This week fish were caught from Banchory Beat upstream to Headinch and Cambus O May. A total of Sixteen Spring Salmon were landed over the course of the week on middle and upper river beats.
Banchory Beat welcomed back Gerald Middleton on Thursday who caught another Dee Springer, a 7 lb fish from Sandyhaven pool, to add to his fish from his previous visit last week. Another Banchory angler Simon McClelland hooked and unfortunately lost three fish on Monday.
Moving upstream, Little Blackhall and Inchmarlo landed a Springer on Friday. Their upstream neighbours Cairnton and Middle Blackhall had another good week with three springers landed, Mark Blair had a 7lb fish out of Malt steep on Wednesday while two springers were caught on Friday, both at 10lb, one by Alan Rankin on a Snaelda from Upper Ferroch pool and the other by Euan Mellis in Invercannie pool on a Willie Gunn fly, adding to the beats tally in what is turning out be a good spring for them.
Further upstream in the Kincardine O Neil area, Dess have had a good week. Alaistair Dunbar landed a 7 lb fish on Tuesday, later in the week on Friday two fish were caught including Graeme Reids lovely 10 lb Salmon. The Ballogie beats caught four fish last week with Carlogie anglers Tommi Zimsen and Craig Fleming each landing a springer with Ghillie Sean Stanton adding another one. Below on Ballogie beat Andrew Jones fishing for the first time landed a spring salmon for the first time. So, congratulations to Andrew on a great achievement. Heading upriver to Aboyne Water a fish of around 8 lb was caught on Wednesday.
Meanwhile in the upper stretch of the River Dee at Headinch and Cambus O May, Shane Christie landed a 7 lb Dee Springer on Monday morning. On Thursday, Deecastle angler David Niven landed a 9 lb fish from Red Brae pool which is encouraging to see. Opposite them on Dinnet Beat, angler Shaun Marriot caught a 12 lb Salmon in Bruiach pool on Saturday to round off the week.
In other news, our smolt traps on the Muick and Culter catchments are operating with each site now capturing the first smolts of the 2026 smolt run. As the water temperatures are still low (it was 5.1C at the Culter Smolt trap on Saturday morning when we checked the trap), the smolt run should be in full swing as the temperatures rise over the coming weeks. Good luck for all the anglers venturing out to fish the Dee in the coming days.
Park has reported sightings of fresh fish moving into their pools. With ideal water conditions this week and timing matching when catches began the last few years this might be the ideal time to strike silver.
Tight Lines,
Mark Walker.
for
Debbie Cooper
debbie@riverdee.org