The Deveron Fish

Wild Atlantic Salmon

They return from their feeding grounds each year from the sea to spawn in their natal burn. Mature Deveron salmon of around 11lbs are common and fish of more than 20lbs are annually reported. Fish enter the river throughout the season with around 200 springers being caught before June, summer fish run in good water whilst autumn salmon are abundant from September - October when the season closes.

The average annual catch is around 3000 fish with recent highs of over 4000 in 2004 and 2007.

Sea Trout

A fighting fish often considered a more exciting catch than a salmon. It migrates annually to the sea and is frequently caught at dawn or dusk. Five pound Deveron sea trout are common with fish upto 10-12lbs regularly hooked. Sadly, catches have declined from a high of 3500 to under 1000 which is mirrored in many east coast rivers.

The 'Brownie' or brown trout

The same species as the sea trout, but it stays in the river all year. The brownie is a classic 'breakfast fish' but can grow to more than 3lbs.

Record breaking catches on the River Deveron

61lbs Salmon

Mrs 'Tiny' Morison's 61 pounder wasn't weighed until 24 hours after it was caught and so some weight was certainly lost. Mr Harper, who attended to the catch, reckoned on a weight loss of 'a pound or two'. It was caught on a 1.25''  'brown wing killer'. She also caught 2 fish of 16lbs and one of 12lbs on the same day!

A full description of its capture features in Fred Buller's 'Doomsday of Giant Salmon'.

56 lbs Salmon

Featured in The Illustrated London News on 11th November 1922 and is also in the 'Doomsday Book of Giant Salmon' by Fred Buller, this fish was caught by Colonel A.E Scott on 31st October 1920 with a size 1/0 'Brittania' fly. This large fish was 50'' long with a girth of 29''. The beat on which it was caught is not known. 

10lb 2oz Brown Trout

A 10lb 2oz brown trout caught by John Sheard of Keith in May 2005 on the River Isla - he also caught a 4lb brown trout during the summer. The larger fish could be a record brown trout caught in a river (as opposed to still water).