[Rob Brownfield]

Ok, maybe the Don is not booming, but it rhymed

Anyway, read in T&S letters page this month about the Dee seemingly having a real lack of Salmon and how we should be worried. The letter was from someone who fishes the Dee a fair bit and mentioned he has seen very few fish running the lower reaches and those fish being caught in the middle reaches are possibly repeat captures.

I spend a lot of of time on the Dee just now, mostly walking, but some fishing too. I have to say, its pretty rare just now to see anything move at all. Of those fish I have seen in the last month, I am pretty sure some are resident and I am seeing them more than once in the same spot.

I have also been watching the Feugh for the last 6 weeks, and I have not seen a single fish try and run the falls, despite there having been a few lifts of water. This time last year I was seeing the odd sea trout having a go and salmon sitting below at the junction with the Dee.

on the other hand, I have seen salmon on just about every trip to the Don this year.

Should we be worried that the Dee has something wrong with it?

[Hamish Young]

I like fishing the Dee, but I think it enjoys a celebratory status these days which demonstrably the quality of fishing doesn't deserve.
I have no doubt whatsoever that the fishing will come back to an extent, but the fishing is not what the fishing pimps would have you believe it is and that I find frustrating.
Let's not forget, it was only 20 years ago that the Dee was on its knees. It will take a long time to make it right, it's a major undertaking - a generation project, if you will.
So, should we be worried that the Dee has something wrong with it
Yes.
Should we also worry about lots of other significant waters too
Yes.
Will anything be done about it
Now that is the question we should all be interested in hearing the answer to

H

[Rob Brownfield]

 

[Allan Liddle]

I like fishing the Dee, but I think it enjoys a celebratory status these days which demonstrably the quality of fishing doesn't deserve.
I have no doubt whatsoever that the fishing will come back to an extent, but the fishing is not what the fishing pimps would have you believe it is and that I find frustrating.
Let's not forget, it was only 20 years ago that the Dee was on its knees. It will take a long time to make it right, it's a major undertaking - a generation project, if you will.
So, should we be worried that the Dee has something wrong with it
Yes.
Should we also worry about lots of other significant waters too
Yes.
Will anything be done about it
Now that is the question we should all be interested in hearing the answer to

H

Excellent post Hamish