Spate · Sandstone · South West / Kerry

River Sheen

River Sheen terrain map

Short spate river rising in the Caha Mountains and flowing northwest into Kenmare River (Kenmare Bay) at the town of Kenmare.

Poor · Atlantic Salmon
Curry's Red Shrimp · 10-14
Poorlive now
Slow going — better windows ahead
River steady at a fishable height. Little in your favour today. Fish the certain lies, or leave it for a better one.
90% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelProxyvia Laune
  • Water temp20.6°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Curry's Red Shrimp
Curry's Red Shrimp10-14
From the river-specific salmon pack.
Conditions on the water
Proxy gauge
Level
Steady
Proxy
via Laune
Water temp20.6°C
ClarityClear
Weather19°C
WindSW 10 km/h
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent1.8 mm
Rain · ahead0.9 mm

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

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow
21°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 20.6°C. This is the line where catch-and-release kills atlantic salmon. Do not fish for them today.
Likely species
Mayflies
  • Blue-winged oliveMost likely
    #16–18 · Dun
    Duns are up; a sherry spinner fall may follow.
  • Anglers curse mayfliesAlso possibleLower confidence
    #20–22 · Spinner
    Go tiny: 20-22 spent spinner, single fly, long tippet.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 2 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

See the full sub-surface read 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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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
Trout seasonSeason
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
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • State rod licence required (IFI)
  • Sheen Falls Lodge holds exclusive fishing rights — book via the lodge
  • For 2026 the River Sheen is open with a harvest surplus under the Wild Salmon & Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (S.I
  • 129/2026) — harvest to 31 August under tag and the bag limit, catch-and-release from 1 September.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 21°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
About this water

Short spate river rising in the Caha Mountains and flowing northwest into Kenmare River (Kenmare Bay) at the town of Kenmare. A classic small Irish spate fishery — quick to rise, quick to clear. Good early-spring salmon, strong grilse run from late June, and excellent sea trout through July and August. Acid moorland and mixed woodland catchment, no hatchery influence. Fishes best in the first 24 hours after a good rise and through the evening in settled summer weather. For 2026 the Sheen is open with a harvest surplus under the Wild Salmon & Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (S.I. 129/2026): harvest is permitted to 31 August under tag and the bag limit, catch-and-release from 1 September. Harvest status is reviewed annually against the conservation count.

Hatches & food

EPA freshwater monitoring on the River Sheen confirms mayflies, stoneflies, caddis, aquatic diptera and freshwater crustaceans are present. This is food-presence evidence from kick sampling, not a record of adult emergence timing or a visible hatch.

Sea trout here

Short Kerry spate river. Description explicitly notes "strong grilse run from late June, and excellent sea trout through July and August." Sea trout are a genuine part of the fishing, not a footnote.

  • Sandstone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Good
  • Chemical: Unknown
The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 90%
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 Launeproxy
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 15 March → 30 September
  • Trout 15 February → 30 September
Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsIrish Salmon Rivers Guidefive great salmon fisheriesConnemaraIrish fishing
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts