Message from Mark July

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.

March Update From Mark

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.

Upper Dee

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.

River Spey Opening 2020

My trip to the Spey last week was great fun despite the lack of fresh fish being caught!

This year I was keen to fish a few different beats after attending the Spey open day celebrations in Aberlour, which despite the weather was very well attended. It’s always a good feeling to chat with Spey anglers, who are like myself, desperately keen to get onto the river and have the first cast of the Spey season!

MAKING SALMON CONSERVATION A NATIONAL PRIORITY

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.

Happy New Year

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!

The Missing Salmon Alliance

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.

Fishing and Friends

Last week I had the pleasure of returning to one of my favourite beats to fish, Wester Elchies on the River Spey. I was invited to fish by one of my very good friends who equally shares a passion for the beat going back many many years.

Summer time, when the fishing is…hot!

It’s interesting speaking to various people about the weather we have had so far this yea, not least this current heat wave. Fisherman, not surprisingly, have been delighted to see us get our fair share of rain over the months. Some would of course want more, some unlucky to have been on the river before the rain and rivers on their bones, others arriving whilst the water was big and dirty and the lucky ones timing it just right as the river falls back, clears and you start to get really excited about the days ahead!

River Verdal, Tingvoll, Norway

It starts with a flight out to Norway on the 31st of may to join friends ready to have their first cast of the new season on the Verdal as the clock strikes midnight. It might be a short season for the rivers of Norway but the opening week is always eagerly awaited.