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.
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