Stillwater · Mixed Sandstone Limestone · North West / Donegal, IE

Dunfanaghy Fishery

Drone photo of Sessiagh Lough, a trout lake near Dunfanaghy, County Donegal, Ireland.
Fair · Trout
Sooty Olive · 10-12
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Worth a session if the wind holds.
47% confidence
limited data

Dunfanaghy Fishery is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindW 27 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
Sooty Olive
Sooty Olive10-12
Proven pattern for this period
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Moderate breeze
W 27 km/h
N
W
from the west
Wave60 cm wave
Water temp
Air temp17°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

Stale water· 0.2 mm in 48h

Little recent rain — fresh fish runs unlikely. Focus on resident fish and established lies.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
April–September; Sessiagh fishes best early and late summer
Where
Work Bibio on the bob and Sooty Olive on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Work Bibio on the bob and Sooty Olive on the point.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Boat — at anchor

Windy conditions suit anchoring in productive areas rather than open-water drifting.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
2
3
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Trout fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Controlled by the Dunfanaghy Angling Association
  • Permits from Arnold's Hotel, Dunfanaghy (074 9136208): day €14, half-day €10, week €60
  • Boat hire (boat only): day €17, half-day €12, week €60
  • State rod licence required
  • No statutory bag limit — the Association asks anglers to keep no more than two trout for conservation.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
57%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp100%

A reasonable day here, though wind isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
  1. Drone photo of Sessiagh Lough, a trout lake near Dunfanaghy, County Donegal, Ireland.
    Aerial view of Sessiagh Lough near Portnablagh, one of the three lakes of the Dunfanaghy Fishery.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
  • EcologyUnknown
  • ChemicalUnknown
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
  • Daddy Longlegs are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 March30 September
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts