Spate · Limestone · North West / Sligo

Ballisodare

The Ballisodare River flowing over a broad limestone riverbed with a riverside path, Co. Sligo, Ireland
Marginal · Atlantic Salmon
Cascade / Green Butt Copper Body Cascade · 10 / small tube
Marginallive now
Marginal — persistence required
River temperature is the limiting factor today, not the flow. Fish the cool of dawn or dusk, land fish fast, and stop if one struggles to recover.
85% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelProxyvia Drowes
  • Water temp18.7°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Cascade / Green Butt Copper Body Cascade
Cascade / Green Butt Copper Body Cascade10 / small tube
From the river-specific salmon pack.
Conditions on the water
Proxy gauge
Level
Steady
Proxy
via Drowes
Water temp18.7°C
ClarityClear
Weather21°C
WindS 15 km/h
Pressure1019 hPa
Rain · recent0.1 mm
Rain · ahead0.8 mm

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

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow
19°C est.ideal 10–14°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
Water at 18.7°C — above the atlantic salmon caution line (18°C). Fish dawn or dusk only. Land it fast, wet hands, no air shots.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 11 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 2 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
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
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Ballisodare Fishery — day tickets available
  • Good public access
  • State rod licence required.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 19°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
Gallery · 2
  1. The Ballisodare River flowing over a broad limestone riverbed with a riverside path, Co. Sligo, Ireland
    The Ballisodare River over its limestone shelf, Co. Sligo
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
  • Chemical: Unknown
What this classification means

WFD ecological status Poor → Moderate corrected to EEA WISE 2022 (3rd RBMP) classification for waterbody IEWE_35B050100. Source: EEA WISE SWB_SurfaceWaterBody (discodata.eea.europa.eu), verified 2026-06-18. | Prior note: EPA WFD 2019-2024 — Poor ecological status; corrected (was Good) 2026-06-18. Source: EPA Ireland WFD 2019-2024 classification (catchments.ie / EDEN).

EPA (Ireland) · IEWE_35B050100

The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 85%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal0.0
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftNot Applicable0.0
Water temperatureCool To Moderate0.0
Time in seasonOpening Period0.0
ClarityClearing0.0
Hydrology base0.0
Legal gate: Unknown Check Local Rules
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowproxy via Drowesproxy
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 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