I can’t believe that we are turning the clock into June next week and this is my first trip to the Spey this year. I guess that will be the story for so many anglers as we move out of lockdown and get back planning all the fishing trips we can fit in for the season ahead.
It might have been the end of May but what a difference in conditions. Previous years in May have been pretty dry and warm whereas this year we are the complete opposite, wettest May for many a year and river temperatures almost a month behind where they should be at this time of year.
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.
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.
My trip to the Spey last week was great fun despite the lack of fresh fish being caught!
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. 
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. 