Spate · Mixed · Co. Donegal / Foyle System (border)

River Finn

River Finn venue image
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The Finn is the largest tributary of the Foyle system, rising in the Blue Stack Mountains of Donegal and flowing east to join the Mourne at Strabane.

Fair · Atlantic Salmon
Cascade · 10-14
Fairlive now
Decent — worth a look
River dropping into shape after a lift. Cover the heads and tails before the river drops away.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.60 mDropping after lift
  • Water temp15.9°C
  • ClarityColouredClearing
Today’s fly
Cascade
Cascade10-14
Regional salmon default — river-specific evidence is thin.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Falling
0.60 m
Dropping after lift
Water temp15.9°C
ClarityColoured
Weather14°C
WindNW 11 km/h
Pressure1023 hPa
Rain · recent0.2 mm
Rain · ahead8.2 mm

Live readings only. Trends shown where the gauge supports them.

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Warm — slow
15.9°Cideal 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
Fair conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 5 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 Finn is the largest tributary of the Foyle system, rising in the Blue Stack Mountains of Donegal and flowing east to join the Mourne at Strabane. A powerful spate river with excellent salmon and sea trout. The river has both Republic (upper) and Northern Ireland (lower) sections — the Loughs Agency manages the fishery across the border. Salmon run from March with grilse from June. Sea trout from May. One of the most productive salmon rivers in the Foyle system. Day permits from Loughs Agency. Atlantic salmon are managed under DAERA and Loughs Agency conservation byelaws, with mandatory catch-and-release on many waters; check current rules before fishing.

  • Mixed
The full read · show the working · for atlantic salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal0.0
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftNot Applicable0.0
Water temperatureCool To Moderate0.0
Time in seasonOpening Period0.0
ClarityClearing0.0
Hydrology base0.0
Legal gate: Unknown Check Local Rules
Can you trust it?
Water temperaturelive gauge readinggauge
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 March → 15 September

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Booking & contacts