BY JEROME HUGHES
A Donegal angler, having landed the inaugural salmon of 2024, not only claims the Irish crown but potentially secures a European one as well.
James Kenny, who made the catch from River Lennon near Ramelton on New Year’s Day, told Donegal News it came as a complete surprise.
“I was bumming to my friends all over Christmas that I’d be going there to catch the first salmon. I just planned to send a Snapchat to some of the lads to show I was trying. Then it happened. I wasn’t expecting to catch anything at all.
“I had only done five casts and caught the fish on the fifth,” explained James.
The catch was above average in size, weighing in at just over 8lbs, and 69cm in length.
James attracted the salmon to ‘Watts Pool’ using a pink-coloured barbless Flying C Spinner.
He explains it’s especially difficult to land such a fish when using barbless hooks because the catch might easily escape.
“After the initial shock, the first big challenge was landing him onto the riverbank. Another man fishing nearby, Frankie Hewitt, came over and helped me with the net to get him landed,” said James.
Salmon fishing in Ireland opens on January 1, on a handful of rivers, and after that the remainder of fisheries open on various dates in February, March, April, May and June.
The majority of fisheries close on September 30 but a few rivers remain open until October 12.
James was safe enough because River Lennon’s season starts on New Year’s Day.
“Being originally from Letterbarrow, in the south of the county, I spent my teenage years fishing on the Eany River. When I moved to Kilmacrennan, where I currently live, the Lennon became my local river.
“My wife’s father is big into fishing so he really appreciates the whole achievement of it,” beamed James.
As part of government efforts to conserve salmon, there’s a by-law that covers River Lennon which insists on ‘catch and release’, if successful when angling for salmon.
After a few photos were taken James returned the salmon to its natural habitat.
“You’d always throw the first one of the season back in any case. It’s supposed to be good luck for the rest of the season.
“There’s no prize, just bragging rights. You used to get up to €1,000 for the first salmon. The hotels would buy them,” said the keen angler.
The River Lennon was a major tourist attraction in the 70s and 80s.
The fishing spot was closed for a period to allow fish numbers to recover but reopened again about 5 years ago, according to James.
“It was massive years and years ago. People used to come from all over the world to fish it, especially at the start of the year, because it was known as a good place to get the first salmon.”
James’s achievement is underscored by the fact that it was the first time in 11 years that a salmon has been caught in Ireland on the opening day of the season.
He revealed to us that he’s heading for the River Drowes in Kinlough, County Leitrim, this weekend to see if Lady Luck might return.
“Nothing’s been caught there yet,” he concluded.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)