The River Lee rises in Gougane Barra, County Cork and flows east into Cork Harbour. The valleys downstream are now flooded and form reservoirs because of the erection of dams for hydro-electric power stations. Fishing is prohibited for 50 yards downstream of the powerhouse of Cork Waterworks. The ESB stocks up to 150,000 salmon smolts annually into the river. The bulk of the salmon fishing now takes place in the nine-mile stretch of river downstream of Inishcarra Dam. The peak of the salmon fishing is from late March and the grilse fishing is usually in full swing by early July. The river holds a fair stock of brown trout, averaging 0.5 lb but with some fish up to 1lb or better. The best fishing is during the day in May and June.