The first salmon of the year was caught by Colin Gardiner on the river Drowes in Co Leitrim at noon last Saturday. Gardiner, who hails from Lurgan, Co Armagh, caught the 6kg fish on a black Flying C with silver blade in the Money Hole on the Lareen estate, Kinlough, Co Leitrim.
"Colin is here at Lareen fishery almost every weekend, and also has the distinction of catching the first salmon in 2005," said fisheries manager Shane Gallagher.
New legislation restricting the closure of many unsustainable salmon rivers meant the Drowes was the only river to open in Ireland on New Year's Day. The Drowes is a premier spring salmon river, and has a catch limit of 3,845 fish for the 2008 season.
As a result, more than 200 anglers descended on this delightful river on opening day. "While the angling pressure eased back to about 35 anglers per day during the week, I expected a big influx on Saturday and yesterday," said Gallagher.
Gardiner presented the fish to Brendan Faulkner, proprietor of the Foxes Lair restaurant in Bundoran, Co Donegal, who will host a buffet dinner for charity, proceeds of which will be given to the paediatric ward of Sligo General Hospital.
Lough Gill in Co Sligo also opened last Tuesday, but angling was restricted to catch and release. In contrast, the Liffey, which also traditionally opened on New Year's Day, is closed for salmon and sea trout for the entire season because the river is below a sustainable level.