Spate · Mixed · North West / Donegal

Crana

Crana Financial Services Ltd venue image
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A compact spate river on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal that flows into Lough Swilly.

Fair · Atlantic Salmon
Collie Dog · 6-10
Fairlive now
Decent — worth a look
Low and clear — careful approach country. Low water tactics — small singles, riffling hitch in the smooth glides.
50% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelModerate rain recentlyNo gauge reading
  • Water temp16.5°C
  • ClarityClear
Today’s fly
Collie Dog
Collie Dog6-10
From the river-specific salmon pack.
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Level
Moderate rain recently
No gauge reading
Water temp16.5°C
ClarityClear
Weather13°C
WindNW 12 km/h
Pressure1023 hPa
Rain · recent14.5 mm
Rain · ahead8.8 mm

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

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Warm — slow
17°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.
Why this works
Fair — water clarity is working for you, but time of day is the limiting factor today.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 4 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Sea trout runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • IFI rod licence (RoI)
  • Public access to most beats
  • Low angler pressure — few beats booked
  • Estuary subject to tidal influence; check tide tables for optimal fishing windows.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 5
River Roe
34 km
64
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Lough Beagh
35 km
0
Sea trout · Salmon
Lennon
16 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Faughan
24 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Lackagh / Lough Beagh
35 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

A compact spate river on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal that flows into Lough Swilly. The Crana is tidal through Buncrana estuary and fishes as a sea-trout and salmon river. Highly responsive to rainfall (3–4 hours to peak), it is at its best in the 12–36 hours after a spate. Spring salmon; grilse from June; sea trout abundant and large (2–4 lb not uncommon). A gem for anglers seeking a productive small system with low angler pressure. For 2026 this is a catch-and-release fishery under the Wild Salmon & Sea Trout Tagging Scheme — all salmon and grilse must be returned.

  • Mixed
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Unknown
  • Chemical: Unknown
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature4730% weight
  • Flow4525% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 March → 30 SeptemberC&R
  • Sea trout1 March → 12 OctoberC&R
Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsIrish Salmon Rivers Guidefive great salmon fisheriesConnemaraIrish fishing
Booking & contacts