River Gweebarra
River Gweebarra Guide
The River Gweebarra flows out in Lough Barra, between the Derryveagh and Glendowan mountains, and makes its way to the South East where it empties into Gweebarra Bay, near Doochary. The River has a 10 mile long estuary, which is unfortunately, fairly heavily netted.
The Gweebarra is a medium sized river with lots of beautiful streamy water, perfect for the fly. It's about 20 miles long in total and it has been divided up into 6 beats, by the Northern Region Fisheries Board (NRFB).
Although the River is now managed by NRFB, there is an ongoing dispute over the fishing rights. It seems that since the last of the family, which previously owned the rights, passed away, things have been left in limbo. It has been reported that the dispute has passed through the courts and since the NRFB was apparently unable to provide evidence of ownership of the fishing rights, things have been left up in the air. Hopefully this dispute will be resolved in the near future.
The rights issue aside, this is a beautiful river, set in some of the most splendid scenery in all of Ireland. The famous Mayo pool lies just a mile above Doochary at the confluence of the Cloghernagore River. Upstream of this is the Falls Pool, which is also very well known on the River.
The Gweebarra has a good run of late spring fish at the end of April and through part of May. The Grilse run begins at the end of June, through July. The River also gets some bigger Summer Salmon from August until the end of the season.
Sea trout come in on the tides from July and are taken all along the estuary and from the pools above and below Doochary.
The season on the Gweebarra is divided into two parts. The spring salmon season runs from the 1st of April until the 16th of June, followed by the Grilse season, which runs from the 17th of June until the end of the season on the 30th of September.
River Gweebarra Beat 1
Beat 1 is the first one of the upper river from Lough Barra downstream to the confluence with the Croagheen River.
River Gweebarra Beat 2
This beat runs from the Croagheen River confluence down to Duffy's Pool.
River Gweebarra Beat 3
Beat 3 stretches from Duffy's Pool to above the falls.
River Gweebarra Beat 4
From the falls to the bottom of the Mayo pool below the confluence with the Cloghernagore River.
River Gweebarra Beat 5
Beat 5 runs from the bottom of the Mayo pool to the footbridge.
River Gweebarra Beat 6
The last beat stretches from the footbridge to below the bridge at Doochary.
River Gweebarra Tributaries
River CloghernagoreRiver Gweebarra Neighbouring Rivers
River CladyRiver Crolly (Gweedore)
River Finn
River Owenea
River Owennamarve
River Owentocker
River Owenwee (Yellow)
River Reelan
Fishing the River Gweebarra
River Gweebarra Season
Salmon - 1st April - 30th SeptemberSea Trout - 1st April - 30th September
Brown Trout - 1st April - 30th September
River Gweebarra Methods
Fly FishingSpinning
Worming
River Gweebarra Fishing Authority
To fish in Ireland you need a rod license from the appropriate fishing authority. You can find the details for the River Gweebarra at:
Northern Fisheries ManagementRiver Gweebarra Permits
As well as a rod license, you'll need a permit to fish the River Gweebarra. You can get permits from any of the following distributors:Donegal Angling Holidays
Northern Regional Fisheries
Doochary
Tel: +353 (0)87 931 8235
The Angling Centre
Doochary
Tel: +353 (0)74 9546171
River Gweebarra Clubs
No River Gweebarra clubs listed.River Gweebarra Ratings
Average Rating
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 As my friend below said , good run for springers and has dipped dramatically for grilse runs. |
| By ciaran m'c guirk On Thursday 08 April, 2010 at 01:55 AM |
| The gweeabarra is currently under threat by the takers of society.We the people are the soluttion to the problem, we must stand firm and must not allow our rivers to become over used for commercial gain. I have fished the gweeabarra for nearly thirty years , i have a son who like me fell for the scenery and all the beauty that the gweeabarra holds true to nature,we cannot and must not let these takers of basic human rights, rights to fish were we like and when we like within the rules of the river, but to tell us that we cannot hold a club license because we live outside the 7 mile radius is itself an insult to me and to those fishermen who stand next to me on this matter.Sometimes in life we see injustices done to our fellow man and woman of society i hope in this case we see that the peirs of society see sense and come down off this bandwagon and leave alone something that does not belong to them, it belongs to the people not goverment people.ciaranmcgurk@hotmail.co.uk |
| good for springers poor grilse run seatrout getting better |
| By paul spud martin On Wednesday 20 January, 2010 at 10:25 AM |
| nrf should leave the river alone, free gweebarra |
River Gweebarra Fishing Conditions
River Gweebarra Weather
River Gweebarra Status
Bag Limits
There is an angling bag limit of 10 salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40 cm) on rivers where you may catch and retain salmon (see individual rivers for status). The bag limits are subject to any quota allocated to a river and its tributaries.
Subject to the maximum annual bag limit of ten fish, an angler may take:
- a season bag limit of 3 fish in the period 1 Jan to 11 May
- a daily bag limit of 3 fish from 12 May to 31 August
- and a daily bag limit of 1 fish from 1 September to the end of the season.
- anglers fishing with a one day licence have a bag limit of one fish (only one tag is issued)
- The Bye-law also provides for the use of single hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait once the specified number of fish have been caught in the specified periods
- Please note that no sea trout of any size caught in the Western Region or the Clew Bay area of the North Western Region can be retained.
After the daily bag limit has been taken, anglers are permitted to fish catch and release, using single barbless hooks and there is a ban on the use of worms.
Local Restrictions
Some rivers impose their own local restrictions so when you are going to buy your permit for the River Gweebarra, please check with the distributor.
Key
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Open: Bag Limits |
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Open: Catch & Release |
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Closed: Sea Trout 40cm Or Less Only |
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Disabled Facilities |
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Salmon |
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Sea Trout |
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Brown Trout |
