Spinfish Where to go Salmon Fishing, Rivers Scotland - Deveron

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The Deveron

Tributaries: Bogie | Isla

The Deveron is where the second largest rod caught salmon and biggest fish on the fly (61lbs) was taken by Mrs Morrison in 1924. Her previous best from the river was a mere 48 and a half pound fish the year before. There is great fishing to be had on the Deveron with some big fish, excellent sea trout and wild brown trout. Day tickets are often available up to May for many of the beats but from June onwards availability is restricted by demand for full week bookings. Not a spring river although a good few fish are taken.

Fly fishing on the Deveron can be first class. Except in cold water in the spring the general rule for the Deveron is to fish with smaller flies 10s or even 12s. The Ally Shrimp and Silver Ally fish well as does the silver stoat which is good for the sea trout for which the Deveron has a great reputation. Munro's Killer is an other top choice fly and I have found that the Hairy Mary can do the business too. On the other hand one ghillie on Marnoch swears by tiny flies, 16s, 18s which he often fishes dry on a downstream drift from the head of a pool and he takes lots of fish. He recons you should think small then go a size smaller!

In the spring I like to fish big trebles or doubles, usually Ally Shrimps or Munro's, rather than tubes or Waddingtons although a 3 inch Willie Gunn is often a good bet, pick a really bright one, lots of red and yellow with a gold mylar body. On the Deveron as anywhere the rule of big, bright and in their faces applies for springers. Cast a bit more square across the river than you would on, say, the Spey and get a good upstream mend in right away to allow the fly to fish slowly. In the very slow pools, like Long Cast and Still Pool at Corniehaugh, I put in a big downstream mend and back up at times.

The Deveron has been managed for generations and the banks have been built up on many beats with rocks from the river and the adjacent fields, consequently the river can be deep right off the bank, The net result is that fish can be swimming by just under your feet. Don't be hasty about lifting the fly, leave it on the dangle, many fish taken on the Deveron are caught within a yard or two of the bank.

Spinning takes a share of the fish and I guess the Flying C fished up stream into fast water has proved its worth to many anglers, retrieve like heck, the faster the better. Blair Spoons can do well in the big pools and rapalas and tobies work well in a flow. The river bottom can be strewn with rocks and boulders so be prepared to lose spinners, an otter is a must for saving lures that otherwise would be lost.

Greenmount Huntly

Greenmount Guest House, Gordon Street, Huntly offer fishing on a number of beats on the Deveron:

Conniecleugh, Glennie, Boat of Turtory, Lower Netherdale, there is also the Huntly Town Water.

Call 01466 792482 for bookings.

Google Map Reference 57.446219, -2.788003

Checked 18/07/18

Adrmeallie

Single bank fishing above and below the cemetery at Bridge of Marnoch on the left bank with 6 named pools. call 01888 562428 for bookings. Google Map Reference 57.538885, -2.685086

Checked 18/07/18

Avochie

Two and a half miles of fishing mostly double bank from the Avochie pool at the junction with the Isla upstream, call 01888 562428.

Google Map Reference 57.510933, -2.780096

Checked 18/07/18

Banff and MacDuff Angling Association

Have 0.75 miles of double bank fishing in the tidal reaches of the river from above the bridge at Banff. Check the tide times for the river fishes best three hours before and three hours after high tide.

Permits from the Banff Tackle Shop, 14, Low St, Banff, call 01261 818404 or from Insport, Carmelite St, Banff call, 01261 818348.

Google Map Reference 57.661592, -2.512944

Checked 18/07/18

Boat of Turtory

Opposite Ardmeallie, single bank fishing on the right bank. Available Mon, Weds, Fri, contact Greenmount Huntly for bookings. Call 01466 792482 for bookings.

Google Map Reference 57.537654, -2.668727

Checked 18/07/18

Bognie Pool

Basically a big pool on the river half a mile down from Corniehugh, can hold a heck of a lot of fish.

Contact BMF Group Estate Office, Frendraught, Forgue, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, AB54 6EB, call 01464 871331.

Google Map Reference 57.518609, -2.697810

Checked 18/07/18

Carnousie and Ardmiddle

Deveronside Fishing have 3 beats on the lower middle river:

Carnousie and Ardmiddle Google Map Ref 57.533286, -2.544287

Upper Netherdale1 Google Map 57.514211, -2.627021

Upper Netherdale 2 where some big fish have been landed recently.

Google Map Ref 57.515310, -2.554114

All excellent beats. Fishing is let with accomodation in a lodge and cottage they also allow day tickets. If you can get one take the chance.

Call 07899897800

Checked 18/07/18

Castle Water

Upper and Lower Castle beat (not to be confused with the Castle Beat at Rothiemay) Starts from the bridge down by Huntly Castle to the junction with the Bogie. Call 01888 562428.

Google Map Reference 57.455598, -2.779402

Checked 18/07/18

Conniecleugh

2.5 miles mostly double bank although most of the fishing is from the left bank. 20 named pools for 4 rods. Contact Greenmount Huntly for bookings. Call 01466 792482 for bookings.

Google Map Reference 57.469188, -2.761044

Checked 18/07/18

Corniehaugh (now including Mains of Mayen)

2 miles double bank for 6 rods, three right bank three left bank, averages about 200 salmon and 45 sea trout a year, there is also a full time ghillie. I have so many fond memories from Cornihaugh, first double, first twenty (22lbs) just for starters.

Call 01888 563464 for bookings.

Google Map Reference 57.507964, -2.697853

Checked 18/07/18

Eden and Lower Inverichnie

Eden is jus a few miles up from the sea at Banff, 9 named pools, 1 mile double bank quarter mile single.

Lower Inverinchnie just above Montcoffer just 365m.

For day tickets call 07837619069 (usually early season but the trout in April May can be fantastic) for week booking call 01785 850313/851495.

Approx Google Ref 57.629660, -2.508770

Checked 18/07/18

Edinglassie

1.5 miles left bank up in the Cabrach from the junction with the Chapel Burn to the junction with the Markie Burn above Invermarkie. 2 rods £25 per day, you won't need anything other than a single handed rod for this water, with all proceeds being donated to the Deveron, Isla and Bogie Charitable Trust.

Contact Malcolm Hay on 01466 700274.

Google Map Reference 57.437318, -2.962337

Unconfirmed

Forglen

1 mile below Turriff offers fishing for 6 rods with 16 named pools, there is a permanent ghillie. Day tickets may be available early season contact call 01888 562428

Google Map Reference 57.535676, -2.509303

Checked 18/07/18

Glennie

0.75 miles double bank for 2 rods with 8 named pools. Contact Greenmount Huntly for bookings. Call 01466 792482 for bookings.

Google Map Reference 57.532949, -2.697844

They also have 2 lochs stocked with rainbows and brownies just incase the river is out of sorts. Now that is contingency planning.

Checked 18/07/18

Huntly Town Waters

Fishing for salmon, sea trout and brown trout on the Deveron, Isla and Bogie. Resident and visitor season tickets plus day and week tickets. Some nice water with fish up at Huntly quickly with a spate. Don't miss the Isla for trout if the salmon are not coming out to play.

Permits from Murdoch, McMath and Mitchell, Solicitors, Bogie St, Huntly, call 01466 792291.

Google Map Reference 57.446650, -2.787894

Checked 29/06/19

Kinnairdy

Including Euchrie. Left bank fishing opposite the Marnoch beat from the mouth of the Kinnairdy Burn including access to Falconers Pool.

Call 01888 562428

Google Map Reference 57.530401, -2.649686

Checked 18/07/18

Laithers

Opposite bank to Carnousie excellent beat. Booking though Fishpal

Google Map Ref 57.533286, -2.544287

Checked 18/07/18

Lower Netherdale

Beautiful bit of water split into 2 beats. Gave me my first springer on lower Heron mid March. A sea liced 10lb bar of silver, bliss.

Call Greenmount in Huntly on 01466 792482 for bookings.

Google Map Ref 57.517012, -2.561161

Checked 18/07/18

Marnoch Lodge Fishing

Salmon and sea trout fishing on two and a half miles single bank on two beats. Includes the best bak to fish Falconers.

Call 01466 780872.

Google Map Reference 57.534222, -2.661131

Checked 18/07/18

Mountblairy

Like Glendelvine on the Tay, this beat goes down in history for British Record being the beat where Mrs Tiny Morrision caught here 61lb fish in 1924, the biggest salmon ever taken on the fly. The beat is 7 miles up stream from Banff and consists of 1.75 miles single bank and 0.75 miles double bank with 14 named pools with fishing for 4 rods.

Contact BMF Group estate Office, Frendraught, Forgue, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, AB54 6EB, call 01464 871331 or 01888 562428

Google Map Reference 57.576399, -2.509821

Checked 18/07/18

Montcoffer

Located in the lower reaches of the Deveron, Montcoffer is a beat of two halves. One part is typical Deveron, nice pools and runs flowing through farm land and - wow - the Gorge! The river cuts through solid rock creating a series of slow deep pools fished from walkways built into the rock face and these pools can hold tonnes of fish in low water conditions which means that Montcoffer rods do well when rods upstream are having a lean time. Scotty Mackenzie used to ghillie here and described how microtubes skimmed over the surface of the pools could bring fish up explosively from the deeps providing some hard stopping moments. Call 01888 562428 for bookings and further information.

Google Map Reference 57.637381, -2.538079

Checked 18/07/18

Muiresk

Double bank fishing for 3 rods, call 01888 562428

Google Map Reference 57.535676, -2.509303

Checked 18/07/18

Rothiemay

About one mile single bank, right hand bank, from Rothiemay downstream. The Left bank is the Castle Beat.

Can't find a contact for permits,can you help?

Google Map Reference 57.520495, -2.734046

Turriff Angling Association

900 metres of fishing on the Deveron, single bank above the bridge on the A9025 and double bank below, permits from Turriff Tackle and Trophies, Castle St, Turriff, who also handle bookings for several beats on the Deveron. 4 visitor tickets daily.

Call 01888 562428. Google Map Reference 57.539682, -2.462561

Checked 05/07/18

Upper Netherdale

2 excellent beats:

Upper Netherdale1 Google Map 57.514211, -2.627021

Upper Netherdale 2 where some big fish have been landed recently. Google Map Ref 57.515310, -2.554114

Call 07899897800

Checked 19/07/18

Tributaries:

Bogie (Deveron)

Fishing on the Bogie is covered by the Huntly Town Water ticket, some good sea trout fishing.

Call 01466 720708.

Google Map Reference 57.441317, -2.783890

Checked 19/07/18

Isla (Deveron)

Fishing on the Isla is covered by the Huntly Town Water ticket, some good trout and sea trout fishing.

Call 01466 720708.

Google Map Reference 57.508344, -2.787458

Checked 19/07/18