First Salmon of the Year
2022 - Drowes
The first salmon of 2022 was landed this afternoon at 1.45 from the Eel Weir pool on the Lareen stretch of the river Drowes. The fish, estimated at 12lbs was taken on an eyed cone head shrimp pattern by Dublin angler Garrett Byrne. The fish was released to continue its onward journey.
Garrett Byrne, January 13th, Drowes
Although not the first salmon of the year, this famous angler gets a mention
2021 - Laune
Stephen Jordan caught the first salmon of the year on the river laune, using worm. The date was 20th January.
Stephen Jordan, River Laune (Stephens Pot), Feb 2021
2020 - Currane (Butlers Pool)
The first salmon of 2020 was caught on Saturday the 25th of January, on Butler’s Pool, Waterville in Co. Kerry. Local angler, Kevin O’Shea landed the first salmon, which weighed 12lbs and was caught using a 9ft rod with a fly.
2019 - Lackagh River
THE first salmon of 2019 has been caught and released on the Lackagh River in Donegal, Inland Fisheries Ireland has confirmed. Michael McCann of Templeard, Derry, landed the first salmon in the Garden Pool on the Lackagh at 9.25am on New Year’s Day. The salmon, which weighed approximately five pounds and was caught on a single barbless hook before being released. It was also the first salmon caught and released during International Year of the Salmon which takes place in 2019
Micheal Mccann, Lackagh River, 2019
2018 - Lough Beltra
It took a few days for the Lough Beltra to respond and Frank Dooley landed the first Salmon of 2018 on Sunday. His fresh 9lb fish couldn’t have come at a better time as it won him first prize in the Glenisland Anglers Co-operative competition.
Frank Dooley, Lough beltra, 2018
2017 - Blackwater (Fermoy)
Angler Ronan O'Connor caught a fresh run salmon in Fermoy, Co. Cork. The salmon weighed 7lbs and was confirmed as the first salmon caught in 2017 by Inland Fisheries Ireland. The springer, weighed 7 lbs, was caught on a spinner – the old reliable Flying-C. The river was high at 3′ 7″ on the Careysville gauge, with around 2ft visibility. The fish was caught at 4pm following a long cold morning full of rain and blustery winds. The afternoon saw conditions improve, the rain died off and the wind eased – some anglers believe they saw sunshine on the water! A few fresh fish were spotted then and shortly after Ronan struck into his bar of silver.
Ronan o Connor, Fermoy 2017
2016 - Currane
The first salmon of the 2016 season was caught last Monday at 10.50am by angling guide Neil O’Shea on Lough Currane in Waterville, Co Kerry. The fresh fish weighed 4.5kg (10lb) and taken while trolling a Rapala lure from “The Bridge” on the eastern side of the lough.
Neil o Shea, Loch Currane, 2016
2015 - Laune
Eighty-year- old Jerry Looney and his grandchildren Dara, Shane and Steven and great grandson Aaron at home in Woodlawn Killarney the 11lb salmon he caught in the Long Range, Killarney, at 8.35am on Saturday.
Jerry Looney, Long Range, 2015
2014 - Drowes
The first salmon of 2014 was landed this yesterday afternoon (07 January) from the River Drowes Bridge Pool at Lennox’s Bridge by Ballyshannon angler Eoin McManus. The salmon was straight from the sea – a bar of silver complete with long tailed sea lice. The almost 8lbs fish was taken on a Rapalla at 2.30pm.
Eoin Mcmanus, Drowes, 2014
2013 - Drowes
In a coincidence never before reported, two anglers landed the first salmon of the season at the same time. Both fish were caught on the River Drowes, each having fallen for the charms of the famous Flying C and were both landed at 12.40pm. Timothy Dalton from Omagh caught his 10lbs fish from the Blackwater while 4 miles downstream Colin Gardiner from Lurgan caught his 4.5lbs fish from the Wee Drain.
2012 - Liffey (Dublin)
Dublin’s River Liffey has produced the capture of Ireland’s first salmon of 2012. Declan Briggs landed the 8.5 lbs bar of silver at 9.50am on 1st January 2012 at Islandbridge on the River Liffey. The salmon was taken on a yellow Devon Minnow with a single barbless hook. The capture was witnessed by Inland Fisheries Ireland’s fishery officer Joe Delaney. Declan is a member of the Dublin Salmon Anglers, a club that has existed on the Liffey since the mid 1950’s. Declan played his part in research being carried out by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) on the River Liffey by taking scales from this multi sea wintered salmon before releasing the fish to continue its journey upriver.
