Stillwater · Mixed Sandstone Limestone · North West / Donegal

Dunfanaghy Lakes

Dunfanaghy Lakes terrain map
Terrain map

Three wild brown trout loughs on the Dunfanaghy headland in north Donegal — New Lake, Purt Lough (Port Lough), and Sessiagh Lough — all controlled by the Dunfanaghy Angling Association.

Fair · Trout
Spent Gnat · 12-14
Fairlive now
Murrough expected on Dunfanaghy Lakes
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
53% confidence
What moved it
  • WindNW 20 km/hGentle breeze
Today’s fly
Spent Gnat
Spent Gnat12-14
Upstream dry
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
NW 20 km/h
N
NW
from the north-west
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp—
Air temp14°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1023 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for trout
When
April–September; Sessiagh fishes best early and late summer
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
2
3
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1

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

Ranked for today
Trout fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Controlled by the Dunfanaghy Angling Association
  • Permits from Arnold's Hotel, Dunfanaghy (074 9136208): day €14, half-day €10, week €60
  • Boat hire (boat only): day €17, half-day €12, week €60
  • State rod licence required
  • No statutory bag limit — the Association asks anglers to keep no more than two trout for conservation.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
59%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp60%

A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.

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About this water

Three wild brown trout loughs on the Dunfanaghy headland in north Donegal — New Lake, Purt Lough (Port Lough), and Sessiagh Lough — all controlled by the Dunfanaghy Angling Association. New Lake is a 230-acre shallow water thrown up by the great Atlantic storm of 1920, now reckoned one of the best brown trout fisheries in the county; it is boat-only, holding trout of 1–2lb and bigger. Sessiagh is an 80-acre alkaline lough of pound fish that comes into its own early and late in the season. Purt Lough, the smallest at 75 acres, holds free-rising trout that average half a pound and run to a pound. The mixed limestone-over-sandstone geology lends the water more alkalinity than many Donegal loughs, supporting better hatches. A convenient base for anglers touring the north Donegal coast.

  • Lake
  • Mixed sandstone limestone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Unknown
  • Chemical: Unknown
Why this score
  • Murrough is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout15 March → 30 September
Related guides
Irish Loughs Playbooklough-style fishingThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureConnemaraIrish fishing
Booking & contacts