About
Ballinaroone Beat is mentioned in many historical books on salmon fishing and one such reference notes that fish to over 30 lbs are taken each year.
That now is a rarity but fish over 20 lbs are taken each season with above 10 lbs fish being commonly taken. Catch and release is urged and over 90% of the salmon caught are released.
We limit the rods on the beat to 4 per day unless a group greater in number wishes to book the beat for the day. We divide the beat into upper and lower, with two rods on each swapping at lunchtime. You may bring your own ghillie or we can recommend a local ghillie who will also be an accomplished caster capable of improving even the seasoned fly fisher's casting technique.
It is usual to fly fish the beat with a double-handed rod of between 12 and 15 feet in length and 8-11 weight lines. We can provide advice on suitable flies, which vary according to season and river height.
Take a look at the Ballinaroone Beat Map below. We divide the beat into named runs and pools.
Ballinaroone Beat Map
The Forge Pool
The Forge pool is our western upstream boundary and is located below the wall on the High Road between Fermoy and Ballyduff. It is named after the forge which used to operate on the other side of the High Road. It fishes best at water heights below 1 metre on the Ballyduff Bridge OPW level gauge. All forms of fishing may be successful. Salmon lie here later in the season.
The Forge Run
The Forge Run starts at a deep pool below the Forge Pool and may be waded safely at water levels below 0.600m on the gauge. It fishes best for fly, but at higher levels is good for all forms of fishing. It fishes best from the start of the Grilse run in June.
The Sunken Weir Pool
The Sunken Weir drops off into a deeper pool which is a great holding pool from July onwards. The Pool itself fishes well throughout the year to the fly. Send a fly down the Vee, the fast flowing entry to the pool below the Sunken Weir. Don't forget to fish the Sunken weir Pool from the entry, which is a good salmon lie through to the Sunken Weir.
The Crab Apple Tree Pool
The Crab Apple is close to the midpoint of the Beat and is the start of a number of deep pools which empty out to the Castle Run. These pools fish well mid to late season and often yield up to 12 fish in a day. The water is a bit slow for fly fishing and better suited to other fishing methods.
The Castle Run
The Castle Run is a short run of highly productive fly and spinning water.It is named for the ruined Mocollop Castle seen on its far bank. The Blue Rope and the Red Tractor Stands are the best spots to fish the Castle Run.
The Road Pool
The Road Pool commences at the ladder below the Red Tractor Stand and continues to the Eastern end of the Beat. The Road Pool is often the most productive run and fishes well throughout the year. The wading is good but you have to watch out for the occasional rock and displaced bathtub brought down in a flood. It is excellent fly water due to its fast flow. Fish hold in areas and later in the season in the deep pool which then forms a bend in the river.
Our recommended Gillies will be able to advise you how and where to fish in any season and river height.