Spate · Quartzite Granite · North West / Donegal

Tullaghobegley / Ray

No photos yet for this water.

Two small north Donegal spate rivers — the Tullaghobegley (running through Gortahork) and the Ray — draining the quartzite uplands of the Derryveagh Mountains to the sea on the north Donegal coast.

Species

Closed season

Season reopens 1 June. File this water for the right month.

Closed — confidence not applicable today.
Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Cool — slow
6°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature2230% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
6.2°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
7°C
Wind
W 38 km/h
Fresh breeze
Pressure
1004 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
10.9 mm
Moderate rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

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.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
2
3
2

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

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Northern Regional Fisheries District
  • Local club (Gortahork/Falcarragh area)
  • State rod licence required.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

Two small north Donegal spate rivers — the Tullaghobegley (running through Gortahork) and the Ray — draining the quartzite uplands of the Derryveagh Mountains to the sea on the north Donegal coast. Remote, wild, and firmly water-dependent. Sea trout and grilse run on summer floods; the rivers can be low and quiet for weeks between. Local clubs manage access. The landscape is exceptional — north Donegal blanket bog at its most austere. An angler who knows how to read spate rivers will find genuine fish on the right day; anyone expecting a dependable schedule will be disappointed.

  • Quartzite granite
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 June → 30 September
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