Open Season: Salmon and sea trout: 17 March to 30 September; brown trout: 17 March to 30 September.
Bye-Law 2010: This Bye-Law provides for catch and release in respect of salmon and sea trout (over 40 cm) in the River Nore during the period 17 March to 11 May, 2010 and a bag limit of 3 fish during the period 12 May to 30 September, 2010 subject to a daily bag limit of 1 fish during this period. The Bye-law also provides for the use of single barbless hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait in angling for salmon and sea trout (over 40 cm).
The River Nore rises in Co. Tipperary and flows eastwards through Borris-in-Ossory and then south through Co. Kilkenny, passing through or close by the towns of Durrow, Ballyragget, Kilkenny, Bennettsbridge and Thomastown to join the River Barrow upstream of New Ross, Co. Wexford. It is tidal from Inistioge Bridge to its confluence with the Barrow. It is basically a limestone river with very rich fly life. Much of the catchment is given over to tillage, pastureland, and bloodstock. Mill weirs are a feature of the river, and these give rise to long, deep stretches and slow-flowing water. The banks are high in places, and there is an excessive amount of tree cover and vegetation in many places, which makes fishing difficult.
The salmon fishing on the Nore is said to be patchy, and what fishing there is on the river is confined to the stretch from the tide upstream to the confluence with the River Dinin.
The Nore holds good stocks of brown trout in some areas, and the best of the fishing on the main channel is upstream of Thomastown and on the King’s River. The river has prolific fly hatches. There are sedges in profusion, and olives and stone¬flies are also very common.
The ownership of the fisheries is well defined, and most of the rights are either exercised by private owners or leased to angling clubs.