballina, water flowing over the stone structure.
    Salmon weir on the River Moy in Ballina
  4. An angler fly fishing on the River Moy at Ballina with the cathedral behind.
    Fly fishing, River Moy, Ballina
  5. Fly fisherman casting on the River Moy at Ballina, County Mayo.
    Fly fishing on the River Moy at Ballina
  6. The River Moy flowing through Ballina, viewed from the town bank.
    The River Moy at Ballina
  7. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Good
  • Chemical: Unknown
What this classification means

WFD updated 2026-06-18: ecological status Moderate → Good (EEA WISE 2022, 3rd RBMP) and code normalized IE_WE_34M020750 → IEWE_34M020750 (EPA national format → WISE euSurfaceWaterBodyCode; same water body). Source: EEA WISE SWB_SurfaceWaterBody (discodata.eea.europa.eu). | Prior note: EPA WFD 2019-2024 — River Moy lower reach at Ballina (MOY_090): Moderate status. Corrected 2026-06-18 from IEWE_34C110300 (a tributary/wrong river). Source: EPA Ireland WFD 2019-2024 classification (catchments.ie / EDEN).

EPA (Ireland) · IEWE_34M020750

The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightVery Low-1.9
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftDropping Too Far Towards Low Clear+0.9
Water temperatureCool To Moderate+4.5
Time in seasonSummer Peak Window+3.0
ClarityClearing+2.4
Hydrology base8.9
Will they take?Neutralcaps the band

Taking mood is fair — clearing, stained water, very low flow.

Can you trust it?
Water temperaturelive gauge readinggauge
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
What would change the calculation
No prolonged stable spell before the current rise.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 February → 30 September
  • Sea trout 1 June → 30 September
5 zones — different rules apply
  • Private fishery

    Ridge Pool, Ballina — iconic top beat at the head of the Moy estuary

    • Salmon: 1 February → 30 September
  • Private fishery

    Cathedral Beat, Ballina — historic town-water beat downstream of the Cathedral

    • Salmon: 1 February → 30 September
  • Club or association water

    East Mayo Anglers Association (EMAA) — approximately 13 km of double-bank fishing on the State stretch above Ballina, more accessible to visiting anglers

    • Salmon: 1 February → 30 September
  • Private fishery

    Mount Falcon Estate, Foxford — private estate beats on the upper-middle river

    • Salmon: 1 February → 30 September
  • Ifi managed or mixed

    Foxford and other middle/upper-river beats — IFI-managed water plus several private and club stretches between Foxford and Lough Conn

    • Salmon: 1 February → 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