Salmon and Sea-trout season- 11 February 2009 to 31 October
inclusive.
Brown trout season 15 March to 6 October Inclusive.
Once again welcome to another season.
Every year I put out a plea for more anglers to join the
Trust. Once again I do it again. This Last year I was appointed
a trustee and have a greater interest in getting you to join.
The Trust is carrying out valuable work not only on habitat
improvement but also in highly technical work required to
assist/combat/ enhance the multitude of bodies that are full of
red tape and other threats to the catchment.. As a result of Mr.
Richard Miller joining the trust as our biologist we have been
able to take part in the Moray Firth Sea- Trout project which is
to look at our sea-trout decline and advise on measures to
improve things. The Deveron Bogie and Isla Trust is at the
forefront of Trusts in Scotland and has been chosen as an
example of best practice and our river will benefit as a result.
It only costs you £25 per year - or you could donate to specific
projects if you so wished. Please get in touch if you want any
more information and I will get the details to you.
Members of the trust will get 5% off tackle in the shop if
spending over £20
Our voluntary code has also come under scrutiny. The Deveron
used to have one of the best catch and release rates of any
river in Scotland. It now lags behind and we are under some
pressure to improve it. The return rate is around the 50% mark.
Whilst I do not believe in 100% catch and release we need to be
around 65-70% to be comparable with our neighbours the Spey, Don
and Findhorn.
The code is to be changed for 2009 - at one spring
fish per day with a Max of three per week and then after June, 2
per day but all hen fish to be returned after August 21.
Sea-trout are in dire straits and the code is amended to only
two sea-trout per week and none over 3lb to be kept.
The PLEA is that the River Board would like to see 85
% of Spring salmon returned .
Once again To soften the blow the Trust is giving away
smoked salmon for every Spring fish that can be verified as
being returned.
2008 was a tremendous year with many beats breaking records.
Let us wish for a little water again this year to keep the fish
coming.
As for ourselves at Turriff Tackle we are now main dealers
for All Vision and Rio products. We try to be as competitive as
possible . We do a mail order service via telephone or through
our web shop or can have your new tackle waiting for you to pick
up upon arrival. For those regular visitors you will find the
shop re-furbished after January with hopefully better displays
of our huge range of products - some of which were always hidden
away.
We have a full and extended range of trout flies for 2009 and
Salmon flies such as Templedogs, coneheads, monkey flies and
Sunray shadows always in stock. We have a large range of
shooting head lines in stock and will be one of the selected
dealers for Pfleuger Trion rods reels and lines in Scotland
during 2009.
We also have some preserved sea- bait and everything you need
to go sea-fishing off the pier or rocks.
We look forward to seeing you in 2009
SPECIAL OFFERS
I HAVE A FEW OFFERS THAT YOU
MAY BE INTERESTED IN.
Shimano Limited Edition RE
5000 Baitrunners at only £59.99
I also have the new Wychwood
Salmon rods in . 13' , 14' and 15 ' starting at £129.99
CHECK OUT
http://www.wychwood-game.co.uk/rods.html FOR MORE
INFORMATION.
Give me a call if interested in
any of the above.
UPDATE 10 DECEMBER 2009
I am now
taking the bookings for 2010.Vacancies will be available at
Upper Netherdale and Carnousie and many beats have early weeks
available in June / July. Please contact me to get your name
down if interested.
Update 4 November 2009
BOY OH BOY !!
Monday opened at 7 feet above normal after more
heavy rain all day up in the catchment. Tuesday saw levels down
to 3.5 feet and a few fish were reported. Turriff lost over 9
fish with only one landed - to me a 5lb grilse returned. J Jack
reported an 8lb fish on the fly as was T Lawson's specimen at
18lb. With rain all day on Tuesday we saw levels at 5.5 feet on
Wednesday and dirty . Turriff managed over ten fish - mainly
grilse but one at 8lb. Thursday was better with levels at 3.5
feet and Turriff landed a fresh 8lb fish to M Watson. Many
other beats were doing ok and well into double figures despite
the water height and many caught fresh and sea-liced fish as
well as clean sea-trout. Very little was reported on Friday and
with rain overnight levels were up 6 inches on Saturday. Fish
were caught though and Upper Netherdale reported two at 16lb
returned and a fresh fish at 12lb.So the fishing season went out
on a whimper with loads of fish running but reluctant to take
and levels that ran consistently too high for great fishing. NOW
it rained all day on Sunday from about 8.30 am although it was
not until around lunch time that we got a deluge which went on
for around 4-6 hours. The result was the highest spate ever
recorded on the river at around 23-24 feet at Turriff.
Septembers flood was relegated to second spot by about 1-2 feet
and the damage is something else. We are still running at 4 feet
today and although bank damage can be seen we cannot see the
pool damage as yet. Let us hope we now get a dry winter as we
are now struggling to catch broodstock and if we get many more
spates at half the size of these two, redds will get damaged so
we need a back up more than ever.
Taken from the bridge at Turriff looking
downstream. It sounded like an express train coming under the
bridge.
Looking upstream from the Bridge
Another Looking upstream towards the "golf
Course " in the distance. It is still full of water today and
bridges over the small Turriff Burn have been ripped up.
This hut was built in 1981 and is well away and up high from the
River at Turriff. It has been undermined and slipped back and up
into the resulting hole. It will have to be demolished.
For those of you who know Muiresk this is the
field bottom of the Coombs / top of The Kirkton. This "field"
was green and is usually full of cows. It now boasts thousands
of tonnes of gravel!!.
This is Deveron Bogie and Isla Trust staff
electro fishing to save fish trapped in the pools.
I have beats available for 2010 already. Upper
Netherdale and Carnousie spring weeks and a week in July for 4
rods and a cottage at Dunlugas. Ring if interested.
Update 25 October 2009
Some week.Monday got off to a flyer with lower
beats hitting it big time. Dunlugas - fly only in October landed
23 for the day and lost nearer 30. These fish included many
sea-liced specimens from 5-16 lb. Forglen also had a good start
and were well into double figures by Tuesday. R Breakell landed
four to 23 lb and Upper Netherdale saw fish again some to 16 lb
and sea-liced. Turriff saw three to C Wyness and other lower
beats reported double figure catches. Tuesday saw a storm and
fly fishing was near impossible. Wednesday saw it still very
windy but with heavy rain. Overnight we saw torrential rain and
the river saw levels peak out at around 12 feet above normal on
Thursday morning. This flash flood was on the drop during
Thursday but it continued to rain all day .Friday saw levels at
5 feet and dirty but Turriff managed four grilse one of which
was sea-liced. Saturday saw levels at 3.5 feet and many beats
reported catching fish in the margins. Heavy rain again Sat pm
saw levels rise again to peak around 7 feet above normal early
Sunday morning. Its looking like hard work with high levels
until the tail end of the week. At least we have no shortage of
fish in the river now and high water will allow passage to the
spawning grounds.
Update 19 October 2009
Tuesday 13 October saw levels rising in the
morning and peaked out at nearly 3 feet. A few fish were
reported early as the water began to rise and it was still
clear.. Wednesday saw levels at 4 feet and very coloured. The
river was unfishable unless using a worm and one chap landed
four all returned and lost as much for his day. By Thursday we
were down to two feet and very black. The river was stuffed with
running fish but they refused everything for the most part.
Turriff reported two sea-liced grilse around 4pm and other beats
reported the odd fish. Friday saw levels down to around 1 foot 7
inches or 9 inches above on most sticks before the flood.
Turriff saw N Alton land three sea-liced fish at 7lb,4lb and 2lb
whilst another angler landed one at 4 lb again sea-liced. Again
lots of fish running in small shoals but most very reluctant to
take. By Saturday we were well down to around plus 4 inches and
the river was clearing fast. I know of one beat where 5 were
caught in under an hour and another beat returned a fish over
25lb. There is also reports of a hen fish being returned which
in length measurements weighed well into the 40lbs. This week
after a little frost at the weekend most beats are picking up a
few fish. One beat reports landing 13 fish to four rods and
loosing upwards of 15 - just for the morning and all on the fly.
Rain is forecast for the next few days - let us hope it is not
as forecast as we could be heading for another large damaging
flood.
Update 12 October 2009.
A better week for most but not all. However the
river is full of fish - if not in the abundance of last year.
Tuesday 6th saw levels down about six inches and U/Netherdale
recorded a fish at 25lb and Laithers one at 20lb. Turriff saw a
sea-trout and a grilse and Scatterty reported one fish.
Wednesday saw the river clearing out and a lot of sea-liced fish
were caught from Turriff Down. On the day itself Turriff saw
two grilse at 4lb - one sea-liced to I Masson, I had a complete
contrast with a grilse at nearly a pound !! and a sea-liced fish
at about 9lb. J Brock landed a sea-liced fish off about 16 lb
and his fishing friend K Eastwood had three in half an hour.
Indeed by Thursday their party of three rods had landed 16 fish
at Forglen. By the end of the week the river had cleared and
dropped away to just above normal level. As stated most beats
had fish. Turtory reported over 6 with two at 12lb, L/Netherdale
over 20, D Plumpton reported 10 for his week at Castle Water
Huntly, Colin Price at Mountblairy reported 5 fish for his week
at 10.5, 9.5, 7 lb and two fish at 20lb 11 oz and on Saturday
out of the Shaws pool a fish tipping the scales at 28lb 1 oz.
All fish except the 7lb one were returned. I also heard of one
beat catching nothing for the week and its three near neighbours
were over the thirty mark each. A lot of these fish were very
coloured and it is thought they were fish washed down river on
the large flood in September. This week has kicked off again
with plenty of fish being seen on the beats but very reluctant
to take in the clear water. Levels are up 3 inches on the back
of showers yesterday but it is still running clear. I have a few
fish reported today from the lower river and R Breakell had his
best ever day landing 6 at approx 5, 15, 7, 2, 17, and 19 lb
with another beached on the gravel before it came off. Again the
beats near neighbours struggled with one. Again tonight it is
raining which was not mentioned on the forecast. We really need
a little colour in the water to give everybody a chance at the
fish .
Update 6 October 2009
The river continued to go up and down on a daily
basis and the crystal clear nature of the water went slowly. By
Thursday Muiresk had a few grilse and two fish at 22 and 23 lb.
Friday saw the river up another 4 inches and Carnousie produced
three salmon and two sea-Trout to G Noble. J Cruickshank lost a
large fish and another of 14 lb was landed - again at Carnousie.
Turriff Angling Association also managed three grilse .Saturday
saw tremendous gale force winds - but J Brock was rewarded for
persevering with a fish of over 20 lb Returned at Forglen.. They
reported five for the week to three rods and Marnoch Lodge also
reported five with J Hardy at Scatterty reporting 3 grilse and
one Salmon.The fish are there now in decent numbers but still
hard to tempt. Overnight rain saw the river up around 18 inches
on Sunday which left us with a level of 1' 8" - or about +8
inches in old money (before the great flood the gauge would
have read + 8 inches). This was very peaty and Turriff Angling
Association turned in the best performance on the river Amongst
their returns for Monday were A Ironside with fish at 12 and
11lb . P Geddes with one at 10lb, I Masson with a fish of 7lb
and L Ironside with a clean fish of 20lb+. All were returned.
Most beats posted a couple of fish on the river. Today Tuesday
it is down 6 inches and still peaty. Catches today have tailed
off somewhat and the forecasted heavy rain never materialised.
Update 30 September 2009
The weather remained "glorious" for the rest of
the week. Indeed Saturday saw temperatures around 22 degrees
with not a cloud in the sky.
Again a catch figure of 7 was a reasonable one
for the week but fish were still all "grilse" of under 6 lb.
However Friday saw a subtle change with many beats seeing a good
few fish . Most of these were coloured but a few fresh fish
amongst them. Although still warm Sunday was dull and Monday
opened with light rain and drizzle. At last beats reported
seeing plenty fish with many clean ones amongst them. However
they were hard to tempt with many coming adrift if tempted.
Dunlugas managed five and Muiresk landed a fairly big fish as
well. Tuesday saw levels up 3 inches first thing and rising a
further 3 inches by 5 pm although the water remains clear. I
have reports of sea-liced fish coming off Dunlugas on Tuesday.
Continued light rain on the high hills sees levels up a couple
of inches again today - but it is still clear and the fish are
not being cooperative . With a decent head of fish in - at long-
last lets hope we get some colour in the water to turn the fish
on to the take.
Update 23 September 2009
Things are a little better this week. Most beats
have now recorded some fish . Upper Netherdale and Carnousie
report 8 to 8 lb for Monday with some clean grilse amongst them.
Mountblairy landed two sea-liced grilse Monday morning and
Avochie have seen their first number of clean fish on Monday for
a week. Lower beats have fish but many are stale. One angler has
had six to Tuesday mid morning inc fish at 9 and 14 lb but they
are not fresh. However they are seeing clean fish going through.
Muiresk has fish in the pools and have landed three up to
Tuesday am. Just remember with bright sky's and gin clear water;
be stealthy .
Update 21 September 2009
Monday 14 Sept Opened at 1.5 feet or was it + 7"
? On the old pre flood gauge I think nearer the 7 inch level.
The water ran crystal clear and the shingle filling all the
pools was shining as if it had all been polished. Was there any
fish caught- very little. Most beats struggled to post one on
the board. Forglen managed a few and Muiresk had 7. An 18 lb and
a 22.5 lb among them. This was the number to aspire too !!-
seven for the week. There were many long faces on the river with
comments like - I have been coming 20, 30 , etc years and never
caught nil on this week , we usually catch 20, 30 , 40 , etc. A
few clean fish did put in an appearance on Friday and seem to
have spread them selves out up the river. Avochie had 6 last
week and saw plenty fish but today they have seen lots of clean
fish. The grilse are still coming but are very hard to tempt.
Today again beats have not seen a fish and are very glum. The
river will need time to settle down and the shingle will move
around in spates over the winter. Hopefully a few fish will
arrive soon to help out October. I read that Canada has had a
poor year for Grilse on its east coast- so it is a big problem
all over ,for the Atlantic Salmon this year from Canada to
Scotland to Norway.
Update 15 September 2009
Well OUR FLOOD TURNED OUT TO BE A RECORD.
In some places it did not look as high in 1995 but water always
runs in different ways at different heights and the short cuts
it took this time were deeper than 1995 . Avochie recorded 1
inch more water in the hut, and it was about a foot higher as it
actually went in the top hut at Forglen and about 2 feet higher
by the time it reached Montcoffer. Many Gillies and indeed
Turriff Angling members scoured and netted the lakes left in the
fields and returned many fish to the river. Turriff's biggest
returned fish from the fields was 14 lb.
The water level has dropped ever so slowly once
it dropped to around 3 feet above normal. Many beats have
suffered a huge amount of damage. Banks have gone, roads ripped
up and washed away , huge trees across the river and of course
the dreaded gravel has washed out in some pools and filled in
entire beats. This new gravel will be a huge problem. If we get
more winter spates of even three feet it will all shift around
again and probably take years to settle down. For some it will
be good news for others it will be a nightmare. If you thought
you had the measure of your beat in your weeks fishing - its all
change and you will have the "fun" of getting to know the new
lies.
Back to the fishing- Saturday saw the river at 5
feet above normal and dirty. Turriff Anglers had a go with the
worm and B Arnold had a grilse and M Watson took a sea-liced
grilse at 3lb and 6 sea-trout for his day. All fish were
returned. Monday saw levels at 2 feet nine inches and still
dirty. The catch returns exploded. Turriff had 12 to 15 lb,
Dunlugas had 9 to 15lb, Mountblairy had 4 for the morning,
Scatterty had 11- John White had 6 to 12 lb and Richard Thomas
had his first ever salmon at 12 lb in the morning, followed by
fish of 15lb, two grilse and one at 20lb. All but the 12lb fish
returned. Marnoch Lodge also had 7 and Judith Croft took her
first ever salmon at 22.5 lb. Tuesday was in complete contrast
when many beats never saw a fish!! as levels stood at 2.5 feet .
Wednesday at 2 feet saw Turriff land two to B Balment and
Thursday saw N Bryant take two at 12 and 22 lb at Marnoch Lodge.
Friday saw the river crystal clear at 1 foot 8 inches and again
a few fish came off most beats. Most beats ended the week with
totals in the teens but Dunlugas posted around the forty mark
and one lower beat was not far behind. As today we are still
running clear with a height of between +7 inches and a foot.
With so many changes to the pools the gauges are all giving
different readings up and down the river . We used to know what
each one would read if given one reading. When things settle
down we will get a better idea. As to fish- normal service has
been resumed- they are a bit scarce- although we are still
getting a number of grilse off the tides. Still no sign of a
"back end run " though. Maybe with the grilse being two months
late the back end run will be on Christmas day.
I have been informed that one rod will be
available w/c 19 October at AVOCHIE. Please give me a ring if
interested
Update 4 September 2009
Well things get better before they get
worse they say. Most beats from Below Turriff to Banff all
recorded totals into double figures. The Wilson party at
Dunlugas had 12 to 20lb up until Thursday Lunchtime and
Mountblairy were nearer the 20, with one lucky angler landing
nine on Monday- all clean . Montcoffer posted 15 again until
Thursday lunchtime. Now Thursday lunchtime is significant as it
is the time the river began to rise. The rain came on around 3
am Thursday and it has rained non stop until lunch time today
Friday. The river has peaked today around lunchtime at around
19-20 ft .
As in 1995 lots of huts have gone including I
believe the gorge hut at Montcoffer- or at least it still may be
hanging over the edge. The picture below is at the Turriff
Bridge. The bridge at Banff was also shut in case it got hit by
all the debris and bales coming down. Please click on the link
below for some great pictures before and after to give you some
idea of the flood today, taken by an angling club member this
morning.
http://www.salmonfishingforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12692
Below Turriff Bridge Today.
Update 30 August 2009
A better week in general for most on the river.
Not all beats caught fish and many still struggled. Montcoffer
had a better week with their fishers being on the river early
morning to coincide with the tides, they reported 10 grilse up
until Friday to 6lb. A few other beats saw similar numbers up
and down the river but most of the bigger fish or salmon amongst
those totals were stale and coloured red fish. Upper Netherdale
and Carnousie saw a few grilse and a sea-liced fish to 9lb. The
Tail end of Hurricane Bill came and went with very little rain
and Friday's forecast was for a few showers. Well the few
showers turned out to be quite heavy rain from 3 am early Friday
and it rained almost up until Friday Lunchtime. The Middle river
started to rise by 10am but the Deveron above the Isla and Below
the Bogie only saw 3 inches . The Isla however was nearly over
its banks and by 5pm the whole river was around 2 feet and
getting very dirty. Levels peaked by 9pm at 4 foot 6 " above
normal in Turriff. By Saturday am this was down 2 feet but still
very dirty. Today levels are at 10" above normal and look
excellent . Fingers crossed that Monday will see a good head of
salmon arrive and result in better catch returns.
Update 25 August 2009
Monday 17th saw levels open at +6 inches and
rather peaty. A few fish were reported off middle beats on the
Monday to 12lb.Tuesday saw levels holding up at three inches
above normal and Laithers , Forglen and Huntly all reported
fish. Most were grilse around 4 lb but Mrs. Webb reported a
clean fish of 18lb. By Wednesday things began to tail off and by
Saturday things had fizzled out. The usual rumor mill got going
about a beat and indeed the whole river being stuffed with fish
and the phone calls came from far and wide wanting to know if it
was true- if only it was!!. Thursday saw a little rise from - 3
inches to + 6 inches But it did not make much of a difference to
fish caught. Turriff saw A Mathew take a grilse at 4lb and Dr
Smith and party reported a couple of 8lb fish for their week
amongst others. Anglers were really disappointed to drive up
here on Sunday through torrential rain and could see every river
in Spate. We got very little rain on Sunday and the river was up
half an inch on Monday morning. However a few fish were taken up
and down the river although further up they were mainly coloured
fish. There are a few more grilse around but some are 1-2 lb
only in weight and are not to interested in anything . Our
forecasted rain gets less and less and it looks like the tail of
hurricane Bill will not raise the levels much. However it is
some salmon we would like to arrive in the next week or so to
keep all our spirits up.
W/c 22 Sept is still available for 4 rods and
Ferry Cottage at Upper Netherdale and Carnousie. Please ring me
if interested.
Update 16 August 2009
Another week best forgotten. There were a few fish around and
a few more grilse but nothing like it should be. I fished from
5am until 8am most mornings and again from 7pm till dark most
nights and although I saw a few fish most evenings , it was very
poor. Most beats picked away with around 8-12 for the week. Some
saw salmon others grilse but lots were stale sea-trout still
hanging around in water levels of about -3 inches. The
forecasted deluge of rain never happened and instead we got a
rise of 18 inches taking us to +15 inches on Saturday afternoon.
This remained fairly clear and encouraged a few more fish to
move upstream and fish were certainly running on Saturday night.
A few sea-liced fish were reported on Saturday - a fish of
around 16lb off Montcoffer and a sea-liced grilse at Turriff.
With no reports of a grilse run further north we have to hope
that a few salmon will enter the system on the back of this
rise.
There is still a week available at Upper Netherdale and
Carnousie at Ferry Cottage w/c 22 Sept. This may not be a
startling year but it has proved on of the best weeks in the
past three. The sitting tenant always gets first refusal every
year.
Update 8 August 2009
The rest of the week picked away but did not
set records. The better beats returned figures in the low
twenties and others between eight and twelve. Higher
beats certainly faired well early in the week but it tailed off
during the week .By Monday the 3rd we were down to about normal
and running clear. As the weather got hotter the water and the
fish disappeared. Lower Netherdale reported a 22lb fish early in
the week and a 16lb fish came off a lower beat . Turriff Anglers
J Wilkie and B Arnold both returned sea-liced grilse at 3lb and
Mountblairy reported a few grilse as well. We are now below
normal by about 3 inches and things are looking grim on the fish
front. All beats are grumbling and despite a few small shoals of
fish being seen in pools briefly they are very hard to tempt.
Reports from our neighbours and up north do not look encouraging
as far as the grilse numbers go , so we will just have to grin
and bear the poor returns for now.
Update 28 July 2009
Levels opened at 1' 6" on Wednesday after heavy
rain overnight and Turriff Angling Association reported a 10lb
fish and an 8 lb fish came off Dunlugas. By lunchtime the river
was at 3 feet and very dirty. Thursday saw 14" above normal and
very black in colour; very few fish were reported . Heavy
Thunder showers saw levels up again on Friday and by Saturday we
were at 3 feet above normal again and very dirty. However up
river seems to have faired much better with Avochie having a
good week with both sea-trout and grilse reported and A Watt had
an 18lb up river as well. This week Monday opened at 1 foot and
peaty. Some lower beats reported a few grilse and a 10lb
sea-liced fish whilst others continued to struggle Forglen
reported salmon, grilse and sea-trout whilst Marnoch Lodge
reported a grilse to J Tait and a few lost. Carnousie and Upper
Netherdale saw 3 salmon and four lost to two rods and again
upriver reported some good bags of fish to individual anglers
for the day. Today Tuesday at 9" above normal most beats seem to
be reporting a few fish all over the river- so perhaps we have
the start of the main run upon us.
I have w/c 22 September at Upper Netherdale and
Carnousie at Ferry Cottage available for 4 rods. This usually
produces an average of 20 fish for the week. If interested give
me a call.
Update 21 July
Thursday night saw heavy Thunder
showers in places and flash floods as a result on the River. The
main river went up two and a half feet in 40 minutes in places.
By Friday this was down to 11 inches above normal but it was
rising .The Rain arrived come the afternoon and from 10.30 pm it
poured down. This saw the river at two feet and muddy on
Saturday morning - eventually peaking about five feet above
normal. Obviously ,with days lost, fishing was not the best but
Forglen ended their week with 5 salmon to 19lb and 5 sea-trout.
Monday saw levels open at 1 foot 6 inches and very black in
colour. Fish were reported off Scatterty 12 lb , Turriff Angling
Association 14lb Mountblairy 1 lost at the net at approx 18lb.
Lower beats reported a few grilse covered in sea-lice but again
showing red-vent syndrome. Dunlugas lost two salmon over 10lb
and returned two sea-trout. Laithers reported two fish
with the loss of two and Upper Netherdale had several grilse and
a few sea-trout.Today has carried on with most beats reporting a
few fish. Lets hope we do not get the heavy rain tonight to
raise levels again.
I have two Rods at Turtory next week - if
interested give me a call. A cottage would be available if
required. Daily rods are in high demand but there are still some
available.
Update 16 July 2009
Levels came down to plus 7 inches on Thursday
after the three feet the previous day. A few fish were caught
but not very many and the water was inky black in colour.
Thursday saw plus 4 inches and beats around Marnoch landed a few
fish. Euchrie and U/Netherdale saw the odd fish and B Say had a
grilse and two sea-trout. Friday - up again at plus 9 inches.
and peaty. R Breakell landed a grilse at Marnoch Lodge. A Buchan
had a salmon and two grilse at Forglen and M Peackock landed a
sea-trout of 5 lb. Levels dropped away to around normal on the
Saturday. Castle Water Huntly reported around 9 sea-trout and
three salmon - all double figures to 16lb, all returned and
Avochie saw light fishing pressure with 4 salmon and three
sea-trout for their respective weeks.
Monday 10th July saw levels open at plus seven
and very peaty after rain all day on Sunday. Forglen ,
Mountblairy and Avochie all posted fish and L Stewart returned a
salmon in excess of 16 lb off Turriff Angling Association.
Levels dropped during Monday but rain again in the high
catchment saw the river rising fast first thing to reach 1' 6"
by late morning. As this dropped heavy thunder showers in the
area and again in the high hill saw levels open on Wednesday at
2 foot 6 inches at Turriff. A few sea-trout were reported and
word of a salmon at Mountblairy of 18lb. Today we are down to
plus 11 inches but again very dark. It looks like the river will
continue to yo-yo with the rain forecast from now until Tuesday.
This will unsettle the fish we have so it will continue to be
hard work until the hoped "run of fish " arrive in August as
they have done the past two years.
Update 7 July 2009
A week best forgotten.
Temperatures soared into the high twenties and even into the
thirties in some local hot spots. As a result the river
temperature reached 25 degrees C . Some of the feeder burns on
the high hills reached 30 degrees. Some fish became distressed
and one when caught was dead before it was landed. Upper beats
saw some excellent sea-trout catches early in the week before
the temperatures soared. These tailed off a wee bit but they
were still there to be had at the weekend. Lower beats suffered
in the heat. The water levels stayed around the -5 inches mark
but the water was just too hot and if beats got off the mark
they only posted say one sea-trout for the week. Monday 6 July
again saw a few sea-trout and salmon taken higher up the river.
However Tuesday morning saw us find the river at three feet
above normal. The rain must have been in the high hills - but
hey- just what we wanted we will not complain. River
temperatures are down to + 14 degrees and once the colour goes
we should be in for a great spell as it has been two weeks since
any fish have entered the river in any great numbers.
Update 30 June 2009
As summer arrived and air
temperatures reached the mid twenties Celsius the water
temperature has also shot up in a few days to around 22 degrees
c . A few fish around the Turriff area have been reported but
the lower river continues to struggle. Higher beats had some
sport at the beginning of last week on the back of the rise in
levels the previous weeks with sea-liced fish reported off
several beats. A few grilse have put in an appearance but some
have the bleeding vent again. Can I encourage anglers to take
some scales if they get one with a red vent, and hand them to
the gillie . This allows the scientists to see if they have had
poor feeding at sea , once again. There are a lot more
sea-trout about than in past years but the are difficult to
tempt in the hot water. It looks like we may have to wait into
the weekend to get some cooler weather which hopefully might
tempt a few more fish to run the river.
Update 23 June 2009
Thursday saw levels peak around 3 foot above
normal and the day was a washout. Friday saw levels down to + 7
inches falling to +4 by evening and many beats reported a few
sea-trout and the odd grilse. By Saturday we were up again to
+10 inches and very peaty. Again a few sea-trout were reported
and G McBride landed an 18 lb salmon off Mountblairy. Young
master Dempster out fishing a small telescopic rod in the high
water landed a 20 lb Salmon off Dunlugas under guidance from his
Dad the Gillie .By Monday we were down to just below normal and
a few salmon and sea-trout were reported around Turriff and some
sea-liced fish were reported from high up the river. Today
Tuesday we saw a couple of inches go on levels during the
morning but the river is still peaty and this put a lot of the
fish down. Obviously we would want this to clear out but as
levels are back to being low again and water temperatures over
15 degrees c any clearance would probably equal even lower
levels and algae growth.
Update 17 June 2009
Reports received show a reasonable amount of
salmon taken on Friday 12 June- mainly from upper beats to 15
lb. Saturday saw Forglen take a few sea-trout whilst Upper
Netherdale saw Mr. Colman take a sea-trout and a salmon to 12lb.
Heavy rain on Saturday morning and Thunder and Lightning
Saturday evening saw the river at 1' 6" and dirty on Sunday.
Monday saw this open at plus six inches but heavy rain upstream
saw levels at 1 foot above by evening. However many a beat from
Turriff down caught a few sea-trout all around the 3 lb mark and
reports of a couple of grilse also came from a lower beat.
Tuesday saw levels at plus seven and dropping. Once again lower
beats did well with sea-trout and U/Netherdale saw 2 salmon and
two sea-trout with a few sea-trout lost . Forglen Landed 6
sea-trout, whilst today Wednesday Forglen have seen 5 sea-trout
and a salmon landed with a salmon and several sea-trout lost.
Turriff Angling Assoc. saw a salmon at 7lb returned in the
morning. All day today we have seen torrential rain . The river
is rising slowly but I would expect it to be bank full Thursday.
Hopefully this will not harm our sea-trout fishing which is
looking pretty reasonable so far. Most beats have double figures
in the book which is far more than they had last year for the
season.
I have two weekly rods at Forglen next week and
two at Dunlugas. Daily rods will be available at Turriff ,
Castle Water Huntly and Euchrie.
The following week I have one rod at Forglen and
three at Marnoch Lodge. There are still weeks available at
Waterside and Ferry Cottage - w/c 28 June . 19 July and 26 July.
Update 12 June 2009.
Levels dropped away at the end of May but a few fish were
still around. I Masson had two sea-trout and lost several for
his afternoon at Muiresk on the 28th and R Miller had a
sea-trout of around 6 lb off Kinnairdy on the 29th. The Friday
saw the start of the hot temperatures and with them reaching 25
degrees and the sun shining brightly levels dropped away and
only a few sea-trout were reported late at night. The water
temperature reached 18 degrees but a few salmon were running and
a sea-liced fish came off Marnoch Lodge in -3 inches of water.
Lower beats reported a few sea-trout and heavy rain showers on
the 5 th June saw levels up 3 inches to Normal by the Saturday
and Avochie reported four salmon. Levels dropped away again for
week of June 8 but sea-trout continued to be caught and were
around the 4 lb mark. Muiresk, Forglen and U/Netherdale all
reported 5 or six up until Wednesday. Thursday saw the river up
to + 10 inches and a few fish stirred. U/Netherdale saw 3
sea-trout in 20 mins to W Smith and R Thomson had two salmon at
14 and 8lb. Today Friday the river has coloured up but dropped
to +1 inches. Two salmon 9lb sea-liced and 10 lb fell to Mr.
King, G Noble had a sea-trout and lost two salmon and F Watt had
a sea-trout all at U /Netherdale and Carnousie Friday am. No
doubt a few more reports will filter in over the weekend and it
is very encouraging to see a good few sea-trout on the go.
Update 27 May 2009
Levels reached 1ft above normal on the Friday and it was very
dirty. By Saturday it was down to +5. Fish continued to come off
Huntly with a 15 lb fish reported and Upper Netherdale saw T
Lawson take a sea-trout and R Vasey reported a 12lb fish from an
upper beat. D Reid took three brown trout at 4.5,2.5 and 2lb off
Scatterty- all returned. Monday 25 May saw levels open at +1
inch and Mountblairy saw a 3.5 lb sea-trout returned , whilst
Marnoch Lodge reported a 7lb salmon, a sea-trout of around 2.5
lb and two brown trout at 5.5 lb and 4.5 lb. T Lawson again
struck lucky at Upper Netherdale with several salmon . Heavy
overnight rain saw levels open at + 6 inches and rise slowly all
day to reach +9 inches by 6 pm. Although dirty the Richardson
party at Upper Netherdale reported salmon and sea-trout at 8and
2lb. The Bradford Party report salmon and sea-trout at Laithers
for the first part of their week and Forglen a sea-trout. Levels
are falling away today and clearing out but it is very windy.
Let us hope with a few-sea trout about that we get a decent run
of them this year.
Update 21 May 2009
Levels dropped away to around -3 inches and the bottom became
covered in slimy weed on rocks and algae in the calmer margins.
A few fish came off the middle river some even sea-liced but it
became a struggle in the lower water. R Paterson took a
sea-trout at Dunlugas on Friday and heavy rain late Friday and
overnight saw levels on Saturday up to Normal level. Levels
climbed steadily all day and all the rubbish came with it and it
was unfishable by late pm. Levels reached just over one foot but
not enough to flush all the weed and algae out. Monday saw some
fish come off the middle river as levels were at + 6 inches. S
Raeburn took a lovely clean fish off Huntly at 14 lb and as
heavy showers on Tuesday and Wednesday saw levels up each
morning to fall away during the day Avochie saw two around 8lb
to B Parkin and I Masson. Heavy Thunder showers sees the river
rising and turning dirty this evening. This might encourage a
few of the sea-trout that have been seen on the lower River to
move .
There are still fishings and accommodation available
at Dunlugas and Forglen in June. The Wrack will have some
availability w/c 19 July and 1-6 June.
Turtory will have rods in June and a cottage if required.
Marnoch Lodge has availability for 4 rods right through the
season- even in September and October this year.
Also available is Waterside Lodge at Upper Netherdale and
Carnousie w/c 26 June , 12 July and 30 August( 18 fish average
week) Ferry Cottage on the same beat has availability on 7
June, 19 July, 26 July, 4 October and 11 October.
These October weeks have a 3 year average of 28 and 20 fish per
week. The prices are also held for next year as well. How many
chances are there to get on the Deveron in October ???
If interested in any of the above give me a call on 01888
562428.
Update 12 May 2009
Despite levels dropping away to -3 inches sea-liced salmon
are being caught as far up as Avochie. Friday and Saturday last
week saw Avochie land one fish and three were lost at the net.
One of these was covered in sea-lice. R Henderson returned an
8lb sea-liced fish at Upper Netherdale and landed a brown trout
at 2.5 lb. K Barron also had two brown trout at 2 and 3 lb.
Today Tuesday continues to be dry and sunny although the wind is
chilly and we have been having frosts at night so water
temperatures are still low. A sea-liced fish came off above
Turriff on Monday so they are still pushing through. I have just
heard from Alan Bruce at Montcoffer and a Mr. Lewis has landed
four salmon to 12 lb today- all sea-liced and a sea-trout at
7lb.
I also have w/c 6 July for two rods and a cottage at
Montcoffer cost £1140.
Also reduced rates up -until 14 June at Upper Netherdale and
Carnousie- with conditions attached - please call if interested.
Finally - 1 rod at Forglen available w/c 27 July 2009.
Update 6 May 2009
Contrary to the announcement from the ASFB in the press
over the weekend, about the lack of Spring Salmon in Scotland-
THE DEVERON HAS HAD A GREAT START TO THE SEASON AND HAS BUCKED
THE TREND ON OTHER RIVERS. We have now had over 100 fish and
we are up there with one of the best starts in the last 15
years. Many other rivers are poor this year and we must try and
conserve the spring run. If we can build this stock then we all
stand a chance of being able to catch one in the future.
Heavy rain showers on Sunday 26 Brought up levels at Turriff
by 5 inches. This did the trick as a couple of sea-liced fish
fell to R Breakell and S Baird on the Monday. Levels tailed away
again to normal level very quickly and despite groans of lack of
water I know of at least another seven fish off the river from
Rothiemay to the Wrack so they are still there. This week Upper
Netherdale kicked off with a 9lb fish on Monday and heavy rain
on Tuesday has given us at least 4 inches of a rise today and
early reports have Turriff Angling club down for a 10 lb fish
this morning. There is still availability on Day tickets for
another few weeks and the river offers an excellent chance of a
fish in May.
Update 26 April 2009
The river levels have tailed away from +4 inches to just
below normal this week. There is no real rain forecast for the
week ahead-but are they ever right?. We certainly had heavy
thunder showers with hail today up river and towards the coast
although Turriff remained fairly dry. There may be a change in
levels by the morning. The river remains a chilly 8 degrees C.
Marnoch Lodge reported a brown trout of 8.5 lb on fly
Wednesday 15 April and a few fish came off the Netherdales and
Carnousie. Whilst Turriff , Euchrie and Muiresk also reported
fish to 11lb on the Saturday. Into the new week of the 20th and
with levels dropping we have begun to struggle although
sea-trout have come off Forglen and The Wrack this week. Another
large brown-trout of 5.5 lb came off Dunlugas and a few salmon
were reported from a beat up river of Turriff. Some of these
were sea-liced so they are still running and Mr. A Bruce at
Montcoffer reports clean fish running off the tides through his
beat. We are now up to over 80 fish so far and May can give us
at least double that if we are fortunate so things are looking
well. May I remind you that a side of Smoked Salmon from
Sutherlands at Portsoy is available through the Trust for all
salmon returned to the river. If you return one or have done
already and not claimed then I can put you in touch with the
person who will deal with it for you if you contact me.
Update 15 April 2009
Wednesday April 8 saw heavy rain and gales. This resulted in
levels rising 13 inches on Thursday and levels opened at 1' 6".
However they were fairly clear and by Friday we were down to 9
inches and by today April 15 we are at + 2 ". However the fish
are there in numbers and most beats seem to be getting amongst
them. Marnoch Lodge has landed six since Wednesday 8 April all
about the 8 lb mark. Avochie saw one on Thursday and two on
Saturday. Forglen produced Friday and Saturday and U/Netherdale
landed at least three and Muiresk had a 14 lb fish returned on
Wednesday.
It is also of interest to note that a few early sea-trout
have been caught down river. There are still daily tickets
available until end of May and I also have weeks available in
June at Dunlugas and Forglen as well as Marnoch Lodge and Upper
Netherdale and Carnousie.
Update 8 April 2009
Avochie produced its first fish of the season on 25 March
(late for them) at 8lb to I Masson. Levels were up a few inches
by the Thursday and another fish was caught and returned at
Forglen on the Friday. Heavy rain Friday pm saw the river at 4
feet and rising on Saturday but at least one fish came off the
river. By the Monday we were down to 1 foot nine inches above
normal and two sea-liced fish came off a lower beat and one was
lost at Forglen on the Tuesday. The rest of the week went a bit
quiet and levels dropped away to open at plus six inches on
Monday 6 April. A few fish were reported around Turriff on
Monday and Tuesday - the pick of which was a 19.5 lb sea-liced
fish to L Stewart off the Turriff Angling Association. All in
all we are well over the 40 mark which is a great start. Lets
hope we get a decent run this month and with more rain forecast
and high tides expected we should have plenty of water.
Update 25 March 2009
We really are having a great start . More fish have come off
Forglen , Montcoffer , Mountblairy, Muiresk and upper and Lower
Netherdale since my last report. Water levels had bottomed out
at around plus 4 inches but snow and rain had levels at one
foot nine on Tuesday and down to one foot above today. More rain
is forecast with snow on the hills over the rest of this week.
Just a reminder that there are still weeks available in June
through to September on excellent beats including Avochie ,
Dunlugas , Forglen and Upper Netherdale and Carnousie. Most
include accommodation and to be honest some cracking weeks are
available at the back end at Upper Netherdale.
STOP PRESS.
Upper Netherdale and Carnousie have for offer early weeks in
the Spring Time . These weeks will include four rods and self
catering accommodation as per normal but the services of a
gillie will not be included . These weeks will carry a
discount for the reduced service . Please give me a call for
further details and conditions.
Update 17 March 2009
Levels are now dropping away and today stand gin clear at +6
inches. Another six fish have been reported all again coming off
the middle river at Forglen, Mountblairy and L/Netherdale. In an
effort to preserve the spring run some beats have now gone catch
and release , as with now over 20 fish caught in the last two
weeks we are having the best start to a season certainly in the
last 7 years .
There is still a side of smoked salmon on offer from
Sutherlands at Portsoy to all anglers who return a fish and five
have been given out so far.
Jim Smith on the left receives the bottle of StrathIsla Malt
for returning the first Springer to the river in 2009. He also
receives a side of smoked Salmon.
Update 10 March 2009
Levels have held around the 1-1' 6" above normal and on the
odd occasion heavy rain has coloured things up. However since
the 25 February we have had at least another 10 fish reported.
Most are around the 6-8lb mark with one at 13 lb. They are all
coming off beats between Netherdale and Mountblairy although a
sea-liced specimen did come off Montcoffer. The number of kelts
have been prolific and anglers have usually encountered
something to make their day.
There are some available weeks for let in September and
October which have just become available. Please give me a call
if you are interested.
Update 26 February 2009.
Well our winter weather went in a flash. A flash flood.
Monday 16 February saw milder temperatures, rain and wind. I set
off to fish the Spey knowing full well it would be high and
useless. As I drove to Rothes via Huntly and Keith the roads
were beginning to flood. I fished for 2 Hours and then came home
at lunchtime. I came home via Dufftown and Glass, the headwaters
of the Deveron.
Dufftown had over 18 inches of snow - however as I drove
through the village it was all gone. and the hills were now
green as I drove along the Deveron. We started the morning at
about 1 foot on the gauge and peaked around 10.30 pm at 12 foot
6 inches at Turriff.
This amount of water will have damaged redds and river banks-
so not a great start to 2009.
This week has seen levels settle down to 2 feet and dropping.
I have heard of three fish this week. Unconfirmed reports of a
14 lb fish at Mountblairy on Tuesday to R Walker. This may be
the first off the river. Another 10lb fish returned from the
Marnoch area on Wednesday and R Ewen had an 8lb fish off Forglen
covered in sea-lice on Wednesday.
If levels hold around a foot and the weather stays fair it
will hopefully encourage a few more anglers out, now that they
know the fish are around. There are some fantastic dates
available for let on the lettings page check them out here.
Letting Availability
Update 20 January 2009
Weekly lets during 2009.
I have reduced rates for Upper Netherdale and Carnousie up
until May. Ferry Cottage would be ideal for those wishing to
perhaps trout fish with the hope of maybe encountering a spring
Salmon. If interested please give me a call for the rates based
on 4 rods. Offer Letters for 2009 to those who fished here
during the last season will soon be on their way.
Please check the letting availability page for anything else
available or give me a call to put your name down should
anything come available. Marnoch Lodge is now available again
in 2009 for three daily rods and all your other favourite beats
are still available.
Update 11 February 2009.
Opening day finally arrived. We experienced tropical
temperatures of -2 degrees C after Monday at -17 and Tuesday
at -10. We had a fresh fall of snow overnight and the river was
iced over in places . Levels opened at +8 inches but the river
was mighty cold. A few hardy soles ventured out providing access
roads were open but it was very cold with further snow showers
in the afternoon.
Once again Malcolm Hay the River Board Chairman did the
honours' at the opening ceremony at Huntly.
The opening ceremony 2009
The river at Turriff above
The Deveron at Huntly - reduced in width with the ice.
Ice bergs in the river at Huntly.11 February 2009.
