Fishing the Moy: the Ridge Pool and the Ballina beats

Ballina calls itself the Salmon Capital of Ireland, and for once the marketing is honest. The River Moy comes down through the middle of the town, drops over the weir, and runs through one of the most productive salmon fisheries in western Europe. Inland Fisheries Ireland, which owns and manages the Moy Fishery, describes it as probably the most productive salmon fishery in western Europe, with seasons in the past producing catches of over 5,000 fish. You can stand on the bridge in the town centre and watch anglers working the water below while shoppers pass behind them. There are few places in Ireland, or anywhere, where serious salmon fishing happens this far inside a working town.

The Ridge Pool

The Ridge Pool is the beat everyone has heard of. It sits at the head of the tidal water, just below the weir, and it is the most famous piece of salmon fly water in the country. Demand is intense. In peak season the Ridge Pool is fished in two sessions a day, the first from sunrise to 2pm and the second from 2pm to sunset, with five rods per session. The rods rotate and move constantly along the beat rather than holding a spot, which is part of the etiquette and part of how everyone gets a fair go. Since the salmon traps were suspended in 1999 an extra space, the Weir Pool, has been fished separately on the same two-session basis; it can only be booked two days in advance.

If you want a beat on the Ridge Pool in summer, book as far ahead as you can. This is one of the most sought-after pieces of fishing in Ireland and it does not sit empty waiting for a casual caller.

The other Moy Fishery beats

The Ridge Pool gets the fame, but the Moy Fishery is divided into five beats, and the rest are well worth knowing. The whole fishery runs to just over two and a half kilometres, all of it inside the Ballina town boundary.

The Cathedral Beat sits immediately downstream of the Ridge Pool, below St Muredach's. It is excellent fly water, takes up to eight anglers per session, and has produced over 1,500 salmon in its best year. A ghillie appointed by the fishery is in attendance to register anglers and advise. Booked anglers can fish from sunrise to 6pm, after which the water is left to local anglers.

The Lower Beat, about 200 metres below the Lower Bridge, takes in Polnamonagh (the monk's pool), Spring Wells and the Ash Tree Pool. Polnamonagh is deep and slow, better for spinning and worming; Spring Wells is shallower and made for the fly; the Ash Tree Pool is a quiet, tree-lined stretch beside the town park where a boat can be provided. These beats are less crowded than the Ridge or the Cathedral and suit anyone who would rather fish away from the public eye. They still need to be booked in advance.

The Point, at the mouth of the Brusna (Bunree) river, is a public beat with no limit on numbers; day, weekly and seasonal tickets are sold by local tackle dealers or fishery staff on duty. The Freshwater Beat is a short single-bank stretch developed with access for anglers with disabilities.

Season, licence and permit

The Moy salmon season runs from 1 February to 30 September. The shape of it matters: spring fish come in from February but are scarce and hard-won, peak spring fishing tends to be April into May, the grilse (young salmon back from the sea for the first time) run in numbers from around mid-June, and the back end of September can be the most rewarding of all for anglers who know the water. To fish for salmon anywhere in the State you need a State salmon licence, and on top of that you need a permit for the specific fishery or beat. The two are separate things, so sort both before you travel.

Tides affect every part of the Moy Fishery. Depending on the beat and the height of the tide, water can be unfishable for up to two hours either side of high water, so check tide times locally before you go out. There is a Ridge Pool webcam run by Inland Fisheries Ireland if you want to see the water level before committing.

How to book

Beats on the Moy Fishery, apart from the Point, must be booked in advance, and each beat has its own tariff. Booking and enquiries go through the Moy Fishery Office, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Ardnaree House, Abbey Street, Ballina, on +353 96 21332 or moyfishery@fisheriesireland.ie. There is a downloadable application form and a current Moy System tariff sheet on the Fishing in Ireland site. Treat any prices you see quoted online as a guide only and confirm the current rate when you book; fees and conditions change season to season.

A few practical notes

Bring waders you trust and never wade the Moy in spate. The water through the town runs fast and cold, and the weir is no place to lose your footing. Local tackle shops are the best source of current advice on what is taking fish and where, and the ghillies on the booked beats are there to help, not just to register you. If you are new to the river, an hour with a local guide will save you far more than it costs. And if the fishing is slow, the consolation is that you are doing it in the middle of a town with pubs, food and a free world-class museum a short walk from the bank.