Salmon Fishing River Dee near Aberdeen

Salmon Fishing on the River Dee

Guided Experiences, Expert Tuition and the True Spirit of Deeside

Salmon fishing on the River Dee is an unforgettable experience. it is a place where anglers form a deep and lasting connection with the landscape, the water and the people who care for it. Over the centuries, the Dee has shaped traditions, inspired generations of fly fishers and created lifelong friendships that span continents. Today, you can step directly into that story with a guided salmon fishing experience designed to be both personal and exceptional.

For over 22 years, I have guided guests on the River Dee, and our team—each with more than a decade of Dee guiding behind them—shares the same passion for teaching, supporting and helping anglers of all abilities find success. Whether you are new to salmon fly fishing or returning for another season, we will guide you with patience, skill and genuine enthusiasm.

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Why Choose the River Dee

A River With Remarkable Character

The River Dee is instantly recognisable. Its fast yet silky glides, bouldered pocket water and long textured pools make it one of the world’s greatest salmon rivers. Moreover, the surrounding scenery of Royal Deeside provides a spectacular backdrop to every cast—one strong enough that Queen Victoria chose this valley as her retreat and built Balmoral nearby.

Throughout the season, the Dee offers distinct opportunities:

Spring (Feb–May): Traditionally famous for big springers, with sport improving dramatically from April onwards.
Summer (June–August): Grilse and sea trout run strongly, creating lively and varied days.
Autumn (September–October): Late-season salmon provide thrilling sport and often stunning scenery as the colours change.

Additionally, the Dee is fly-only, with highly protected stocks and a long-standing 100% catch-and-release ethos, ensuring the river’s salmon continue to thrive.

Our Guided Salmon Fishing Experiences

Tuition-Focused, Supportive and Highly Personal

We specialise in guided days and multi-day packages across the River Dee, offering a level of care and instruction that transforms your trip into a memorable learning experience. Because every guest’s goals differ, we adapt our tuition style—from first-time Spey casters to seasoned anglers aiming to sharpen technical skills.

River Dee, Salmon Rod, Sage Spey Rod, Sage Fy Fishing, Alba Game Fishing, Sage Experiences, Flywater Travel — The Sage 14ft #9 weight Spey rod, reel and rio Outbound line

What We Provide

Premium Sage R8 Spey rods and lines matched to the conditions
Orvis breathable waders and tungsten-studded boots for secure wading
Crewsaver PFD life vests—safety is always central
Spey casting tuition, including Single Spey, Double Spey, Snap T and modern touch-and-go techniques
Transport from Deeside hotels such as The Fife Arms, and Marcliffe and from Banchory, Ballater or Braemar
Photography by your guide (with pro-level photography available as an upgrade)
Friendly, supportive coaching on Spey acting techniques throughout the entire day

You simply arrive ready to fish; we take care of everything else.

River Dee Beats We Fish

Access to Some of the Dee’s Finest Water

Over the years we’ve built relationships with many of the most productive beats on the river. This allows us to guide you across a variety of locations, giving each guest the best chance of encountering a salmon based on season, water levels and experience.

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We regularly guide on:

Park
Banchory
Commonty
Kincardine
Lower Blackhall

Each beat has its own personality. For example, Park is steeped in history and famous for early spring salmon, while Banchory offers classic pools and the dramatic influence of the River Feugh. Meanwhile, Commonty and Kincardine provide beautiful, varied water with great holding lies, and Lower Blackhall offers long glides perfect for covering fish methodically.

No matter where we take you, we work closely with resident ghillies—many of whom are lifelong friends—to ensure you receive the most up-to-date insights on fly choice, running fish, and where to focus your efforts.

What the Day Feels Like

A Warm, Supportive and Highly Memorable Experience

Every guided day begins with a clear plan built around conditions, your experience level and the beat we are fishing. Throughout the day, your guide remains close by, offering casting instruction, tactical advice and gentle refinement of your technique.

The fishing hut at Kincardine on the River Dee
Water levels on the door of a fishing hut on the River Dee
Scottish salmon tube flies in a Plan D box
Miss Grant Salmon Fly
Scott with a superb Springer from the River Dee
River Dee Salmon Fly

Because tuition is at the heart of what we do, we break each concept into clear steps—how to swing a fly through a channel, how to read water speed, how to adapt depth or fly size, and how to stay calm when a fish takes. As the day progresses, these skills blend naturally into your rhythm, giving you confidence and control.

Moreover, we take time to share stories, history and local river knowledge, because these details make the Dee experience richer and more meaningful.

Stories From the River

Moments That Stay With You

After 22 years on the Dee, I still find myself humbled by the river’s power and generosity. One memory that stands out is guiding a guest on Park South whose lifelong dream was to catch a salmon. On his final cast of the day—after we changed to a home-tied Dee Special—his line tightened. The look on his face when we landed that 15lb fish is something I will never forget.

Another unforgettable encounter was on Banchory, where a huge spring fish, estimated at around 25lbs, grabbed the yellow and black tube fly. After 30 minutes of running upstream, downstream and testing both of us to our limits, it threw the hook. It deserved its freedom, and witnessing that raw power was a reminder of why anglers become devoted to this river for life.

These moments are what make guiding on the Dee so rewarding. They cannot be scripted; they simply happen when preparation, timing and the right guidance come together.

Fishing huts, River Dee, Kincardine, Salmon Fishing — Two guests from the USA enjoying a day salmon fishing on the River Dee at Kincardine

Equipment, Safety and Comfort

Everything Set Up for a Successful Day

Because the Dee is a wading river, stability and comfort are essential. Therefore we supply:

Orvis breathable waders
Boots with tungsten studs for maximum grip
Wading staffs (when needed)
Mandatory Crewsaver PFDs
Polaroid sunglasses recommendations
Seasonal advice on layering and staying warm

Additionally, we bring a selection of seasonally appropriate flies, including classic Dee patterns, modern tubes and proven local favourites that have produced fish for us over many years.

Booking a River Dee Salmon Experience

Designed for Individuals, Couples, Families and Groups

The River Dee is extremely popular, and beats often book well in advance—especially in spring. Therefore it helps to plan early. We will recommend the best beats for your dates, organise permits, arrange transport and prepare your equipment.

Whether you wish to fish for a single day or enjoy a multi-day stay in Deeside, we will build a package tailored to you.

Step Into the Story of the Dee

Ultimately, the River Dee is not simply a place to catch salmon. It is a river that invites you into a tradition, a landscape and a rhythm of fishing that stays with you long after the day ends. With the right guidance, thoughtful tuition and access to some of the river’s finest beats, your time on the Dee becomes something genuinely special.

If you would like to begin planning your River Dee salmon experience, we would be delighted to help.

River Dee Season

Below Aboyne Bridge – 1st February to 15th October
Above Aboyne Bridge – 1st February to 30th September

No Sunday fishing.

Sage Experiences Outfitter - try and enjoy Sage Fly Rods

Alba Game Fishing is now a Sage Experiences Outfitter. This means we enjoy a close working relationship as a valued partner of Sage and Fly Water Travel.

As a specially selected group of elite outfitters we’ve committed to offering our guests onsite access to first-class Sage and RIO tackle that has been carefully curated to ideally suit our respective fisheries.

You will have flagship top end Sage rods and reels matched with Rio Fly Lines for your fishing experience with us.