Salmon and trout angling | Coarse angling
Monday 25th February to Sunday 2nd March 2008.
Angling on the Drowes picked up this week with a good numbers of salmon entering the fishery. There were a number of visitors fishing over the weekend and 6 salmon were recorded to date all weighing around 10lb. I am awaiting some of the details of the same. All fish were very fresh and sea liced. On Friday, Columba Fitzpatrick recorded a 10lb salmon caught on worm. There was a further 10lb salmon caught on the same day. On Saturday, John Ford accounted for a 10½lb salmon caught on the spinner from The Meadow and there were 2 further salmon caught weighing in around 10lb. On Sunday there was a further 10lb plus salmon caught. There were also a number of fresh fish hooked and lost. At the time of writing the river is rising and we have strong winds, snow, hail, sleet and rain. The forecast is for more of the same though the winds are to turn southerly which should raise temperatures somewhat.
With the horrible weather conditions this week and weekend there were few people fishing Melvin. We do however, have the first salmon caught, both north and south and both from the Rossinver Fishery. The first salmon caught from the southern side of the lough weighed 7lb and was caught trolling off Ward’s Point by Ernie Lowden on Thursday. The first salmon caught from Northern Ireland side of the lough weighed 9lb and was caught trolling by Rodney Benson on Saturday from Phonsie McGovern’s section. Unfortunately, the rest of the Northern Ireland waters still remain closed until the paperwork on the lease is resolved.
The Erne Estuary opened on Saturday for sea trout and brown trout fishing. The fishery is once again closed for salmon fishing (though salmon are rarely caught in the estuary!). Fishing is for brown trout and sea trout up to 40cm (any of 40cm or larger have to be returned safely to the water). The weather on Saturday and Sunday was best described as brutal! With gale force winds and driving sleet, snow and hail, conditions were not very enjoyable. Despite the conditions, 7 anglers fished on Saturday and 5 sea trout to 1½lb were caught on sandeel. It was far too windy to fish fly and even uncomfortable to spin! The forecast is for more of the same weather this week so I would not expect too many anglers to be fishing over the week although the worst weather generally seems to be best for sea trout fishing.
no report
The Northern Regional Fisheries Board presents this web site as a useful guide to salmon, trout and coarse fishing in Donegal, Leitrim and Cavan.