On the Dee the Yair nets were long employed in capturing estuarine Salmon as a sustainable harvest and dip nets were used at the doachs in the main body of the river. This method involved a man being attached to an anchor point on the rocks (a metal ring) over the flow whilst another used the first mans shoulder as a fulcrum for the dip net which was 'dipped' under a fish then swung out.

Sadly, Salmon populations everywhere are in such a decline that these kinds of ‘industry’ are dying out. Here on the Dee old posts in the sand mark the passing of the Yair's and a rusty iron ring set in the rocks of an overgrown banking are all that is left to mark an age when Salmon were plentiful enough to provide the local communities with food and trade.

More recently the emphasis is on rod and line fishing. The last century saw both the climax of Salmon angling success in the heady days of the sixties and the 'great depression' of the nineties with Atlantic Salmon populations at all time lows. We find ourselves at the start of a new era in protection and enhancement of Salmon fisheries with the emphasis on angling for sport, returning all fish possible in a 'catch and release' manner.

The best Salmon fishing is to be found on the lower beats below Glenlochar. Seventy fish or so are taken annually by a small number of anglers, fish up to 30lbs are reported but most are grilse that give superb summer sport on the fly. Through and above loch Ken fish still regularly turn up, here in the smaller river sections you find yourself fishing in the most scenic of water for a good quality of fish. Efforts on such waters have to be applied to the small window of perfect conditions to ensure productive fishing otherwise you have small chance of fish due to the low numbers of adults.

This fishing is being steadily enhanced and increased through the efforts of the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board, Scottish Power, the West Galloway Fisheries Trust, Angling Associations, Forestry Commision, local bodies, groups and volunteers resulting in an up and coming Salmon fishery with great potential to provide high quality Salmon angling in classic surroundings all to oneself.

SEA TROUT - There are accounts of huge catches of Sea Trout on the Black Water of Dee from before the hydro scheme. On this water in particular the damage through acidification is very apparent, where large Salmonid populations once thrived now only a few large tough individuals turn up with next to no recruitment of young. This slump led to the relative obscurity of Sea Trout in the Dee system. Recently in the Solway as a whole there has been a resurgence in Sea Trout stocks and the Dee is once again running with these prettiest of fish.

Yet again one can find the best of sport on a summer night with a dry or a wet fly cast in the deeps under some overhanging tree. Good numbers of Herling and the odd 2lb+ are common, hopefully this turn around will continue and many of the larger specimens we know the Solway can produce will start to appear.

BROWN TROUT - As the most prevalent species in the catchment the traditional Brown Trout is perhaps the gem of this system. It presents itself to the angler from the sea to spring in a variety of distinct forms.

In the lower river large, green, deep, bottom feeding ancestral trout mingle with traditional browns with golden flanks and dark chocolate backs, red spots and an appetite for dry fly.

In Loch Ken you find Ferrox and open water silver Trout with black spots. Up the Black Water we find Loch Dee Trout in Loch Dee and Clatteringshaws Loch, these are an exquisite little brown with a rainbow of oily greens on silver with black spots going right onto the white belly. In the headwaters and in most of the many lochs bags of 10-12 inch trout are easily tempted to a fly or bait. On top of all this choice the majority of anglers are not pursuing this prize so one can enjoy the best of fishing in the nicest surroundings in peace and solitude.