Bridge Of Marnoch

Many thanks to Deveron Valley Cottages and Log Cabins for facilitating this camera's location and to The Deveron Bogie & Isla Rivers Charitable Trust for capitally funding its installation. The Deveron rises in the hills of West Aberdeenshire in the remote area known as the Cabrach, and flows north before being joined on its left bank by the Blackwater. It then swings in a north-easterly direction as it flows through Strathglass to Huntly. There are superb glides in its middle to lower reaches and due to the rocky bottom it has plenty of white water and can fish well in low water. It is prone to flash flooding and the water runs black but fines down to that golden brown colour which fly anglers love.

Salmon can be encountered right from opening day on February 11th anywhere on the river but the higher beats are usually a favourite. During April and May the brown trout fishing is superb with many specimens of 5 to 6 lb being caught each year.

Sea Trout start running towards the end of May until July and again a 7 lb fish is not uncommon.

The grilse run begins mid July but given water can start in June and can last all season.

The 21st of October, 1924, marked a significant day in the history of UK fly fishing, particularly for salmon anglers. On that day, at Lower Shaws on the banks of the River Deveron in Mountblairy, a record-breaking catch took place. Mrs. Clementina "Tiny" Morison, a local angler, landed an Atlantic salmon weighing an incredible 61 pounds. This catch solidified its place as the heaviest UK fly-caught salmon ever recorded.The surroundings of Deveronside were adorned with the beautiful golden hues of autumn as the leaves began to change. Mrs. Morison's remarkable achievement that day would go down in angling history. The official weighing of the salmon took place 24 hours after it was caught, and it was believed that the recorded weight might have been slightly lower than the actual weight. Mr. Harper, who witnessed the catch, estimated a weight loss of "a pound or two." Therefore, it is likely that the salmon was even heavier than the recorded weight of 61 pounds.The mighty salmon was hooked using a 1.25-inch fly called the "Brown Wing Killer." Prior to landing the record-breaking fish, Mrs. Morison had already caught several sizable fish, including two weighing 16 pounds each and another weighing 12 pounds. She shared the dramatic story of her big catch in a letter to her friend Lt. Col. W. Keith, describing how she rushed down to the river, put her hands in the fish's gills, and dragged it onto the bank. She marveled at its enormous size, describing it as a beautiful shape and color. Recognizing its significance, Mrs. Morison and her companions sent the salmon to Aberdeen to have a cast made.Charles Middleton, the Morison family's chauffeur, was just 11 years old when the historic catch took place. However, he vividly remembers the excitement surrounding the event. The fish was truly enormous, requiring a horse and cart to transport it back from the river. After it was smoked, everyone involved had the opportunity to enjoy a piece of this remarkable fish.Since that fateful day in 1924, despite the efforts of generations of anglers across the UK's game angling rivers, no one has managed to surpass the record set by Tiny Morison. Her achievement remains unmatched, firmly establishing her as a legend in the world of fly fishing for salmon.