Powell nets first Blackwater salmon

The salmon season on the Blackwater, Munster’s main river, opened on last Wednesday. Despite the best efforts of the hardy anglers who ventured out, no one met a fresh fish.

It would be another two days before the river’s ‘duck’ was broken.

The first springer was taken on the Blackwater Lodge beat on Friday by Ian Powell. Ian caught the 6.2lb fish on spinner at the Jole on Lower Kilmurry. It would have been released, but was deeply hooked. Interestingly, the fish didn’t have sea-lice, so had obviously been in the river for a few days.