Fishing in Donegal

GAME ANGLING

Donegal is renowned throughout the world for the quality and abundance of its fresh water fisheries, referred to historically as the Land of the Lakes it is one of the few remaining unspoiled angling areas left in Europe.

This is a land where truly wild fish can be caught, particularly wild brown trout, a lack of limestone bedrock means that many of the fisheries do not produce the specimen fish of the midland lakes; however, this is more than made up for in terms of numbers and quality of the indigenous trout.

In addition to the natural brown trout fishing the vast number of smaller lakes in Donegal can hold a good stock of salmon and sea trout that make for some exciting and varied fishing for the visitor angler.

Many of Donegal’s rivers are renowned for their prolific runs of salmon. The Finn Valley in particular offers the ideal destination for the visiting game angler, the River Finn, and its main tributary the Reelin River, are renowned for the quality of their salmon fishing.

The River Finn is a tributary of the Foyle system and undoubtedly one of the best salmon waters in Europe with some truly prolific runs of both spring salmon and summer grilse. Fishing on the rivers is comparatively inexpensive, for information on availability of permits, licenses etc. For more information contact the fishery manager at the Cloughan Lodge Estate T: 087 292 9888.

Donegal now offers the visiting angler year round fishing with some great Rainbow Trout fisheries. Lough na Tooey (t: 074 9138216) in Creeslough; a tree-ringed fishery that offers the visiting angler great sport in a scenic setting.

SEA ANGLING

There has been a significant increase in the popularity of the Northwest as a sea-angling centre over the last fifteen years and these days the waters off the coast of Donegal are renowned throughout the world for the quality and variety of fishing available. A number of licensed charter boats provide for safe access to some truly magnificent fishing grounds over both Reef and Wreck.

The sheltered waters of Donegal Bay, stretching from Rathlin O’Birne at the northern corner of the bay to Mullaghmore in the south, permit angling in all but the very worst of weather conditions, whilst the lack of a strong tide allows for the use of light tackle.

West Donegal offers both prolific boat and shore fishing from the Rosses to Gweedore and is set amongst some of the most beautiful scenery to be found anywhere in Ireland. Noted shore fishing points would include Bunbeg, Kincasslagh and Cruit Island whilst the harbour at Burtonport and the pier in Dungloe will produce Conger at night and Mullet during daylight hours. Saoire Mara (see page 34) provides a number of services including fishing charters, sight-seeing trips, coastal cruises and island trips with guided talks.

The Gweebarra Bay to the south, formed by the estuary of the Gweebarra River, produces excellent fishing for Sea Trout, eels and flounder with the bank at Illanfad being a favoured point. In North West Donegal spinning for mackerel from Portsalon Pier and bottom fishing for dabs, plaice, flounder and dogfish can be productive, especially during a flooding tide or at night. South of the lighthouse at Fanad Head, fishing close to the rocks can produce wrasse to 4lbs and small coalfish, whilst fishing further off shore will produce dogfish and the occasional ray.

North East Donegal (Lough Swilly to Lough Foyle) is an excellent location for inshore boat fishing over the McKinney Bank for Ray, Dogfish, Tope, and Plaice whilst spinning for Mackerel, Coalfish and Pollack can be productive at Dungaree Point to the south of Inishowen Head.