Fishing Excursions

The Upper Caragh River is considered one of the best salmon rivers for its size in Ireland. Nestled among the thousand meter peeks of Mcgillikuddy`s Reeks it flows through one of Ireland`s most beautiful nature reserves in the heart of Kerry. The private lake and river system creates a magical world as it meanders through highland moors and lush valleys.

The river and its lakes – Cloon and Acoose, offer conditions uniquely suited to all types of fishing, particularly game-fishing. The riverside paths and footbridges are perfectly kept; for the most part they are wheelchair accessible.

The main stretch of the Upper Caragh River is divided into seven beats, which are fished in rotation. Each angler is granted exclusive fishing rights to a new beat on a daily basis. This makes it possible to fish in all seven beats in the space of one week.

Over the last five years the Upper Caragh River has seen a yearly catch of between 280 and 300 salmon – not to mention the many impressive trout and even a few sea trout. The average caught salmon weighed between seven and eight pounds.

Caragh River and Lake

The Caragh River drains the southern slopes of Macgillicuddy’s Reeks and half a dozen small loughs before it enters Lough Caragh. On leaving Caragh, it flows approximately 2 miles to the tide at Rossbehy Creek on Dingle Bay. The catchment is 66 square miles.

The Caragh River is a classic spate system. It gets a very good run of spring salmon and grilse. The lower river is also a noted sea-trout fishery.

The lower Caragh River has about twenty pools up to the lake. There is some nice fly fishing in the middle section. This section has produced over twenty fish in May in recent years. The grilse begin running at the end of May and it is during the summer months, when conditions are right, that the fishing is best.

Rivers Laune and Flesk 

These rivers provide excellent alternative locations for those anglers keen to explore the region’s finest waters and get good runs of Salmon and Grilse every year.

River Laune: this is a medium size spate river flows from Lough Leane near Killarney to reach the sea just north-west of Killorglin, the lower reaches are deep but with enough flow to carry a fly. It gets a run of spring Salmon and a great run of Peel (grilse). The catches recorded from this river in recent years have been excellent. All methods of fishing are allowed (except maggots & ground baiting).

River Flesk: This river drains the Killarney Lakes. There is excellent Salmon, Trout and Sea Trout fishing available. Late summer and September is about the best period for Brown Trout.