The River Dee has some of Scotland's finest salmon fly fishing water and is exceptionally picturesque with boulder strewn riverbeds and perfect gin clear water fresh off the beautiful Cairngorm Mountain range.
The River Dee is a beautiful salmon fly fishing river located in the North East of Scotland and measuring 87 miles it represents some of Scotland's finest salmon fishing. The Dee has a catchment of 800 square miles and start its majestic journey 4000ft up in the Cairngorm mountain range until it finally reaches the north sea in Aberdeen on the East coast of Scotland. The river has some beautiful towns positioned along its riverbanks such as Banchory, Ballater & Braemar. The area between the latter two towns is commonly known as Royal Deeside due to Queen Victoria building Balmoral Castle between these two picturesque Scottish towns.
The River Dee salmon fishing season commences on the 1st of February and finishes on the 15th of October each year. The Dee is very much a fly fishing river with beautiful boulder strewn attractive clear water pools that ebb & flow down through various glides and fast water rapids throughout it's entire length.
Some 20 years ago the River Dee management had the sense to make the river 100% 'Catch & Release' and in recent times the River Dee salmon stocks have been very good as a direct result of this worthwhile initiative. The Dee benefits from around 50 famous salmon fishing beats throughout its length and when the river opens in February it is normal for many Spring salmon to be caught in its lower & middle salmon fishing beats. Salmon stocks continue to build up throughout the lower & middle Dee through the Spring months until the river water warms during late Spring when salmon will run through to the upper Dee salmon fishing beats as well. Good fishing is possible on the Dee at any time of the salmon fishing season and it always amazes me how many salmon are present especially in the Autumn as while watching the river at this time of the season it is not uncommon to see two or three salmon in the air at the same time.
Although one of Scotland's shallower salmon fishing rivers the River Dee has a history of producing heavyweight salmon and 20lbs fish are common. Occasionally like all other Scottish rivers a 30lbs plus salmon will show up or be seen by salmon fishers. The nearest city to the River Dee is Aberdeen however Edinburgh isn't that far away either with good road systems in place to keep driving easy and to a minimum.
Fly fishing equipment for the River Dee is typically a 14/15ft ft double handed salmon fly rod with a floating line and a sink tip. In low Summer water conditions a full floating line works well and in the early Spring an intermediate line or a longer heavier sink tip added to a floating line are both perfect.
Popular Spring salmon flies are the deadly Dee Monkey which is a modern day variant of the traditional Black & Yellow. The Park Shrimp works well too in the early months tied on copper tubes and moving onto single or double hooks with the same pattern for the late Spring months. Other salmon fly patterns that do well on the Dee are the Ally's Shrimp, Sunray Shadow, Willie Gunn, Cascade, Flamethrower, Copperass & the Stoat's tail to name but a few. In lower Summer water conditions I've had good success with the smallest and lightly dressed Stoat's Tail or Silver Stoat patterns which often make me wonder how the salmon has actually even been able to see it in the stream.
Waders with studded boots are essential on the Dee so as to get a good grip of the riverbank and riverbed stones when wading as too are polaroid sunglasses which in certain water & light conditions can actually help you to pin-point where salmon are lying in a pool. A wading stick is also very worthwhile to make wading easier & safer along with a life jacket just in case you should lose your footing.
Access to the River Dee is not always easy as many international & UK based salmon fishers recognise the quality salmon fishing the river offers and they arrive on Deeside in numbers from February onwards each season. With the River Dee it is best to book early to avoid possible disappointment such is its fishing reputation. Some beautiful hotels & B&B's are located in the Dee valley in or near its major towns and as featured on the Latest Offers page of this website.
The River Dee offers a truly memorable & exciting Scottish salmon fishing experience in one of the most beautiful & scenic areas of Scotland with it's backdrop being the famous Cairngorm mountain range in it's upper reaches which in normal years keeps the river levels good with snow melt during the Spring & early Summer salmon fishing months before the Autumn rains come.
The River Dee is a Scottish river that will work her magic on you and memories attained while breathing in her salmon fishing beauty will permanently remain in your mind tempting you to return year after year as the vast majority of her salmon fishers do.
To maximise your chances of catching salmon on the River Dee it is always advisable to hire the professional services of an expert. Follow this link for detailed information on how to book a professional River Dee salmon fishing guide.
