Docu-film hopes to hook more female anglers

Members of a female angling group from Royal Deeside, who aim to encourage more women into the activity, are the stars of a new VisitScotland docu-style short film. 

The River Dee Damsels is dedicated to ladies fly fishing and was set up in 2018 to create a support system and affordable pathway to encourage women onto the river. It is now the landing point for women of all abilities who want to fish together.

VisitScotland has created a series of documentary-style short films to reach international audiences. They aim to tell stories through captivating people and places to showcase the connection that Scotland can give the visitor to nature and the outdoors.

The mini-docs, which sit on VisitScotland’s YouTube channel, tie in with popular tourism themes, such as food and drink and outdoor adventures, and feature unique experiences and organisations found across Scotland.

Group founder Tara Spiers said: “It was really important for us to work with VisitScotland to raise the profile of The River Dee. We have so much to offer here on Deeside with 47 different beats - the chance to be involved in a film production was a fabulous way to showcase fishing and the benefits of spending time in the river.

“By featuring in the video, we hope to reach a wider audience and, in turn, attract new customers which is vital to the future of our local economy. We loved working with VisitScotland’s multimedia team, who were friendly, helpful and went above and beyond - when the rain came on, they moved all our gear under cover while we carried on fishing!

“The aim of the group is to provide access to information about fishing and any opportunities without feeling in any way intimidated. By running events that are ladies-only, it gives women the confidence to learn in a very supportive and sociable environment.

“It is also very important to me that fishing is affordable – there are no extra costs added on for Damsel events. The advantage of the group is that you can dip in and out as and when you please.

“The more I got into fishing the more I realised that I was extremely lucky to have people around me that could support and teach me (my husband and ghillies I knew) – not everyone has that.

“I started to look at what I wanted to learn and that’s where I came up with the ideas for events which include read the river afternoon teas; learn to fish days; knot-tying nights; women, wine and waders evenings; charity days, as well as lots of lovely days fishing up and down the River Dee.

“Anyone who wants to learn how to fish or get out fishing with others just needs to contact me and I can help work out the right route for them. If I can’t help, then I can always find someone who can!”

The group not only fishes the 88-mile long River Dee but also encourages women to try fishing other Scottish rivers using the skills they have learned.

Tara said: “We have had enquiries from all over, not just locally – ladies from England, Italy and America. They hear about us from social media and through friends of friends.

“Our Damsels come from all walks of life and the beauty of having such a diverse group is they all then take their passion for fishing in different directions. One of our ladies is a teacher, who went on to set up her own children’s fishing group at her school, other ladies have gone down the fundraising route to help raise money for the River Dee Trust, which is leading the award-winning nature restoration efforts on the river.

“It is not just about catching fish – the trees, the stunning views and the gin-clear water make the Dee such a beautiful, tranquil place to be and being outdoors amidst the wildlife on the river is spectacular. We have kingfishers, rare birds, otters, and of course our wild salmon. It’s just such a beautiful, tranquil place to be. The physical and mental benefits of fishing are massive but it’s also a really good hobby to socialise and create lasting friendships. Key to it all is that we have a lot of fun.”

Stuart Brunton, Senior Production & Multimedia Manager at VisitScotland, said: “We wanted to create inspiring content that shows incredible and unique experiences you can have in Scotland, and that reflects our brand proposition ‘Good for the Soul’. 

“Visitors are looking for travel options that connect them to nature and give an escape and we set out to find inspiring stories that can offer just that. The River Dee Damsels and their passion for Scotland and connecting with nature and wellness is infectious and we think that comes across perfectly in this video.  

“Their aim to get more women enjoying the outdoors responsibly on the River Dee - and more widely in Scotland’s other rivers - has given such a positive experience to their community of female anglers and we hope to do the same through this stunning video. 

“It’s about viewing Scotland from a visitor’s perspective – whether it be in the shadow of our world-renowned mountains or fleeting footsteps in the sand at sunset.”  

For more information about VisitScotland’s destination storytelling, visit: www.visitscotland.org/news/2024/multimedia-team 

To learn more about the Damsels and watch the video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erDCwZR5vvo

Find out more about the River Dee Damsels on Facebook or Instagram, or email: riverdeedamsels@gmail.com

ENDS