First Salmon of Season on Lough Gill

The first salmon of the season, in the North Western Fisheries Region, has been taken on Lough Gill following over three weeks of fishing in some of the coldest conditions felt in the region for years. The 6lbs 6oz salmon fell to Sligo Anglers member, Brendan Gordon, while trolling a silver dace lure off Castle Point, on Sunday 24 January.

The Lough Gill/Garavogue/Bonet system had been restricted to catch and release angling for spring salmon for the past two seasons and had been closed completely in 2007. The reopening of the system this year, subject to a strict quota, has been widely welcomed by local anglers. The system had reached its conservation limit for spring salmon last year season allowing for the taking of a small number of salmon in the early part of 2010 subject to the tagging of each fish with a special brown tag.