The trend for extending the salmon fishing season appears to have spread to Ireland. The River Blackwater which flows through Co. Cork and Co. Waterford, will see its 2012 season extended to October 12 on a catch-and-release basis.

Ian Powell of Blackwater Lodge in Co. Waterford, said: "We have been campaigning for some time to have an extension to the salmon angling season and now it looks as if we are finally coming to a successful conclusion. The last two years have seen our back-end fishing marred by drought conditions, and – especially this year – further frustrated by a good flood right at the end of September.

"We all know just how good the autumn run of salmon should be, and in 2012 we should be able to enjoy our sport for a further 12 days into October."

The Blackwater is regarded as one of Ireland's finest and most prolific salmon rivers. The 2012 season extension is a pilot scheme which will apply only to the Blackwater. Inland Fisheries Ireland will assess the performance of the fishery during these two weeks and this will determine the prospects for extending the season in other rivers in future seasons.

The season opens, as usual, on February 1st.