Salmon and trout fishing
Angling Reports
- 2 salmon caught on Drowse but Melvin cold and quiet.
[updated 22 February 2010]
Notice
Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations for the 2010 Season.
CONSERVATION OF TROUT BYE-LAW NO. 869, 2010 (LOUGH GOWNA)
This Bye-law provides for the following trout conservation measures in Lough Gowna:
- Provides for a daily bag limit of 4 trout and
- Prohibits the taking of trout less than 12 inches (30 cm).
Catch and Release
How to: Catch and Release for Atlantic Salmon
Anisakis in salmon
Comment on Newspaper Reports on the Anisakis simplex parasite
Donegal is one of Irelands best kept secrets having traditionally been ‘off’ the usual tourist trails. From a game angling point of view, if your idea of angling heaven is solitude, wild fish, scenery and unspoilt fishing then look no further. To those ‘in the know’ the region possesses a number of high quality salmon and trout fisheries. In fact Donegal produces more salmon per year than Iceland! The Region consistently produces the first Irish salmon of the season on 1st January from either the Drowes River (Bundrowes) or the Lennon River. Anglers flock to catch that coveted fish, but mainly I think to partake in the ‘Craic’ and the camaraderie that is the first day of the salmon-angling season. The Drowse is one of the better-known spring salmon and grilse fisheries of the county located near the popular holiday and surfing town of Bundoran. The river flows for some 4 ½ miles draining the famous Lough Melvin and has 55 named pools producing around 1000 plus salmon each season.
The county also boasts some prolific salmon and sea trout spate rivers. The Owenea, Eany and Glen spring to mind. The Owenea River is beloved by fly anglers consisting of streamy runs interspersed with pools creating lovely fly water. When water conditions are good this is a prolific little river. There is a beat system on the Owenea so angling numbers are limited and peace assured. Spring salmon are caught from April onwards and the grilse enter the river in numbers from late May to the end of the season. Sea trout numbers are slowly increasing again after the collapse of recent times.
Map of Donegal fisheries. Click for larger image.
The Eany Fishery is a similar ‘spatey’ river, which produces a lot of salmon after a flood. The river consists of the Eanymore and Eanybeg rivers. The two rivers meet at Frosses to form the Eany River giving 9 ½ miles of fishable water. The main river runs through some mature woodland and is very picturesque with runs, waterfalls and riffles. Salmon arrive in large numbers from late May / early June and are caught in good numbers right up until the end of the season.
The Glen River is located in the beautiful area surrounding Carrick. It is adjacent to Slieve League, the highest sea cliffs in Europe. A sight not to be missed on a clear day! The river is a well-run fishery, which is spatey in nature. Salmon enter the river from May onwards but it is in early July when the big run of grilse begins. The river can recently boast salmon to 25lb and sea trout to 9lb. The Glen has plenty of good ‘fly water’ running through unspoilt countryside.
When it comes to brown trout, Donegal is not as well known as some of the midland counties. That’s not to say that there are no renowned trout fisheries and the area boasts some great salmon and trout loughs. Lough Melvin is a shining example. An impressive 5,100 acres in size, Melvin has a unique fish community. Isolated for 13,000 years since the last ice age, the trout have evolved into the separate sub-species of Gillaroo, Brown, Sonaghan and Ferox trout. Also present are Salmon and Arctic Char in abundance. Then there’s the Rosses, acres of sea trout, salmon and brown trout fishing on a myriad of different waters. And if you like your brown trout fishing in wild mountain loughs, there’s so many that a single adventurous angler would never get to fish them all in a lifetime.
As many of our rivers and lakes are in nature reserves or Special Areas of Conservation, anglers should take extra care not to disturb the fauna and flora. If in doubt contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service at Glenveagh National Park, Co. Donegal. Tel: (074) 9137090.
SALMON and SEA TROUT Licence fees 2009
A State Licence is required to fish for salmon and sea trout, but does not entitle you to fish. Permits or permission from fisheries owners must be obtained.
- All Districts (i.e. all Regions) Annual: €134 (incl. €67 conservation stamp)
- Juvenile (under the age of 18 years) All Districts Annual: €20 (incl. €10 conservation stamp)
- One District, Annual: €64 (incl. €32 conservation stamp)
- All districts, 21 Days: €50 (incl. €25 conservation stamp)
- All districts, 1 Day: €36 (incl. €18 conservation stamp)
- Foyle Extension (Covers the holder of a valid Foyle licence to fish for salmon and sea trout in the Republic of Ireland as per A) €84
- Special Local Licence (Entitles the angler to fish the Erne Estuary) - without valid state licence - €100
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Extension
(Special Local Licence) If applicant is in possession of a valid state licence, Erne Estuary licence can be purchased as an extension.
No tags to be issued with this licence. €26
ALLOCATION OF TAGS FOR 2009
There is a limit of 10 tags per angler per year.
Up until the 11th May, no more than 3 tags can be issued. On 12th May onwards the balance of the 10 tags shall be issued in batches of 4 and 3 on presentation of a logbook showing previous tags have been used.
On 12th May onwards for a new licence no more than 4 tags to be issued on the first allocation, the balance of the tags will be issued in batches of 3 and 3 on presentation of a logbook showing that previous tags have been used.
New salmon angling regulations 2009
For an outline of what is contained in all the regulatins regarding the 2009 salmon angling season click this link: Key Information for Anglers for the 2009 Fishing Season
General salmon angling regulations
- All salmon (and sea trout over 40cm) kept must be tagged, and the logbook filled out accordingly.
- The salmon and sea trout season opens on January 1st in some fisheries. Most fisheries open at a later date (various dates up to the March 20th). Most fisheries close on September 30th with some exceptions which close on various dates between September 15th and October 12th.
- It is prohibited sell rod caught salmon or sea trout over 40cm between January 1st and October 31st
Salmon & Sea Trout Tagging Scheme.
All anglers are legally required to tag and record all salmon and any sea trout over 40cm in length. Each angler will be issued with plastic gill tags and a logbook when they purchase a salmon rod licence. All salmon and any sea trout over 40cm in length must be tagged. Tags must be inserted through the gills and mouth and securely tightened. It is an offence to be in possession of a salmon or a sea trout over 40cm that is untagged. The tag number, size of fish and catch location must be entered into the logbook. Anglers found with untagged fish or failing to produce a logbook or licence on request will be issued with an on the spot fine.
