The quest continues as the famous 'first salmon' remains elusive

Anglers will return to the five miles of the River Drowes on the Donegal Leitrim border after New Year's Day passed without the first salmon being caught.

A spokesperson for the Drowes Salmon Fishery took to Facebook after fishing closed for the day to say: "No fresh salmon were reported at the end of the first day of the 2023 angling season.

"Conditions were cold but calm and dry with water levels at 0.77 metres on the gauge.

"The weather for tomorrow is forecast mostly dry so water levels should continue to drop slowly.

"I would like to thank everyone who fished or called in today and wish our friends and anglers everywhere a very happy, healthy New Year and Tight Lines for the new season."

New Year's Day is the traditional opening day of the salmon season on the Drowes, and the competition to make the first catch adds to the excitement of the new season. Indeed, it attracts anglers from all over the country who come to the Drowes' 70 named pools.

Covid-19 put paid to many anglers' travel plans in recent years, so for some enthusiasts, the opening of the 2023 season has been a very long time coming.

In bygone years, the first salmon tended to make a relatively early appearance but there have been some seasons when the patience of even the most seasoned anglers was sorely tested. In 2020, the last pre-Covid season, the first salmon wasn't landed until Valentine's Day, February 14. 

In 2022, the honour went to Dublin angler Garrett Byrne whose patience was rewarded on January 13. He landed the 12lbs fish at 1.45pm from the Eel Weir pool on the Lareen stretch of the river.

Garrett was awarded the Drowes Perpetual Cup for the first salmon of the season, and the Thomas Gallagher Conservation Cup for the first caught and released fish of the season.