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River Open Bag Limits River Nore Salmon Fishing Sea Trout Fishing Brown Trout Fishing

River Nore Guide

The River Nore rises on the Devil's Bit Mountain in County Tipperary, just over a mile from the source of its sister river, the Suir. It starts out flowing in an easterly direction, passing through Borris-In-Ossory, and Castletown, before swinging south towards Durrow. From Durrow it continues South through Ballyragget, Kilkenny City, Bennettsbridge, Thomastown and Inistioge, before joining up with the Barrow, just upstream of New Ross. A total of around 87 miles.

River Nore Thomastown Salmon Weir
Thomastown Salmon Weir on the River Nore.

The Nore starts out on a sandstone base but eventually changes to limestone. It is tidal from Inistioge on downstream to the confluence with the Barrow. The flow of the Nore is punctuated by many weirs, which were used by the numerous mills along the river. This has created a lot of slower water, interspersed with some streamy glides, especially on the upper part of the river.

The main Salmon fishing is from Inistioge up to the confluence of the River Dinan, upstream of Kilkenny City, with the best fly water being around the Thomastown area. The Nore Salmon runs have always come under a lot of pressure from poachers (unfortunately a common issue in Ireland), and also from drift netting in the estuary. In the past few years many of these drift nets have been decommissioned, and that has helped the fishing, but like many other Irish rivers the poaching is still an issue.

Tidal Water on the Nore below Inistioge
The tidal water on the River Nore below Inistioge.

The spring fishing can be a little patchy; the Grilse runs are generally pretty good, especially in May, but the autumn fishing through August and September is where the Nore really shines. Quite a few fish over 20lbs have been banked (in autumn) over the past few years, with the average fish being around 8lbs.

The River Nore is pretty wide in places and has plenty of trees on the banks. Most anglers will use a 15 footer, but you can get away with a smaller rod, even a single hander. You'll need to wade in much of the Nore, and even though you generally need chest waders, the wading is safe.

Town Water at Thomastown on the Nore
The Town Water on the Nore at Thomastown.

The Brown Trout fishing on the Nore is excellent, especially around Thomastown, and on the Kings River. The best of the trout fishing is from early season to mid-June on the tributaries and throughout the season on the main river. Let's take a look at the fisheries:

Inistioge Anglers' Association

The Inistioge Anglers water is the first above the tide. It's almost all Salmon fishing and consists of ¾ of a mile of double bank fishing around the village. This is good water for springers right from season open in February. It is best fished in low water.

20lb Salmon taken below Inistioge
Nore guide, Jim Brown with a 20lber taken above Inistioge.

The Cotterell Fishery

This is another low water fishery, which consists of 2/3 of a mile of single bank (right bank) fishing, starting just downstream of the Brownsbam bridge (where the R700 crosses the river about 1 ½ miles above Inistioge). This stretch has some nice streamy water, mixed with holding pools.

Kilkenny Angling Club

The Kilkenny club has almost 10 miles of segmented fishing on the Nore, and a couple of miles in the River Dinin. The first stretch on the Nore is on the left bank from Ballyragget Bridge (N77) down to Lismaine Bridge (on the Lismaine Road, about a mile west of the N77). The next stretch is on the left bank from the confluence of the River Dinin down to Bleach Green, on the Northern outskirts of Kilkenny City.

The club also has left bank fishing from Maddockstown PO down to about a mile above Bennettsbridge (about 2 ½ miles in total), and a stretch at Holden's and on both banks around Brownsbam Bridge (R700 crossing 1 ½ miles above Inistioge).

Jerpoint Stream at Thomastown
The Nore's Jerpoint Stream at Thomastown.

Much if the club water is perfect for the fly, as its fast and streamy. There are some fly only stretches. There is also good trout fishing on the Kilkenny Angling club water.

Thomastown Angling Club

The Thomastown club has 4 miles of double bank fishing both above and below the town. It is arguably the best Salmon fishing on the Nore and in recent years that means it's very good. It has definitely got the best fly water of all of the fisheries, with beautiful streamy water.

River Nore below Thomastown
The River Nore below Thomastown.

The club waters here fish well throughout the season and can be prolific in the autumn time with teh occaisional monster over 20lb. The Trout fishing here is also very good.

Mount Juliet House

Mount Juliet has 3 miles of double bank fishing upstream of Thomastown and a mile of right bank fishing on the Kings River (from the confluence with the Nore). The Salmon fishing here is mostly Grilse and autumn fish but it too can be very good with the right water.

Nore at Mount Juliet
Norelands Bridge at Mount Juliet on the Nore.

Durrow and District Anglers' Association

The Durrow & District Anglers have water on the Nore, the Ouveg River, the Erkina, and on the River Goul. Their water on the Nore extends from Watercastle Bridge downstream to the confluence of the Ouveg River. This used to be to be excellent Salmon water, but that was prior to the 70s. The great pools back in those days were, the Meetings (at the confluence of the Erkina), the Mossy Rock, Anker, Commons hole, and Hastings, amongst others.

Nowadays few Salmon make it this far up the Nore, mostly likely because of poaching further downstream. Even the excellent autumn run seems to stop short of Durrow now. Still, the trout fishing here is really good and you can get fish up to 3lbs.

River Nore below Thomastown Weir
River Nore below Thomastown Weir.

The club's water on the Erkina River is from Boston Bridge down to the old mill at Durrow. On the Goul it is from Boden's hole to the confluence with the Erkina. They also have water on the lower parts of the Ouveg River.

River Nore Tributaries

River Delour (Black Nore)
River Dinin
River Erkina
River Goul
River Gully
River Munster
River Ouveg
River The Kings River
River White Horse

River Nore Neighbouring Rivers

River Barrow
River Blackwater
River Clodiagh
River Neenagh
River Ollatrim
River Owenass
River Stradbally
River Suir

Fishing the River Nore

River Nore Season

Salmon - 1st February - 30th September
Sea Trout - 1st February - 30th September
Brown Trout - 1st March - 30th September

River Nore Methods

Fly Fishing
Spinning
Worming

River Nore Fishing Authority

To fish in Ireland you need a rod license from the appropriate fishing authority. You can find the details for the River Nore at:

Southern Fisheries Management

River Nore Permits

As well as a rod license, you'll need a permit to fish the River Nore. You can get permits from any of the following distributors:

Edward Stack
Bleach Road
Kilkenny
Tel: +353 (0)56 65220
KILKENNY CITY AND COUNTY ANGLING CLUB

Jimmy Tyrrell (Irish Fly Craft)
Attanagh
Durrow
Tel: + 353 (0)86 845 1257
DURROW & DISTRICT ANGLERS ASSOCIATION

Lawlor's Gala Stores
The Square
Durrow
Tel: + 353 (0)502 36234
DURROW & DISTRICT ANGLERS ASSOCIATION

Mr Andy Cotterell (The Cotterell Fishery)
Kilmacshane
Inistioge
Tel: +353 (0)56 58403
COTTERELL FISHERY

Simon Treacy Hardware
Market St
Thomastown
Tel: +353 (0)56 7724291
THOMASTOWN ANGLING CLUB

The Castle Inn
The Square
Inistioge
Tel: +353 (0)56 58483
INISTIOGE ANGLERS ASSOCIATION

The Fishery Manager
Mount Juliet House
Thomastown
Tel: +353 (0)56 24455
MOUNT JULIET HOUSE

The Sports Shop
High Street
Kilkenny
KILKENNY CITY AND COUNTY ANGLING CLUB

River Nore Clubs

Durrow & District Anglers Association - River Nore
Michael Walsh
18 Erkindale Drive
Durrow
Tel: +353 (0)502 36437

The club has water on the Nore extending from Watercastle Bridge downstream to the confluence of the Ouveg River. Their water on the Erkina is from Boston Bridge downstream to the old mill at Durrow. On the Goul it extends from Boden's Hole to the confluence with the Erkina River. They also have water on the lower reaches of the Ouveg River.

Inistioge Anglers' Association - River Nore
Bill Doherty
High Street
Inistioge

The club has ¾ of a mile of double bank fishing around the village.

Kilkenny City & County Angling Club - River Nore
Mr Paul Campion
Dean Street
Kilkenny
Tel: +353 (0)56 58483

The club water on the Nore begins at Ballyragget Bridge and extends downstream on the left bank to Lismaine Bridge (3 miles approximately), from the Dinin confluence downstream on the left bank to the Bleach Green (3 miles approximately). From Maddockstown Post Office on the left bank downstream (2 1/2 miles) to a point about a mile upstream of Bennetts Bridge, a short stretch on the left bank at Holden's, and both banks at Brownsbarn Bridge. The club water on the River Dinin extends upstream from the confluence for 11/2 miles on the left bank and there is about 1/2 mile on the right bank downstream of the New Dinin Bridge.

Thomastown Angling Club - River Nore
Andy Farrelly
Castel Avenue
Thomastown

The club has 4 miles of double bank fishing both above and below the town.

River Nore Ratings

Average Rating (0.0 from 0 ratings)






River Description way off the mark
By John On Tuesday 22 September, 2009 at 09:20 PM
I agree with both the anglers below. The description of the runs and the size of fish are way wide off the truth. Fished the river for almost 20 years and can tell you that the only real fishing is in September (if that materialises). Average fish about 8 pounds for those lucky to get one. Beautiful place. Its unfair to hype up a river to profit from unsuspecting tourist anglers!!
bull
By Thomas On Tuesday 22 September, 2009 at 02:42 PM
The nore does not average 15lb salmon thats a load of bull around 8lb would be more accurate. But it is one of the best big fish rivers in ireland if not the best. Give it a go. But this season has been poor
Size and quantity of salmon exaggerated
By Thomastown Angler On Wednesday 16 September, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Unfortunately I have now idea where information on this river came from but I can assure you all that biggest threat to this fishing was not drift netting but illegal river nets which continue to be plentiful any time a run begins. The spring and autumn runs are not "pretty good", they are non existent. To say that many fish over 20lb have been banked is ridiculous - none have been verified, all have been rumour since c&r; introduced, hence none weighed, simply heresay and exaggeration. Average fish "well into the teens" is clearly NOT the experience of any Nore Angler. This river "review" was clearly written by a Nore "guide".

River Nore Fishing Conditions

River Nore Weather

Tell Your Fellow Anglers About Conditions On The River Nore

Name

Message

By john thomas On Monday 15 February, 2010 at 04:02 PM
appaling conditions

River Nore Status

Bag Limits

There is an angling bag limit of 10 salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40 cm) on rivers where you may catch and retain salmon (see individual rivers for status). The bag limits are subject to any quota allocated to a river and its tributaries.

Subject to the maximum annual bag limit of ten fish, an angler may take:

- a season bag limit of 3 fish in the period 1 Jan to 11 May
- a daily bag limit of 3 fish from 12 May to 31 August
- and a daily bag limit of 1 fish from 1 September to the end of the season.
- anglers fishing with a one day licence have a bag limit of one fish (only one tag is issued)
- The Bye-law also provides for the use of single hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait once the specified number of fish have been caught in the specified periods
- Please note that no sea trout of any size caught in the Western Region or the Clew Bay area of the North Western Region can be retained.

After the daily bag limit has been taken, anglers are permitted to fish catch and release, using single barbless hooks and there is a ban on the use of worms.

Local Restrictions

Some rivers impose their own local restrictions so when you are going to buy your permit for the River Nore, please check with the distributor.

Key

Bag limits in place image Open: Bag Limits
Open Catch and release image Open: Catch & Release
River closed for 2009 image Closed: Sea Trout 40cm Or Less Only
Disabled Sign Disabled Facilities
Salmon Image Salmon
Sea Trout Image Sea Trout
Brown Trout Image Brown Trout

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