The gateway to fly fishing in aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire Fly Fish 50 is hosted by the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board, with support from local fisheries, volunteers and the Scottish Anglers National Development Strategy. We are united by our passion to share knowledge and skills to help new anglers get into the sport of fly fishing.
AFF50 delivers angling lessons and come and try events throughout the region.
Aberdeenshire is blessed with a tremendous fly fishing culture and we want everyone to know! Follow us on Facebook @AberdeenshireFlyFish50
GET INVOLVED
june
Event Details
About: Our introductory sessions take place on three evenings, they are suitable for all ages and are geared towards having fun and learning new skills. Each three-hour
Event Details
About: Our introductory sessions take place on three evenings, they are suitable for all ages and are geared towards having fun and learning new skills. Each three-hour session is split 50-50 between professional instruction and actual fishing.
By the end of the sessions, you will be ready to continue your journey and join the millions of people around the world who enjoy the art of fly fishing.
When: June 1st, 8th, 15th 2021 at the fantastic Loch Insch Fishery from 1830-2130.
Places: 10
Cost: The cost for the block of three sessions is £50 (plus booking fee). The sessions must be taken as a block of three.
Equipment: We will provide rods, reels, a floatation device and safety specs. (An event brief will be sent on booking)
Venue: Loch Insch Trout Fishery. (Directions will be sent on booking)
Session One- Getting Started 1 June 1830-2130: This first session is full of great tips and advice to get you started as a fly fisher. Our instructors and assistants will walk you through the basics and do some fishing!
Session Two- Casting 8th June 1830-2130: The second session focuses on casting with a single-handed rod. Our instructors will break down the basic casts and demonstrate the correct technique to help you get the most out of your fly fishing.
Session three- Match the Hatch: bugs beasties and how to fish them 15th 1830-2130: Trout enjoy a varied diet, which changes throughout the day depending on the time of year and weather and many other factors. Our challenge is to develop our understanding of what they eat and how to imitate that with artificial flies.
What do fish eat? When do fish eat them? How can we mimic what they eat? What are the different types of artificial flies and how do we fish them?
Booking link to follow, subject to Covid
Time
(Tuesday) 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Event Details
About Our Introduction to Salmon fishing day at Invery & Tilquhillie is the perfect way to learn about and experience fly fishing for salmon. Its a fun day beginning with some
Event Details
About
Our Introduction to Salmon fishing day at Invery & Tilquhillie is the perfect way to learn about and experience fly fishing for salmon. Its a fun day beginning with some basic instruction followed by the chance to fish the wonderful pools on the beat. Full details available on booking.
Places: 10 places available
Cost: This is a free event
Equipment: We will provide rods, reels, waders a floatation device and safety specs. (An event brief will be sent on booking)
Venue: The event will be held at the Invery and Tilquhillie beats on the River Dee. (Directions will be sent on booking)
We will meet at the Invery hut.
Time: 0830- 1600hrs
Lunch: provided
Instruction: The Instruction will be led by a team of qualified instructors. Lunch will be provided.
- Welcome & Introduction
- Beginners Introduction to salmon fishing which will include sessions on equipment, flies, watercraft, group and individual casting tuition.
- Fishing on the Invery & Tilquhillie beats
Booking link to follow, subject to Covid
Time
(Saturday) 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
july
Event Details
About: Our introductory sessions take place on three evenings in July (6th,13th & 20th) at the fantastic Raemoir Trout Fishery in Banchory from 1830-2130. They are suitable
Event Details
About: Our introductory sessions take place on three evenings in July (6th,13th & 20th) at the fantastic Raemoir Trout Fishery in Banchory from 1830-2130.
They are suitable for all ages and are geared towards having fun and learning new skills. Each three-hour session is split 50-50 between professional instruction and actual fishing.
By the end of the sessions, you will be ready to continue your journey and join the millions of people around the world who enjoy the art of fly fishing.
Places: 10
Cost: The cost for the block of three sessions is £50 (plus booking fee). The sessions must be taken as a block of three.
Equipment: We will provide rods, reels, a floatation device and safety specs. (An event brief will be sent on booking)
Venue: Raemoir Trout Fishery (Directions will be sent on booking)
Session One- Getting Started 13th July 1830-2130: This first session is full of great tips and advice to get you started as a fly fisher. Our instructors and assistants will walk you through the basics and do some fishing!
Session Two- Casting 20th July 1830-2130: The second session focuses on casting with a single-handed rod. Our instructors will break down the basic casts and demonstrate the correct technique to help you get the most out of your fly fishing.
Session three- Match the Hatch: bugs beasties and how to fish them 27th July 1830-2130: Trout enjoy a varied diet, which changes throughout the day depending on the time of year and weather and many other factors. Our challenge is to develop our understanding of what they eat and how to imitate that with artificial flies.
What do fish eat? When do fish eat them? How can we mimic what they eat? What are the different types of artificial flies and how do we fish them?
Booking link to follow, subject to Covid
Time
(Tuesday) 6:30 am - 9:30 pm
august
Event Details
About Start fly fishing for Salmon with our 2-day course at Crathes Castle on the River Dee. Like all our events the course promises to be a lot of fun and you
Event Details
About
Start fly fishing for Salmon with our 2-day course at Crathes Castle on the River Dee.
Like all our events the course promises to be a lot of fun and you will leave with a solid grasp of the basics of salmon fly fishing.
Places: 6 places available
Cost: £100 per person
Equipment: We will provide rods, reels, waders a floatation device and safety specs. (An event brief will be sent on booking)
Venue: The event will be held at the Crathes Castle beat on the River Dee. (Directions will be sent on booking)
We will meet
Date: TBC Subject to Covid 19
Time: 0830- 1600hrs
Lunch: provided
Instruction: The Instruction will be led by a team of qualified instructors. Lunch will be provided.
- Welcome & Introduction
- Beginners Introduction to salmon fishing which will include sessions on equipment, flies, watercraft, group and individual casting tuition.
- Fishing on the Crathes Castle Beat
Booking link to follow, subject to Covid
Time
All Day (Saturday)
september
Event Details
Are you interested in salmon fishing but you have never known how to get into it or what equipment or tackle you may need? We welcome you our latest come
Event Details
Are you interested in salmon fishing but you have never known how to get into it or what equipment or tackle you may need? We welcome you our latest come and try day on the River Dee!
Situated on the premier Crathes Castle Beat, we welcome all to come and visit, learn about the River Dee and the sport of Salmon fishing, have access to 1 on 1 spey casting tuition from our team of experienced casting instructors, and get the chance to fish down our pools to try to catch some Atlantic salmon.
The event is free of charge is aims to answer all of your questions about how to get into the sport of salmon fishing.
Date to be confirmed, subject to Covid
Included:
Guided fishing (max 4 at any one time)
Refreshments
Professional Casting instruction available all-day
Demonstrations on casting and tactics
Retail therapy at Milton of Crathes
Time
(Saturday) 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Event Details
About: This popular event is in its seventh year and is one of the best days of the season and includes
Event Details
About: This popular event is in its seventh year and is one of the best days of the season and includes
- Professional casting tuition
- Fly tying
- The famous Ladies’ Day BBQ.
- Fish Invery & Tiquhillie and Lower Blackhall & Banchory beats
Places: 12 places available
Cost: £35+booking fee
Equipment: We will provide rods, reels, waders a floatation device and safety specs. (An event brief will be sent on booking)
Venue: The event will be held at the Invery and Tilquhillie beats on the River Dee. (Directions will be sent on booking)
We will meet at the Invery hut.
Time: 0830- 1600hrs
Lunch: provided
Format:
- Welcome & Introduction
- Introduction to salmon fishing which will include information on equipment, flies, watercraft, group and individual casting tuition.
- Lunch/Fly tying
- Fishing
Time
(Friday) 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Fisheries
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The Dee is renowned as one of the great salmon rivers of the world.Dee District Salmon Fishery Board, River Office, Dinnet, Aboyne, UK AB34 5LAFishDee -
Loch Insch Fishery one of Scotland's premier stillwaters, with three lochs over 11 acres and 1.6 miles of bank offers anglers the opportunity to fish for specimen rainbow, blue and brown trout up to 20lb.The Fishing Hut, Culsalmond, Insch, AB52 6TSLoch Insch Fishery -
We have 4 lochs, three that are fly only and a bait pond for children or beginners.Raemoir Rd, Banchory AB31 4ETRaemoir Trout Fishery
Fisheries
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FishDeeThe Dee is renowned as one of the great salmon rivers of the world. Anyone who has ever cast a fly for Atlantic salmon will know the allure of this wonderful river. The character of the river makes it ideal for fly fishing. It's fast-flowing, crystal clear waters are home to a succession of salmon pools that provide the angler with some of the finest fly water in Europe. Check out FishDee for the latest availability, how-to book, latest catches and much more. Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email:Dee District Salmon Fishery Board, River Office, Dinnet, Aboyne, UK AB34 5LA
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Loch Insch FisheryLoch Insch Fishery one of Scotland's premier stillwaters, with three lochs over 11 acres and 1.6 miles of bank offers anglers the opportunity to fish for specimen rainbow, blue and brown trout up to 20lb. There is a well-equipped fishing lodge, LOOP Tackle Field Centre and caravan park. Instruction is also available and the fishery is particularly welcome's youngsters and people new to the sport. Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email:The Fishing Hut, Culsalmond, Insch, AB52 6TS
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Raemoir Trout FisheryWe have 4 lochs, three that are fly only and a bait pond for children or beginners. Raemoir is a beautifully natural looking fishery that was sympathetically constructed to blend in with the adjacent countryside and to respect the wildlife. The lochs have a prolific natural food source to keep the fish in excellent fighting condition. There are large populations of sticklebacks, corixa, shrimp, chrimonids (buzzers) and damsels in all lochs. We have excellent surface hatches, which makes Raemoir a notable fishery for floating line tactics. Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email:Raemoir Rd, Banchory AB31 4ET
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Alford Angling AssociationAlford Angling Association manages two beautiful beats on the middle/upper River Don at Haughton and Alford Waterside. The Association offers over two miles of excellent fishing on the River Don with 10 named pools. Waterside comprise 1.1 miles left bank and Haughton 1.1 miles right bank and produce salmon from February to the end of October. There is also some lovely trout pools, which produce brown trout of up to 4/5lbs. The association was formed by a group of enthusiastic local residents in 2018 to manage the two beats at Alford, previously run by Aberdeenshire Council. Good car parking and access. Great local facilities including accommodation. Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email: -
Fish DonThe Don is a unique river. It has a reputable standing with the angling fraternity, not only for salmon and sea trout but also as one of the finest wild brown trout rivers in Scotland, if not Europe. Trout fishing is readily available on most beats throughout the season. Anglers visit the Don from destinations throughout the UK and abroad, to cast a line for prime Don brown trout. For many, the Don in Scotland is a closely guarded secret. Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email: -
Stonehaven & District Angling AssociationStonehaven is also located between the mouths of the River Cowie and River Carron, both being summer/autumn spate streams with runs of migratory fish - mainly seatrout with some grilse and salmon. These start to gather in Stonehaven Bay from around June onwards when some fine sport can be enjoyed by fly fishing or spinning from the foreshore, where the club holds the sole game angling rights. Given spate conditions at any time from then onwards, fish enter these two rivers (whose fishings are leased by the club) and can provide daytime action in high water to fly, worm and spinner, with seatrout responding well to a nocturnal fly or fly-and-maggot. Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email: -
Aberdeen & District Angling AssociationADAA provides Aberdeenshire members with many miles of quality Salmon, Sea Trout and Brown Trout fishing on the rivers Dee, Don, Ythan and Feugh. The ADAA is a club that promotes and supports angling in and around the city of Aberdeen, and in the north-east of Scotland. The club has over 1,000 members, making it one of the largest angling clubs in the UK. Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email: -
Dee District Salmon Fishery Board and River Dee TrustThe (DDSFB) is the statutory body tasked with protecting and enhancing stocks of salmon and sea trout across the district. The district encompasses not only the River Dee but also the neighbouring rivers of the Carron and Cowie. The board has been recognised as being at the forefront of fisheries management in Scotland. Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email:River Office Mill of Dinnet Aboyne Aberdeenshire AB34 5LA -
Lochter Activity CentreExpert tuition is available every day to novices and children who wish to try fly fishing (no age restriction) Fishing tackle is for sale or hire and group or club outings are welcome. Try your hand at fly fishing in any of our 3 Lochs, Muckle Trout, Osprey and Heron - which is approximately 20 acres of fishing. These Lochs are well stocked with 3 - 20lbs Rainbow Trout. Whether you are fishing the dry fly or pulling a lure, novice or expert alike are sure to enjoy the surroundings and the challenge of landing our prize winning tagged trout! Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email:Lochter Activity Centre Old Meldrum Inverurie Aberdeenshire AB51 0DZ -
Ballater Angling AssociationThe Ballater Angling Association was founded in 1983. Its members are drawn from anglers residing on Royal Deeside from Ballater to the source of the Dee. Their activities cover a variety of fishing; wild brown trout in the mountain lochs, salmon fishing on the Dee and rainbow trout from lochs close to Ballater. The BAA also manages (and of course fishes) Loch Vrotachan in the Grampian mountains. Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email: -
Tullich FisherySituated in the heart of the Cairngorms, just outside of Ballater Tullich is an idyllic trout fishery with one large loch with lots of features throughout, and a smaller bait pond for beginners and children. There is a nice hut with WC facilities and impressive views over Loch Nagar. A must visit if you are in the area and it is stocked with rainbow trout and brown trout. Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email: -
Willowbank FisheryWillowbank Fishery is a friendly, family-owned and run fishery, which consists of a stock pond, on-site facilities on-site male/female toilets, snack van. Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email:Inverythan, Fyvie, AB538JU
Casting Instructors
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Perhaps one of the first dedicated fly casting schools situated on one of Scotland prime salmon rivers.Milton of Crathes, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, AB31 5QHTwinPeakes Fly Casting School -
Graeme is based in Aboyne on the river Dee and is highly qualified and experienced in providing casting instruction.Graeme Simpson -
Based near Aboyne in Aberdeenshire, Craig is a SGAIC qualified double handed casting instructor.Craig Mcdonald
Casting Instructors
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TwinPeakes Fly Casting SchoolPerhaps one of the first dedicated fly casting schools situated on one of Scotland prime salmon rivers. There is a collective team of certified casting instructors that are available to offer fly casting tuition for anglers of all abilities. Situated at the TwinPeakes Flyfishing store at the Milton of Crathes, the casting school benefits from a large dedicated area for teaching single handed fly casting techniques along with 400 metres of the River Dee dedicated to Spey Casting tuition. Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email:Milton of Crathes, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, AB31 5QH
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Graeme SimpsonGraeme is based in Aboyne on the river Dee and is highly qualified and experienced in providing casting instruction. He is at both AAPGAI Master Level in Single Handed and Double Handed disciplines and he also enjoys being involved in casting assessments. Graeme can also be found at the Crathes Castle beat on the river Dee guiding guests on a daily basis. Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email:
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Craig McdonaldBased near Aboyne in Aberdeenshire, Craig is a SGAIC qualified double handed casting instructor. Craig is the Ghillie at Headinch and Cambus O May on the upper River Dee. You can book fishing on the beat or organise a casting lesson with him. Address: Telephone: telephone Website: Email:
I have been involved in angling development since 2014. We really wanted to move things up a level and create a structured programme for new anglers in both trout and salmon. we created Aberdeenshire Fly Fish 50 and developed a suite of resources to support and encourage people new to the sport. It all hinges on our amazing volunteers, they make everything tick.
I have been involved in FlyFish 50 in Aberdeenshire for some time and it is refreshing to see such a dedicated team of volunteers dedicated to sharing their enjoyment and knowledge with new anglers at the multiple annual events
….It’s just a bunch of enthusiasts with a real passion for fly fishing….
FlyFish50 is a fantastic vehicle for getting folk into fishing. I love the fact that it’s open to all, regardless of age, ability, past experience, background or anything else. It’s just a bunch of enthusiasts with a real passion for fly fishing who are keen to get others involved and share the benefits of a sport that’s clearly given them so much enjoyment through their involvement in it. Personally I get a lot out of introducing people to the sport and seeing enthusiasm grow as participants learn more about it and all the aspects involved
Being involved with FlyFish50 has been very rewarding! Watching complete beginners progress to become competent anglers in their own right is what this initiative is all about.
