Spate · Mixed · Co. Donegal / Foyle System (border), GB-NIR

River Deele

A Donegal tributary of the Foyle, flowing through Convoy and entering the main river about a mile below Lifford Bridge.

Prime · Atlantic Salmon
Willie Gunn · 8-12
Primelive now
Prime conditions — go now
Low and clear — careful approach country. Cover the water properly, fish each lie once.
70% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelLight rain recentlyNo gauge reading
  • Water temp15.8°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Willie Gunn
Willie Gunn8-12
Regional salmon default — river-specific evidence is thin.
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Level
Light rain recently
No gauge reading
Water temp15.8°C
ClarityClear
Weather14°C
WindN 12 km/h
Pressure1001 hPa
Rain · recent8.0 mm
Rain · ahead3.1 mm

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

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal
16°C est.ideal 1016°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
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6pm

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

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Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box

Boyne/Slaney summer grilse: fish lie shallow at the tail and neck of pools, so a single hook fished just sub-surface won't snag and covers a taking fish better than a treble. Keep dressing sparse — a small silver stoat, blue charm or Ally's shrimp style in a light build fits.

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
About this water

A Donegal tributary of the Foyle, flowing through Convoy and entering the main river about a mile below Lifford Bridge. Traditionally rated an excellent trout river from June onwards, with a rich head of brown trout and a run of sea trout from June that the river is best known for locally; some salmon also pass through. Deele Community Anglers manage the fishery and carry out habitat and conservation work on the water. Loughs Agency licence required, alongside a local day permit on most stretches. Atlantic salmon are managed under DAERA and Loughs Agency conservation byelaws, with mandatory catch-and-release on many waters; check current rules before fishing.

Hatches & food

No venue-specific hatch data yet; treat the fly recommendation above as regional consensus rather than an observed hatch calendar.

Sea trout here

Sea trout from June onwards is the Deele's best-known run, per Deele Community Anglers

  • Mixed
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
  • Temperature10030% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time5015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 April20 October

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
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