Fishery manager Shane Gallagher reports from the Irish river Drowes as we start a new season: The first days of the 2017 salmon season have ended without any fish being reported. Over one hundred anglers wetted a line on the first day of the season in near perfect conditions but apart from reports of a couple of fish lost, none were landed on the first day of the season.

Despite heavy rain yesterday, water levels barely rose to just 0.606 metres on the gauge this evening. The day was mainly dry and sunny in a northerly breeze, turning bitterly cold this evening. The forecast is for further bright, dry conditions for tomorrow, remaining cold with top temperatures of 3 to 5 degrees. The weather will turn milder and cloudier from Tuesday in westerly winds, remaining dry with temperatures of 7 to 8 degrees.

Thanks to all the anglers who made the trip to the river on the first day. In current conditions I cant imagine the wait for the first silver of 2017 will last much longer.

Shane Gallagher
Drowes Salmon Fishery

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The Drowes Fishery is one of Ireland’s premier spring salmon and grilse fisheries. The Drowes is among the earliest opening salmon fisheries in the country and regularly claims the honour of producing Ireland’s first salmon of the season on opening day, January 1st. The river is some 5 miles in length, with over 70 named pools, flowing from Lough Melvin at Lareen Bay and entering the sea at Tullaghan, just outside Bundoran. The Drowes has a wide variety of water suitable for all fishing methods, including several miles of good fly water and deeper slower moving pools suitable for spinning and bait fishing.

For information and bookings on the Drowes Fishery & Lough Melvin see http://www.drowessalmonfishery.com or tel: +353 (0)71 – 9841 055 (8 am to 12 noon). Mob: +353 (0)87 – 8050 806