River Dee Fishing Report – Week 13 commencing 27th April 2026
The last week of April seems to have flown by, and I have been looking at the year-on-year statistics. Perhaps we have had better weather conditions, more fish running, and more fishing effort this April compared with last. It is certainly good to see 85 springers reported to FishPal for April 2026, versus just 42 for April 2025. Let’s hope May continues the trend as we move into the last month of spring fishing on the Dee.
News from the beats
This week, salmon were caught on beats stretching from the Lower River at Lower Crathes & West Durris, near the village of Drumoak, right up to the Crathie beat, a few miles from the Highland village of Braemar.
Cairnton & Middle Blackhall was fairly quiet for the Nutter party this week. There were a few really bright, sunny days and a couple of overcast ones, but overall conditions were good, with water levels at 1’ 2” on Monday and down to 11” by Saturday. Water temperatures were 51/53°F. Brian Brogan got the drone up over the beat to capture some excellent overhead videos, which are now on the beat’s social media pages. Availability remains on both banks over the next few weeks, so please contact Sarah directly to book your fishing.
This past week brought an unusually varied mix of conditions on the Upper Blackhall beat, with what felt like four seasons in the space of a few days. These rapid changes made angling challenging, both in terms of performance and the time spent on the river. Despite this, the beat recorded their first fish since the beginning of April. Hans Edman landed a fine 9lb springer from Upper Ferroch at approximately 8pm on Friday evening. Angus Rutherford noted that this is a timely reminder that it can be well worth extending efforts beyond the traditional 9–5 window. Many congratulations to Hans on an excellent fish, and best of luck for the remainder of the season.
The Ballogie beats produced the biggest spring salmon on the river this week: a 15lb fish caught by Stefan Sigurðsson from Iceland. His party was staying adjacent to the beat at the beautiful Potarch Lodge. James Arnold caught a fish on the Carlogie beat and was staying in Ford Cottage on the Ballogie Estate with his family.
There was a springer in the sunshine at the Dess beat this week, with Paul Adderton (Chair of Aberdeen & District Angling Association) landing a beautiful fish from Little Quithel on a size 14 Stoats Tail. Dee legend – Ghillie Shane Christie also landed a cracker, and the other rods brought the week’s tally up to five.
It was a week of two halves at Birse .John Wilson lost a good fish in Red Brae after a brief encounter on Monday. Conditions became tougher after that with bright skies and clear water. On Friday, Birse regular Simon Fooks landed a lovely 9lb salmon from Belwade, Simon hooked another fish in Lummels on Saturday, sadly the fish threw the hook just as they were getting ready to land it. George Pearson ( Laird of Dunecht Estates) was up for a short visit and managed to land a nice fish of around 10lbs on a full floating line and Silver Stoats Tail. It was the turn of Patrick Burrows next, on Saturday evening he landed a lovely fish around 8lbs on a Dee Monkey.
Nicol Paton mentioned it was good to see fish holding and running through the beat, hopefully boding well for a successful May. Birse availability for July is now online if you are thinking of fishing there.
I got a note from Mike Boyle yesterday; he was back home just outside Edinburgh after fishing Craigendinnie last week. He said the water held up despite the forecast, but it was hot and sunny at times. He was fishing Crofts on Monday morning and had a fish of about 10lb, then another about 8lb just after lunch in Upper Fonties, both on a Collie s8 double on an intermediate tip. On Tuesday morning in Middle Fonties swinging a small black & yellow Spey Tail he had a fish of about 7lb. His friend Joe Bell hooked one in that same pool Wednesday morning, but it didn’t stay on sadly. After rain started on Saturday afternoon Mike had another lively fish of about 11lb again in Middle Fonties, on a black & yellow 1″tube fly. Mike said they were very well looked after by the knowledgeable beat ghillie – Graeme Simpson and they enjoyed his company. Haste ye back Mike, its great to see you are still returning to the Dee after over 30 years.
A quieter week at Dinnet and Deecastle – two fish for the week with both being caught by Andrew Markland on the Dinnet bank, 9lbs from High Burn and 13lbs from 29 Pool, both fish were still carrying sea lice, which is amazing really thinking how far from the sea this beat is.
Two fish to the rods at Headinch & Cambus O’ May this past week. On Tuesday Alan Bird caught a bonny looking fish from Glashan of around 10lbs. Ably netted by his daughter Ellie. Then on Saturday afternoon Will Oakes landed a 9lb fish also from Glashan on an Eternal Optimist fly – I am interested to know who named that!. Again, ably netted by Ellie!
Other beats seeing success this week were Lower Crathes & West Durris, Little Blackhall & Inchmarlo, Woodend, Aboyne Water and Crathie beats.
I hear its Robert Harper’s last week on the river this coming week as he retires after more than 50 years as a Dee ghillie, I am sure many of you know Robert and join us in wishing him well for a slightly slower pace of life, and a long and happy retirement, taking with him many stories and memories made on the river bank.
Tight lines
DC
Debbie Cooperdebbie@riverdee.org