Fishing report for w/c 18th March 2024
Just when I was saying that it felt like spring again the weather changed and we had showers with sunny intervals, it got wild and windy towards the end of the week and presented some challenges for anglers, but I am pleased to report 18 fish to the rods this week, a significant increase on previous weeks, and some larger spring fish connecting with the rods, with a superb 16lb salmon at the start of the week and then a magnificent chunky 18lb cock fish at the weekend.
Around the beats
Brian at Cairnton & Middle Blackhall reported that they had lovely week water level wise with heights between 1’ 11” & 2’ 6”. On the fishing side they did have success on Wednesday with Iain Wilson landing a lovely 9lb er from the Long Jetty on a Posh Tosh and Ross Macdonald landing his first of the season, a 7lb er in the Malt Steep on a Phatagorva within 10 minutes of each. Knut Bjornsen’s party from Norway returned and they fished it hard but to no avail on this occasion, but they had a lovely time on the Dee again and were smiling to the end! Welcome back to them.
Along at Upper Blackhall the rods had 3 for the week, all caught by Kenneth. He had 1 x 5lb fish from the Corner pool, and a lovely 7lber from the Ferroch pool. The fish were out of the water for a matter of seconds. Congratulations Kenneth! The beat owners wanted to thank Henrik Larsen and team for coming to the Dee.
The Ballogie beats had 4 fish to their rods this week with a cracking fish for Mark Philips early in the week from the Boat Pool at the Commonty beat. The solid spring fish of 16lb was hooked on a slow sink tip and an orange FNS. Well done Mark a cracking fish, and the biggest of the season so far... at that point!
Ali at Dess told me they had some success this week with DDSFB board member and beat owner Jeremy Clayton getting a spring fish to his rod midweek from Jock Rae Pool then Blair Balment was rewarded for braving the wind on Saturday with a bar of silver from Little Quithel pool.
So..back to the largest fish of the year so far and this came after a fight at the Craigendinnie beat to the rod of one of our board members and a “well-kent” face on the Dee, Martin Gardner. A stunning 18lb cock fish caught in the Middle Fontie Pool on Friday. Martin dropped me a note and said “the fish was witnessed by Gavin McPherson who netted it for me and who took the photo. We weighed the fish so are confident it was 18lb, not the longest of fish but the breadth of his shoulders and depth of his belly added to the weight. The fly was a 3/4” Posh Tosh tube. No sea lice but judging from the appearance he was only a couple of days in the river”.
Many congratulations to Martin and that is the first entry into the Tor Na Coille Trophy for the 2024 season, and we hope to see some more entries as the season progresses.
Gordon at Dinnet and Deecastle let me know that they had a single fish for the week. It was caught on Thursday by Andrew Toft in the Boat Pool from the Dinnet side and weighed 12lbs.
There were also fish caught at Crathes Castle, Aboyne Castle and Birse beats this week, if you were one of the anglers there and have some information you want me to add to the report next week then drop me a note.
Some of the team have braved the cold today and opened the 1st smolt traps on the Muick and I will be updating social media on that in the coming weeks. We are heading into a cold spell for a couple of days and maybe some snow, with the full moon that has just passed then I hope it has brought some springers back to the Dee.
If you are venturing out over the Easter weekend for a cast, then I wish you “tight lines” and the report next will be on Tuesday after the break. To check availability for the Easter holidays then click here - https://www.fishpal.com/search/fisheries/in/dee?from=26/03/2024&to=09/04/2024
I look forward to hearing your fishing stories and seeing what this final week of March will bring us.
Happy Easter!
Debbie Cooper
07979 878971
[email protected]
Helpful Information
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Guides and Instructions on the River Dee
Where To Stay on Dee and the surrounding countryside.
Where To Eat on the river Dee.
Fishing Permits for the River Dee.
Get In touch:
Thanks so much for sending me your photos and your stories, as they say around these parts “ Haste ye back to the silvery Dee”
Fish Handling
Salmon mortality from catch and release fishing is low, and this is a valuable tool in salmon management. However, catching a fish has many consequences which can have lethal and sub-lethal effects. The key to minimising these effects is to practice good fish handling measures.
The combination of equipment choice, hooking duration, air exposure, and handling time all result in capture stress. The aim of this guidance is to minimise stress.
Handling effects
The direct consequences of taking a fish from water include:
- Gill collapse – Resulting in less oxygen entering the bloodstream which will ultimately end in suffocation.
- Eye strain – Salmon and trout do not have eyelids and so raising them out of water can damage the eye and is also highly stressful.
- Gravity effects – When out of water, the fish’s body and internal organs are no longer supported. Take care to hold the fish horizontally and support the fish so that it doesn’t damage the spine, bones or internal organs. If the fish kicks out of your hands it may be damaged and will certainly be a stressful experience.
- Skin damage – Damage or scale and mucus loss from nets, dry hands, dropping or placing the fish on the bankside could result in an infection and can stop the fish from reproducing.
- Temperature change – There can be a big difference between water and air/skin temperature and a rapid change temperature will cause stress.
Anglers can have an impact on salmon offspring too, as a fish that exhibits high amounts of stress – from handling and/or temperature – may then produce fewer or smaller offspring or have lower egg survival and disease tolerance.
In short, how a fish is caught and handled has a direct effect on its survival and also the next generation. Minimising stress by following best practice will have a real impact on the number and quality of fish emerging the following spring.
Best practice
Minimising the time fish are removed from their natural environment must be the goal, and there are numerous studies that suggest air-exposure should ideally be limited to under 10 seconds during the whole catch and release procedure.
Do:
- Use barbless, circle hooks and a line weight heavy enough to bring the fish in quickly.
- Minimise time played and bring the fish in quickly.
- Use a suitable, knotless net to avoid skin damage.
- Handle the fish as little as possible and only with wet hands.
- Keep the fish in the water as much as possible – Total air exposure during the whole process should be under 10 seconds.
- Photograph fish in the water or lift just for just a few seconds – holding correctly (below the pectoral fins and on the tail wrist).
- Keep the fish in the water facing upstream to help it recover – don’t pump the fish.
- Allow the fish to recover fully before releasing – the fish should be able to maintain an upright position and respond gently touching at the tail.
Don’t:
- Play the fish unnecessarily.
- Place the fish on the bank.
- Take the fish out of the water longer than completely necessary.
- Lift the fish far from the ground (in case you drop it)
- Treat it rough (bear hug, by the gills, by the tail etc.)
Fishing at 18°C and above
The stress effects from handling can be further compounded with increasing temperature. As water temperature increases so too does the fish’s oxygen demand and energy consumption.
Fishing in water temperatures exceeding around 18°C becomes increasingly stressful to the fish and is linked to decreased immune function and increased susceptibility to fungal infections.
Adult Atlantic salmon have increased risk of mortality at around 20°C. When temperature remains above 20°C for 24 hours fish are unable to repair the damage caused by thermal stress and at this point catching has a noticeable negative impact on survival.
Anglers have a direct impact on whether salmon survive thermal stress. If fishing in warm water (18°C or more), risk of mortality from poor handling is much greater.
Make sure:
- Fishing site is appropriate – aerated riffles, rapids.
- Play the fish firmly and avoid a long fight.
- Fish early in the day.
- Do not lift fish out of water at all – choose fishing site so that this is possible.
Biosecurity
Keeping the Dee safe from disease, parasites and non-native invasive species is vital for the wellbeing of the river, the fish populations and other wildlife it supports. One of the key tools with which the Board protects the river and its stock of Atlantic salmon and sea trout is the control and management of Biosecurity.
What is Biosecurity?
Biosecurity is most commonly considered to be a series of measures aimed at preventing the introduction and or spread of animals, plants, pests and diseases and parasites, including non-native species.
Inadvertent introductions of animals, plants, pests and diseases and parasites can go unnoticed until the point that treatment is no longer an option. Therefore, the prevention of introduction is the most effective way to protect our river.
Simple techniques which anyone can employ, such as checking equipment for any plant materials or animals, cleaning or disinfecting equipment and clothing, and simply allowing clothing and equipment to dry out can all be considered biosecurity measures.
What’s at risk?
The River Dee is renowned as being one of the best fishing destinations in the world and we want to protect our river and fish stocks. It is vital that our biosecurity measures are consistent with the rapidly evolving environment within which we live, to reduce the risk to the Dee and its fish stocks.
We need biosecurity to become a routine part of the Dee experience and we need your support to do this. Anglers and ‘other river users’ on the River Dee must consider biosecurity the next time they are using equipment or clothing that has been used elsewhere other than the Dee and not been cleaned, disinfected or dried.
What can you do?
The best information how to practice biosecurity measures will come from your ghillie, if that doesn’t apply then please follow the Check Clean Dry Campaign and Stop the Spread.
You can also get your kit disinfected at one of two biosecurity stations on the Dee. Use these links for Google Maps directions:
TwinPeakes Flyfishing at Milton of Crathes
The River Office, Mill of Dinnet
We also have facilities at the River Office to clean other river users’ equipment such as canoes and paddleboards.
Thank you in advance for helping to protect the Dee and our fish stocks.
For more information please e mail [email protected] or contact the river office.
Beat catches reported
(Last week)
Beat
|
Catches
|
Crathes Castle
|
Salmon - 1, Sea trout - 0
|
Cairnton and Mid Blackhall
|
Salmon - 2, Sea trout - 0
|
Upper Blackhall
|
Salmon - 3, Sea trout - 0
|
Commonty
|
Salmon - 1, Sea trout - 0
|
Ballogie
|
Salmon - 2, Sea trout - 0
|
Carlogie
|
Salmon - 1, Sea trout - 0
|
Dess
|
Salmon - 2, Sea trout - 0
|
Birse
|
Salmon - 2, Sea trout - 0
|
Aboyne Castle
|
Salmon - 1, Sea trout - 0
|
Craigendinnie
|
Salmon - 2, Sea trout - 0
|
Dinnet
|
Salmon - 1, Sea trout - 0
|