Shane Gallagher from the Drowes looks forward to the coming salmon season…
This day 5 weeks the 2014 salmon season will be in full swing on the Drowes. It seems like only yesterday since the last cast on 30th September. The weather this autumn has continued very mild and relatively dry. There hasn’t been the usual Autumn/Winter floods. The water level has hardly been above 0.75 since the last day of the season and is currently just above 0.6 metres on the gauge at the Four Master’s Bridge. The mild weather and low water levels have been a great oppourtunity to carry out some repairs and maintenance on the river walkways.
While on the riverbank we have seen quite a bit of activity as fish jockey for position ahead of imminent spawning. There are some small patches of turned gravel visible but the spawning season has yet to begin in earnest as the mild weather continues. Day time temperatures today were air 10c and water 8c.
The Wild Salmon And Sea Trout Statistics Report 2012 has been published and is available from http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/Salmon-Management/wild-salmon-and-sea-trout-statistics.html
The total salmon catch for the Drowes for 2012 was 1269 salmon.
Of these 414 were caught and released.
295 spring salmon (multi sea winter fish) were recorded. Of these 91 were released.
974 grilse (one sea winter fish) were recorded. Of these 323 were released.
The peak months for spring fish were April and May while the peak months for grilse were June and July.
Catch Methods
42% of salmon were taken on fly
22% were taken on prawn/shrimp
21% were taken on spinner
10% were taken on worm
5% not specified
The staff of IFI have yet again done a tremendous job compiling a very detailed and interesting report that is a vital tool in the successful management of the wild salmon resource on a river by river basis.
It is important for anyone who has yet to send in their 2013 licence and log book to do so as soon as possible. Returns can be sent in the prepaid envelope that came with your salmon licence or posted to:
Inland Fisheries Ireland
Station Road
Ballyshannon
Co. Donegal
Ireland
There will be regular reports with condition updates, shop opening times etc, between now and opening day.
Shane Gallagher
Drowes Salmon Fishery
T: +353 (0) 71 98 41055
M: +353 (0) 87 8050806
http://www.drowessalmonfishery.ie/reports/
Make a booking
For info/bookings etc on the Drowes Fishery & Lough Melvin seehttp://www.drowessalmonfishery.com/ or Tel: 071 9841055 (8am to 12 noon).
