Two Salmon From The River Dee

I had a day on the River Dee last Saturday for the first time in a few weeks. The water was sitting at a great height for the beat at around 1ft 4in on the gauge ad it was running clear. I was delighted to land a salmon and grilse for my efforts with both fish fresh as they come. The first fish I landed was around the 12lb mark and the second was a perfectly formed grilse around 6lbs. Both fish fought like tigers and had my Hardy Cascapedia reel singing a lovely tune!

Afresh salmon around the 12lb mark ready for release. 

A big scar on the salmon's flank. Most likely caused by a seal.

A lively 6lb grilse from the Bend taken on a Sunray Shadow.

Another photo of the same fish as above.

River Dee Opening Ceremony 2015

Today I attended the 2015 Opening Ceremony of the River Dee salmon fishing season. Once again the event was held at Ballogie and the first cast was performed by local businessman and beat owner, Martin Gilbert. Martin, along with another local businessman, Stuart Spence were responsible for the funding which paid for the recently completed fish pass on the Culter Burn.

Invitation to the event at Ballogie.

The fish pass has already seen good numbers of salmon and sea trout ascend what was previously an impassable dam, allowing fish access to spawning grounds for the first time in nearly 200 years. This can only be of benefit to the lower river as the Culter Burn is one of the Dee's largest tributaries. I think to have been given the opportunity to open the river is a fitting gesture for helping make this all this possible.

Potarch Bridge Pool where the annual First Cast was held again this year. Beautiful location.

Local artist Mel Shand was also in attendance selling copies her book "a portrait of the River Dee" which a percentage of sales go to the River Dee Trust.

A free dram of whiskey helped to warm up many of the guests in attendance today.

Around 200 guests braved the cold to attend the ceremony and I'm sure many were grateful for the refreshments laid on in the marquee tent before the ceremonial first cast took place. Dee Chairman, Richard Gledson gave a speech to the gathered crowd and wished everyone all the best for the year ahead. There was also the presentations of the Park Trophy and the Callum Mackenzie Cup. The Park Trophy is awarded for the largest fish of the season and it this year it was won by Gordon Smith for catching a 37lb cock salmon at Birse in October. Maisie Stanton, daughter of Ballogie ghillie Sean, was presented with the Callum Mackenzie Cup which is awarded to a young angler for the best fish of the season. Maisie not only caught her first salmon last year but went on to catch another four before the season was finished. Considering it was a poor season overall, this is a fantastic achievement so well done and I'm sure she made her father very proud.

A good crowd was in attendance to see in the opening of the 2015 Salmon Fishing Season.

Gordon Smith collecting the Park Trophy from William Foster for his 37lber caught at Birse in October.

Maisie Stanton gives an interview for the TV cameras along side here proud dad, Sean who is head ghillie at Ballogie Estate.

After the presentations, it was off down to the famous Bridge Pool where Martin Gilbert was to have the first cast. Martin toasted the river with a quaich of whiskey and was handed the rod for the first cast. Martin had only had a few casts when he lifted into a fish. A big cheer went up from the crowd but after a minute or so, the fish unfortunately came off. Still, it was a bit of excitement and it gave the TV crews some good footage.

The crowd gathering for Martin Gilbert to bless the river to open the 2015 Salmon fishing season.

Martin Gilbert blesses the river before having the first cast of 2015.

Sean Stanton gives the crowd the thumbs up as Martin lifts into a fish in the Bridge Pool.

Soon after the fish was lost, it was back to the tent for a chat with some familiar faces and it was good to catch up with friends old and new. It's great to have the salmon season open again and I look forward to having a cast on the Dee myself this coming Saturday. Hopefully I have something to write about and will post pictures in due course. Tight lines to all for 2015 and let's hope it is better than last year.

A short video of the Opening Ceremony. Not the best quality but at least it will give you an idea of what this event is all about.

Royal Deeside Today

I went out for a drive with my son today and we headed over to Royal Deeside. At this time of year you can get some great pictures with all the trees in their Autumn colours and many kinds of wildlife on show. There was a few Salmon showing in some of the pools we passed but, try as I might, I just could not get any decent photos of them jumping. It seemed everywhere I pointed the camera, a fish would show above or below where I was focused! Here are some of my pictures from today.

Several male Pheasants feeding in a field near Aboyne.

A pair of female Pheasants feeding.

The Irrigation pool on the Birse beat of the River Dee. Cracking looking pool. Never fished at Birse but another lovely part of Deeside.

The Lorne pool on the Aboyne Castle beat. This is a great spot to look for Red squirrels in the woods out of shot to the left but I didn't see any today.

Looking upstream from the Sluie beat. The pool below is the Kelpie. I have fished the Sluie beat a few times and I will be again. Nice part of the river near to the Potarch Hotel.

Not a picture from Deeside but a nice view towards the village of Hatton of Fintray. The River Don flows through here and is exceptional for Brown Trout.

River Dee Opening Ceremony 01/02/2012

I attended the 2012 River Dee opening ceremony this morning at the Potarch bridge. There was a really good turn out and excellent conditions for fishing. The first fish to filter through was caught from the Commonty beat about 10am. It weighed 12lbs. After some complimentary bacon butties and Dee Drams, the 200 strong crowd headed down to the Ballogie beat's Bridge Pool where comedian and Dee fisherman Paul Whitehouse had the honour of the first cast. He gave a speech about his love for the Dee and poured a quaich of whiskey into the river. Mark Bilsby also informed the crowd that the 2 week extension had been agreed to be made permanent. Good news! There was a few famous faces around from the world of angling here today and I managed to get my picture taken with fishing expert and Dee supporter Matt Hayes. I also had a chat with the inventor of the world famous Park shrimp fly, Ross MacDonald. Both were very nice guys and a pleasure to meet. After the ceremony I headed off downstream for a cast on the Aberdeen District Angling Association beat, Banchory Devenick. I didn't see anything but it was good to blow away the cobwebs and cast a line again. Here are some pictures and a video from today.

Comedian and Dee angler Paul Whitehouse giving an interview for TV shortly before officially opening the River Dee season 2012. Wonder if he used his new waders he bought with the money he saved on his insurance from Aviva!

Ross MacDonald and Matt Hayes having a chat. I did ask their permission to take this photo and Matt Hayes thought it would be a good shot to have them talking.

River Dee Fisheries Development Officer Ken Reid. Ken and his team have done a wonderful job promoting the river and Deeside in general. They have secured many funds along the way which all go back into improving this world class fishery. Also a big thanks for organising the event today which went smoothly from start to finish. Well Done.

Potarch Bridge. Lovely area of Deeside. The Potarch hotel supplied all the refreshments for today. The bacon buttie and coffee went down a treat! Whyte & Mackay also provided free Dee Drams. Cheers guys!

Paul Whitehouse blessing the river and Ballogie Ghillie Sean Stanton waiting to hand over the rod.

Apologies for the dodgy videos but I was taking stills with my other hand!!! Not such a good idea but it seemed like it at the time.

Myself posing for a photo with Matt Hayes. Matt has donated some fishing in June on the River Gaula in Norway. This is for the River Dee auction to be held in London on March 1st.

River Dee 2012

Good Luck to everyone fishing the River Dee tomorrow and 2012 season. Let's hope it's a good one and the river keeps on the upward trend in terms of catches. I'm off to the opening ceremony tomorrow  morning to see Paul Whitehouse deliver the opening cast. I will post some pictures and videos from the event later tomorrow evening.

The famous Potarch Bridge where the 2012 River Dee opening ceremony will take place on 01/02/12 on the Bridge Pool. The traditional first cast and blessing of the river will be preformed by comedian and Dee regular Paul Whitehouse.

Tight Lines To All For 2012