Lowland · Limestone · South / Limerick

Castleconnell (Lower Shannon)

Castleconnell (Lower Shannon) terrain map

The Castleconnell beats on the Lower Shannon, near Limerick and below the Parteen weir, were once among Ireland's great spring-salmon fisheries.

Poor · Atlantic Salmon
Cascade · 10–14 doubles
ReopenedReported 31 Jul 2026

Reopened — water temperatures have fallen

ESB reopened the Shannon and Liffey systems (including Blessington Lake) to angling from Friday 31 July 2026 as water temperatures dropped to acceptable levels. Permits are available again through the IFI permit site.

Shannon & Liffey systems reopen for fishing ↗

Temporary notices from official orders and recent fishery reports — they clear automatically once out of date. Always confirm locally before travelling.

Poorlive now
Slow going — better windows ahead
River temperature is the limiting factor today, not the flow. The thermal advice above stands. Rest this water for the species today.
80% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelProxyvia Mulkear
  • Water temp19.5°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Cascade
Cascade10–14 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 Mulkear
Water temp19.5°C
ClarityClear
Weather19°C
WindNW 19 km/h
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent0.4 mm
Rain · ahead2.5 mm

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

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow
20°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 19.5°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 5 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

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 · 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
Terrestrial BeetlesHatch
2
3
3
2
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1

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.

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 20°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
About this water

The Castleconnell beats on the Lower Shannon, near Limerick and below the Parteen weir, were once among Ireland's great spring-salmon fisheries. The river here is hydro-regulated, and the angler reads the water on the flows he is given. For 2026 it is catch-and-release. Note that the upper Shannon above Parteen carries a separate status. Castleconnell and district clubs hold the water; the State Licence is required.

Hatches & food

EPA river-invertebrate monitoring confirms mayflies, stoneflies, caddis, aquatic diptera and freshwater crustaceans are present through this reach's monitored segments. This is food-presence evidence only, not a hatch record, and says nothing about when or how strongly any of these groups emerge on the day.

  • Limestone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Unknown
  • Chemical: Unknown
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
  • Temperature1030% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time7015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 March → 30 SeptemberC&R
Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsIrish Salmon Rivers Guidefive great salmon fisheriesConnemaraIrish fishing
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Permits & access