The river Drowes in Leitrim has yielded the first salmon of 2013. Fishing at the Black Water section on the Leitrim side of the river, at 12.40pm, Timothy Dalton, Omagh, Co Tyrone, (above right) connected with his 4.5kg (10lb) bar of silver on a Red Flying ‘C’ lure.
“This is the first time I have caught the first fish and I’m absolutely delighted,” said Mr Dalton.
Minutes later, Colin Gardiner (above left) from Lurgan, Co Armagh, stepped up to land a second fresh fish of 2kg from the Wee Drain Pool on a Black Flying ‘C’.
The Dublin Salmon Anglers club members were also out in force on the Liffey at Islandbridge in a bid to repeat last year’s feat of the first salmon.
Apart from three kelts, a sea trout and a good fish of 2.5kg lost at the bank by Robert Cording before 11am, the elusive wild fish failed to show.
Minister of State for Natural Resources Fergus O’Dowd, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) chief executive of the Eastern River Basin District William Walsh, IFI inspector Martin Kelly and DSA members were in on the “island” to celebrate the opening of the lower Liffey on a catch-and-release basis after five years.