My cold weather clothing for early salmon fishing 2023.

 My cold weather gear for the start of the 2023 salmon and trout season. When you are well layered it's always easier to take stuff off if you're hot rather than trying to find extra layers to put on once cold. The main thing is to block cold air coming in and the extremities such as hands, face and feet are always going to get hit first so I have neck gators to stop inward draughts, fingerless polartec gloves for keeping the wrists and hands warm because once they are warm they'll keep the fingers warm. The leg booties keep my feet warm while wading in freezing cold water so once all my extremities are covered I can comfortably fish well and catch fish rather than be cold and miserable on a really bad day. Old saying "there's no such thing as bad fishing weather just badly dressed fishermen". Video below. 

https://youtube.com/shorts/aQTsTG4Ho9w?feature=share

Like and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more videos. 

Opening day Salmon season 2023 "Laune River".

 Opening day Salmon fishing season 2023 on the Laune river. Got to the river a bit late due to slow traffic conditions because of the icey roads, especially coming over the county bounds. I went straight up to beat 1 and was surprised how high the water level was basically all the way up to the hut. A few trees were down blocking access to most areas, and between high water and soft bank it made fishing sketchy to say the least.

There were about a dozen anglers in total fishing beat 1&2 on both banks, a few kelts were met and returned but no fresh salmon was seen or caught during the time I was there. It was definitely out for fly so I concentrated on spinning and I fished the bottom of beat 2 from Beaufort Bridge upto beat 1 covering the areas that I could safely gain access to. These days I prefer caution over bravery so if it looks dodgy walk away. The bank from the laune bridge looking down to beat 2 is under water and that was just about my limit of stupidness so I fished down to the bend and basically tore up the bottom with the spinner covering as much water as I could. I gave the top of  beat 1 a good run through and also below beat 1 where I could get access to the river but again nothing met. At about 3.30 I decided it was best to head back home and to be honest the snow covered mountains and landscape were just breathtaking so I was delighted to have spent time enjoying the scenery and any day that one doesn't get poured on by rain is a good day. The water level was 2.68m at the bridge so looking at my pictures you can guage height as it drops. Here are some pictures of beat 1 & 2 from the top of beat 1 to Beaufort Bridge. I did see 2 silver salmon on my journey but definitely not fresh. Pictures below fish included.

Salmon Fishing Ireland 2023 "Opening Day Drowes Salmon Fishery 2023".

 I decided late on New year's eve that I'd do the opening day of the 2023 salmon fishing season on the Drowes River, had my salmon licence online day salmon fishing permit and all I had to do was get there..... long drive but its rarely I've been there on opening day so off I went. It rained very heavily all the way to Galway, after that bad fog but on arriving at the drowes the sun was shining and very mild. The river was 0.77m and slowly dropping, very clear with a nice run in most places. I met Shane and Bill at the shop had a nice cup of hot coffee discussed where'd I get my first fish ( only joking), but I started there and fished down to the island covering both banks up and down with my switch fly rod and spinning  set up. Didn't meet or see any fresh fish or kelts but I was happy that my set up on fly and spinner was covering both distance and depth as I was bumping rocks and weed with both.

I moved down to the tidal pools for the incoming tide with Brian whom I'd met earlier and we fished up from the tidal for a couple of hours using spin and fly, I definitely bumped a fish probably a kelt there but we soon moved back upriver to find some new water.

Had a chat with the lads from fisheries at the bridge and same story no fresh fish seen or caught. I fished down for another hour mainly fly as I was just getting my casting stroke/technique back after a 5 month sabbatical couldn't have a nicer river or scenery to do it in. I left before 4 as I wanted to be near the motorway before dark making it an easier drive home. This morning I woke up reckoned I had somebody else's arms but after a nice cup of tea they still feel like they're not back yet but getting there. Over all lovely day, chatting to Shane, Bill, Brian and loads of other anglers and thanks again Bill for the lovely soup which warmed me up for round 2..... Pictures below starting from the lake outside the Drowes salmon fishery down to the sea tidal pool. Well worth a visit for any salmon angler.