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
Fairlive now
Daddy Longlegs expected on Dunfanaghy Fishery
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
53% confidence

Dunfanaghy Fishery is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindW 21 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 21 km/h
N
W
from the west
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp
Air temp16°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

Moderate freshness· 7 mm in 48h

Moderate rainfall (7mm) may bring some water movement. Watch for fish moving to new lies as water rises slightly.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
April–September; Sessiagh fishes best early and late summer
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Bibio on the bob and Sooty Olive on the point. Have a sedge or murrough pattern ready on a short leader for the evening rise.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Bibio on the bob and Sooty Olive on the point. Have a sedge or murrough pattern ready on a short leader for the evening rise.

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

Watch for Green Peter towards evening — this could be the best window of the day.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 3 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
71%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp100%

A good match for Dunfanaghy Fishery — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.

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
  • 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