Home Uncategorized Tullaghobegley and Ray River

    Tullaghobegley and Ray River

    5538

    Season

    The Tullaghobegley is open for the 2025 season, brown tag required.

    The Ray is Catch and Release for the 2025 season.

    The salmon and sea trout season runs from March 17th to September 30th
    inclusive.

    Tullaghobegley

    The Tullaghobegley River (also known as the Bawaan River) flows for some 9 miles, emptying into Ballyness Bay and thence to the sea. The source of the river is Lough Altan at the base of Mount Errigal in Glenveagh National Park (worth a visit in itself).

    The Tullaghobegley, though small, is a productive salmon and sea trout fishery recording around 300 salmon per season. The river fishes from June onwards. During spates there are some nice pools above the Main Road Bridge, above the old Railway Bridge and at Meendarragh. Popular flies are small shrimp flies, black Pennell and a Donegal Blue.

    The area called The Sanctuary runs from the falls above the Bawan Pool to the sea. There is no angling of any type allowed in this area.  BYE-LAW NO. C.S. 315, 2013.

    For map and info see here.

    Ray

    Bye-law prohibits the use of any fish hooks, other than single or double barbless hooks, and also prohibits the use of worms as bait in angling for all species of fish.

    The Ray (pronounced rye) runs for 8 miles out of the Agla Beg and Muckish mountains before reaching the sea. It is a spate river and as such fishes best when dropping down from a flood. It gets a small run of spring fish in May. The period between mid-June and the end of the season has the biggest runs of fish. A high percentage of salmon caught in the Ray are in the 10 – 12lb range. The most popular pools are at the Tractor Bridge, The Pots and a couple of pools upstream of the bridge. These areas are heavily fished during a spate but there is fishable water for a few miles upstream of this during a good flood.
    Sea trout start to run the river in mid-July. The best results are achieved at night, with the most favourable locations being downstream of the Tractor Bridge and in the estuary. Productive flies for the salmon include shrimp flies, especially Curry’s Red Shrimp. Sea trout favourites include Silver Spider, Peter Ross and a Butcher.

    The stretch of the Right Bank of the river in Moyra Glebe is in Private ownership. This is the Muckish Mountain fishery. Permits are available for this section of the river (see below).

    N.B. Prawn and Shrimp are prohibited on the Ray.

    For map and info see here.

    Season

    The salmon and sea trout season runs from March 17th to September 30th
    inclusive.

    Cloughaneely Angling Association

    Membership is open to persons living within the catchment area, subject to the provisions of the Management Agreement and the Association’s Constitution. Persons living outside the catchment may apply for Associate Membership. Numbers in this latter category are limited.

    Visiting anglers are most welcome and are catered for by way of permits which may be purchased from McGee’s Service Station, Main Street, Falcarragh. The regulations applying in the fishery are printed on the permits.

    https://cloughaneelyanglingassociation.com/

    Permits

    One permit covers both the Tullaghobegley & Ray Rivers (except for the Muckish Mountain Fishery).

    The costs are as follows:

    • Day permit Adult €25,
    • Day permit Juvenile €5,
    • 7 Day Adult permit €100,
    • 7 Day Juvenile permit €15,
    • Group Juvenile Day permit €10 (Up to 4 Juveniles)
    • Group Juvenile 7 Day permit €30 (Up to 4 Juveniles)

    These are available from McGee’s Service Station, Main Street, Falcarragh, Co Donegal. Tel: (074) 9135237.


    Permits for the Muckish Mountain Fishery

    For information on permits & prices please contact
    Tel:086 7344533. Season tickets can be booked by email
    only. Contact [email protected].

    Licences

    Salmon licences are available from

    • McGee’s Service Station, Main Street, Falcarragh, Co Donegal. Tel: (074) 9135995.