Overview
For a river barely 8km long, the Clady keeps unusual company: a 1950s power station decides how much water runs down it. It rises at the western end of Lower Lough Nacung and flows west-north-west across open moorland to meet the Crolly River at Bunbeg Quay, in the Gweedore Gaeltacht of north-west County Donegal. The Irish name, An Chláidigh, means ‘the One Who Washes’ or ‘the Strong-Flowing One’ – though after a dry spell it does neither, which is really the whole story of fishing here.
The hydro-electric heritage
The ESB built the Clady Power Station in the townland of Dore between 1954 and 1959, and it still runs. Water is drawn off at the Gweedore Weir and carried through a 2.7km head-race canal to the turbine house, then returned to the Crolly downstream. The turbine house and canal are easy to see from the roadside near Dore, and the station is listed on Buildings of Ireland.
That diversion is why the river’s life runs on a schedule. To keep fish moving, the ESB releases 18 freshets between May and September each year – timed pulses of water that mimic a natural spate and open short, predictable windows for salmon and sea trout to run. If you are coming to fish, the freshet calendar matters as much as the weather forecast; check it with a local tackle shop before you travel.
Angling on the Clady
The Clady River Fishery covers the lower 5km. Angling is not allowed between the ESB dam and the N56 bridge just downstream of it, but below that the river fishes well, especially for grilse and sea trout.
If you have one trip to plan, aim it at late June or early July. Grilse dominate the run from early June and peak then; autumn salmon show up only sporadically. Sea trout numbers build through August, with most fish taken in the evening downstream of Bunbeg Bridge.
- Season: 1 April to 30 September.
- Methods: fly-fishing works best in the upper accessible reaches, especially during a freshet; spinning and worming suit the water closer to the estuary.
- Rules: this is a brown-tag fishery. Barbless hooks are required for salmon and sea trout unless you hold a brown tag, which is issued on request and lets you keep a fish over 40cm. Otherwise salmon and sea trout go back – handle them in the water and release them alive.
Walking and photography
There are no formal trails along the Clady, but the banks are generally open and fine for a quiet walk. The R258 runs parallel to much of the river, with easy pull-offs and informal lay-bys. The landscape is bare moorland, with views toward the Atlantic and the slopes of Mount Errigal.
Photographers work the upper reaches for Errigal reflected in the water after rain, and the straight engineered canal near Dore against the rough natural banks makes for good industrial-heritage shots. The river drew painters too: John Noah Gosset painted the Clady at Gweedore in the 1840s, a work now held in the Derry City and Strabane District Council collection.
Practical information and permits
A single permit covers both the Clady and Crolly rivers, so you can move between the two freely. Permits are sold as daily or weekly tickets:
| Permit Type | Adult | Juvenile |
|---|---|---|
| Day | €30 | €17 |
| Weekly (7 consecutive days) | €130 | €65 |
Where to buy:
- Charlie Bonner’s Tackle Shop, The Bridge, Dungloe – Tel: (074) 952 1163
- Bunbeg House, The Harbour, Bunbeg – Tel: (074) 953 1305
- An Chúirt Hotel – Tel: (074) 953 1101
Access and parking: the N56 crosses near the source, the R257 spans the river at Clady Bridge in Bunbeg, and the R258 runs along the right bank – all with informal lay-bys to pull into. Wear sturdy footwear; the banks are uneven and muddy after rain.
Nearby
- Bunbeg Harbour – a working harbour with a couple of cafés and plenty of sea-bird activity, handy for a post-fishing lunch.
- Dungloe – a short drive inland, with shops and coastal walking routes.
- Lough Anure – linked to the Crolly system, this large shallow lake is popular for boat-fishing; hire is available through Charlie Bonner’s Tackle Shop or Martin Moore’s Filling Station.
- Assaroe – down at the county’s southern end near Ballyshannon, with abbey ruins, a waterfall and woodland walks; a full day out rather than a quick hop.
Before you head out, check the ESB freshet schedule with a local tackle shop – the timed releases decide when the fish move, and there is little point fishing a low river between them.