Fishing on the River Ythan

To fish in the River Ythan you need to have a valid permit for the area you want to fish in. Permits are issued by proprietors and they allow you to fish in a specific area. Permits can be issued as day tickets, season tickets or be part of a club membership. You do not need a licence to fish from any other authority to fish in the river. Proprietors can use or let out their areas as they wish providing, they comply with the statutory instruments or local agreements.

Catches

Atlantic salmon, sea, brown and some rainbow trout are found in the river, along with stickleback, minnows, eel, lamprey and sometimes pike and perch. An extract from GH Nall's 'The Life of the Sea Trout' about the River Ythan and 'The Fisheries of the Ythan' (Catches since 1952 and comments) by Dr John Pirie are available to download from our reports page.

Please be aware that ALL SALMON MUST BE RETURNED TO THE RIVER by law in 2020. You could face criminal charges if you keep one.

More information about the general rules for fishing on River Ythan, bag limits, baits and lures, equipment and how to handle and return fish can be found in our conservation code further down this page.

What to report (on your catches)

It is a legal requirement to report catches of all salmon, sea trout and finnock (young sea trout) to the fishing proprietor, tenant, or angling club responsible for the area you are fishing in. Please provide them with:

type of fish
approximate weight
date of catch
catch retained or released
the amount of time spent each day salmon angling
(regardless of whether salmon were caught or not)

How to report issues or problems

Pollution

If you see or smell polluted water please report this to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) by calling 01346 510502 stating the location and problem you have discovered. Please ask for an incident reference.

You can also report the incident by phone or text to The Clerk to the Board on 07799 334973 or to the Bailiffs on 01467 642121

Poaching

If you see someone fishing illegally please report the matter to the Clerk to the Board on 07799 334973 or the Bailiffs on 01467 642121

Permits for fishing

Permit type	Proprietor	Fishing location	Where to buy permit
Day tickets	Haddo House Angling Club	From Gight to downstream of Ythanbank	Costcutters, Methlick, AB41 7DT Tel: 01651 806213 Sloans Country Sports, 125-129 High St, Inverurie AB51 3QJ Tel: 01467 625181
Day tickets	Schivas Estates	North bank from Tangland to Ythanbank	Schivas Estates Nicola Baird Email: nicola@schivas.com
Day tickets	Ramornie House	Upstream of the middle of Ellon	Eric Ritchie Mobile: 07774 163892
Day tickets	Auchmacoy Estate	Downstream of Ellon to the estuary	Auchmacoy Estate Office Tel: 01358 720291
Day tickets	The Ythan Estuary Fishings	Ythan estuary	Audrey Forbes-Clark 3 Lea Cottages, 130 Main Street, Newburgh, AB41 6BN Tel: 01358 789297 Mobile: 07974006450 Email: audrey.forbes@yahoo.co.uk Web: www.ythanangling.net
Membership	Aberdeen and District Angling Association	Three separate beats on the river from Methlick to the estuary including Ardlethan (upstream of the Kinharrachie bridge) and salmon pools	Membership available online from the club's website www.adaa.org.uk

Permit information last updated: January 2023

Ythan conservation code - 2022 season

General rules

all kelts, coloured fish, salmon and sea trout parr, smolts, and brown trout under 10 ins. must be returned carefully to the water
all salmon caught must be returned carefully to the water
all sea trout caught after 30th September must be returned carefully to the water
all finnock (sea trout of 10” - 13”) must be returned carefully to the water
all foul hooked fish (hooked behind the head) must be returned carefully to the water
no rod caught fish to be sold (It is illegal in Scotland to sell rod caught salmon or sea trout)

NOTE – IT IS ILLEGAL TO KILL A SALMON FROM THE RIVER YTHAN – YOU WILL BE LIABLE TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION IF YOU DO SO.

Bag Limits

Fish killed over the entire river by any one angler

bag limits are not targets; anglers should only retain fish they will use
anglers are encouraged to return fish
annual bag limit for sea trout shall be 2 fish
daily bag limit for sea trout shall be 1 fish

Baits and lures

no live or deadbait (other than worms) to be used
barbless or de-barbed hooks are recommended
only one treble hook per lure is recommended

Fish landing equipment

the use of gaffs and tailers is not permitted
only knotless landing nets are permitted

Handling and returning fish

treat fish with care and respect
fish should not be lifted, otherwise unsupported, by the wrist of the tail, or damage to the spine may result. Similarly holding up fish by the gill covers may well inflict mortal injury
if fish are to be kept, dispatch them quickly with a forceful blow from a suitably hefty instrument
fish to be returned should be held firmly and unhooked quickly, using forceps
fish to be returned to the water should be carefully supported, head to the current, and held until recovered sufficiently to swim free. (This may take several minutes)

The Ythan conservation code is produced by the Ythan District Salmon Fishery Board.

Ythan conservation code last updated: January 2023

River Ythan