River Don Update 2nd May
We start the new month with river levels still holding at a great height for salmon fishing. We’ve been lucky this spring, plenty of rainfall has helped to keep fish on the move providing sport to beats on the middle and upper river. The past couple of weeks have seen steady catches reported, especially around the Inverurie area where fresh fish have been coming off regularly. Most of the fish are in the 7-8lb range with a few still carrying lice, on the downside a high percentage are carrying predator damage which is unfortunately becoming the norm nowadays.
Most beats are now underway for the season, it’s been a much better spring for the river and now we enter May when traditionally some bigger multi sea winter fish would appear. Fish are now well scattered throughout the system and all beats should be worth fishing over the coming week or two whilst river levels remain steady. A warmer spell of weather is on the cards and news of an odd sea trout being landed on the lower beats is positive for the weeks ahead, although the evenings are still on the cold side for any late sport its not uncommon for trout anglers to latch onto a few of these sporting fish during the daytime.
The weather for brown trout angling has not been ideal over the past few weeks especially for dry fly sport, blustery cold easterly winds are never good, although several trout up to 5lb have been landed on deep fished nymphs, wets and streamer patterns, for the purists though it’s been limited to just a few favorable days throughout April. Hatches of large dark olives and march browns can best be described as a trickle rather than any prolonged surface activity. However, as the air temperatures increase reports of the first olive uprights coming off on the upper reaches yesterday is welcoming news and May could be the better month for better surface feeding.
Salmon smolts are now on the move downstream so please use common sense and move on from fishing a pool if you are hooking into them repeatedly.
Any news or catches are always welcome please forward onto [email protected]
Tight lines,
Martin Webster
Helpful Information
Tackle Shops and Outfitters nearby.
Guides and Instructions on the river Don.
Where To Stay on the Don and the surrounding countryside.
Where To Eat on the river Don.
Fishing Permits for the Don and its tributaries
If you would like to share any interesting stories or pictures from your time fishing on the River Don for the purposes of this report, please feel free to contact us, via email [email protected]
Martin Webster
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Beat catches reported
(Last week)
