Spate · Mixed · Aberdeenshire (inland), GB-SCT

Don (Aberdeenshire)

Aerial view of the River Don winding through farmland near Dyce, Aberdeenshire
Fair · Atlantic Salmon
Fairlive now
Decent — worth a look
Low and clear — careful approach country. Low water tactics — small singles, riffling hitch in the smooth glides.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelProxyvia South Esk
  • Water temp14.8°C
  • ClarityClear
Conditions on the water
Proxy gauge
Level
Steady
Proxy
via South Esk
Water temp14.8°C
ClarityClear
Weather17°C
WindS 25 km/h
Pressure1005 hPa
Rain · recent0.4 mm
Rain · ahead1.7 mm

No gauge on this water — conditions are inferred from South Esk. The trend transfers, the absolute level does not.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal
15°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Fair conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Likely species
Mayflies
Caddisflies
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 14:00

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 active hatches hour by hour as a supporter.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 as a supporter.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • General Scotland fishing licence
  • Don angling association and riparian owner permits
  • More accessible than the Dee.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Deveron
37 km
50
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Don
14 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Ythan
20 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Dee (Aberdeenshire)
22 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Grayling
Dee (Aberdeenshire)
22 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Grayling
Gallery · 2
  1. Aerial view of the River Don winding through farmland near Dyce, Aberdeenshire
    River Don near Dyce, Aberdeenshire
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Directions
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Seasons & zones

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingAtlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsYorkshire & SpidersNorth Country methods
Casting instructors near here
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