Glencar Lough lies in a deep valley in the shadow of Benbulben, three kilometres of wooded-shored water with a waterfall and islands at either end, draining west into the short Drumcliff River that runs to Sligo Bay. It is a classic north-western system off the limestone-and-shale flank of the Dartry mountains — clear, cool water, the lough holding resident small brown trout and a good run of sea trout that average over a pound and a half, with salmon, both spring fish and grilse, moving through on the floods. The Drumcliff river itself is short and spate-fed, fishing best with water on to draw the fish off the tide. The character is lough-and-short-river country beneath dramatic mountains. Wading the river is steady on firm rock and gravel; the lough is boat-and-bank water read by its inflows and margins.

Wading: Spate river that needs water on