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Little Blackhall, overlooked by Scolty Hill is a wonderfully compact estate which originally extended to over 40, 000 acres with salmon fishings stretching from Upper Blackhall down to the bridge at Banchory. On the South bank, on the site of the old Blackhall Castle, a delightful fishing lodge now provides accommodation for the owner and fishing tenants. Here there is almost total seclusion, only a few minutes walk from the river. On the North bank, for Inchmarlo tenants, accommodation is provided in Laird's Cast. The Fishings (Season 1st February to 30th September) 
It is a most attractive beat, with a wide variety of water and some excellent holding pools. It is easily
understood why a previous owner of the Blackhall fishings, retained the double bank fishing at the Roe Pot, the left
bank pool called Kineskie, and will still be fished by Little Blackhall.
John Ashley Cooper, in his book The Great Salmon Rivers of Scotland (1980), describes the Roe Pot as one of the best pools on the middle river. The pool is further described as "a big one for the Dee and a good one too as parts of it will fish in any height of water". Little Blackhall fishing is mostly by wading, or off the bank in high water. A boat is moored just upstream of the Roe Pot fishing hut and is used mainly for access to the left bank, although it is sometimes used for fishing by less competent or elderly waders. Generally the beat fishes best in high water, but also fishes well in medium to low water. The fishing from the Little Blackhall bank is considered to be full of interest, affording the more challenging fishing on this stretch, from shallow to deep water. The fishing on the Inchmarlo side has the same characteristics, but is generally known to the the easier side to fish, since the deeper water can be fished from the bank - Wading is mostly unnecessary. The wooded banks on both sides, which in the summer abound with wild flowers, and the garden around the accommodation is kept up to a high standard by the ghillies. The Ghillies There are two full-time ghillies, both with considerable experience of fishing on the Dee. Martin Hayward is head ghillie and has made many improvements to the fishing. He is ably assisted by Terry Paton, who looks after the Inchmarlo side. Fishing Huts 
Little Blackhall main fishing hut, built of timber under a corrugated asbestos roof, is situated close to the Ghillies Cottage.
The hut is furnished with basic chairs, tables, cupboards, shelves and rod racks and also has a woodburning stove.
Outside the hut there is a fish box and slab. A further hut built of timber with a corrugated tin roof is situated
at the lower end of the beat overlooking the Roe Pot.
The hut at Inchmarlo is situated at the Upper Roe Pot and enjoys a wonderful view of the river. It is provided with cooking facilities, easy chairs etc and WC. Fishing Policy Little Blackhall is a four rod beat with an arrangement that a maximum of three rods fish opposite Inchmarlo on the opposite bank. The fourth rod fishes the Roe Pot/Kineskie Pool. There is ample room for two rods should the third rod wish to fish here. Only three rods fish from the end of May. Inchmarlo fishes three rods in the Spring, reducing to two at the end of May. The owner of the fishings urges all guests and tenants to abide by the voluntary code on the River Dee to resist killing fish and to return them to the river until salmon stocks have recovered. Some sea-trout may be retained if desired. Neighbouring Beats Little Blackhall and Inchmarlo march upstream with Middle Blackhall and Cairnton and downstream with Lower Blackhall and Kineskie respectively. |
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© Little Blackhall |