Breaking: First salmon of the Year caught on the River Drowes

Ronnie Mc Morris, originally from Fermanagh, now living in Drumuckrim, Ballyshannon, caught the fish in his third cast

placeholder image — Ronnie Mc Morris, originally from Fermanagh, now living in Drumuckrim, Ballyshannon, caught the fish in his third cast

Estimated ten pounder caught just after midday from Briney’s Pool upstream of Lennox’s Bridge.

DonegalLive can confirm that the first River Drowes salmon of 2023 fish was landed just after midday from Briney’s Pool upstream of Lennox’s Bridge on the Donegal/Leitrim border.

Ronnie McMorris, originally from Fermanagh, now living in Drumuckrim, Ballyshannon, caught the fish in his third cast and it is believed to be the first caught and released wild salmon of this year.

The fish, was fresh in and sea liced.

The fish, estimated at 10lbs took an Ally’s Shrimp variant and was released to continue its onward journey.

Ronnie received the Drowes Perpetual Cup for the first salmon from the Drowes of the 2023 season and also the Thomas Gallagher Conservation Cup for the first caught and released salmon of the season.

Ronnie with the Drowes Perpetual Cup and the Thomas Gallagher Conservation Cup

McHugh's Miscellany: The first bradán caught on the Drowes River has become a yearly institution

It is believed to be the first caught and released salmon in Ireland of the 2023 season.

Congratulations to all concerned and Shane Gallagher of the Drowes Salmon fishery, who told the website he hoped that this would be just the first of many wild salmon caught on the Drowes this season.

In 2022, a 12 pounder was landed just two weeks after the start of the traditional Drowes salmon season, on January 13, from the Eel Weir pool on the Lareen stretch of the river.