Kirkwood Beat
Salmon and Sea Trout

The Kirkwood Beat is around one and a third miles in length and is single bank only (the right hand bank).  There are 12 named pools although some are only good at certain heights of water.  The river is quite wide here, up to 30 yards in places, as Kirkwood is only 8 miles from the estuary.  In places it is deep so chest waders are essential.  For salmon a 14ft rod is advised and for sea trout an 11ft rod.

It is beautiful fly water with some slow pools but also some rapid, streamy water. It is normally fly fishing only; but spinning or worming is allowed when the river is above a certain height.  In exceptional circumstances the owners may give permission to spin at lower levels. However, it is impolite to spin within sight of fly fishermen even when permitted. This is mainly fly water.

The beat normally catches 25 - 60 salmon per year and around 50 - 130 sea trout.

In 2005 the beat caught 65 salmon and only 59 sea trout. Four rods are let on a weekly basis at Kirkwood but the owners keep two extra rods. As parts of the opposite bank are unfishable the beat is never too crowded.

Download a map of the beat here.
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