Back on the river fishing the Dee, Scotland

After a tough winter and spring fighting the fish farming industry trying to help saving our last few wild salmon it was great to finally rig a rod and be back on a salmon river. This is what’s it all about, life at its best, wild salmon on wild free flowing rivers. I have fished the Aberdeenshire Dee for more than 20 years now. I love this early spring fishing with floating line and tiny flies. This spring has been quite tough, few fish running and difficult days. My expectations were not very high so to sum up the first 3 days with as many landed springers plus a couple of long fights is actually better than expected. Quite low water, a bright sun and clear conditions put us on full floaters and micro tubes. My first fish came from March pool – a 10 lbs that’s been in a couple of weeks. Another pull ended the first day.

Wednesday was a good day, a few pots of fish came in and I manage to land two great fish, 8 and 11 lbs, but the by far best fight was with a fish I hooked in Mill pool. After 15 min the little hook just pulled out. A good fat female that jumped clean out of the air a few times actually took me into the backing for the first time this year. It’s so good to have started the salmon season and tomorrow I will show you the flies and new stuff that really works good!

I must also gratulate photographer and good friend Johan Annerfelt that turned from being a boy to a real man today when hooking his first Atlantic salmon. The fish broke off but it was with straight back Johan walked back to the Mill for a shot of Islay whiskey.