Three accessible wild brown trout loughs on the Dunfanaghy headland in north Donegal — New Lake, Port Lake, and Sessiagh Lake — each with distinct character and modest but genuine fishing. New Lake is the most productive; Port Lake is small and bank-fished. The mixed geology (overlying limestone on sandstone) gives the water more alkalinity than many Donegal loughs, supporting better hatches. Permits and boat hire available via Dunfanaghy Angling Club or Arnold's Hotel. A convenient base for anglers touring the north Donegal coast.
Rules at a glance
- Permit plus club or public
A patient day, if you fancy it
Glassy and bright — hard work without a breeze. A flat lough is a quiet lough — wait for the breeze.
25% confidence — low-confidence read — verify locally
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
W 36 km/h
Fresh breeze
Wave
80 cm wave
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
8°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
April–September; August daddy-long-legs on New Lake
Where
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work Black Pennell on the bob and Bumble on the point.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work Black Pennell on the bob and Bumble 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
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Bank, sheltered shores
Strong wind makes boat fishing difficult — sheltered bank spots near lee shores will fish best.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
1
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Wind conditions (strong) are not ideal for this water.
Detail · next 12h
Precipitation
The reading most likely to move tomorrow's verdict
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Dunfanaghy Lakes · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Dunfanaghy Lakes, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedDunfanaghy Lakes · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Three accessible wild brown trout loughs on the Dunfanaghy headland in north Donegal — New Lake, Port Lake, and Sessiagh Lake — each with distinct character and modest but genuine fishing. New Lake is the most productive; Port Lake is small and bank-fished. The mixed geology (overlying limestone on sandstone) gives the water more alkalinity than many Donegal loughs, supporting better hatches. Permits and boat hire available via Dunfanaghy Angling Club or Arnold's Hotel. A convenient base for anglers touring the north Donegal coast.
- Lake
- Mixed sandstone limestone
Dunfanaghy Lakes · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Dunfanaghy Lakes · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 February → 30 September
Dunfanaghy Lakes · permits
Licences, sorteo, the rules
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Dunfanaghy Angling Club or Arnold's Hotel for permits and boat hire
- State rod licence required.
Dunfanaghy Lakes
No photos yet for this water.
Three accessible wild brown trout loughs on the Dunfanaghy headland in north Donegal — New Lake, Port Lake, and Sessiagh Lake — each with distinct character and modest but genuine fishing.
Species
A patient day, if you fancy it
Glassy and bright — hard work without a breeze. A flat lough is a quiet lough — wait for the breeze.
25% confidence — low-confidence read — verify locally
Conditions
Wind
W 36 km/h
Fresh breeze
Wave
80 cm wave
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
8°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
41%
Cloud70%
Wind30%
Temp25%
Conditions are away from this venue's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with mixed skies.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
April–September; August daddy-long-legs on New Lake
Where
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work Black Pennell on the bob and Bumble on the point.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work Black Pennell on the bob and Bumble 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
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Bank, sheltered shores
Strong wind makes boat fishing difficult — sheltered bank spots near lee shores will fish best.
Why this score
- Wind conditions (strong) are not ideal for this water.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
1
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Dunfanaghy Angling Club or Arnold's Hotel for permits and boat hire
- State rod licence required.
Directions
About this water
Three accessible wild brown trout loughs on the Dunfanaghy headland in north Donegal — New Lake, Port Lake, and Sessiagh Lake — each with distinct character and modest but genuine fishing. New Lake is the most productive; Port Lake is small and bank-fished. The mixed geology (overlying limestone on sandstone) gives the water more alkalinity than many Donegal loughs, supporting better hatches. Permits and boat hire available via Dunfanaghy Angling Club or Arnold's Hotel. A convenient base for anglers touring the north Donegal coast.
- Lake
- Mixed sandstone limestone
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 February → 30 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Three accessible wild brown trout loughs on the Dunfanaghy headland in north Donegal — New Lake, Port Lake, and Sessiagh Lake — each with distinct character and modest but genuine fishing. New Lake is the most productive; Port Lake is small and bank-fished. The mixed geology (overlying limestone on sandstone) gives the water more alkalinity than many Donegal loughs, supporting better hatches. Permits and boat hire available via Dunfanaghy Angling Club or Arnold's Hotel. A convenient base for anglers touring the north Donegal coast.
Other water nearby · 5