Spate · Volcanic · Co. Londonderry / Foyle System

River Faughan

River Faughan venue image
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The Faughan is the best sea trout river in the Foyle system and one of the finest small spate rivers in Northern Ireland.

Marginal · Atlantic Salmon
Cascade · 10-14
Marginal — persistence required
River lifting fast on the rain. Cover the water properly, fish each lie once.
40% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • LevelHeavy rain recentlyNo gauge reading
  • Water temp15.2°C
  • ClarityVery coloured
Today’s fly
Cascade
Cascade10-14
Regional salmon default — river-specific evidence is thin.
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Level
Heavy rain recently
No gauge reading
Water temp15.2°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather17°C
WindN 12 km/h
Pressure1017 hPa
Rain · recent34.6 mm
Rain · ahead6.2 mm

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

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Warm — slow
15°C est.ideal 1014°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
Poor — barometric pressure is working for you, but water clarity is the limiting factor today.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 2 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalModerate confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The Faughan is the best sea trout river in the Foyle system and one of the finest small spate rivers in Northern Ireland. Rising in the Sperrins, it flows through Claudy to the Foyle near Derry. Fast-response basalt catchment — rises within hours of rain and clears quickly. Sea trout from May are the main draw, with salmon from April. The river is intimate and wadeable throughout. Managed by Faughan Anglers with day permits. Evening sea trout fishing from June onwards is outstanding. Volcanic bedrock underlies this river. Atlantic salmon are managed under DAERA and Loughs Agency conservation byelaws, with mandatory catch-and-release on many waters; check current rules before fishing.

  • Volcanic
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature7230% weight
  • Flow1525% weight
  • Clarity1520% weight
  • Feeding Time8515% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 April → 31 October

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Booking & contacts