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

Don (Aberdeenshire)

Aerial view of the River Don winding through farmland near Dyce, Aberdeenshire
Marginal · Atlantic Salmon
Marginallive now
Marginal — persistence required
Low and clear — careful approach country. Hard going on bright water. Favour cloud and shadow.
85% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelProxyvia South Esk
  • Water temp18.4°C
  • ClarityClear
Conditions on the water
Proxy gauge
Level
Steady
Proxy
via South Esk
Water temp18.4°C
ClarityClear
Weather18°C
WindNW 13 km/h
Pressure1016 hPa
Rain · recent0.2 mm
Rain · ahead1.0 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
Warm — slow
18°C est.ideal 10–14°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
Water at 18.4°C — above the atlantic salmon caution line (18°C). Fish dawn or dusk only. Land it fast, wet hands, no air shots.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am

Hatch predictions

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

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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 · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
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
Cooler water nearby · 1
Water here around 18°C — probably warm enough to stress Atlantic Salmon . These are likely cooler.
Ythan
20 km
~18°C
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
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
Booking & contacts