New salmon fishing season opens

Eilidh Whiteford MP officially opening the 2012 angling season with a customary dram for the River Deveron. Looking on is senior biologist Richard Miller and Jean Marshall who had the honour of making the first cast of the season.

ANGLERS on the River Deveron and its tributaries are optimistic of tight lines after the new salmon fishing season was officially opened on Saturday.

They know the waters are in good health following some fine specimens taken last year, not least of all a 29lb beauty landed by Jean Marshall, from Angus, last September.

Her fish, taken at Upper Netherdale, saw her presented on Saturday with the new Morison Trophy - honouring Clementina Morison’s UK 61lb record for a fly-caught salmon, set on the river in 1924 - which will go anually to the largest fly-caught fish.

A magnificent 40lb salmon was also taken from the Deveron last year with a spinner.

Banff and Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford toasted the river and its anglers with a traditional quaich of whisky before the first cast of the season was made by Mrs Marshall.

The Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust has worked hard over the past decade to improve the quality of the waters and its fishing, and last year held a successful week-long fishing festival to promote the Deveron, known as ‘Scotland’s hidden gem’.