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River Barrow
The River Barrow is one of Ireland’s finest coarse angling river fisheries and is the country’s second longest river system. Located in the south east of Ireland, it is a mixed stock fishery containing salmon, trout, pike and many coarse fish species. It is regarded by many Irish and overseas coarse anglers as one of Ireland’s finest coarse angling river fisheries and contains excellent stocks of roach, rudd, bream, skimmers, roach-bream hybrids, rudd-bream hybrids, perch and dace. Tench are also present and although seldom reported, an occasional carp may also be encountered on some stretches. Coarse fishing on the Barrow is easily accessible all along the 68km of towpath or by crossing agricultural lands with the permission of the landowners. Access to fishing on the river can also be obtained through a number of angling clubs that control fishing on some sections of this fantastic coarse fishery. The Barrow is a wide river, up to 40m wide in places and is generally quite shallow, with a slow to moderate flow. Average depths ranging from 4ft to 10ft with the deeper water generally located next to the towpath on the navigable side of the river. The Barrow is an all year round fishery and even when water levels are extremely high during the winter and early spring, good fishing can still be found at many of the 23 canal locks located along the length of the river.
Dace provide good sport on the Barrow all year round
The River Barrow flows in an easterly direction passing through Portarlington in Co. Laois. On reaching Monasterevin in Co. Kildare, it turns south, passing through the angling centres of Athy (Co Kildare), Carlow and Bagnalstown (Co Carlow), all of which are located along the R417 and R705. It then continues on its journey south to Graiguenamanagh (Co Kilkenny) and New Ross in Co. Waterford where it shares a common estuary with its sister rivers the Nore and the Suir before entering the sea through Waterford Harbour.
The Barrow is navigable up to Athy and the non-navigable river sections from the tide to Athy are interlinked by 23 canal sections. The Barrow at Athy is linked to Monasterevin by a 23km long section of the Grand Canal Barrow Branch line. These canal sections are an important feature of this river which can produce exceptional angling in their own right. When water levels are high and strong floods are present in the main river, these canal cuts and sections provide refuge and shelter from the strong currents for many coarse fish species. Canal sections are generally 4ft to 6ft in depth but some deeper water can be found in certain locations such as the harbour in Monasterevin.
Well maintained towpaths make access very easy on the Barrow
There are a number of well-established coarse angling centres at Monasterevin, Athy, Carlow, Leighlinbridge, Bagnalstown and Graiguenamanagh. These angling centres offer visiting anglers a full range of angling and ancillary services to ensure that they fully enjoy their angling experience on the River Barrow. The area is serviced by a wide range of very affordable accommodations that can cater for the needs of coarse anglers, with many providing drying rooms and tackle and bait storage facilities. Tackle shops are available in many of the main angling centres and advice is readily available through guest houses, tackle dealers, angling clubs, tourist offices and local Inland Fisheries Ireland offices.
When coarse fishing from the towpath or other publicly accessible banks, neither permit nor licence is required. However, if crossing private lands, to access the river, permission should be obtained from the landowner. When permission is given please respect it and follow the country code. Game angling waters are generally located immediately below the weirs and these fisheries are controlled privately and by angling associations. It is recommended that coarse anglers should avoid these areas.
Fish Species and Fish Specimens on River Barrow and Grand Canal-Barrow Branch Line
The River Barrow and canal sections hold excellent stocks of roach, rudd, bream, skimmers, roach-bream hybrids, rudd-bream hybrids, perch, dace and tench. Each year, many coarse fish to specimen size are recorded from this fantastic venue. The following tables give an indication of the quality of coarse fish which have been caught on the River Barrow and adjoining canal sections in recent years.
The Barrow has excellent stocks of quality hybrids and many specimens are taken each year
Specimen Roach Bream Hybrids taken on the River Barrow in 2009
Location |
Name of Captor |
Date of Capture |
Method |
Weight |
St Mullins |
Michael Norton |
May 2009 |
Maggot |
1.68kgs |
Specimen Dace taken on the River Barrow in 2009
Location |
Name of Captor |
Date of Capture |
Method |
Weight |
Carlow |
Terry Jackson |
June 2009 |
Sweetcorn |
.41kgs |
Specimen Roach Bream Hybrids taken on the River Barrow in 2008
Location |
Name of Captor |
Date of Capture |
Method |
Weight |
Bagnalstown |
Oliver Doyle |
June 2008 |
Maggot |
1.81kgs |
Bagnalstown |
Oliver Doyle |
June 2008 |
Maggot |
1.73kgs |
Bagnalstown |
Oliver Doyle |
June 2008 |
Maggot |
1.73kgs |
Bagnalstown |
Gary Doyle |
June 2008 |
Maggot |
1.73kgs |
Bagnalstown |
Gary Doyle |
June 2008 |
Maggot |
1.64kgs |
St Mullins |
Michael Norton |
Aug 2008 |
Sweetcorn |
1.63kgs |
Bagnalstown |
Gary Doyle |
June 2008 |
Maggot |
1.62kgs |
Specimen Perch taken on the River Barrow in 2008
Location |
Name of Captor |
Date of Capture |
Method |
Weight |
Athy |
Ray Bannerman |
March 2008 |
Shad |
1.56kgs |
Athy |
Michael Norton |
October 2008 |
Shad |
1.30kgs |
Specimen Rudd Bream Hybrids taken on the River Barrow in 2008
Location |
Name of Captor |
Date of Capture |
Method |
Weight |
Athy |
Jim Sloan |
April 2008 |
Maggot/ Worm |
1.63kgs |
Specimen Roach taken on the River Barrow in 2007
Location |
Name of Captor |
Date of Capture |
Method |
Weight |
St. Mullins |
Jim Sloan |
May 2007 |
Maggot |
.896kgs |
Borris |
Brian Cooke |
March 2007 |
Maggot |
.907kgs |
Borris |
Jim Murray |
Feb 2007 |
Maggot |
.907kgs |
Specimen Roach Bream Hybrids taken on the River Barrow in 2007
Location |
Name of Captor |
Date of Capture |
Method |
Weight |
Graiguenamanagh |
Ross Macklin |
May 2007 |
Maggot/ Worm |
1.786kgs |
St Mullins |
Der Casey |
Feb 2007 |
Caster |
1.66kgs |
St Mullins |
De Casey |
March 2007 |
Corn /Maggot |
1.62kgs |
Specimen Rudd Bream Hybrids taken on the River Barrow in 2007
Location |
Name of Captor |
Date of Capture |
Method |
Weight |
Athy |
Liam Kane |
October 2007 |
Worm/ Maggot |
1.65kgs |
Carlow |
Oliver Doyle |
July 2007 |
Sweetcorn |
1.644kgs |
Carlow |
Oliver Doyle |
July 2007 |
Sweetcorn |
1.474kgs |
Specimen Perch taken on the River Barrow in 2007
Location |
Name of Captor |
Date of Capture |
Method |
Weight |
Athy |
Pierce Moran |
April 2007 |
Worm |
1.247kgs |
