Fishing Newsletter ’25
The Fishing Season ’25
The water level in the bridge photo (right) at the beginning of October was a welcome sight after the unusually low water levels in the Dee this year. We thank all anglers for their dedicated efforts – fishing long hours and often late into the night, and early mornings – in such challenging conditions. Despite the challenges, it remained an enjoyable season, thanks in large part to the expertise and hard work of Sean and his team. We look forward to welcoming guests back for the 2026 season and to sharing many more memorable days on the river.
The Callum Mackenzie Tropy
Calling all entries for the Callum Mackenzie trophy!
The award is presented to a young fisher in memory of Callum’s early years, when the kindness and guidance of others helped channel his enthusiasm into a lifelong love of fishing. It will be awarded to the youngster whose angling achievement is judged by the Callum Mackenzie Award Committee to be the most notable fish of the year, and will be presented at the River Dee opening ceremony.
- Fisher must be under 18 years of age at time of catch
- Any species of fish within the Dee catchment, including Rivers Cowie and Carron or one of the many trout fisheries in the district
- Entries should include a short story about the capture of the fish
- Picture, date, and location of capture
- Witness to confirm catch
- Submissions will receive publicity through the local press and River Dee website.
Please email your nominations, by the first week of January, to debbie@riverdee.org
The River Dee Trust Auction
Our lot for three rods to fish two days at Commonty, raised £590 for the River Dee Trust auction in September. We teamed up with Potarch Cafe this year to provide lunch, on one of the days, from their brilliant menu. A total of £21,202 was raised this year. Thank you to everyone who contributed. The 2026 auction is scheduled to run in November.
Levy – Thank you to Ballogie anglers and their contribution to the River Dee Trust through our rod levy. It is hugely appreciated.
Save the Spring – A key milestone was reached by returning 75 fish that were collected as juveniles and grown to adults, back to their place of birth on the River Muick. The expectation is that they will spawn and create the next generation of spring Atlantic Salmon.
The latest update is available here: December 2025
Fly Fishing Clinics – 2026
We are excited to collaborate with The Scottish Fly Fishing Co. for a series of tailored clinics for anglers looking to develop their fishing techniques.
Our packages include;
🔹Three days fishing the River Dee
🔹Expert tuition and ghillie services
🔹Fly-tying workshop with Franc’n’Snaelda
🔹Three-night stay at Potarch Lodge (self-catering accommodation) with all meals included
Option to stay Saturday night, for those travelling further distances.
Clinic dates;
- Spring: Feb 25-28 | Intermediate+ | £1,000 pp
- Summer: May 6-9 | Beginners welcome | £1,080 pp
- Autumn: Oct 7-10 | Intermediate+ | £1,140 pp
Accommodation;
Potarch Lodge is perfectly set on the beautiful banks of the River Dee beside the iconic Potarch Bridge. All bedrooms have en suite facilities, providing a comfortable and relaxing base throughout the course.
Contact;
Nicol Paton
E: info@thescottishflyfishingco.com
M: 07833671743
There are up to six spaces available on each course. If you’d like to bring a friend or family member (non-fishers welcome), please get in touch for pricing details.
Top Catches
Ballogie Beat – E Maclachlan caught a 18lber at Top Gannets, Oct (red francis)
Carlogie Beat – J Evans caught a 8lber at March, Aug (crathie)
Commonty Beat – J Kent caught a 9lber at Points, March (monkey)
Congratulations to Simon Gale, who caught his first ever Salmon (16lbs) at Upper Gannet in June.
(Photo from Ewan Maclachlan, Ballogie, Feb 2025)
Top Pool and Top Fly
Carlogie
Mill Pool and Sunray
Ballogie
Top Gannets and Francnsnaelda
Commonty
Garden Pool and Sunray
Top Five:
For the full top five pools, top flies and five-year averages, click on the links below:
Holiday Cottages
Our cottages are nestled in nature and set in beautiful and varied locations around Ballogie (and are dog-friendly!)
- Ballogie House (Sleeps 14)
- Potarch Lodge (Sleeps 14)
- Ford Cottage (Sleeps 7)
- East Balnacraig (Sleeps 6)
- Greenlands (Sleeps 6)
20 years at Ballogie
Come December 2026, Sean will have been with the Ballogie team for 20 years. Sean’s wealth of experience and intimate understanding of our beats and moods ensure guests are always in capable hands, whatever the conditions.
Lastly…
If we meet next year, I will look slightly different. Since pregnancy, I have been growing my hair to be able to donate it to The Little Princess Trust. As well as this, I have been raising money for four other incredible charities: The Eve Appeal, PANDAS UK, Tommy’s and War Child.
The head shave will be on Dec 31st (!), but the givewheel page will remain open until mid-March.
Grateful for any support. Thank you.
