EVER wondered who was behind all that panic buying ahead of the first lockdown?

I don’t think I’m betraying anything like the third secret of Fatima here when I tell you that it was anglers who, almost single-handedly, cleaned out the home baking sections of our supermarkets, stripping the shelves bare.

As everyone else dashed to stock up on essential supplies of wine and beer, the men in wellies and waxed coats had other ideas.

They legged it to the home baking section, stacking their trollies high with flour, dried yeast, icing sugar, candles for birthday cakes and those little silver balls you find on fancy pastries, all in preparation for their imminent incarceration.

Back at home, they swapped their waterproofs for aprons and, for the first time in their lives, began whisking up all sorts of culinary curiosities.

Much of what they dished out was unfit for human consumption. Some of it would have turned Russia’s chemical weapons experts green, possibly even with envy –hence the subsequent panic buying of toilet rolls.

By the time the medical experts and politicians realised that this was a bigger threat to humanity than any virus, and the statisticians had calculated that there was a greater chance of an angler standing on the water’s edge being hit by a meteorite than Covid-19, some had already paid a terrible price.

Freed just in time for the peak of the salmon run, those fishermen who could safely leave the confines of the toilet finally got to the river bank. They were stunned by what they found: rivers stuffed with salmon.

Sod’s Law had dictated that in this, the year of Covid-19, there would be what one fishery owner on the River Moy in Co. Mayo described as “the best salmon run in 10 years”.

Fishery scientists were left scratching their heads, unable to explain the sudden appearance of so many salmon, while warning that global warming and pollution still threatened the salmon with extinction.

“One swallow does not a summer make,” they warned, wagging their rubber-gloved fingers.

Anglers, ever sceptical, raised an eyebrow at some of the possible explanations being put forward by the boffins and cast a knowing nod at the commercial fishing boats tied up in harbours around Europe, their crews grounded by Covid-19.

Was it just a coincidence that “the best salmon run in 10 years” occurred when the nets men were tangled up in lockdown?

The abundance of fish produced some remarkable catches. There was a report of one angler from Enniskillen landing 20 salmon in a day on the River Mourne at Sion Mills. Less accomplished anglers were catching five or six.

How did I do? Zilch. Nought. Another big fat zero. (Hey, come on, at least I’m consistent.)

Anglers preparing for the start of the 2021 season in a few weeks’ time will be hoping for more of the same, in terms of salmon numbers, of course, not lockdowns, obviously.

Fingers crossed

Sean Gallagher, the owner of the River Drowes fishery, is keeping his fingers crossed that all will be well come New Year’s Day.

He points out that other field sports such as shooting are prohibited under the strictest level of Covid-19 restrictions. “We are just hoping things get back to normal before the first of January,” he said.

Reflecting on the season past, he said: “We saw probably the best run of salmon in a good number of years.”

Huge floods at the start of the year meant early season fishing on the Drowes was a bit of a washout. The water levels were just beginning to settle nicely when along came the coronavirus and the first lockdown, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

Anglers consoled themselves that in the weeks that followed, the sun shone relentlessly, and there was barely a drop of rain. The Drowes went from a flood to a trickle.

“During lockdown, it was at record lows,” recalled Shane. “We didn’t get re-opened until the end of June. We were right into the grilse run then,” he added.

Then it started to rain, and forgot to stop. “There were very good runs of fish,” said Shane. “I suppose water levels were good as well.”

That combination of plenty of water and an abundance of salmon is generally a recipe for good fishing.

Shane added: “There was a little lull in August, but then in September, it picked up again.”

He is keeping his fingers crossed that the traditional New Year’s Day start to the season will go ahead as normal: “We will just have to wait and see.”

However, due to the fast-changing nature of Covid-19 restrictions, anglers are urged to always check the latest restrictions and to stay abreast of the volatile situation.