River Dee Anglers’ Chance to Land Big Honour
February 01, 2021
Salmon anglers and complete beginners are being invited to compete for one of the biggest honours in the sport in a round-the-clock fishing challenge.
The new salmon fishing season kicked off on Saturday and produced a dozen springers. In the current climate, I am delighted and each one of these wonderful fish is cherished.
This year's opening ceremony had a tinge of sadness as we remembered Bob Dey who passed away last week. Bob was a stalwart of Aberdeen and District Angling Association and made a telling contribution to the Association in his many years of service including thirteen years as President. He also served on both the Dee and Don fishery boards and was a past Chairman of the River Don Trust. Our thoughts are with Bob's family.
The ceremony took place at Banchory Lodge as the River Dee family gathered to celebrate a new season. Board Chairman Lawrence Ross made a short address before going onto present a couple of trophies. The first is a new trophy, sponsored by the Tor Na Coille Hotel who commissioned local sculptor Helen Denerly to create a new trophy paired with a plinth by Kenny McKay. The trophy is awarded for the best fly caught salmon and this year that accolade went to Richard Meigh for his splendid 26lb springer from Birse. The lucky winner for the 2020 season will also enjoy a two-night stay at the hotel and two days fishing on the river. The best fish is not necessarily the heaviest we will consider fish handling, time of year and the condition of the fish. The catch must be witnessed.
We also awarded the Callum Makenzie cup. The cup celebrates the best catch by a youngster in the catchment and this year was won by 11-year old Lauren Bramman who landed an 11lbr at Little Blackhall and Inchmarlo during our Big Fish Little Fish event last September. The trophy was presented by Heather Mackenzie.
We were delighted to be joined by actor, singer, and mad keep angler Robson Green, who performed the traditional toast to the river and its salmon and made the first cast. In truth the first cast is ceremonial and by the time Robson had made it, there was news coming in of fish being landed.
The first fish was landed at five minutes past nine at Woodend by Marcus Braithwaite, fishing a Posh Tosh off an s1/s2 line. Dess was next up with an 8lbr from Jock Rae for owner Jeremy Clayton. Nicol Paton had an 8lbr at Commonty.
Jim Coates had the pick of the litter with an 18lbr from Invery & Tilquhillie, while Jamie Hammond had a memorable opening day with a brace at Lower Blackhall and Banchory.
John Fraser caught a 6lb springer in the Big Girnal at Upper Blackhall.
Cairnton and Middle Blackhall enjoyed a very good opening day with three fresh fish. Andy Ashcroft had two at 6lb and 8lb from the Malt Steep on a gold Willie Gunn. Grahame Reid had the third, an 8lbr also from the Malt Steep on a gold Willie Gunn.
David White landed one at Sluie- a 12lbr and I was pleased to see one off the ADAA Culter beat. Well done to Alexander Skakle who landed a sea liced 6lbr.
On Saturday afternoon the River Dee Trust hosted the Celebration of the Living River Festival. The event was well attended by local families who enjoyed interactive stalls showcasing some of the work carried out by the Trust and Dee DSFB to protect and enhance the river and its tributaries. Orvis ran a casting competition and we announced the winners of The Living River Conservation Project school competition.
Salmon anglers and complete beginners are being invited to compete for one of the biggest honours in the sport in a round-the-clock fishing challenge.
The results of the 2020 Redd count are in with some grounds for optimism
The current restrictions mean that there are some great opportunities for local anglers
Our friend Robson has lent his support to promoting our River Dee buffs
As things currently stand, the Dee fishing season will commence as usual on 1st February.
We hope you enjoy the latest annual review for the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board and River Dee Trust.
With no opening ceremony this year, we thought we would share a few pics f past events
Why not make a special gesture to the one you love this Valentine’s day with a bouquet of trees from the River Dee Trust?
The Trust has been working with schools and parents to ensure our youngsters can enjoy learning about the River Dee from home
Get your hands on this Winter's Ultimate Accessory!!
A third of the LWS between Loch Muick and the Spittal bridge had gravel and redds associated with them
Within weeks of the Easter Beltie restoration works finishing at least 15 redd sites have appeared!
Just days after completing restoration works on the Garbh Allt, salmon and redds have been spotted!
The River Dee Trust has joined the national network of river conservation charities in calling on the Scottish Government to turn words into action to avert an ecological disaster.
August and September herald the highest levels of mink activity within the catchment. Our volunteer network has been hard at work but we could do with some support.
The Results of the 2019 River Dee Smolt Tagging & Tracking study have been published
The River Dee Trust, organised the first festival to celebrate all aspects of the River Dee on Saturday. We were delighted it was such a success after hundreds of people took part in a range of events.
The River Dee Trust has announced plans to plant a million native trees in one of the biggest nature restoration projects in the Cairngorms. The project will recreate areas of landscape that have been lost for 2000 years.
There have been several personnel changes along the Dee during the close season.
Award Winning Journalist Set to Lead the Trust
Work is progressing on projects funded by the Biodiversity Challenge Fund (BCF), running from July 2019 – September 2020
The Dee Dsfb has produced a short facsheet detailing its position on enhancement stocking
The River Dee Trust has published the results of the 2019 UDRS Electrofishing
The River Dee Trust has published the findings of its scale reading study
The Callum Mackenzie Cup is awarded by Ballogie Estate Enterprises for the most notable fish, of any species, caught by a youngster within the Dee catchment, including Rivers Cowie and Carron or one of the many trout fisheries in the district.
The new Annual Review highlighting the work of the Board and Trust is available to read.
A project to conserve one of Scotland’s most famous salmon rivers has been recognised in a national awards scheme for environmental excellence.
One of the Dee’s most exciting projects got underway in 2014 when a fish pass was installed on the Culter Burn in the autumn of that year.
Since 2016 the River Dee Trust has been engaged in a major piece of work to find out more about smolt production on the lower Dee.
With the season coming to a close Fisheries Officers are still working hard to protect salmon from poachers. Poaching still goes on and can have a major impact on fish stocks, particularly when numbers are down across the country.
The River Dee Trust is fundraising to reignite its education programme.
The River Dee Trust is holding a dinner to celebrate the Living River on Friday 31st January 2020. The dinner will be held at Banchory Lodge and follows on from a successful inaugural event held at the Lodge earlier this year.
The Culter catchment is an ideal breeding ground for salmon
As expected, the first pink salmon has been caught on the Dee
This short film showcases our new project in the Upper Dee Catchment
Join River Operations Manager Edwin Third, as he introduces a new project to boost juvenile salmon salmon on the Dee.
Join the River Dee team as we continue our work to protect our most precious resource, Atlantic salmon smolts
Let's stay in touch