River Dee Fishing Report – Week 32 commencing 31st August 2026
We enjoyed a better week on the river, although it was not without its frustrations. With the usual caveat that enough is never enough when it comes to fish numbers, 87 salmon and grilse was a decent return given the prevailing conditions.
At present, we largely have a river of resident fish, whose capriciousness was very much in evidence last week. Like throwing a switch, sometimes all it takes is a small change in air temperature, water temperature or a wee release of atmospheric pressure to determine the day’s sport. One day there can be plenty happening; the next, apparently nothing. The fish haven’t necessarily gone anywhere; they are just fickle.
Several lower-river ghillies and rods confirm there are plenty of fish hunkered down in the bottom beats, colouring up as you read this. Getting some water to move those fish upstream, while simultaneously giving the residents a bit of a shake, would be something approaching the dream scenario for September. I’m almost giddy at the thought.
The week started steadily, with 12 salmon reported on both Monday and Tuesday, before things came alive on Wednesday, when 25 were landed. Upper Drum & Lower Durris led the way with seven, Park had four and Cairnton & Middle Blackhall three. Thereafter, things settled again, with 12 on Thursday, 11 on Friday and 14 on Saturday.
So, something happened on hump day to produce a conspicuous spike in returns. Whether it was temperature, pressure, light or some combination of the above is anybody’s guess. Whatever the trigger, it was a useful reminder that there are fish throughout the system.
Nicol Paton shared his summary from the Maryculter beats, partly to express his disbelief at the river height but, more importantly, without any complaints about fish numbers. Bert Webster had two from Tilbouries on Tuesday and Mark Lockyer one on Wednesday. Ewan Maclachlan enjoyed a day with his wife Hannah on Thursday, landing two from Tilbouries and another from Ardoe & Murtle, while Mr Sleight also landed a fish from Tilbouries.
Nicol reports a good head of fish there, with plenty more believed to be holding below. His conclusion will sound familiar: give us some rain and there could be some excellent sport.
Cooler water and a discernible, if hardly dramatic, rise helped Park to a better week, with fish landed throughout the beat. Long-time rod Emmanuel Farinoli had two on Monday and another two on Tuesday. John Fotheringham and his party returned on Wednesday, with John quickly getting into his stride with three.
Park regular Neil Mitchell returned with Barry Ward on Thursday, and Barry proceeded to have a remarkable couple of days: a hat-trick on Thursday followed by four salmon to his own rod on Friday. Beat owner William Foster described it, reasonably enough, as “a huge achievement.”
Saturday produced another three to wrap things up. Graeme Paterson landed a 7lb fish in the Lower Kirks; Alex Buchan, all the way from Australia, had a grilse in the Long Pool; and, on the south bank, Bert Webster landed a 7lb fish from the Silver Spoon.
Cairnton & Middle Blackhall had seven, mostly concentrated in the first part of the week, with fish in the 5–7lb range. Jerry Oddie had three during his three days, with very small Cascades and tiny black tubes doing the trick.
Simon and Harry Williams had salmon on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively at Ballogie. Ewan Maclachlan was back at it at Carlogie, with a couple on Friday evening before finding the switch firmly in the on position on Saturday and landing another five.
At Birse, Mr and Mrs Fooks shared a few fish, with Mrs Fooks getting hers deep into stoppage time. Across the river, Chaz Booth reports that Aboyne Water rods had three sea trout and a salmon. Stoat’s Tails and the hitch accounted for the sea trout, while Garth Patterson used a Dee Monkey to land a 10lb salmon.
Outlook
The coming week looks unsettled, with showers and spells of rain in the forecast and temperatures remaining sensible for September.
There are grounds for optimism. Fish are well distributed through the system and last week’s catches showed that the residents will respond when conditions come right. There are also fish waiting lower down.
Not one to repeat myself (endlessly), but a proper spate and we are good to go.
As ever, listen to your ghillie.
Ross Macdonald
for inclusion in future reports e mail debbie@riverdee.org