The opening of the 2010 season was celebrated on Monday, February 1, with an official ceremony on the riverbank at Milton of Crathes.

Rivers from all over Scotland were represented and around 280 guests watched comedian Billy Connolly, formally open the river.

Looking resplendent in a tartan coat and tammy, and having just completed a month-long residency at London's Hammersmith Apollo, he had arrived in Deeside that morning.

He said: "I do quite a bit of fishing in the area, with having the house up here, and yes I do enjoy it. I've kinda gotten into it over the years really, with the way my life's gone. I'm more a trout fisher than salmon and, to be honest, I like salt water fly fishing the best."

Connolly, who has been the laird of the Candacraig estate in Strathdon since 1998, confessed to preferring the Don to the Dee, saying : "The Don is such a beautiful wee river and I have a wee loch in the garden at Candacraig, with brownies in it. The Dee's too dear for the likes of me!"

Chairman of the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board and The River Dee Trust, Ian Scott, said he was delighted with the turnout and, referring to last year's weather conditions at Potarch, joked: "Everyone's asking 'where's the blizzard!"

Welcoming guests to the Milton Marquee, Mark Bilsby, River Director, said: "Overall it was our best year for 20 years, with just over 6,000 fish caught. Obviously there are no guarantees for 2010 but it's all looking positive at the moment. That is testamount to the people in this room and all their hard work."

Billy Connolly spoke of his love for the area, saying: "I've loved the north-east ever since I was a boy. We used to go to Arbroath and all these places but a holiday in Torry was one of the best I ever had in my life. I love the sound of the north-east, I love the way they speak and the way they sing and I just like the way they behave. I'm very happy among them."

In typical comedic guise, he added: "I don't know how you toast a river. I've fallen in one but never toasted one before."

Accompanied by local ghillie, Brian Sim, he then made the short walk to the river bank and, after toasting the river with a sip of Irn Bru - Connolly is teetotal - he threw the contents of the quaiche in the Dee and cast the first line, declaring: "Mission accomplished!"

The event at the Milton Marquee also saw the presentation of the Park Trophy, for the biggest fish caught on the Dee during last season. The winner was Jim Coates, who had caught a 31 pound salmon in the Durris stream at Park, on August 11, landed with the help of ghillie, Charlie Yates.

The opening ceremony also marked the launch of the Dalmore Dee Dram single malt whisky, developed in conjunction with Whyte and Mackay.

Mr Bilsby explained: "All proceeds from sales of the Dalmore Dee Dram will go towards practical projects to restore the Dee, such as the construction of a fish-pass to enable migrating fish to reach the Culter Burn. This is a very exciting project because, although the Culter is the second largest tributary of the River Dee catchment, for at least 200 years access to it has been blocked by a 6 meter high dam located just upstream from its junction with the main river. Above this dam - a relic from the industrial revolution - are 125 kilometers of the tributary which offer tremendous potential for spawning and juvenile habitat."

According to Mr Bilsby, the Dee enters 2010 in "good spirits", with catches boosted by the wet summer, giving some ideal angling conditions. It was also the best season for sea trout for ten years.

He said: "Of course one should not confuse catches with fish runs but the numbers are testimony to the hard work and commitment of the local community over the last decade or so.

"The Dee Board and Dee Trust are however by no means complacent and we are moving forward on a range of fronts to improve the habitat of both the main river and its tributaries in order to maximise juvenile fish numbers. The Upper Dee Riparian Woodland Scheme is a prime example, where we intend to plant native trees to combat the local impacts of climate change."

The Dee District Salmon Fishery Board is the statutory body responsible for the protection, preservation and development of salmon and sea trout fisheries in the Dee system. Angling in the River Dee generates some £12 million annually in revenues and supports an estimated 500 rural jobs.

The Dalmore Dee Dram is now available at www.deedram.com or from George Strachan of Aboyne, with all profits going to the River Dee Trust.