Spate · Mixed · North West / Donegal

Bungosteen River

A small Donegal Bay spate river that rises in the Crockanpeast Mountains north-west of Killybegs and enters Donegal Bay at the north of Killybegs Harbour.

Likely too hot — check on arrivalThe water is probably above the atlantic salmon safety line — carry a thermometer.

Water estimated at about 22°C from air temperature — there is no water-temp gauge here, so treat the figure as a guide. If the estimate is right, this is above 20°C and you should not be targeting atlantic salmon. But shade, cold tributaries, and recent rain can hold a river two or three degrees below the air-driven figure. Carry a thermometer. Check it on arrival. If the river is genuinely at 20°C or above, fish another species or come back another day. If it is cooler than the estimate: dawn and dusk only, barbless hooks, land it fast, wet hands, no air shots. Stop the moment a fish is slow to recover.

DepthShaded riffles, deep pools, spring inflows, cold tributary mouths. That is where the fish will be.
TimingDawn and dusk only. Nothing in the middle of the day.

Closed season

Out of season. File this water for the right month.

Closed — confidence not applicable today.

Notify when prime

What moved it

LevelDry recentlyNo gauge reading
Water temp21.5°C
ClarityClear

Rules at a glance

Permit required

Live now

Conditions on the water

Estimate

Trends shown where the gauge supports them

Level

Dry recently

No gauge reading

Water temp

21.5°C

coldwarm

Clarity

Clear

Weather

28°C

Mostly cloudy

Wind

SE 14 km/h

calmblown out

Pressure

1012 hPa

lowhigh

Rain · recent

0.5 mm

dryspate risk

Rain · ahead

29.5 mm

dryspate risk

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Water temperature for atlantic salmon

Warm — slow

22°C est.ideal 10–14°C

0°14°28°

How to fish it · for atlantic salmon

When

Morning into early afternoon.

Where

Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.

Method

Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.

Kit

13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.

Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 11 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Through the year

0–3 scale · June highlighted

Daddy Long Legs

March Brown

Grannom

Large Stonefly

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

Permits & access

Permit required — see local rules.

Ballyshannon Fishery District
2026: CLOSED to salmon and sea-trout angling, zero quota
Listed for regulatory completeness only — not a fishable venue this season.

What's coming

Plan ahead

5-day outlook

Water here around 22°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.

About this water

A small Donegal Bay spate river that rises in the Crockanpeast Mountains north-west of Killybegs and enters Donegal Bay at the north of Killybegs Harbour. It is CLOSED to salmon and sea-trout angling for 2026 (zero harvest quota, Ballyshannon district) and is listed here only for regulatory completeness — it is not a confident angling recommendation. A flashy spate system on Dalradian metamorphic bedrock (the Termon Formation — banded semi-pelitic and psammitic schist), typical of south-west Donegal. Do not surface this as a salmon destination; monitor IFI bulletins for any future change.

Mixed

Water quality (WFD)

Ecology: Unknown
Chemical: Unknown

Why this score · for atlantic salmon

Temperature030% weight
Flow6025% weight
Clarity9520% weight
Feeding Time8015% weight
Pressure8510% weight

Directions

Apple Maps Google Maps

Seasons & zones

Salmon_closed_2026 → _closed_2026Closed

Related guides

Booking & contacts