River Dee Aberdeenshire

Description of the River Dee

The River Dee is one of the big classic salmon rivers. Noted as a good fly fishing river and in the past for its spring runs which appear to be recovering. It rises in the Cairngorms and flows through Braemar, Ballater, Aboyne and Banchory on Deeside to the North Sea at Aberdeen.

River Dee by Braemar by Jock

Tributarries include Lui Water, Clunie Water, River Muick, River Gairn anf the Water of Feugh.

River Dee Salmon by Jock

The river produces some 2000 spring salmon (Feb-May) and around 4500 summer and autumn fish.

Jock’s Tips and Advice on the River Dee

The River Dee’s management team had the foresight to make the river 100% catch & release some 15 years ago and is now reaping the rewards for their common sense & forward thinking. The River Dee is the best spring salmon river in the world and large numbers of spring salmon are landed each season along with big catches of Summer and Autumn salmon. Due to its popularity it is not the easiest salmon river in Scotland to gain access to due to its high demand, limited space and the large annual Spring influx of Scandinavian salmon fishers. Salmon stock numbers increase in the lower river from Banchory downstream until the water warms in late March & April which then sees this large head of fish moving upstream through the middle Dee and often as far up the river system as the upper Dee beats around Braemar & Ballater. The River Dee salmon fishing season opens from the beginning of February through to mid October and many Dee salmon are caught on the fly throughout the river system from July through to October. The River Dee is primarily a fly only river due to its magnificent and easily coverable glides and pools. Very occasionally some salmon beats permit the use of a spinning rod in high water conditions but this is generally not practised. Popular Dee salmon flies such as the Sunray Shadow, Cascade, Ally’s Shrimp, Dee Monkey do well in the early months and through the Summer patterns like the Dee Sheep, Flamethrower, and Stoats Tail all have their successes.The River Dee opens on the 1st of February and closes on its recently extended date of 15 October each year. The Dee is a beautiful scenic highland river and its water levels are fed by the melting snow from the Cairngorm Mountains through the early parts of the season. The British Royal family has had residence in Royal Deeside at Balmoral since 1842 such is the outstanding beauty of this highly picturesque area of Scotland. Click here for information on guided fishing trips on the River Dee.

Fishing Links for the River Dee

• Aberdeen District and Angling Association The club has extensive fishings on the Rivers Dee, Don and Ythan in Aberdeenshire for salmon, sea trout and brown trout as well as loch fishing.
• Ballogie Beat 2.4 miles right hand (south) bank salmon and sea trout fishing on the River Dee in Aberdeenshire with 25 named pools for rods 4. Holiday cottages available.
• Balmoral Estate Three salmon fishing beats on the south Bank of the river Dee in Aberdeenshire. Minimum let usually 2 days. Accommodation available.
• Birse Beat Three and a half miles right hand (south) bank salmon and sea trout fishing on the middle River Dee in Aberdeenshire on 14 pools for 4 rods. Day tickets occasionally available.
• Cairnton Beat Offers just under 2 miles of fishing from the North (left) bank of the Rive Dee in Aberdeenshire, comprising over 25 pools for salmon and sea trout. Holiday cottage available.
• Carlogie Beat 1.7 miles right hand (south) bank salmon and sea trout fishing on the middle River Dee in Aberdeenshire with 16 named pools for 3 rods. Holiday cottage accommodation available.
• Commonty Beat One and a half miles of right hand bank salmon and sea trout fishing on the middle River Dee in Aberdeenshire. Day tickets sometimes available. Holiday cottage accommodation available.
• Dee District Salmon Fishery Board The care of the River Dee is the joint role of the River Dee Trust (RDT) and the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board (DDSFB). The RDT is a charity that has a remit of research, restoration and education, for the river and the fish it supports. The DDSFB is tasked with protecting and enhancing salmon and sea trout stocks.
• Fish Dee Excellent portal covering the River Dee providing online booking.
• Glen Tanar Estate Glen Tanar has four salmon and sea trout beats on the upper Aberdeenshire Dee, which have been used by anglers since the 17th Century. All fishing on The Glen Tanar beats is fly based and can be booked by week, part week or day ticket. Trout fishing on a loch and holiday cottages also available.
• Invercauld Estate The Estate offers first class salmon and sea trout fishing on Crathie Beat of the River Dee in Aberdeenshire offering 6 miles of double bank fishing for 4 rods. Day tickets sometime available. Holiday cottages available.
• Kincardine Estate Beat 1.25 miles of left hand (north) bank salmon and sea trout fishing on the middle River Dee in Aberdeenshire with 10 pools for3 rods. Day tickets sometimes available. Holiday cottage and Castle accommodation available.
• Knappach Beat The Knappach Beat of the River Dee in Aberdeenshire comprises just under three quarters of a mile of right (south bank) fishing for 2 rods for salmon and sea trout. Day tickets available.
• Little Blackhall & Inchmarlo fishings Sporting lodge on Deeside which is let on a weekly basis with the salmon and sea trout fishing on the River Dee.
• Lower Crathes and W Durris Almost two and a half miles of double bank salmon and sea trout fishing on the lower River Dee in Aberdeenshire for 3 rods. Usually let in 3 day blocks, but day tickets occasionally
• Mar Lodge Salmon and sea trout fishing rights on the River Dee in Aberdeenshire above Linn of Dee, and on the north bank of the river below that for 5 miles. Fishing is let on the river mainly from May to July. Day tickets available. Accommodation available.
• Maryculter House Hotel Country house hotel on the banks of the River Dee in Aberdeenshire with its own salmon fishing beat and offering fishing packages.
• Middle Blackhall Fishings 1.6 miles of right hand (south) bank salmon and sea trout fishing on the middle River Dee in Aberdeenshire on 17 pools for 3 Rods. Day tickets sometimes available. Preference given to guests of the sporting lodge.
• Monteith Salmon Fishing Services Scotland's leading salmon fishing guiding service covering all Scottish Salmon rivers including the River Tay, River Dee, River Spey and River Tweed.
• Park Estate 3 miles of salmon fishing on the River Dee in Aberdeenshire, with 30 pools for up to 12 rods. Ghillie available. Day tickets available, but preference is given to rods staying at the house.