No salmon to report yet from famous Drowes River   

No salmon were reported on the first days of the 2023 angling season on the River Drowes. 

On Sunday, January 1, the first day of the season, conditions were described as cold but calm and dry with water levels at 0.77 metres on the gauge. 

Shane Gallagher from the Drowes Fishery Fisheries told www.donegallive.ie that the first few days of the 2023 season had seen some excellent weather conditions for fishing.

He said:

“I have seen the water a lot higher and it was January 13 before we got our first salmon last year. The trend appears to be that the salmon are coming later than before and over more recent years, there has been more than one occasion when we have had to wait until February before the first salmon was caught.”    

The river, which feeds off Lough Melvin near Kinlough straddles the border between south Donegal and north Leitrim.

The first salmon of 2022 was landed on January 13 last from the Eel Weir pool on the Lareen stretch of the river Drowes. 

The fish, estimated at 12lbs was taken on an eyed cone head shrimp pattern by Dublin angler Garrett Byrne, who received the Drowes Perpetual Cup for the first salmon of the season as well as the Thomas Gallagher Conservation Cup for the first caught and released fish of the season.

The trend of more recent years is one of catch and release, although in the case of the Drowes there is no legal requirement in returning any legitimate caught salmon to the water, as stock levels are currently deemed sustainable and it is a fully open river for salmon, during the season. 

There are seven rivers fully open (harvestable) in Donegal for the 2023 angling season.

Ballyshannon District: Drowes and Owenwee (Yellow River)

Letterkenny District: Owenea/Owentocker, Brown Tag; Clady, Brown Tag; Crana, Brown Tag; Tullaghobegly

and Gweedore (Crolly River). The Gweebara River is Catch & Release until 11th May and Open from 12th May onwards.