New season in store for Dee salmon

FIONA Armstrong, the television presenter and avid angler, yesterday officially opened the new salmon season on the River Dee, where fishermen last year enjoyed their best season for catches since 1980.

Ms Armstrong launched the season by making the first cast and toasting the river with a dram of whisky in a ceremony at the Potarch hotel near Banchory.

Mark Bilsby, the river director of the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board and River Dee Trust, said: "The Dee enters 2011 in excellent spirits. Rod catches of salmon and grilse in 2010 were the highest for 30 years and this excludes catches during the three-year trial extension to the fishing season in October.

"Catches were once again boosted by good water levels, giving some ideal angling conditions coinciding with first-class runs of fish."

Mr Bilsby continued: "We are particularly heartened by the continuing improvement in spring salmon numbers, with 2010's spring rod catch the best for 15 years."

He added: "The encouraging trend of better catches, which we have seen over the last few years, is welcome news for those that make their livelihood from the river and is testimony to their hard work and commitment."