Stillwater · Limestone · North West / Donegal, IE

Lough Fern

Lough Fern - geograph.org.uk - 3956328

A shallow, productive 447-acre brown-trout lough on the River Leannan in north Donegal, with free-rising brownies around a pound or two and the occasional bigger fish.

Closed season · Trout
Perch Fry · 8–10 long shank
Closed season
Season reopens 15 February. Try elsewhere.
Closed — confidence not applicable today.

Lough Fern is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindN 18 km/hGentle breeze · Gusts to 28 km/h
Today's fly
Perch Fry
Perch Fry8–10 long shank
Retrieve
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Gentle breeze · Gusts to 28 km/h
N 18 km/h
N
N
from the north
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp11.2°C
Air temp8°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1010 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Stale water· No rain in 48h

Little recent rain — fresh fish runs unlikely. Focus on resident fish and established lies.

Head to
Wind driftN wind
Northern end

A northerly has held for 10 hours, running colder than the water (8°C air against 11°C water). The end it blows into is taking that chilled surface water, so try the sheltered northern end instead — off the back of the wind, where the undertow returns food along the bottom. That chill sits in the top of the water, though, and the bed is slower to feel it — on a bottom bait it is the undertow, not the temperature, that puts you at this end. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
May–September; mayfly peak late May–June
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Perch Fry on the bob and Minkie on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Perch Fry on the bob and Minkie 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.

Boat — drift

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

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · November highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Green PeterHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
2
3
2
DuckflyHatch
2
2
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2

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

Buzzer team todayfor the conditions now
Point
Black buzzer, orange thorax
Not in this water's box
#10
How to fish it
Intermediate line · let the breeze drift the team, then hang it 15–30 s

Fly recommendations

Point fly shown — supporters see the whole team, sizes and why.

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Ranked for today
Trout fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Permit/ticket required; confirm operator dates.
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.

Other water nearby · 5
Dunfanaghy Fishery
21 km
Brown trout
Ballyheather Trout Fishery
28 km
Brown trout
Ballyheather Trout Fishery
28 km
Brown trout
Lough Anure
37 km
Brown trout
Rosses Lakes Fisheries
43 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. Lough Fern - geograph.org.uk - 3956328
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Best fished from a boat, with good spring buzzer and early-season sport.

Hatches & food

A dated 2015 hatch report records a strong Ephemera mayfly emergence in late May at the Lough Fern Classic, with a good daytime hatch and rise repeated at a separate event in May 2017 - a reliable mid-to-late May event, though not proof of identical timing every year. General limestone-lough modelling, not a venue-specific observation, also suggests early-spring duckfly and summer Caenis and sedge activity, but these are modelled expectations rather than confirmed Fern hatches.

  • Lough
  • Limestone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Unknown
  • Chemical: Unknown
Why this score
  • winter conditions with overcast skies and breezy wind.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 February → 30 September
Related guides
Irish Loughs Playbooklough-style fishingThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureConnemaraIrish fishing
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Permits & access
At a glance

Lough Fern is a lough in North West / Donegal, Ireland. The catchment geology is recorded as limestone, and the water sits at about 20 m above sea level. The species listed for this water is brown trout. The trout season is recorded as running from 15 February to 30 September. Best window recorded for anglers: May–September; mayfly peak late May–June. Core methods listed: wet-fly drift; dry fly; dapping. Boat fishing is recorded as available. Nearby waters in our listings include Dunfanaghy Fishery at 21 km, Ballyheather Trout Fishery at 28 km and Ballyheather Trout Fishery at 28 km.