The week started and finished with bright sunshine and warmth, midweek there were some big downpours and the river rose quite a bit, before it settled back down again. On my way up and down the Dee valley it was good to see people fishing in the evenings and enjoying a cast with the extra light nights, probably connecting with a sea trout as we had over 30 to the rods last week, just about equal to the salmon.
Fish were caught from Tilbouries on the lower Dee right up to Crathie near Braemar this week, there were a couple of salmon to 16lb at Waterside and again at Crathie.
The ladies seemed to have the magic touch this week, with a few mentioned in the beat report and a great few days for the River Dee Damsels on the river, I am not sure who had the most fun, them or the ghillies!
Around the beats
Nicol Paton dropped me a note to let me know the good news that Tilbouries had their  fish of the season on Wednesday for syndicate member Fraser Elliot, from the Tilbouries run. The fish was 9lbs (very fresh) and was witnessed by Mark Lough.
 A busier week at Banchory produced 10 sea trout and 3 salmon including one for the Chair of the Board. Successful bidders in the River Dee Trust auction – Gerry Hough and Lloyd Belton had a rewarding couple of days with each catching sea trout and Gerry his first ever salmon. They will be bidding again in this year’s auction ! Congratulations to Gerry, he only started salmon fishing this year after the come and try day back in March.
Cairnton saw the return of  regulars the Goodchilds who know the beat intimately and were very unlucky to have a week of fish just not hanging on very long but at least they had a few chances. The week was saved by George Goodchild with the first sea trout of the season on the beat, a chunky 3lb er from the Rockhead.
Further up at the next beat Jeremy Rawkins landed a 7lb cock fish from The Hut pool on Lower Woodend this week.
Ballogie, Carlogie and Commonty beats had a total of 3 salmon plus 6 sea trout, I don’t have any further details, as always I am happy to include next week.
At the Birse beat, Martin Robson returns to the Dee as ghillie here after a spell in England and the Hebrides, he made a start on learning the beat with a fish of around 11lb late on Tuesday evening, taken on a float/intermediate head, coupled with an 8ft intermediate tip and small sparse double. Welcome back Martin.
Beat owner Peter Wheelhouse fished Craigendinnie all week and was rewarded on Saturday with a 14lb fish, on a size 12 Durris shrimp, from Jocky Fyfe, the first from that pool this season. On the opposite bank at Aboyne Castle beat regular Stephen Kellett also landed a 9lb fish on Saturday from Browns Corner on a size 12 black and yellow.
Gordon Macdermid reported Dinnet and Deecastle had 7 for the week amid  tough conditions with hot weather then a peaty rise in water mid-week which seemed to put the fish off, Ed Troughton got them going on Monday morning with a 13lber from Bruiach. George Moorhead had a brace for his 3 days from The Glide and The Haugh. Denzil Skinner had an 8lber from Bruiach and Al McRae a 9lber from Pol Baw. The 2nd half of the week was more a story of fish lost than landed but they still managed a couple. Al Peake landed a 7lber from 29 and Emmanuel Farinoli had an 8lber from Pol Baw. Anglers also landed their first sea trout of the season on the beat with one each for Ed Troughton, Gordon Tait and Graham Ritchie.
Craig McDonald at Cambus O’May told me they were off to a good start on Monday morning with Robert Knight landing a nice wee fish from Glashan. On Tuesday Tim Harvey had a fresh 9lber from Fergie’s. On Friday Amanda Beaty had a salmon from Long pool and out first sea trout from Fergie’s. Husband Mark also had a sea trout and then in the evening Tim Harvey had his 2nd of week a 7lber also in Long pool. Saturday was quiet despite good conditions. There were a few fish lost this week too which was frustrating.
Balmoral, Birkhall and Abergeldie estates hosted the River Dee Damsels on Friday and Saturday a huge ÂŁ1300 Â was raised for the River Dee Trust.
The ladies had an absolutely epic time over the 2 days. Tara Spiers who organises these days and is a board member and trustee for the Dee said, “Honestly I wish I could bottle up the joy – we were on a high throughout”  One fish caught in the Long Pool at Birkhall by Elaine Mather, Tara Spiers lost a fish at Birkhall and Jacqueline Robertson had one on at Balmoral, but it wasn’t to be, and it got away this time. The ladies lunched in the Queen Mother’s hut – complete with picnic and candelabra! Thanks to  ghillies David Fernie, Graham Simpson and Peter Fraser for making the days such a great experience. Tara was able to show the ladies the trees planted on the estates as evidence of the trusts work as they made their way to start fishing.
There are more pictures on the River Dee Damsels social media pages. The next damsels day out will be for beginners at Tilbouries with Nicol Paton in June. It’s fully booked but if anyone is interested in joining the damsels on their days out contact Tara at riverdeedamsels@gmail.com
At Crathie , Archie Hay  gave me the news that Ava Edwards landed a lovely fresh fish of 9lb on Monday morning fish of 7 and 10 lbs followed on Wednesday for Alistair Rodger,  John Edwards then had 12 lb fish on Friday on a very small Willie Gunn. Archie then had fish of 9 and 16 lb on Friday evening both from the same pool and within 5 minutes of each other. A good week for them.
Fish were also caught at Crathes Castle, Little Blackhall & Inchmarlo, Upper Blackhall, Woodend and Waterside & Ferrar. Congratulations to all the anglers catching fish this week.
As we move into the last week of May and spring fishing officially ends, it will be interesting to see what June brings.
Please do get in touch if you have been to the Dee and have a story for me.
Tight lines!
DC
Debbie Cooper
07979 878971
Pictured
The River Dee Damsels at Balmoral.