The Spey Fishery Board is pleased to announce the River Spey’s 2024 spring catch of Atlantic salmon and grilse. Between February 11th and June 30th, 2024, a total of 1727 fish were caught. This figure aligns closely with the five-year average of 1,790, although it remains below the ten-year average of 2,135. We are excited to report that many anglers reported catching some exceptionally large fish this season, with many lucky rods joining the 20-pound club.
The season began on a positive note, with Gerard McAuley reporting the first catch of the year at Aberlour Water on opening day. However, the season’s performance was patchy, as several beats experienced success, especially in the middle river, while others fell short of expectations. Notably, the lower river beats have performed well during July and August, with catches frequently exceeding the five-year average, albeit with a similarly patchy distribution.
In addition to the salmon and grilse numbers, 132 sea trout were caught during this period, a notable decrease from the 440 recorded in 2023.
This season’s spring catch was influenced by a very wet, warm winter, which saw the River Spey experience seven floods over seven feet, a record number. This is consistent with trends associated with climate change, and it will be interesting to observe the impact of these floods on the main stem electrofishing results later this year.
Anglers have continued to support the voluntary Conservation Policies on the River Spey by returning the vast majority of fish caught. So far in 2024, 98% of all salmon and grilse were released, alongside 91% of sea trout. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all proprietors, ghillies, and anglers for their continued support of these conservation efforts.
