History

Raemoir Trout Fishery was originally constructed as a private fishery and as a single loch of 2 acres in 1995.

Over the next 2 years a further 2 lochs were added, and the fishery opened in 1997 as a PUBLIC TROUT FISHERY.

The fishery now comprises 3 lochs, making a water surface of 6 acres within a naturalised 11 acre site.

During 2005 timber platforms were added to the fly lochs to give better access, and sections of banking were reinforced with meshing and reseeded with a grass/ wildflower mix.

During 2006 the humble bothy was upgraded into a full size anglers cabin with open glazing, plentiful seating, log-burning stove etc, and a new adjoining toilet. Also during 2006 the beginners bait pond underwent its second transformation, increasing to two and half times original size, holding even more fish and allowing more young anglers to fish. Click here for full report

Lochs

The 3 lochs are interconnected and fed by a small stream, which combined with the adjacent marshland, ensure that there is prolific natural feed to keep the fish in excellent fighting condition. There are exceptional quantities of sticklebacks, corixa, and damsels in all 3 lochs, and excellent surface hatches, which make Raemoir a notable fishery for floating line tactics.

Stock

The fishery is stocked weekly throughout the year maintaining an excellent density of trout at all times.

The fishery is fortunate in having prolific natural feed to keep the trout in excellent fighting condition at high density.

Main species stocked is Rainbow Trout in the range 2lb to 6lb with specimens up to 14lb. Other species stocked are Brown Trout, Blue Trout, and Arctic Char.

Facilities

Anglers CabinWood Burning Stove Cooker Toilet Snacks & Soft Drinks for
PurchaseFree Tea & CoffeePicnic Tables Use of BarbecueEquipment Hire

Wildlife

As the fishery has matured, we have witnessed the evolution of its attractiveness to wildlife.

After a few years of intermittent visits, we now have permanent otter presence. Almost daily now, e see the evidence of the nights activity, with fish scales or partly eaten trout on the embankments. If you look carefully you will see the well-trodden tracks from the marsh into the bottom loch, and on prominent grass tussocks, their territory marking scats. After snowfall in winter their slides down the banks into the water are very obvious. Otters being intelligent animals, allied to the easy pickings at Raemoir, they take time to enjoy this favourite winter sport.

Also after snowfall, fox tracks become obvious. It is interesting to note that the numerous otter tracks are closely followed by fox tracks. Sure message the foxes have learned how to get an easy meal, as the otters rarely eat a whole trout, seemingly preferring the head and front-quarters only.

We are tolerant of our losses to the otters, taking consolation that we are fortunate to live in an area of such wildlife diversity, and helping to maintain their stronghold on Deeside.

A single Kingfisher has become a regular, holding a winter territory, quite a rarity in this area. It frequents the ditch alongside the fishery, targeting the sticklebacks. To help it along we have created perches on the ditch, and if you notice some new green sticks in quiet corners of the lochs, these are vantage points from which it can dive on the stickles, tadpoles and beetles. Who knows, with luck we may have a breeding pair, and flashes of cobalt blue may be a regular sight.

Especially in the spring, if you hear a weird screech emanating from reed beds in the marsh (best description is a pig being strangled !) it is the resident water rails. Bigger than a water- hen or coot, these brown heron like birds are frequently heard, but are secretive and rarely seen.

The Grey Heron is a regular fisher, but contrary to belief rarely catches a trout, preferring to spend time in the margins picking off sticklebacks and beetles, one after another. (a case of mony a mickle maks a muckle ) They change tactics from July, moving into the marsh and long grass to pick off the newly emerged froglets and toadlets.

The fishery is a main breeding site for toads and frogs, due to the extensive surrounding marsh and forest. In May and June the pond edges can be black with the tens of thousands of tadpoles. Breeding in smaller numbers are common smooth newts.

Other frequent visitors are Roe deer, buzzards, and sparrow hawks. In autumn and winter a sparrow hawk visits daily to attack the starlings and finches coming in to roost overnight in the marsh.

Now that the trees, shrubs, and wildflowers, are well established, we have introduced nest-boxes for owls, bats, robins and wagtails, blue and great tits.

If you take the time in spring and summer just to stand, look and listen, you will appreciate that your fishery is a mini wildlife reserve. Listen to the hum of bees, churring of grasshoppers, the birdsong, look at the variety of wildflowers, butterflies and damselflies.

Who said a pleasant days fishing was just about catching fish.