Salmon and Trout on the River Moy: A Visiting Angler's Guide
Techniques, Ridge Pool access and beat permits for salmon and trout fishing on the River Moy in Ballina, County Mayo, for visiting anglers.
- Published September 15, 2026
- 1164 words
- 6 min read
Visiting anglers on the River Moy generally fish salmon with a fly, spinner or bait, depending on the beat and the time of year, and fish trout with light fly or spinner gear on the faster upper stretches. The Ridge Pool in central Ballina is a fly-only fishery that requires a permit and a booking, and most other beats are reached through a club day ticket, a private permit or a ghillie arrangement. A practical overview of salmon, trout, fishing techniques and local access points is worth reading before booking travel.
What techniques should I use for salmon and trout fishing on the River Moy?
Salmon fishing on the Moy is seasonal and method-specific. Spring fish, roughly February to April, are usually taken on a fly fished slow and deep, often with a sink-tip line and a small tube fly or a weighted double. As water warms from May onward, shrimp and prawn are permitted on some beats, and worm fishing is allowed on others, but the rules change by beat and by week, so the permit or the ghillie's instructions govern what is legal on the day.
Summer and early autumn salmon, including grilse, respond to a floating line and a small fly fished across and down, with a steady swing and a short pause at the end. Spinners work well in high or coloured water, particularly after rain, when a copper or gold blade fished close to the bank can pick up fish that have moved off the main flow. In very low water, small flies and fine leaders matter more than the pattern itself.
Trout fishing is a different proposition. The Moy system holds brown trout, and the faster riffles and pocket water above and below Ballina suit a short rod, a light line and a dry fly or a small nymph. A team of two or three wet flies fished upstream or across is a standard approach on the shallower runs. Sea trout run in summer and are usually taken at dusk or after dark on a small fly or a light spinner.
Gear should match the method rather than the species. A 9 to 10 foot rod for a 7 or 8 weight line covers most salmon work on the Moy, while a 9 foot 5 weight is enough for trout. Waders are useful on many beats, but check whether the bank is wadeable before stepping in, because some sections are deep and fast.
How do I fish the Ridge Pool in the centre of Ballina?
The Ridge Pool is a fly-only fishery in the centre of Ballina, and it is one of the best-known salmon pools in Ireland. It is fished on a permit basis, and demand is high in season, so a booking in advance is the normal route. Anglers fish from the bank or from a boat, depending on the arrangement made with the fishery, and the pool is divided into rods, which means each angler fishes a defined stretch in rotation.
Tackle for the Ridge Pool is typically a single-handed rod with a floating or intermediate line and a small fly. The pool fishes well on a falling or steady water level, and the standard presentation is a cast across the flow with a controlled swing, mending the line to keep the fly fishing at the right speed. Fish tend to hold in the deeper part of the pool, so a longer cast and a slower retrieve often beat a fast one.
Because the pool sits in the town, access is straightforward on foot, and there is no long walk in. Anglers should expect to show a permit, follow the rotation, and release fish where the rules require it. Catch-and-release conditions apply at certain times, and the fishery's own notice takes precedence over general advice.
How can visiting anglers access the beats on the River Moy?
Access on the Moy is a patchwork of club water, private water and fishery-run water. The practical route for a visitor is to identify the stretch first, then buy the correct ticket. Ballina Anglers and other local clubs issue day tickets for their water, and several private fisheries sell day or part-day permits directly. A ghillie can arrange both the permit and the boat, which saves time on a short trip.
Permits are usually sold in local tackle shops, at the fishery office or online through the club or fishery concerned. Prices and rod limits vary, and some beats restrict the number of rods per day, so booking ahead is sensible in peak weeks. Anglers fishing without a valid permit, or on the wrong beat, can be asked to leave, and the permit conditions are enforced.
Travel logistics matter as much as the fishing. Ballina is reachable by bus and by train via Manulla Junction, and the town centre is walkable, which suits anglers without a car. Many beats are within a short drive or a taxi ride of the town, and a few are close enough to reach on foot. Accommodation in Ballina ranges from guesthouses to hotels, and staying in town removes the need for a daily commute to the water.
When is the best time to fish the Moy?
The salmon season on the Moy runs from early in the year into autumn, with the strongest runs typically from spring through summer. Grilse arrive in numbers in early summer, and the back end of the season can produce fresh fish again after rain. Trout fishing is at its best from spring through early summer, when hatches bring fish to the surface, and sea trout are mostly a summer and early-autumn target.
Water level drives everything. After heavy rain the river rises and colours, and salmon move. In low, clear summer water, fish hold in the deeper pools and are harder to tempt, so early morning and late evening are the productive windows. A day or two after a spate, when the river is dropping and clearing, is often the most reliable window of the week.
What should a visiting angler prepare before the trip?
A current licence is required for salmon and sea trout fishing in Ireland, and it is separate from the beat permit. Buy it before travelling or on arrival, and carry it on the bank. Rod licences, permits and any catch records should be kept together, because checks happen.
Bring layers, waterproofs and a wading staff if the plan includes moving water. Irish weather changes quickly, and a morning that starts calm can turn wet by afternoon. A landing net, forceps and a hook sharpener are basic kit, and a spare spool or a second line covers both high and low water conditions.
Finally, read the local rules for each beat before fishing it. Fly-only, bait restrictions, release rules and rod limits differ from one stretch to the next, and the angler who knows the conditions in advance spends more time fishing and less time sorting out paperwork.