Limestone · North West / Leitrim-Sligo

Duff River

Owenduff venue image
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A short border river running through Kinlough and Tullaghan to the Atlantic between Bundoran and Ballyshannon, sharing its general basin character with the famous Drowes nearby.

Species

Decent — worth a look

Low and clear — careful approach country. Low water tactics — small singles, riffling hitch in the smooth glides.

50% confidence in this read
Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Cool — slow
8°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature4830% weight
  • Flow4525% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
7.7°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
6°C
Wind
W 23 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1007 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.3 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
17.7 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
Fair 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
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1

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

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • North Western Fisheries District
  • Local club (Kinlough/Tullaghan area)
  • State rod licence required.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

A short border river running through Kinlough and Tullaghan to the Atlantic between Bundoran and Ballyshannon, sharing its general basin character with the famous Drowes nearby. Limestone-backed and fast-clearing, the Duff receives early salmon and sea trout and is one of the opening-season options in the northwest. Small, with a concentrated fishing area, but the proximity to the Melvin-Drowes catchment gives it a regional legitimacy that larger visitors sometimes overlook. Local club access. Not to be confused with the Duff Water further north.

  • Limestone
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 January → 30 September
Other water nearby · 5