The Main Lakes
Dungloe Lake
This is the first lake of 8 on the system and contains native brown trout and sea trout. In previous years we stocked this lake with brown trout but in an effort to regenerate the sea trout population we have discontinued our stocking policy. The lake contains several small islands and on the main island there is a hut where one can shelter and have their refreshments. Lighting of fires on the islands or shore is strictly forbidden and we ask all to remove their litter when leaving. There is a catch and release policy on all sea trout. Boats are available from Charlie Bonnar Fishing Tackle Shop at the Bridge in the town. Best flies are the Butcher, Daddy Long Legs, Alexander, Green Peter, Watson’s Fancy, Invicta, Bibio, Teal Blue and Silver, Black Pennel, Cow Dung, Zulu’s, Connemara Black, Dunkeld, Olive and Claret Bumbles, Blue Daddy and the Doobray.
Craghy (Tully) Lake
This is the second lake on the Dungloe system and the same applies in terms of the non brown trout stocking policy. Craghy lies in a really picturesque setting and it is well worth walking the shore or taking a boat to take in the beauty of the area. The fish are native brown trout with again runs of sea trout which can be good in mid July but the largest run is September onwards. The lake contains several small islands and on the Tully end of the lake there is a hut where one can shelter and have their refreshments. Lighting of fires on the islands or shore is strictly forbidden and we ask all to remove their litter when leaving. There is a catch and release policy on all sea trout. Boats are available from Charlie Bonnar Fishing Tackle Shop at the Bridge in the town. Best flies are the Butcher, Daddy Long Legs, Alexander, Green Peter, Watson’s Fancy, Invicta, Bibio, Teal Blue and Silver, Black Pennel, Cow Dung, Zulu’s, Connemara Black, Dunkeld, Olive and Claret Bumbles, Blue Daddy and the Doobray, generally size 12.
Lough Meela
About 2 miles on the road from Dungloe to Burtonport on the left hand side you will find Lough Meela. The fish are native brown trout with again runs of sea trout which can be good in mid July but the largest run is September onwards. The average native brown trout is better on this lake with trout up to one pound in weight caught in the past. This lake also contains stocked brown trout up to 3lbs in weight with an average of 1.25 pounds. Boats are available from Charlie Bonnar Fishing Tackle Shop at the Bridge in the town. There is a hut approximately 1000 yards down from the marina on the right hand shore where one can shelter and have their refreshments. Lighting of fires on the shore is strictly forbidden and we ask all to remove their litter when leaving. There is a catch and release policy on all sea trout. Best flies are the Butcher, Daddy Long Legs, Alexander, Green Peter, Watson’s Fancy, Invicta, Bibio, Teal Blue and Silver, Black Pennel, Cow Dung, Zulu’s, Connemara Black, Dunkeld, Olive and Claret Bumbles, Blue Daddy and the Doobray, generally size 12.
Lough Alec Mor
At the crossroads between Dungloe and Maghery take the left turn for Meenacross. Travel approximately one mile up this road and on the left hand side you will see the sign for Lough Alec Mor. The lake contains native brown trout, sea trout but scarce in numbers and stocked brown trout up to 3lbs in weight with an average of 1.25 pounds. Boats are available from Charlie Bonnar Fishing Tackle Shop at the Bridge in the town. Lighting of fires on the shore is strictly forbidden and we ask all to remove their litter when leaving. There is a catch and release policy on all sea trout. Best flies are the Butcher, Daddy Long Legs, Alexander, Green Peter, Watson’s Fancy, Invicta, Bibio, Teal Blue and Silver, Black Pennel, Cow Dung, Zulu’s, Connemara Black, Dunkeld, Olive and Claret Bumbles, Blue Daddy and the Doobray, generally size 12 but even 14’s can be good for the native fish.
Owenamarve
A small lake approximately 3 miles on the left hand side on the road from Dungloe to Doochary. A river drains from the lake into the estuary at Traighenna Bay. A large population of small native brown trout inhabit the lake but there are runs of fresh salmon and a sea-trout but these anticipation of rising water levels is the best time to try for these. A boat is available from Charlie Bonnar Fishing Tackle Shop at the Bridge in the town. Lighting of fires on the shore is strictly forbidden and we ask all to remove their litter when leaving. There is a catch and release policy on all sea trout. Best flies are the Butcher, Daddy Long Legs, Alexander, Green Peter, Watson’s Fancy, Invicta, Bibio, Teal Blue and Silver, Black Pennel, Cow Dung, Zulu’s, Connemara Black, Dunkeld, Olive and Claret Bumbles, Blue Daddy and the Doobray, generally size 12.
Loughanure Lake
Five miles from Dungloe lies the lovely town of Loughanure and the lake. The lake is drained by the Crolly and Thor Rivers and there are large runs of salmon in the June\July timeframe. The lake also holds an abundance of small native brown trout ranging from 0.25lbs upwards with fish of 1lbs+ caught in the past.
Lighting of fires on the islands or shore is strictly forbidden and we ask all to remove their litter when leaving. There is a catch and release policy on all sea trout. Boats are available from Charlie Bonnar Fishing Tackle Shop at the Bridge in Dungloe. Best flies are the Butcher, Daddy Long Legs, Alexander, Green Peter, Watson’s Fancy, Invicta, Bibio, Teal Blue and Silver, Black Pennel, Cow Dung, Zulu’s, Connemara Black, Dunkeld, Olive and Claret Bumbles, Blue Daddy and the Doobray, generally size 12.
The Other Lakes
Apart from the main lakes mentioned above the Rosses Area contain over a hundred more lakes varying in size. Locally we refer to a lot of these as “Bog Lakes”. The fishing is predominantly for native brown trout but some do have small runs of sea trout. The joy here is tracking through the hills and bogland to encounter small lakes of free rising fish. Many of the bog lakes can we walked around in the space of 20 to 30 minutes and are worth spending some time on as more than one carry a native stock of some larger fish up to 2 to 3lbs in weight. These lakes are very under fished so they might throw up a few real surprises. On thing is for sure you will be amazed at the fighting power of even the smallest of the fish in these lakes and allied to the breath taking scenery then it all adds up to an excellent day away from it all. To give you any further insight to which are better than others in terms of the fishing would be taking away the challenge and element of surprise. Therefore I will leave it to all to get on their wellies and hiking boots and get the real Rosses air into your lungs. Get out there and discover you will not be dissapointed and please take all litter home and at all times observing the “no fires” rule. In terms of tackle the flies for the main lakes all work well but others would be sedges, small olives (14’s) fished dry, Hares Ear, buzzers and the Wickham’s Fancy.
The Waters
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