Last week came to a rather surprising and limp end with a blank day on Saturday 10/3/12. The river was still running well at around 8/9" and conditions were mild and overcast but there were no more fish to be found. Generally the river performs much better at this time of the year, infact what we are now catching in March used to be the norm in February. The catches are not too surprising considering the lack of rods fishing 9 miles of water below the falls of Kildonan. Soon the amount of water will more than double for the same quantity of rods and the fish will be even more difficult to find. Interestingly the private rotation works out at 1 rod per 2 miles double bank when the full length of river is populated with salmon. Luxury indeed.

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Andy Sutherland landed his second of the season and No 17 off the river today on the Association water 9/3/12. Huge midday tides, 10ins fresh water on the guage, downstream wind, cloud cover and mild, what more could lure you down for a cast, perfect conditions! Andy wasted no time in landing a cracking 12 pounder full of sea-lice from the Upper Allan pool on a Hot orange conehead Monkey tube, (see fish & fly below) a few more fish were spotted running today so prospects are looking good for the beats tomorrow.

Hot orange conehead Monkey Tube

Duncan Mackay Took No 16 from the Kilphedir pool yesterday beat (2) 8/3/12 a fine sea-liced 12 pounder went in the books for Torrish rods. The river has risen to an excellent height of around 10" so we would expect a good run to enter the system after a long low spell of water.

Spring Fly PRICECRASH still on

Bringing you right up to date - Becky Smith landed a superb 16 pounder from the Flat pool beat 6 yesterday 6/3/12. She was fishing Borrobol rods and Glen Macdonald ghillie was on hand to help land the fish. A dangerous place to play a fish, the Flat pool has seen many fish head down the falls for the sea to disaster but not this time! well done to Becky, keeping a hand in for the ladies amongst a very experienced party of lads .

Badanloch Ghillie Alex Fraser landed the first for his estate on beat 6 at the end of last week to take the river total to 14 for the season (6 off last week) Alex's fish weighed in at 14lbs and was caught in the Flat pool. 

We desperately need water now as the river is sitting at around 4ins. The local water is a good chance in these conditions so worth maybe having a go at £25 per rod. We have all spring tubes on a price crash right now so a good chance to get stocked up!

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Information from Ken Reid River Dee Development officer below that you may be interested in. The Helmsdale Co continually support the river Dee Trust who tirelessly raise funds for worthy river projects.

"As you may have seen in the media the River Dee Trust have recently hosted an auction in London at the home of the Flyfishers Club.

We have shifted 11 out of the 14 River Dee Trust auction lots and have 3 left over-would you be interested in any of them ?

River Reisa (sister river to the Alta)-Any full week between 8^th July and 19^th August-Fishing for one rod, full board accommodation, guide and river boat transportation-Guide £ 4.5 k-will look at any reasonable offer www.reisatua.no

Yokanga River-4^th August to 11^th August or 11^th August to 18^th August-full board and accommodation provided for full weeks fishing for one rod including all helicopter transportation etc-Guide £3.5 k but will look at any reasonable offer www.flyfishyokanga.com

Rio Grande, Tierra Del Fueggo-Fishing for two anglers in the top weeks in February 2013 through Charlie White at Roxtons with full board accommodation, guides and access to 30 miles of the most amazing sea trout fishing in the world-Guide £ 12k but will look at any reasonable offer www.roxtons.com

If so please get in touch

Kind regards

Ken

Ken Reid

Fisheries Development Officer

DDSFB & River Dee Trust Office

Mill of Dinnet, Aboyne

Aberdeenshire, Scotland,AB34 5LA

D +44 (0) 13398 80411

M +44 (0) 7979 878971

E-Mail ken@riverdee.org

www.riverdee.org

www.fishdee.co.uk

River Dee Trust Registered Charity No SC028497