Lindsey Clarke reports from the River Drowes – Monday 18th to Sunday 31st March 2013, (2 weeks).

The river continued to run at very low levels. There was a small rise in water levels but this ran off once again and the river gauge is now reading well below 0.5 meters. Conditions were decidedly cold with the easterly persisting bringing cold arctic air. This lead to very low daytime air temperatures with frosty nights. The water temperature is still only reading 5º Celsius.

Despite the far from ideal conditions, the fishery fished fairly well and there were good numbers of salmon caught with many of these being double figure fish. On the 21st, Paul McCausland recorded a 7½lb salmon caught on a Flying ‘C’ lure from the Red Roof. On the 22nd, C. McGovern logged a 5lb fish caught on worm from the Upper Mill. On the 23rd, Brian McEvoy caught and released two salmon. These weighed 5 & 10lb and were caught on a Devon Minnow from the Island Pool & The Cascades respectively. On the 24th, Jerry Doyle registered a 10lb salmon caught on a spinner from Peter’s Reeds and T. Parker caught & released a 10lb salmon that fell to a Tadpole Spinner from The Meadow. On the 26th, T. Parker recorded a further 10 lb salmon caught and released on a Tadpole Spinner from The Meadow once again.

B.Likely with 10lb salmon & D.O'Toole with a 12lb salmon from the Drowes
B.Likely with 10lb salmon & D.O'Toole with a 12lb salmon from the Drowes

On the 27th, Bill Likely logged a 10lb salmon caught on a Rapala from the Sand Hole and Denis O’Toole accounted for a 12lb salmon caught on a Tunny Boy fly from The Grazings. On the 28th, Darryl Kennedy recorded a 10lb salmon caught on prawn from the Money Hole and Jurgen Tenhalter logged an 8lb salmon caught on a Rapala lure from the Sand Hole. On the 29th, Stephen Hooper registered a 10lb salmon caught on prawn from the Money Hole. On the 31st, Aaron Watton accounted for an 11lb salmon caught on a spinner from Lennox’s Bridge.

At the time of writing the forecast for the week remains much the same with easterlies bring cold air but there is a small lift in air temperatures and the weekend is to become warmer and wetter which will hopefully bring some much needed rain.

Lindsey Clarke
IFI-Ballyshannon.
email: [email protected]

Make a booking

For info/bookings etc on the Drowes Fishery & Lough Melvin see the website: http://www.drowessalmonfishery.com/ or Tel: +353 (0)71 9841055 (8 am to 12 noon).