I can’t believe that we are turning the clock into June next week and this is my first trip to the Spey this year. I guess that will be the story for so many anglers as we move out of lockdown and get back planning all the fishing trips we can fit in for the season ahead.

It might have been the end of May but what a difference in conditions. Previous years in May have been pretty dry and warm whereas this year we are the complete opposite, wettest May for many a year and river temperatures almost a month behind where they should be at this time of year.

We are nearly there, next week from the 17th of May we will see more things back open meaning more chance of getting out fishing and away for a few days – bring it on!!

I managed to squeeze in a couple of trips recently to the Tay and the Dee, so nice to be out on the river again and having a cast – boy it’s been a long time coming!!

A day with Simon Furness on Dunkeld was great fun. Casting the fly from the back of the boat in the Cathedral Stream was just so lovely to do. Anticipation was high and the slowly roped boat down the pool allowed me to cover the pool well, I was expecting my casting to be a tad rusty but it all came back to me fairly quickly. Sadly only a brave brownie felt the urge to take my fly but just so nice to be out on the river. Popping in to Newtyle and Dalmarnock was great too – two great beats to fish if you get the chance and I’ll most certainly be back soon to have a cast there.

April 2021 and we will be released soon to fish! As I write this note, travel restrictions in Scotland have been lifted and we can get back fishing – even if we can’t stay over just yet. Game on!

Can I firstly thank you all for the tremendous response to coming out of lock down and the travel restrictions that were in place and for the bookings made in June which were at record levels for us. This week sees further accommodation providers beginning to open up too which means making a trip beyond a day trip now being well in reach and I am sure many of you are already making plans. Continue reading →

It’s certainly depressing watching all the drama of a world wide emergency unfolding in the form of the Coronavirus but when I say our most recent post on our Facebook page, it certainly not only made me smile but actually, it did make me think that this year of all years is surely the year to be spending more time fishing on some of our beautiful rivers across the country.

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As we approach March and snow laying thick and fast on the ground, the anticipation for those lucky enough to be out fishing the Upper Dee is at its highest level as that means beats from above Aboyne are now open for business.

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I was invited to join a reception at the Scottish Parliament last night (Tuesday 8th January) hosted jointly between Fisheries Management Scotland and the Scottish Government on a matter dear to all of our hearts – making sure that conservation of our precious wild salmon is at the very heart of Scottish Government’s priorities going forward and I have to say that that the evening and the speakers came across as being completely joined up and genuinely keen to work together in their approach to take matters forward. Continue reading →

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a great festive season and Santa added a few new bits and pieces to your fishing gear which you obviously need!

Hard to believe that as I sit down to write my blog it will the first of the year and decade!! Where does the time go! Continue reading →

I write this as CEO of FishPal, an ambassador of the Atlantic Salmon Trust and most importantly as a passionate salmon angler who cares so much about the future of our iconic Atlantic salmon. Continue reading →