Fishery manager Shane Gallagher reports from the Drowes as we start a new season:

The first days of the 2017 salmon season has 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.

Gareth Mc Ateer in action on the Mill Pool on New Years Day 2017
Gareth Mc Ateer in action on the Mill Pool on New Years Day 2017
The last casts of opening day at the Nursery
The last casts of opening day at the Nursery

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.

Low water meant good fly fishing conditions for opening day. 2017

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.

The Mill Pool, an ever popular spot on opening day and scene of a lost fish early on in the day - Jan 1st 2017
The Mill Pool, an ever popular spot on opening day and scene of a lost fish early on in the day – Jan 1st 2017

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: 071 9841055 (8am to 12 noon).
Mob: +353 (0) 87 8050806