So, we finally come to the end of the 2024 season and the tally for the  2 weeks of October comes to 207 for the month vs 234 last year, and the season total to 2287 vs 1747 last year, with some beats still to manually report figures to us then this will go up a wee bit more. We have been seeing some very large fish to the rods in these later weeks with a 24lb fish at Altries and a few 21lber’s on other beats and we finally had a rise in water for the last week of fishing, which was welcome.
It was great to hear that Lewis Blair, a previous winner of our junior trophy on the Dee, landed the 140th and last fish of the season at Cairnton, so congratulations to him. Which brings me to the trophies – you can still put your entry in for Calum Mackenzie cup for young people under 18, and the Tor na Coille Trophy for the best fly-caught salmon. Click on this page – https://riverdee.org.uk/fish-the-river-dee/
and scroll to the green box that says “Trophies” or drop me a note if you need more information or to submit an entry.  The winners are announced at the River Opening on Saturday 1st February 2025.
I wanted to let you know that The Dee District Salmon Fishery Board Annual General Meeting & Annual Public Meeting takes place on Wednesday 30th October 2024 at 7:00 pm at the Banchory Lodge
The following matters will be considered:
• The activities of the Board for the year to 1st September 2024
• Consideration of the annual report and accounts
Click on our website for details of how to attend in person and online, submit a question in advance or give your apologies – https://riverdee.org.uk/minutes-and-agendas/
Our fundraising auction for the River Dee Trust opens 2 weeks today on Friday 1st November, so keep your eye on our social media channels, or sign up for our newsletter and then you will get a notification straight to your inbox, there are fishing and shooting lots, hotel stays, food, drinks, art and experiences, along with some stocking fillers for Christmas gifts that you can buy now. Newsletter link here at the foot of the home page – https://riverdee.org.uk/
Thank you to everyone who has e mailed, called or messaged me this year with their stories of time spent fishing the Dee, it is great to hear from you all and it makes my report much more interesting reading!
Thank you to all our hardworking ghillies and to all the guides who have looked after clients on the Dee this year, and a BIG thank you to all the anglers who have visited and fished our beautiful river, haste ye back!
Debbie
debbie@riverdee.org
Pictured – Fish to the rod of Owen Findlater at Birse in October 2024