Park North - River Dee

I had a day on the Park north beat of the River Dee earlier this week and I was delighted to open my account for the 2019 season with a nice wee fish from the Bulwarks Pool. Although not sea liced it was fresh as they come. The river was quite low for the time of year and was sitting at 14in on the beat gauge. It was a day for the floating line and sink tips with small tube flies. A wee Black & Yellow tube proved irresistible for this fish. The pressure is off now!

My first springer of the 2019 season ready to be returned to the River Dee. 

A Springer From The River Don

My good friend Charlie Robertson opening his account for the season with a cracking 9lb sea liced salmon from the Manar beat of the River Don. A February springer from the River Don is a prized fish and Charlie was quite rightly chuffed with his catch.

Charlie's lovely River Don springer from the Manar beat last week.

Park South - River Dee

I had a day on the Park South beat of the River Dee earlier this month. It was great to finally be able to have a cast on the Dee after a spell of grue and frozen temperatures caused the river to ice up badly.

The view looking downstream into Lower Kirks from the Park South hut.

The snow that had fallen began to melt several days before my arrival and on the day of my fishing the river was sitting at 2ft 3in on the beat gauge. It was a cracking day to be out fishing and I was full of enthusiasm as I was allocated the upper part of the beat to fish in the morning. My day was to begin in the Long Pool.

Looking upstream into the Long Pool from the Upper Kirks.

Looking downstream in the Upper Kirks.

I not long started in the Long Pool when I had a firm take on my fly. I lifted into what felt like a good fish. It refused to show itself and stayed deep and used the current to its advantage. It ran back and forth in the pool several times and I was sure I was into a springer. A quick phone call to the ghille and Stewart was on the back waiting with the net a few minutes later. The fish was still not willing to show itself but it eventually turned on the surface which revealed a large tail which bore some colour. After a realisation this was not a springer I applied a lot of pressure on the fish and got it to the net quickly. It turned out to be a 15lb Baggot which is an un-spawned female salmon. Not what I was after but a cracking scrap all the same.

Looking downstream in the Jetties Pool on Park South.

The remainder of the day proved fruitless for me but there were a few kelts landed by rods on both banks but no takers to my offerings. Despite this, it was a cracking day and it felt good to get out on the Dee again. The hunt for a 2019 Springer continues!

River Dee Opening Day 2019

The 1st February signal the opening of the River Dee salon fishing season. This year was a cold one and the river was full of grue for the first couple of days. This meant there was next to no fishing to be had so we had to sit it out at Park where we were due to be fishing. It was a bitter pill to swallow especially since we had waited all winter for this day to come round.

The River Dee at Park on Opening day. No fishing this year!

Looking downstream in the Cellar Pool.

Instead we ended up at the Opening Ceremony which was held at Banchory Lodge Hotel. the was a good turn out and it was great to meet up with friends to enjoy the day with. The first cast was made by Scottish rugby legend Rob Wainwright. After blessing the river and delivering a nice speech, the first cast was made and the river was officially open.

A good crowd gathered at the Opening Ceremony.

Nothing else for it with days of grue than to have a dram or two in the hut!