A quick photo and then the first Drowes salmon of 2023 was safely released
It was a case of third time lucky for the first salmon landed on the Drowes this year. Only the third salmon reported so far this season, the first two fish) caught on the blackwater and Lough Currane) were knocked on the head. Drowes Fishery manager, Shane Gallagher has the story his rivers first fish of 2023…
Ronnie Mc Morris prepares to release the first salmon from the Drowes this year
First Drowes fish of the year was landed just after midday from Briney’s Pool upstream of Lennox’s Bridge. Ronnie Mc Morris, originally from Fermanagh, now living in Drumuckrim, Ballyshannon, caught the fish in his third cast. The salmon was fresh in and sea liced. Estimated at 10lbs, it took an Ally’s Shrimp variant and was released to continue its onward journey.
The fly…
Ronnie received the Drowes Perpetual Cup for the first salmon from the Drowes of the 2023 season and also the Thomas Gallagher Conservation Cup for the first caught and released salmon of the season.
Ronnie with the Drowes Perpetual Cup and the Thomas Gallagher Conservation Cup
It is believed to me the first caught and released salmon in Ireland if the 2023 season. [Ed. – Certainly the first one reported to Inland Fisheries Ireland this year!]
Go fishing…
River Drowes
The Drowes Fishery is one of Ireland’s premier spring salmon and grilse fisheries. 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 Tel: 071 9841055 (8am to 12 noon). Mob: +353 (0) 87 8050806
It was a dry week for most of the country, with only 10-15% of normal rainfall recorded, and only slightly more in the west and northwest. Temperatures were 6 to 8°C, cooler in the midlands and milder in western regions. There were some very sunny days and these went down well with anyone out and about this week, particularly with that noticeable stretch in the evenings…
After the big floods a couple of weeks ago most of the rivers have dropped back considerably and there is plenty of good fishing water on those rivers which have opened already. Decent conditions on the Munster Blackwater saw a good turn out on the river on Wednesday. Ray O’Dwyer fishing at Careysville marked the opening day with the first salmon of the season, a 6.25lbs sea liced fish. Ray took the salmon on a tube fly. The 2023 opener at the Galway Fishery began with a gathering of anglers and friends, but high water limited angling.
The Ireland on the Fly podcast focuses on Lough Carrowmore, known for being one of the best lakes for spring salmon on the fly in Europe, and features a discussion with Brian Hope from the Bangor Erris Angling Club to provide tips on fishing at this location.
There were some lovely pike caught in the Leinster Pike Anglers winter league
Pike anglers Anne Marie and Stephen had a successful pike fishing trip on Lough Derg with Damien Culliney of Anglers Paradise, catching 10 fish including a 104 cm PB for Anne Marie, and both clients and guide are already planning another trip due to the enjoyment of the experience. Elsewhere Mark Kiernan won the Leinster Pike Angling Club’s winter league with 18 fish for 60lb 11oz, followed by Mark Byrne with 15 fish for 48lb 6oz, and Mark McKenna with 6 fish for 26lb 1oz. Meanwhile, 35 Newbridge District Pike Anglers fished in a competition with canal and river venues at the weekend. Most anglers opted for the river and had a productive day. 72 pike were caught, with Adam Craig breaking his PB with a 19lb fish and David Quinlivan landing 11 fish for 49.04lb.
If you can’t go fishing this weekend why not join Norbert Renaud of L’ile Verte Pike Fishing Lodge for a Friday night livestream featuring chat, beers, and flies, as he shares his expertise on catching hard fighting Irish pike and offers gear reviews, fly tying, and fishing footage on his YouTube channel.
In coarse angling, Alan Larkin won Round 4 of CM Lakelands Muckno Feeder League by dominating the competition at the top end of Black Island with 4.420kg, while Joe Nolan took second overall.
Not often seen by shore anglers – haddock!
Catch of the week this week goes to Aaron Vambeck with a shore caught haddock from Donegal. One of the Mariners club members, his catch goes down as a new club record shore haddock (their only shore caught haddock!).
The 2023 Irish Winter Shore Angling Festival took place from January 26th to 28th in east Wexford with 124 entries. The competitors fished at three different beaches and captured various species including Flounder, Dab, Codling, Coalfish, Rockling, Lesser Spotted Dogfish, Whiting and Bass, recording a total of 3,135 fish.
The 2023 Irish Winter Shore Angling Festival took place on east Wexford beaches
The winners of the festival include Under 18’s Max Roche, Ladies Jane Cantwell, Pairs Richard Yates and Chris Clark, 4 Person team Richard Yates, Chris Clark, John White, Sam Collier, and Individual Ben Arnold.
Spurdogs!
Anglers on a Wicklow Boat Charter had a successful day of fishing, landing 7 specimen sized spurdog and many others around the meter mark. Also at sea last week was Jim Clohessy, fishing off the cork coast aboard Skua. He was searching for pollack and codling and was pleased to find a steady flow of fish, including pollack, big wrasse, and codling, all caught using soft plastic lures and 60g jig heads.
Cormac Walsh is back with the Lure Fishing Podcast and his latest episode features a conversation with renowned sea angling photographer and bass fishing expert Henry Gilbey covering various topics on bass fishing and lure fishing.
And now the weather…
Today and tonight will be mostly cloudy with light rain and drizzle, temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees and 5 to 8 degrees, and moderate to fresh southwesterly winds. Tomorrow, rain will develop in the northwest and turn colder with temperatures ranging from 6 to 11 degrees and moderating to fresh northwesterly winds.
The next few days will be quite settled with occasional rain and drizzle. Temperatures will be near or above the February average, with cold and dry conditions on Saturday night leading to frost and possibly ice. Sunday will be dry with sunshine, followed by cloudy weather with light rain or drizzle on Sunday night and Monday. The cloud and patchy rain will clear southeastwards on Tuesday, potentially lingering in the southeast into the evening. The outlook for Wednesday is settled but with the possibility of rain on Thursday.
If the fish aren’t biting why not cut a few rushes and have a go a making a St Brigid’s cross? Or reach back further in time and mark the old Celtic feast of Imbolg that celebrated the rebirth of nature after the long death of winter.
Don’t forget there’s an extra day’s fishing this weekend (Go raimh maith agat Naomh Bríd). We hope loads of you get out on the water, but don’t forget to check the weather, check the tides and check the river conditions before you travel.
Catch of the week this week goes to Aaron Vambeck with a shore caught haddock from the pier which also goes down as a new club record shore haddock (the only shore caught haddock). A fantastic catch well done! Aaron also had thornback rays, dogs, dabs, scorpions etc. on a great evening out.
L-R Jose Perez, Maureen Byrne, Andrew Crosbie, Christine Meehan
Protection and Development posts opening up in Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Waterford and Wexford
Inland Fisheries Ireland, the state agency responsible for the protection, conservation, development and promotion of freshwater fish, habitats and sea angling, is launching its recruitment drive today to hire 36 Seasonal Fisheries Officers.
Subject to funding, the six-month posts are divided across seven River Basin Districts, covering 15 counties with recruitment getting underway immediately.
Seasonal Fisheries Officers will join teams over the summer months to help protect, conserve and develop fisheries resources working in and around Ireland’s lakes, rivers and coastlines.
The agency plans to launch a second recruitment drive in the coming weeks for Seasonal Research Assistants.
Christine Meehan Fisheries Officer
The Seasonal Recruitment campaign will open for applications tomorrow Saturday 4th February 2023.
Those interested in applying for a six-month Seasonal Fisheries Officer role can apply on-line at www.fisheriesireland.ie/careers, before the deadline of Tuesday, 21st of February 2023.
Fisheries Officer on patrol
Location of posts (Subject to budget availability)
Cavan (River Basin Districts: North-Western)
Clare (River Basin District: Shannon)
Cork (River Basin District: South-Western)
Donegal (River Basin District: North-Western)
Dublin (River Basin District: Eastern)
Galway (River Basin District: Western – Galway)
Kerry (River Basin Districts: South-Western)
Leitrim (River Basin District: Shannon)
Limerick (River Basin District: Shannon)
Louth (River Basin District: Eastern)
Mayo (River Basin Districts: Western – Ballina)
Roscommon (River Basin District: Eastern)
Sligo (River Basin District: Western – Ballina)
Waterford (River Basin District: South-Eastern and South-Western)
On the Erne System, Guided Predator Angling have been busy again. Check out Simon’s short report below…
No bites to near lunch time today had me starting to sweat!
A few changes of location thankfully picked up a few fish, including one with a real nasty wound but at least it looked healed and the fish was still feeding!
Few fish each for the lads and and enjoyable day all round, even if the wind was a nightmare!
This Friday, at 7pm (8pm French time!), you can join Norbert Renaud of L’ile Verte Pike Fishing Lodge for his Friday night livestream where chat, beers and flies are the focus of the evening.
For the uninitiated, Norbert is a French fishing guide who specialises in catching hard fighting Irish pike in his home waters around Killeshandra in Cavan.
Norbert has some great videos up on his YouTube channel, including gear reviews, fly tying and putting his money where his mouth is by catching some great Irish pike on the fly from his drift boat or float tube.
Round 4 of C/M Lakelands Muckno Feeder League was fished on Sunday last and twenty four anglers tackled up in what turned out to be a very competitive match.
In the end, Alan Larkin dominated the top of Black Island to win the match with 4.420kg. There was a close battle with Joe Nolan and Robertas on Yellow Island, with Joe just about winning the section to put him 2nd overall.
The ever consistent Steve Whyte won the bottom end of Black Island.
Cormac Walsh from BassfishingIreland recently started the Lure Fishing Podcast, and we featured his first episode with Michael Kelly from Evobass Lures, an Irish lure manufacturing company. His latest episode is a real treat for bass anglers, as he is joined by Henry Gilbey. Henry is known far and wide in the sea angling world, having been a fishing photographer for many years, and starred in his own TV fishing series in the past. In recent years, he has been totally focussed on lure fishing for bass, and has a huge following online.
Henry Gilbey
Cormac and Henry enjoy a wide-ranging conversation, covering bass fishing from Ireland south to Portugal, lures and rods, his guiding work in Kerry and much much more. For a fascinating listen, listen or download on Spotify here.
The popular podcast turns its focus on Lough Carrowmore, probably the best best lake for spring salmon on the fly in Europe
Although the salmon season has only just got under way, some of you may be looking to make plans for your spring fishing and one fishery that has always caught the eye is Carrowmore Lake in the far corner of Mayo on the Erris peninsula.
Renowned as a spring salmon lough it usually features with some of the earliest salmon caught in Ireland each year but as you’ll find out, Carrowmore is an awful lot more as well.
And so for this fishery focus episode Daire and Tom speak to Brian Hope, a member of the local Bangor Erris Angling Club to get the finer points on making the most out of your fishing on the lough.
Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify at: https://pod.fo/e/16219f
Vincent Appleby reports from Lough Currane where the first salmon of the season has finally been caught…
25/1/2023 Straight to the quote of the day from Currane angler Mr. Eric Jouen of Waterville Boats and at watervilleboats@gmail.com and I quote, 3 boats out and no screaming reel, well I think that sums up today’s manipulations. Wind WNW and veered N and come evening veered again into NE light to fresh.
26/1/2023 Just 3 boats out and all was quiet on the SW front, be it fish or wind and talking of wind it was coming from the NNE light and overcast all day and cold.
27/1/23 Just 3 boats out and all was quiet on the SW front, be it fish or wind and talking of wind it was coming from the NNE light and overcast all day and cold. 27/1/2023 The three wise Currane boats were again all quiet on this calm and cold day. Wind NE light and variable.
28/1/2023 Just three boats out again today and still waiting for the first elusive Wild Atlantic Salmon. Wind first thing this morning was SSE and veered SW and veered again around 3pm into the NW light, strongest wind speed was 13 km/h. Followed by good cloud cover.
29/1/2023 The Only Currane angler that was out this day was Mr. Eric Jouen of Waterville boats and at watervilleboats@gmail.com and sadly his reels were all quiet. Wind light to fresh WNW and overcast.
30/1/2022 Just three boats out this day, Local Currane angler Mr. Eric Jouen of Waterville Boats and at watervilleboats@gmail.com reported that there were a few kelts caught on the troll. Wind WNW and veered SW light to fresh average speed 17 Km/h
31/1/2023 Local angler Mr. Eric Jouen of Waterville boats and at watervilleboats@gmail.com reported that he was the only boat out this day and precured a couple of Kelts. Wind NW fresh and overcast.
1/2/2023 Mr. Eric Jouen of Waterville Boats and at watervilleboats@gmail.com reports that he was the only boat manipulating his lures and caught one Kelt for his efforts. Wind WNW veered W average wind speed was 30 Km/h and overcast.
2/2/2023 Mr. Eric Jouen of Waterville Boats and at watervilleboats@gmail.com makes all the headlines! Currane’s first spring salmon of the season reported, caught on the troll by the Eric.
The rivers and lakes of Waterville drain a large catchment and are regarded by many as the foremost Salmon and Sea-Trout fishery in the country. The lake system is well developed with access to boats and guides being readily available to the tourist angler. The Sea-Trout caught here are renowned for their size and quantity. For more details see:
Notes: Located at Lakelands House Bed and Breakfast and Self Catering Accommodation, on Ireland’s best sea trout lake, Lough Currane. Frank is a professional angling guide and boatman.
Sea angling can be arranged with local operators.
Boat Hire
Boats for hire. All boats and engines are moored on the farm, 300 metres from the house, with easy access from the road with car park and boat shed.
Notes: Having ghillied on Lough Currane for over 30 years Vincent is a great choice for those looking for a guided service or flyfishing instruction on the Lake. All ages are catered for and even experienced anglers will benefit from the watercraft and fly-lore unique to Lough Currane. All tackle is provided and accommodation can be organised if required.
Boat Hire
Salmon and Sea-Trout fishing Guide
