Just when I was saying that it felt like spring again the weather changed and we had showers with sunny intervals, it got wild and windy towards the end of the week and presented some challenges for anglers, but I am pleased to report 18 fish to the rods this week, a significant increase on previous weeks, and some larger spring fish connecting with the rods, with a superb 16lb salmon at the start of the week and then a magnificent chunky 18lb cock fish just before the weekend.
Around the beats
Brian at Cairnton & Middle Blackhall reported that they had lovely week water level wise with heights between 1’ 11” & 2’ 6”. On the fishing side they did have success on Wednesday with Iain Wilson landing a lovely 9lb er from the Long Jetty on a Posh Tosh and Ross Macdonald landing his first of the season, a 7lb er in the Malt Steep on a Phatagorva within 10 minutes of each. Knut Bjornsen’s party from Norway returned and they fished it hard but to no avail on this occasion, but they had a lovely time on the Dee again and were smiling to the end! Welcome back to them.
Along at Upper Blackhall the rods had 3 for the week, all caught by Kenneth. He had 1 x 5lb fish from the Corner pool, and a lovely 7lber from the Ferroch pool. The fish were out of the water for a matter of seconds. Congratulations Kenneth! The beat owners wanted to thank Henrik Larsen and team for coming to the Dee.
The Ballogie beats had 4 fish to their rods this week with a cracking fish for Mark Philips early in the week from the Boat Pool at the Commonty beat. The solid spring fish of 16lb was hooked on a slow sink tip and an orange FNS. Well done Mark a cracking fish, and the biggest of the season so far… at that point!
Ali at Dess told me they had some success this week with DDSFB board member and beat owner Jeremy Clayton getting a spring fish to his rod midweek from Jock Rae Pool then Blair Balment was rewarded for braving the wind on Saturday with a bar of silver from Little Quithel pool.
So..back to the largest fish of the year so far and this came after a fight at the Craigendinnie beat to the rod of one of our board members and a “well-kent” face on the Dee, Martin Gardner. A stunning 18lb cock fish caught in the Middle Fontie Pool on Friday. Martin dropped me a note and said “the fish was witnessed by Gavin McPherson who netted it for me and who took the photo. We weighed the fish so are confident it was 18lb, not the longest of fish but the breadth of his shoulders and depth of his belly added to the weight. The fly was a 3/4” Posh Tosh tube. No sea lice but judging from the appearance he was only a couple of days in the river”.
Many congratulations to Martin and that is the first entry into the Tor Na Coille Trophy for the 2024 season, and we hope to see some more entries as the season progresses.
Gordon at Dinnet and Deecastle let me know that they had a single fish for the week. It was caught on Thursday by Andrew Toft in the Boat Pool from the Dinnet side and weighed 12lbs.
There were also fish caught at Crathes Castle, Aboyne Castle and Birse beats this week, if you were one of the anglers there and have some information you want me to add to the report next week then drop me a note.
Some of the team have braved the cold today and opened the 1st smolt traps on the Muick and I will be updating social media on that in the coming weeks. We are heading into a cold spell for a couple of days and maybe some snow, with the full moon that has just passed then I hope it has brought some springers back to the Dee.
If you are venturing out over the Easter weekend for a cast, then I wish you “tight lines” and the report next will be on Tuesday after the break. To check availability for the Easter holidays then click here – Easter Dee Availability
I look forward to hearing your fishing stories and seeing what this final week of March will bring us.
Happy Easter!
Debbie Cooper
07979 878971
Pictured
Martin Gardner at Craigendinnie with an 18lb springer.