Spate · Granite · North West / Donegal

Clady (Gweedore)

Clady (Gweedore) terrain map
Terrain map

A flashy granite spate river in Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore), West Donegal, that runs to the Atlantic via Bloody Foreland.

Species

Slow going — better windows ahead

Low and clear — careful approach country. Fish on a shallow rise are spooked — choose your hour.

50% confidence in this read
Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Cool — slow
5°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature1030% weight
  • Flow4525% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
5.3°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
5°C
Wind
W 20 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1005 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
16.7 mm
Moderate rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

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.
Why this works
Poor conditions. Clarity is favourable (95), Feeding time is weakest (10).
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
2
3
2

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

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • IFI rod licence (RoI)
  • Public access to most of river
  • Granite geology means water clears quickly — fish windows are brief but productive
  • 2026 brown-tag scheme: any angler harvesting salmon or sea trout over 40cm must hold a brown tag.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

A flashy granite spate river in Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore), West Donegal, that runs to the Atlantic via Bloody Foreland. Clady responds rapidly to rainfall (2–3 hours) and fishes best as a river rises and clears. Spring salmon from February; grilse and sea trout from June. The river runs through wild Donegal moorland and has a reputation for good-quality sea-trout fishing. Multiple named pools; public access available to most sections. (Slugged `clady_gweedore` in Rise Daisy to distinguish from the Co. Londonderry Clady tributary of the Lower Bann.)

  • Granite
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 February → 30 September
Other water nearby · 5