Fishing Reports

Last updated: Thursday 3rd May

Since my last report the rain has never let up and subsequently river levels rose throughout April with quite a few days fishing lost due to water conditions. On Thursday the 26th, the river peaked at 6ft and ran very coloured for the next two days. Anglers were back out on the river by the Saturday and the Inverurie council beat reported fish landed. The previous weeks fishing had also seen a few salmon landed, with Fetternear, Breda and Castle Forbes beats at last all reporting their first fish for the season.

By the 1st of May the river had dropped back to a good height for salmon fishing. Anglers were out in good numbers throughout the system and on the lower river Grandhome Estate fishings reported 3 salmon caught in the first few days. The problem for the lower beats will be to hold onto fish that enter the river, a rise in temperatures will see them move quickly through the pools and over the many weirs.

I am hearing of salmon being landed at Tilliefoure water and at Littlewood Estate fishings, fish have also been lost at Breda. Already fish are well spread throughout the river with sealiced fish being landed as far up at Alford. Hopefully at last we may have a decent month ahead of us as it's been a poor spring this year.

Sea trout numbers will be building as the month goes on and whilst the water remains at a good level and colour, don't be surprised to encounter them during the day. The runs of these hard fighting fish are a worthy addition to the river.

Trout anglers were quite happy with the start of the season, with most beats seeing some good conditioned brownies landed, but since the river has risen catches have dropped and a few have picked up the salmon rod again.

Monymusk fishings report that the trout angling has been good even though water conditions have been less than ideal for trout fishing. One angler whilst fishing for salmon landed trout of 6 and 7lbs, this often happens when the water is coloured and higher than normal, it seems to put the big browns on the take, and they will have a go at the bigger flies. A couple of 6lb trout were reported from beats near Alford and the ADAA beats has also seen trout landed up to 5lb.

Please email me at donfish2@btinternet.com with any news or catches you may have whilst out on the river.



Fishing on the River Don


Fishing on the River Don


Fishing on the River Don


Fishing on the River Don


Fishing on the River Don


Season review

2011

February and March

During early spring, small runs of spring fish entered the river system, most of them were held up in the lower beats as the low river temperatures slowed their progress upstream.

Opening day on the river produced a total of 9 spring fish were reported caught, however as angling effort fell away the numbers reported daily dropped.

This was mainly due to the variable river levels which occurred from melting snow and poor weather conditions.

By the end of March a total of 49 spring salmon had been reported caught, with fish being taken up as far as Alford.

April and May

These months saw a dry weather pattern appear over Donside, river levels dropped to almost summer flows and catches of salmon were down on most beats for this time of year.

Normally these months produce the best action for the wild brown trout that the Don is noted for, however even the brown trout fishing proved difficult.

Fish were easily spooked due to bright overhead conditions and low clear water, although the odd large trout was landed with one lucky angler landing a fish of 6lb and 8lb, both of which being landed on the dry fly.

During the last week of May Sea trout were landed in small numbers from the lower beats.

June and July

Sea trout entered the system and gave sport to anglers, with the bulk of the catches being from Inverurie downstream to Grandhome.

Although not in the quantity of the previous year the quality of these fish was exceptional with the average weight up on past years.

Most nights temperatures dropped making conditions for summer evening fly fishing not ideal; subsequently quite a few were landed during the day.

Grilse and salmon arrived on the coast during July but low river levels hampered them running the river. When the rain fell it was salmon that made up the bulk of the fish landed, fish in the 10-18lb range were outnumbering the grilse.

A few anglers who were willing to put the time and effort in were rewarded with some good catches, the biggest fish landed being 25lb.

August, September and October

The month of August saw heavy rain fall every other day, which resulted in some fishing days lost due to rising river levels and coloured water.

Grilse and salmon made the most of these conditions and quickly spread throughout the river giving some sport to the middle and upper beats.

Clean fresh fish were being landed daily but again it was mainly salmon which were being taken, as the expected grilse run failed to happen. Of the few grilse that did appear some were in poor condition and were lucky to weigh more than a couple of pounds.

River levels dropped throughout September and catches slowed for the month.

On the middle and upper beats most of the pools were holding fish, although catching them proved more difficult as they were dour and off the take.

Come October coloured fish were plentiful in the pools, but the expected runs of fresh autumn fish never really materialised due to a lack of rain.

The lower beats had the best of the action, but even still it was hard going some days. The largest salmon reported for the month was 27lb in weight.

November and December

As the fishing season ended salmon were seen busy cutting redds on upper and middle reaches, mild temperatures coupled with low river levels saw fish take full advantage of the conditions and the main spawning activity was finished early.

Come December dead kelts were evident washed up on the banks having successfully completed their journey.

Tight lines to all anglers for the coming season.

Martin Webster

Don District Salmon Fishery Board



To read the reports from March through to July, click here.