Fishing News for Rivers Dee, Findhorn, Spey, and Avon - Season 2010

Latest Report

Fishing News Update, February 8th, 2010

After what has now been classified as the coldest December and January on record, a new dawn broke over Deeside in Aberdeenshire on February 1, 2010.

Having arrived on the Sunday evening in blizzard conditions, once again we weren't even sure if we would get to the river on the Monday morning. However, the weather settled and my party of friends arrived at Park Estate for our usual annual opening day get-together. It was a grey and overcast day with not a breath of wind and feeling really quite pleasant and we were all keen to cast a line over the water.

The river was reading 24 inches on the Park gauge with perfect water clarity and water temperature was just over 32 degrees Fahrenheit. With such perfect conditions on opening day, we were all feeling optimistic of hooking into one of those glorious Spring salmon. Unfortunately, despite hooking a small number of kelts, we were denied the feel or sight of that bar of silver, which was disappointing and indeed the first opening day blank for many a year at Park Estate. I see from the Fish Dee Reports a total of eighteen fresh fish were recorded for the opening day from the river with the largest fish being 15 lbs. from Little Blackhall & Inchmarlo. The final tally for the opening week was sixty fresh salmon with the largest of 24 lbs. from Invery.

Looking a little further ahead, we are all excited at the prospects of the new season opening on the rivers Spey and Findhorn on this coming Thursday, February 11th. I am feeling particularly optimistic that 2010 could prove to be one of those classic salmon fishing seasons, as the cyclical turnaround for multi-sea winter salmon is generally four years on our rivers. The 2006 season was particularly one of the best fishing seasons on the River Findhorn within the last ten years. Assuming a successful spawning season followed, we hope for some great sport in 2010.

As I mentioned earlier in this update, we have seen some huge amounts of snowfall in this part of the Highlands and indeed, the local ski resorts are boasting their best season over thirty years. Therefore, these accumulations of snow combined with severely cold overnight temperatures high up in the corries of the Grampian, Cairngorm and Monadhliath Mountains will have compacted into solid ice. Assuming we do not get a prolonged mild spell, which at this time of year is unlikely, we should expect a slow release of snow melt from the headwaters high up in these mountain ranges. Therefore, with this plentiful supply of snow and ice, I expect that we should see excellent river levels and conditions over the next few months and our Spring sport could be tremendous.

I shall be fishing on Altyre Estate, Findhorn over the forthcoming weeks with regular clients and friends and shall be updating the Fishing News Page with the latest reports of our first Spring salmon of 2010.

~ Speycaster Photo Albums ~

>>To view images of our growing online photo library which covers the prime beats we fish on the Rivers Findhorn, Dee, Spey, Avon, and Ponoi, please click here

~ Current Availabilities ~

We really have some first class fishing on offer for 2010:

On the River Findhorn, we have availabilities from March through April on Altyre Estate; from May through June on Drynachan, Banchor, Glenferness and on Daltullich/Dounduff Beats. We also have availabilities from July through September on Altyre Estate and Glenferness Estate.

On the River Dee, we have availabilities on Park Estate from March through to September, 2010.

Should you be interested in booking up some excellent guided fishing on prime beats of the Rivers Dee (Aberdeenshire), Findhorn, and Spey, please contact Ian@speycaster.net for further information and dates.

If you feel like taking the trip of a lifetime, then we have availabilities for catching those magnificent Fall run salmon on one of our annual trips to the Ryabaga Camp on the Ponoi River, Kola Penninsula in August or September, 2010.

~ Fishing Gift Vouchers ~

Are you looking for a gift idea for that special person in your life or for the person who has everything, you may like to take advantage of purchasing a bespoke E-mail Gift Voucher?

For your special occasion shopping needs, we can provide a personalised gift voucher for a guided fishing trip with Ian Neale, which can be the perfect solution to meet your needs. It can be for one to three day's speycasting tuition, or towards a fully inclusive fly fishing holiday or break on one of those exclusive private beats on the Rivers Findhorn, Spey, Avon, or the Aberdeenshire Dee.

Gift vouchers can be just the perfect gift for a Husband, Wife, Father, Mother, Son, Daughter, or other relative, friend or business associate.
Gift vouchers are suitable for a wide range of occasions, including:

  • Christmas
  • Birthdays
  • Valentine's Surprise Gift
  • Mother's Day
  • Father's Day
  • Retirement
  • Anniversaries
  • A surprise present for any other gift giving occasion

A fly fishing gift voucher makes the perfect surprise present and is flexible for a date to be mutually arranged and being valid for anytime throughout the fishing season. When you buy your gift voucher, you can call to book the date yourself or the recipient may call to schedule their own arrangements. Please contact ian@speycaster.net for further information on dates and prices.

Please note: Fishing season on the River Dee begins on February 1st and ends October 15th; and the fishing season on the Rivers Findhorn, Spey, and Avon begins on February 11th and ends September 30th.

~ Speycaster Photo Albums ~

>>To view images of our growing online photo library which covers the prime beats we fish on the Rivers Findhorn, Dee, Spey, Avon, and Ponoi, please click here

 

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