REVELLERS WILL get a taste of the first salmon of the new year at a charity function in Bundoran, Co Donegal.
The first salmon of 2011 in Ireland was caught on Saturday within 10 minutes of the start of fishing in the new season on the river Drowse in Co Leitrim.
Ian Martin (46), caught the salmon with at the Drowse Salmon Fishery between Kinlough and Bundoran.
It was reckoned to have been the fastest-caught fish of any new year.
Mr Martin landed the fresh spring salmon, weighing 5.2kg (11lb 7oz) on his third cast from the Blackwater section of the river, on a one-inch Flame Thrower Copper Tube Fly.
‘With just 40 minutes into the season, it’s one of the earliest salmon to be caught on opening day,” according to fisheries owner Shane Gallagher.
The prize fish will form part of a dinner in the Fox’s Lair Hotel, Bundoran, Co Donegal this Friday evening from which proceeds will go to charity.
An excited Mr Martin, of Tullyroan, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, caught the salmon at 8.40am.
Mr Martin, a father of two said: “He took the fly very deep. It was an exciting moment for me.
“I’ve been fishing here every New Year’s Day for about 20 years and this is the first time I got the first. I love salmon fishing. I fish all over Ireland and Scotland whenever I can.”
Up to 100 anglers sought to catch the first salmon in the river.