Actor, TV presenter and keen angler Robson Green opened the 2023 River Deveron salmon season on Saturday 12 February 2023.
The event, held at the Turriff Angling Association lodge, is organised by The River Deveron District Salmon Fishery Board and The Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust in association with The Deveron Single Malt Whisky.
The Morison Trophy for 2022 was presented to Gavin Hepburn at the opening ceremony for landing a 22lb salmon at Lower Netherdale.
The McConnell Major Contribution Award was also handed over to this year’s recipient Harvey Grant. The accolade recognises tireless work carried out for the trust and the river.
Special guests, Robson Green and his partner Zoila presented the Morison Trophy and officially opened the salmon season with a dram of Deveron whisky from Macduff.
Piper Billy Hepburn led the procession down to the riverbank with the tune Spirit of Glen Deveron.
Robson has fronted shows such as Extreme Fishing, Extreme Fishing Challenge and most recently partnered with friend Jim Murray for Robson and Jim’s Icelandic Fly Fishing Adventure.
Both Robson and Zoila are enthusiastic anglers and are extremely passionate about the conservation of Atlantic Salmon.
He said: “I always love coming to the Deveron, it’s a joy. To have the privilege of being here with all these lovely people who look after this world-famous river is a real honour.
“The fact that there are still healthy fish in this beautiful river travelling upstream every year is testament to the people who look after it.
“Myself and Jim Murray filmed up here for a TV show which is coming out in April called Robson and Jim’s Fly Fishing Adventures. Unfortunately we didn’t catch anything.
“We had to go on the world-famous rivers in Scotland, one of them being the Deveron.
“I’m an ambassador for the Atlantic Salmon Trust.
“Thank goodness we’ve all decided to catch, release and preserve this iconic species because it is the canary in the coal mine, it tell us how healthy the planet is. It’s really important we preserve and make sure that it not only survives but thrives.”
Gavin Hepburn, winner of the Morison Trophy for 2022, made the first cast of the season. He also received a Greys salmon rod from sponsors Henderson’s Country Sports (Turriff) for carefully releasing the winning salmon.
Richie Miller, river director said: “We are very much looking forward to the season ahead. The prolonged low water conditions during 2022 made it a tough season for fish and anglers and we hope for more favourable conditions this coming season.
“We were delighted to have Robson and Zoila join us to open the salmon season and I wish all our anglers tight lines for the season ahead.”
