The Mulkear River rises in the Slievefelim and Silvermines mountains and flows through a picturesque landscape, before joining the Shannon near Annacotty, Co. Limerick.
Please note salmon stocks and conservation is actively managed in the Shannon Region and angling for salmon is permitted under the wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme please check www.fishinginireland.info/salmon/shannon.htm for further information.
The main channel of the river is approximately 21.5 km long, and together with its tributaries, it drains a catchment area of approximately 650 km².
This catchment area spans both Counties Limerick and Tipperary. The principal tributaries are the Dead River, the Bilboa River and the Newport River.
Salmon Fishing
The fishery is primarily a grilse or summer salmon river but does enjoy a small run of spring salmon. Fish enter the system in March and the lower stretches are best for the early spring run, March and April.
Noted stretches are below Annacotty weir and also below Annacotty bridge at Lanes Weir, and upstream of Annacotty at Ballyclough.
In the summer the main run of grilse commences in May and will peak in June and sometimes into early July. Noted hotspots are the Long Field, Boher, Brittas and Drumkeen.
With sufficient rainfall and adequate water level, grilse quickly move into the Mulcair's main tributary the Newport River. Good stretches here are at Barringtons Bridge upriver to Killeenagarrif Bridge and beyond to Annagh Bridge to Knocksentry. Between the two rivers (Newport and main Mulcair) is 25 miles with lots of angling water to explore.
These two rivers fish best after spate conditions but all the deep sections hold fish where some fishing can be had at other times.
Trout Fishing
Another feature of these rivers is the very good stock of small brown trout on the upper stretches up to the Bilboa River, Cappaghmore (fish to 28 cms). On the main river trout from 25 cms to 35 cms are frequently caught.
Annacotty,
Co. Limerick.
