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In the UK just like across the world, we are currently undergoing unprecedented times. Back in January, very few people could have imagined that the current Covid 19 pandemic would have such a profound effect on our everyday life. Sadly, hundreds of thousands of people have been affected by the viru…
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When it comes to fly fishing for salmon, most anglers can be very pernickety when it comes to fly selection. If you stroll along the banks of a salmon fishing beat in Scotland and ask ten anglers what their favoured fly pattern is all ten are likely to give you quite a different answer. This is of c…
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March in Scotland heralds the start of the meteorological spring. After the cold dark days and long nights of winter for many March cannot come soon enough. There is a notable change in daylight with the days beginning to stretch and as we gradually move through the month the weather usually starts …
Read MoreFor the past few weeks, the weather across much of Scotland has been atrocious. We have had numerous named storms including Ciara and Dennis and for much of February, Scotland has been battered by relentless heavy rain, strong winds and even snow on some occasions. Numerous low pressure systems have…
Read MoreAs salmon anglers, it is very easy to fall into the trap of getting obsessed with fly patterns and the subtle differences in fly appearances. So much so that often the angler can spend more time changing their flies rather than keeping them in the water. Of course, this is counterproductive but ther…
Read MoreThe Scottish salmon fishing season is now well underway on a number of rivers in the Highlands as well as on the River Tay. There has already been a handful of fresh salmon caught from the River Tay which is good to see and hopefully there will be plenty more to follow in the days and weeks ahead.
C…
The 2020 Scottish salmon fishing season is now almost upon us. Over the next few days, a number of salmon rivers across Scotland will open their banks to anglers. At this time of year, it would be fair to say that fresh spring salmon are quite rare. However, each year there are a number of clean sal…
Read MoreWith Christmas and New Year just around the corner for many people, salmon fishing is not on the radar at this time. In actual fact, the salmon fishing season in Scotland will begin in earnest in less than four weeks. A number of salmon rivers open in Scotland in mid-January, the first of these bein…
Read MoreThe Scottish Highlands is a truly special place to wet a line. The Highlands are commonly classified as the area of Scotland, North of the Great Glen and more specifically North of Inverness. The Scottish Highlands have no shortage of productive salmon rivers and when you combine this with its remot…
Read MoreOne of the most sought-after fish in the world?
Salmon fishing in Scotland truly is an experience to behold. Beautiful countryside a magnificent array of rivers and of course hard fighting salmon. Probably landing a spring salmon on the fly is the ultimate achievement in our sport and these fish ar…
Read MoreWe as salmon anglers love the history which goes hand in hand with our wonderful sport. We all have a favourite river and in Scotland there are many salmon rivers to choose from. Whether it is the Thurso or Helmsdale in the Scottish Highlands or larger rivers like the Spey or the Tay each river has …
Read MoreThere are two famous salmon rivers located in Angus. These, of course, are the North and South Esk. Traditionally the South Esk has been better known for its runs of Sea trout with the North Esk being mainly a salmon river.
The North Esk is a delightful river which starts its journey to the sea in t…
We have now moved into October and gradually the salmon rivers around Scotland are closing their banks to anglers. In recent days famous rivers like the Helmsdale, Oykel and Spey amongst others have finished for the season. Soon anglers fishing on rivers like the Thurso, Dee and Tay will also hang u…
Read MoreOver the past few days, the summer salmon fishing season in Scotland has really gained some momentum. There have been good numbers of hard fighting grilse and larger summer salmon caught from many of Scotland’s rivers. This has been great news for visiting anglers and many have caught there first ev…
Read MoreThe River Spey is one of the most famous and prolific salmon rivers in Scotland. It is one of Scotland’s “big four” salmon rivers, the others being the Dee, Tay and Tweed. The River Spey shares all the attributes of a highland salmon river but just on a larger scale. The Spey is probably the most we…
Read MoreJune was generally a kind month to anglers in terms of the weather. It was cool for much of the month but more importantly, there were frequent lifts in water on a number of Scottish rivers and this ensured decent river levels which is often the key to having good sport during the summer months. Dur…
Read MoreSummer is a great time of year to wet a line in Scotland. Traditionally the summer salmon fishing season in Scotland extends from the beginning of June through until the end of August. Usually, at this time of year, the countryside is full of life. The leaves on the trees are a deep vibrant green an…
Read MoreWe have now moved into May, which is a prime spring month on many Scottish rivers. Before our eyes, the seasons are changing, as we move from the colder days of winter into spring. With the days getting longer, it is only a matter of time before we experience those magical balmy evenings of summer w…
Read MoreIt was a dry start to March, especially in the Scottish Highlands. Many rivers were relatively low for the time of year. However, as the month progressed there were some spells of heavy rain and this led to a number of lifts in water on many rivers in the area.
The Thurso River got off the mark in e…
The River Spey is one of Scotland’s most productive salmon rivers and has legendary status in Scottish salmon fishing history. It is the birthplace of the famous double handed Spey cast. The Spey is one of Scotland’s “big four” salmon rivers and each year anglers from all four corners of the globe c…
Read MoreThe River Dee is one of the most famous and productive salmon rivers in Scotland. The Dee winds its way through beautiful Royal Deeside past the towns of Braemar, Aboyne and Banchory before entering the sea at Aberdeen.
The river is fast flowing in many parts and its crystal-clear waters make it per…
The Atlantic Salmon is one of the most highly prized fish among game anglers. These fantastic creatures are well known for their superb fighting qualities and elusiveness. What makes catching the Atlantic Salmon such a challenge is that it is a fish which actually does not feed in freshwater. Theref…
Read MoreFor the many, attentions just now will be firmly fixed on the festive period. With Christmas just around the corner and New Year following shortly afterwards, there is much to look forward to. So, it may have escaped some anglers attentions that the beginning of the Scottish salmon fishing season is…
Read MoreNovember started off on a mild note and apart from the odd frosty morning, it stayed that way for most of the month. During the course of the month, there were a few decent lifts in water on some of the rivers that were still open, but this did little to improve the sport.
Rivers like the Annan, Nith…
Scotland has long been recognised among anglers as one of the world’s premier salmon fishing destination. It is easy to see why as there are so many salmon rivers around the country for the travelling angler to explore. It is not just the number of salmon rivers but also the great variety of waters …
Read MoreThe promoter is Scottish Salmon Fishing Surgery Ltd company no 481628 whose registered office is at Drumcairn Farmhouse, Abernethy, Perthshire. PH2 9LT
The competition is open to any person aged 18 years or over except employees of Scottish Salmon Fishing Surgery Group and their close rela…
Read MoreThe River Tay is one of the most famous and prolific salmon rivers in Scotland. The Tay is the longest river in Scotland and flows through the heart of beautiful Perthshire before entering the sea at Dundee. The Tay is like no other salmon river in Scotland. It is big in size and has great Scottish …
Read MoreOctober saw the 2018 salmon fishing draw to a close on many rivers around the country. Rivers like the Thurso, Brora, Dee and Tay amongst many others closed their banks to anglers throughout the course of the month. The weather was reasonable for the most part and water levels were decent. During th…
Read MoreMany anglers that come to salmon fish in Scotland want to catch a springer. A springer is a salmon that usually enters the river between early January and the end of May. These fish are highly prized among salmon anglers and rightly so. Spring salmon are usually much larger than their summer or autu…
Read MoreAll the salmon rivers in the Scottish Highlands have now closed for the season apart from the River Alness. The Alness will close tomorrow and then all eyes will turn towards the 2019 salmon fishing season. So, what is like to salmon fish in the Scottish Highlands and what can salmon anglers that co…
Read MoreIn recent days the temperature has dropped dramatically across Scotland. Bitterly cold northerly winds and snow showers affected many parts of the country over the weekend. This was courtesy of northerly winds originating from the Arctic. There have been hard overnight frosts and snow over many nort…
Read MoreAs salmon anglers, we often get too preoccupied with fly pattern. We always ponder which fly to use and what colour this should be. Of course, fly pattern is important but in real terms do we place too much emphasis on this? The old adage that the fly catches the angler and not the fish can often ri…
Read MoreThe River Tweed is one of the most famous salmon rivers in Scotland. It is renowned for having a good autumn run of fresh fish. People from all over the world come to Scotland in September and October to the Scottish Borders to fish for the king of fish. Large numbers of hard fighting fresh Scottish…
Read MoreThe River Tay finally closed its banks to salmon fishers on Monday for another season. The river will open again for the 2019 salmon fishing season on the 15thof January. Looking back at this year, the salmon fishing on the River Tay has been very mixed. This mirrors many other rivers in Scotland th…
Read MoreFor all those anglers planning to fish for salmon in Scotland this weekend, sport could be curtailed due to the extreme weather conditions. Many rivers across the country will finish for the 2018 season on Monday which makes this weekend a popular time to wet a line on the Scottish salmon fishing ca…
Read MoreAmongst anglers, Scotland has been for a long time now known as a world-class salmon fishing destination. It is hardly surprising as there are a plethora of salmon rivers across the country to choose from. Whether it is the smaller rivers in the Scottish Highlands or the larger rivers like the Tay, …
Read MoreIf you are lucky enough to hook and land a hard fighting Scottish salmon during your salmon fishing holiday in Scotland it is important to know what to do next. As a company we try, and practice catch and release where possible. When returning a salmon it is vital that the fish is put through minimu…
Read MoreAcross Scotland, the 2018 salmon fishing season is drawing towards a close on some rivers. One of the most famous and productive salmon rivers in Scotland, the Tay finishes on the 15thof October. We are therefore now currently in the final full week of the season. In the past, September and October …
Read MoreWhen you come to salmon fish in a new country or river often it can take a couple of days to learn about tactics, technique and where the fish may be lying. This can result in a dramatic reduction in the amount of time you are fishing effectively. This, of course, is no problem if you are salmon fis…
Read MoreIn recent days there have been good numbers of salmon caught from a number of rivers across Scotland. The catalyst for this appears to be the dramatic change in weather conditions. After a very long, hot and dry summer finally during the middle part of September temperatures started to drop. As well…
Read MoreOver the past few days, a number of rivers in the Scottish Highlands have closed for the season. Rivers like the Helmsdale, Halladale and Spey amongst others have now finished for 2018. In the upcoming days, other rivers in the area like the Thurso, Wick and Brora will also close their banks to angl…
Read MoreSeptember started off as quite a warm and dry month across much of Scotland. The heavy rain that was badly needed on many of the Highland rivers failed to materialise and river levels remained desperately low. Rivers like the Helmsdale, Naver, Borgie and Thurso amongst others struggled to produce sa…
Read MoreNext week we will be moving into October and so are in the twilight of the 2018 Scottish salmon fishing season. One by one, the rivers are beginning to close around us. This is especially true of many famous rivers in the Highlands. Rivers like the Halladale, Helmsdale and close for the season at th…
Read MoreThe River Tay is one of the most famous and productive salmon rivers in the UK. The Tay system itself spans across a huge catchment area. During the autumn months, salmon fishing on the River Tay can be particularly productive. Of course, it is usually the main river which produces the best of the s…
Read MoreSummer 2018 has been one of the warmest and driest on record in Scotland. Water levels on many rivers have been at their lowest for years. This hardly made for good salmon fishing conditions and as a result, catches on most of Scotland’s rivers were well down. In some parts of the country the dry co…
Read MoreThe River Tay is one of the most famous salmon rivers in the British Isles and is a salmon angler’s paradise. The Tay flows through the heart of beautiful Perthshire towards the City of Perth and it then meets the sea at Dundee. The Tay is the biggest river in Scotland and originates close to the we…
Read MoreAs we all know when it comes to any type of fishing much depends on the weather. Salmon can be notoriously difficult to catch and are very unpredictable. Being lucky enough to have decent weather conditions can often be the difference between a difficult week and an excellent week in terms of catche…
Read MoreWe are now into the autumn salmon fishing season in Scotland. The autumn fishing period in Scotland runs from the beginning of September through until the end of the season. Usually, at this time of year there is a good head of salmon in many Scottish rivers and given adequate water there are also f…
Read MoreIn Scotland on many private salmon fishing beats there is a resident ghillie. The ghillie is usually employed by the estate or beat owner to look after the anglers that fish on the beat. Some beats have more than one ghillie and often the number of ghillies on a salmon fishing beat is determined by …
Read MoreThe autumn salmon fishing season in Scotland can be a productive time on a number of rivers. Usually the autumn period runs from 1stSeptember through until the end of the season. This can vary depending on the river. The majority of rivers in Scotland close by the end of October. However, rivers lik…
Read MoreWe will move into September tomorrow and this can potentially be a very productive month on many Scottish rivers. Looking around us, the landscape is changing. The leaves on the trees are gradually turning from a bright, vibrant green to a pale yellow. On the moorland, the heather is blossoming into…
Read MoreWhen salmon fishing in Scotland we have a wonderful tradition of taking a break for lunch. This usually happens on most private beats. The purpose of lunch is not just to refuel for the rest of the day. It also gives the pools a chance to rest for an hour as usually nobody fishes between one and two…
Read MoreOne of the most common question asked by any salmon angler is “Which fly should I use?” As salmon anglers, we all have our favourites and it is important when fishing for salmon to use a fly that you have confidence in. The old adage often rings true that “the best fly is the one which is in the wat…
Read MoreIn the past, late June and July were the prime summer months to come salmon fishing in Scotland. The main grilse and summer salmon runs would often coincide with Wimbledon fortnight weather permitting. However, in recent years there has definitely been a change in timing of the summer run on many of…
Read MoreIt has been a very hot, dry summer across almost all of Scotland so far this year. Indeed summer 2018 will be remembered for one of the warmest on record. These conditions have been hardly conducive for good salmon fishing in Scotland. Anglers that have enjoyed success have had to fish unsociable ho…
Read MoreWhen salmon fishing in Scotland every beat on the river has a number of named pools. These are stretches of water within a beat where the salmon are likely to be resting before they carry on with their journey upstream. Salmon pools can vary in length, depth and character greatly. Some can be short …
Read MoreSo far this year, the weather during the summer months has not been kind to anglers in Scotland. In July the temperature was above twenty-five degrees somewhere across the UK every day. Conditions were very hot and dry and there was very little rainfall. This led to record low river levels. This cou…
Read MoreDon’t be too rigid in your thinking!
As salmon anglers, we are often creatures of habit. We try and find a formula which works best and then stick to it. Of course, this logical and with success brings confidence. Having confidence in the tactics that you are using is probably the single most impor…
Read MoreThe eagerly anticipated Scottish Fly Fair gets underway this upcoming weekend in Stirling. This should be a fantastic event and one to mark in the calendar for any keen fisher. There will be a number of exhibitors at the event on Saturday and Sunday and attendance numbers are set to be high. Anglers…
Read MoreTo say that it has got colder across Scotland over recent days, would be a bit of an understatement. Over the past week, a large area of high pressure has centred itself over Scandinavia and this has led to bitterly cold easterly winds developing across the British Isles. The winds originate from Si…
Read MoreAlmost all of Scotland’s salmon rivers are now open for business. Last week, the River Spey opened on Monday and on Friday anglers on both the North and South Esk wet a line for the first time. Rivers like the Tay, Thurso and Helmsdale opened in January and the Dee and Tweed followed shortly afterwa…
Read MoreThe 2018 Scottish salmon fishing season is now underway on a number of rivers across the country. In the Scottish Highlands, rivers like the Thurso, Helmsdale, Halladale and Moriston have all opened their banks to anglers and further south the mighty River Tay opened last week. In the upcoming weeks…
Read MoreTomorrow sees the start of the much anticipated 2018 Scottish salmon fishing season. In the Scottish Highlands, rivers like the Thurso, Helmsdale and Halladale amongst others will open their banks to anglers for the season ahead, and next week anglers on the mighty River Tay will wet a line once aga…
Read MoreThere are many destinations around the world where you can chase the Atlantic Salmon, so why should you choose Scotland over the others? The answer to this is easy really. When it comes to salmon fishing in Scotland, we have such a variety of rivers to choose from. In the Scottish Highlands, many of…
Read MoreWe are now into mid-December and Christmas is just around the corner. Many anglers have been hard at work at their fly tying vices creating those killer patterns for next season. In actual fact, the new Scottish salmon fishing season is less than four weeks away. Soon after the New Year festivities…
Read MoreIf you book a salmon fishing holiday in Scotland, you will be hoping for the perfect weather and water conditions. As salmon anglers, we all know how important it is to have favourable weather when we are fishing. Often it can be the difference between success and failure.
Ideally, when salmon fishin…
When you come salmon fishing in Scotland, it is important to make sure that you have the right tackle with you. Of course, rods, lines and flies are important, but you also cannot underestimate the importance of having a suitable fly reel. Once you have hooked a Scottish salmon, having a good reliab…
Read MoreIf you experience salmon fishing in the Scottish Highlands, during your salmon fishing holiday in Scotland, you will notice that many anglers use a dropper. In essence, this is using two flies at the same time. On smaller rivers this can be a very effective method, especially from late spring onward…
Read MoreWhat is the best salmon fly to use? This is a question many anglers ask themselves every time they go salmon fishing. Indeed, most of us ask this question a number of times throughout the course of a day when fishing, especially if the fish are proving to be in a stubborn mood. Many anglers will cho…
Read MoreOver the past few days, temperatures have plummeted across Scotland. We have had a strong northerly air stream which has brought perishing cold winds down from the north pole. This has been accompanied by heavy snow showers with over twenty centimetres falling even to lower levels.
You might be askin…
The River Spey is one of Scotland’s “Big four” salmon rivers. It is steeped in history and probably most well known for being the birth place of the famous double handed “Spey cast”. The Spey is one of Scotland’s most exclusive and prolific salmon rivers. It runs through the heart of whisky country,…
Read MoreWater temperature can be critical when it comes to salmon fishing in Scotland, especially during the early spring months. The temperature of the water can often dictate the tactics you employ when chasing silver.
Usually at the beginning of the season water temperatures are low. This is because in S…
Many anglers that book a salmon fishing holiday in Scotland ask what the difference is between a ghillie and a fishing guide. Some people have the misconception that a ghillie is the same as a fishing guide but of course this is not the case.
When salmon fishing in Scotland, almost all the private …
Scotland is not only a world class salmon fishing destination, but it also has some fantastic Sea trout fishing opportunities on offer. Many anglers that come to Scotland on a salmon fishing holiday, during the late spring and summer months also fish for Sea trout in the evenings and sometimes into …
Read MoreThe Scottish salmon fishing season finally draws to a close on Thursday. Most rivers across the country have been closed for several weeks and by the end of the week, fishing activity on the Tweed, Nith and Urr will also cease.
Looking back, November started off on a quiet note weather-wise across m…
If you are confronted with low water during your Scottish salmon fishing holiday, what are the best tactics to use? Much depends on what time of year you are fishing. As salmon anglers, we usually associate low water with summer fishing. Often at this time of year the weather is hot and sunny and th…
Read MoreAs salmon anglers we often spend endless hours on the riverbank chasing that elusive Scottish salmon. This is all well and good, if you are solely on a salmon fishing holiday in Scotland, fishing is what you would be concentrating most of your efforts on. However, what if you only had limited time, …
Read MoreWhy do people go salmon fishing? If you asked a person in the street this question, that had never fished before, he or she would probably give you a simple answer along the lines of “To catch a salmon”. This on the face of it seems quite reasonable. However, for most anglers there is a lot more to …
Read MoreAs salmon anglers, our worst nightmare is arriving at the river first thing in the morning to find that the water is rising. Usually a rising river does not make for conducive salmon fishing conditions. So what can you do if you find that the river is rising? Well you could go visit the nearest fish…
Read MoreAs we all know, when that fly line initially tightens, you have no idea of how big the salmon is going to be at the other end. If you are lucky enough to hook a salmon of a life time during your salmon fishing holiday in Scotland, you want to make sure that you do everything in your power to land th…
Read MoreWe have now come to the last full week of the Scottish salmon fishing season. There are only a handful of rivers which remain open across Scotland and during the middle part of next week these will also close. To be honest the end of the season cannot come too soon as there has been a lack of fresh …
Read MoreA common mistake you often see anglers make when salmon fishing in Scotland, is wading out too deeply. Some salmon fishers have a misconception that by wading out further in the river they can actual cover more water. By deep wading you can often spook the fish in a pool before the fly even hits the…
Read MoreIf you have come salmon fishing to Scotland in early spring you will have quite possibly had to contend with very high cold water. Usually in February and March in Scotland the rivers are high and water temperatures low. Even with the water being high often the rivers run clear so actually visibilit…
Read MoreOver recent days, the weather across Scotland has turned notably colder. There have been frequent overnight frosts and there is now a decent covering of snow over the Scottish mountains. Hopefully, over the winter months there will be further snow on the peaks as this can be vital in ensuring a prod…
Read MoreMany anglers that come salmon fishing in Scotland want to chase the ultimate prize which of course is a hard-fighting Scottish spring salmon. In Scotland we are lucky, as our spring salmon fishing season starts in January and runs through until the end of May. Every year there are springers caught f…
Read MoreMany anglers that have enjoyed a salmon fishing holiday in the Scottish Highlands will be familiar with the technique of “backing up”. Backing up is a very productive way to fly fish for salmon when the water is low. The standard way to fly fish for salmon on any river is to start at the head of a p…
Read MoreWe as salmon anglers are creatures of habit. We like to stick to the tried and tested when it comes to tactics and are often unwilling to change. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this because in salmon fishing a lot has to do with confidence. If you have confidence in a particular fly or metho…
Read MoreAnglers that regularly come salmon fishing in Scotland will know the value of having a good selection of bottle tubes of various sizes in their fly box. The bottle tube can be very effective during the spring and summer months, especially if the water is high. The great thing about the bottle tube i…
Read MoreWe have moved into November and the long balmy evenings of summer are nothing but a distant memory. The clocks have gone back and the nights are drawing in fast. Around us, in the Scottish countryside the trees are almost bare. The once bright oranges and yellows which adorned our landscape have bee…
Read MoreOctober saw the 2017 salmon fishing season in Scotland draw to a close on many rivers around the country. Rivers like the Thurso, Brora, Dee and Tay amongst many others closed their banks to anglers through the course of the month. The weather was very unsettled in and there were frequent spells of …
Read MoreWe as salmon anglers often divide the classical salmon fishing pool into three distinct sections which makes it easy to describe. At the top of the pool, there is usually a run which is where the pool starts. This is known as the head of the pool. This can often be quite fast flowing, narrower than …
Read MoreLast week we made our annual salmon fishing trip to the River Alness. The River Alness is a great location for a salmon fishing holiday in Scotland. We, with a party of friends and clients have been salmon fishing on the River Alness now for around fifteen years. The Alness is a beautiful salmon riv…
Read MoreWe are now almost at the end of another Scottish salmon fishing season. Most of the salmon rivers around the country have now closed for the season and many of the rivers that remain open will close tomorrow. There are some rivers like the Tweed, Nith and Annan, which remain open for business in Nov…
Read MoreAnglers that have come salmon fishing to Scotland this autumn, would probably have found that the weather has been quite frustrating. Due to the unsettled nature of the weather in Scotland over the past few weeks (which is not unusual at this time of year) river levels have been up and down. As we a…
Read MoreThe most frequently asked questions when anglers come on a salmon fishing holiday to Scotland are; What are the best flies to use? What is the best lines to use? And of course, are there lots of salmon in the river? Our clients almost always ask these three questions within ten minutes of meeting ou…
Read MoreLast weekend saw salmon fishing draw to a close on the mighty River Tay for another year. We were lucky enough to be fishing on the final few days of the season on the fabulous Kerocck Beat. The Kercock Beat is an excellent Lower Middle River Tay beat, which produces good numbers of salmon all year …
Read MoreIf your planning to come to Scotland for a salmon fishing holiday this year, there are still a few rivers that are open for business in October and November. Over the past weekend, a number of rivers closed their banks to anglers and these included some of the larger more famous Scottish salmon rive…
Read MoreAnglers that have booked a salmon fishing holiday in Scotland in recent years and have come back to fish again are likely to have noticed that the spring salmon run on many Scottish rivers is improving. This is great news, as for many anglers catching a springer is the ultimate achievement. Nothing …
Read MoreWhen salmon fishing in Scotland during the autumn months, often anglers can be confronted with high coloured water. This can be the salmon angler’s worst nightmare, as it makes for far from ideal fishing conditions. If the water resembles dark coffee or even chocolate in colour and is rising fast, t…
Read MoreWhen booking a salmon fishing holiday in Scotland, it is important to remember that the vast majority of rivers only allow fly fishing as the permitted method of fishing. This is especially the case in the Scottish Highlands. However, there are some rivers in central and southern Scotland which allo…
Read MoreMany anglers that salmon fish in Scotland get preoccupied with fly selection. Of course, pattern can be important and often is, but there are also other parameters to consider when salmon fishing in Scotland, when it comes to fly fishing.
The depth and speed at which your fly moves through the wate…
Read MoreAs we move into the autumn period, sometimes the salmon flies that you use need to change not only in size but also in pattern. Generally in the back end, water temperatures drop and often river levels are high. In such conditions, you need to think about using bigger flies which fish that bit deepe…
Read MoreThe bottle tube fly has been a fantastic innovation in recent years for salmon fishers in Scotland. The bottle tube is as the name would suggest is bottle shaped and usually quite small in size. The advantage of the bottle tube is that it is quite heavy and so will sink fast. Therefore, if you are …
Read MoreThe weather has been very unsettled across Scotland over the past few days. Last weekend the remanence of tropical storm Lee and Maria both brought heavy rain and strong winds to many parts of the country. This has led to river levels rising and falling on almost a daily basis. Unfortunately, this d…
Read MoreThe 2017 Scottish salmon fishing season has now drawn to a close on a number of rivers around the country. These include a few salmon rivers in the Scottish Highlands, like the Helmsdale, Halladale and Naver amongst others. Probably the most famous river to close its banks to anglers is the River Sp…
Read MoreWhen you come to Scotland on a salmon fishing holiday, there are many options in terms of rivers to choose from. Most people enjoy fishing on the bigger more famous rivers. Some of these rivers have excellent tributaries, which are good rivers in their own right. Two rivers which probably have the m…
Read MoreEarlier this week the River Tay experienced its biggest lift in water since June. This has come at the perfect time, with only three weeks of the salmon fishing season on the Tay remaining. Anglers that are coming to Salmon fish in Scotland in the upcoming weeks should be in for a treat as there wil…
Read MoreIf you are salmon fishing in Scotland in the upcoming days, using bigger flies coupled with sinking lines could be the order of the day. With the recent big lift in river levels and the drop in water temperatures, these tactics could prove to be productive. When the water comes up at this time of ye…
Read MoreWe are now entering the last week of the Scottish salmon fishing season on some rivers. Famous Scottish salmon rivers like the Spey, Helmsdale, and Halladale amongst others all finish at the end of this week. Many of these rivers have already had a good year, with decent numbers of Scottish salmon c…
Read MoreWe were lucky enough to have the opportunity to fish on the fabulous Lanrick Estate Beat of the River Teith last weekend. This was the first time either of us had fished on the Teith and so were both looking forward to the experience. There is always something special about fishing a new river, whic…
Read MoreThe Willie Gunn is a very successful fly pattern for catching salmon in Scotland. It is one of the few flies that you can fish with confidence all year round. The pattern can be equally effective in early spring as during the summer months. Many salmon anglers also use the fly with great effect in S…
Read MoreThere has been a definite chill in the air over the past few days in Scotland. This is hardly surprising as we are now into mid September. This can be good news for anglers that are coming to salmon fishing in Scotland in the next few weeks. Hopefully, sport will be brisk, as when the temperature dr…
Read MoreThere was a big upturn in catches on some of our Scottish rivers last week. This had a lot to do with a rise in river levels following heavy rain. On many rivers it was the first decent lift in water sine late spring and this certainly seemed to do the trick. Many of the fish became more aggressive …
Read MoreWe are now in the middle of September, and some Scottish rivers are nearing the end of their season. On other rivers, anglers are hoping for a good autumn run to materialise in the upcoming weeks. Currently, conditions are decent on many rivers across the country after recent rainfall. Hopefully, th…
Read MoreCatches on the River Tweed have picked up this week, which has been great to see. There are have been a number of fresh fish caught which bodes well for the weeks ahead. There has been a lift in water recently and this has certainly helped. Hopefully, this will be the start of a good autumn season o…
Read MoreA salmon angler’s worst nightmare is to be confronted with high-coloured water on arrival at a fishing beat. These conditions do not fill you with confidence for the day ahead. If however, river levels have peaked and the water is dropping, there is a chance that during the day, fishing conditions m…
Read MoreWatch your wading!
Wading too deeply is a common problem with anglers, especially when they are fly fishing. The reason for this is quite self-explanatory. As fly fishers, we are always striving to get a few extra yards of distance when casting so we can cover more water. The natural thing to do to…
Read MoreThe world famous River Tay needs little introduction in salmon fishing circles. The River Tay runs through the heart of beautiful Perthshire and is arguably the most famous Salmon River in the British Isles. It is the longest river in Britain and is mighty not only in size but also in reputation. An…
Read MoreIt has been a decent summer season on many rivers across the country. In the Scottish Highlands, rivers like the Thurso, Wick, Helmsdale and Naver all produced good numbers of fresh grilse and summer salmon in June and early July. It did appear that summer run arrived earlier than usual. As we moved…
Read MoreThe world-famous River Tweed is the most productive salmon river in the British Isles. Anglers catch over 10,000 salmon a season from this prolific system. The River Tweed opens in February and the season extends through until the end of November, making it one of the latest rivers to remain open in…
Read MoreOver the past couple of years’ tackle manufacturers have come up with the latest “must have” rod for salmon fishing, the Switch rod. This, of course, is not a new concept as tackle companies would have you believe. There have always been longer trout rods available on the market. Indeed, one of the …
Read MoreWe are now already noticing a change in weather in Scotland as we move towards the autumn months. The early mornings are cooler and the days are getting shorter. With this the water temperatures will also be cooling. If you are planning a salmon fishing holiday in Scotland in the upcoming weeks then…
Read MoreNext week sees us coming to the end of the summer salmon fishing season in Scotland. Catches have been good on many rivers. In the Scottish Highlands anglers caught plenty of fresh summer salmon and grilse in June and July, as there was decent water levels on some rivers. On the River Spey catches s…
Read MoreThere very few things in life that are more satisfying than catching a Scottish sea liced salmon. Catching a sea liced salmon means that the fish is as fresh as paint and just in from the sea. As the salmon is very fresh it is usually very hard fighting and will give you an unforgettable fight. Sea …
Read MoreThe autumn months are a fantastic time of year to be salmon fishing in Scotland. It is great to see the plethora of colours on the river bank at this time of year. The leaves on the trees change from the pale greens of late summer to yellows and then vibrant golds. On the Scottish moors, the heather…
Read MoreWith the recent heavy rain, water levels on the River Tay rose at the end of last week. The river is now dropping nicely with the water clear, making it the perfect location to chase that Scottish salmon. Fishing on the River Tay can be excellent in August as usually the runs of Scottish summer salm…
Read MoreHeavy rain fell across many parts of Scotland at the beginning of this week. This has led to a lift in water on many of our Scottish rivers. Rivers like the Tweed, Tay, Dee and Spey amongst many others experienced a decent rise in water. During the summer months anglers always welcome any rainfall, …
Read MoreFor most anglers, the ultimate fish to catch is an early season spring salmon. There are few other fish which pound for pound put up a better fight. The Scottish springer is typically quite deep and short with big shoulders. It really is a creature of beauty. There is no better place in the world to…
Read MoreWe fished on the fabulous Delagyle Beat of the River Spey on Saturday. It is a beat, which has been a very popular option for our clients. Delagyle is situated in the heart of beautiful Spey side and is in the perfect location for that memorable Scottish salmon fishing holiday. There is a luxurious …
Read MoreI was talking to a ghillie on the River Spey yesterday evening who is a good friend of mine and he informed that he was told by the ghille on the beat below him that there was a massive run of fresh salmon coming through the pools. In fact, he said that it was the biggest run he had seen all year. T…
Read MoreMany people ask what tackle they should bring prior to starting their Scottish salmon fishing holiday. As anglers, we always want to take every possible piece of fishing gear we possess, with us on a fishing expedition, just in case we need it. In reality, what usually happens is we only go on to us…
Read MoreThere is nothing more frustrating when salmon fishing than to lose a fish, especially if you have had a long tussle with it. It is true to say that how well a fish is hooked can be down to luck, especially if all the old adages have been followed up to the point of not striking the fish, not lifting…
Read MoreWe were fishing on the fabulous Waulkmill Beat on the mighty River Tay on Saturday. There had been a lift in water overnight after heavy rain on Friday. We saw several fresh salmon running hard throughout the course of the day which was great to see. Some of the salmon we saw were of decent size. On…
Read MoreSo far this year, the summer months have been kind to anglers in Scotland. The weather has been unsettled and this has meant that there has been no prolonged heat wave. In addition to this, it has also been a relatively wet summer and this has ensured that water levels have been reasonable on many r…
Read MoreDuring the summer months, the water is often low and clear and so a quiet, stealthy approach can be the key to success. Deep wading, especially in low water can disturb and spook any salmon in the pools. As fly fishers, we are always striving to get a few extra yards of extra distance when casting, …
Read MoreSalmon fishing in Scotland during the summer months is a magical experience. There are so many different salmon rivers for the visiting angler to choose from. Many of the rivers vary greatly in character and size, each offering a unique challenge. Some of the rivers in the Highlands are small in com…
Read MoreThe summer salmon fishing in Scotland this year has been excellent so far. There have been good numbers of grilse and summer salmon caught from several rivers across the country and the prospects for the weeks ahead look promising. Many rivers during the spring period experienced prolonged low water…
Read MoreThe Scottish Highlands, a salmon fishing haven!
The Scottish Highlands boasts some of the most breath-taking scenery and salmon fishing in the country. It’s dramatic mountains, coupled with fast flowing rivers and rugged coastline make it a stunning backdrop to any salmon fishing holiday in Scotlan…
Read MoreThe 2017 Scottish salmon fishing season has been productive on many rivers so far this year. Good numbers of spring salmon have been caught across the country and amongst them, some big ones landed, including a few fish over the magical thirty pounds mark. Some of the quality of the fish caught have…
Read MoreChasing Scottish summer silver!
Traditionally, the summer salmon fishing season in Scotland extends from the beginning of June through to the end of August. It is usually a very productive period in the Scottish salmon fishing calendar. The summer salmon fishing opportunities in Scotland are truly …
Read MoreThe world-famous River Tay, which runs through beautiful Perthshire needs little introduction in salmon fishing circles. It is the biggest river in Scotland, as well as one of the most prolific. Hard fighting salmon run the river from the opening day of the season in mid-January, through to mid-Octo…
Read MoreWe have now moved into May, which is a prime spring month on many Scottish rivers. Before our eyes, the seasons are changing, as we move from the colder days of winter into spring. Having said that, the last few days of April were certainly a shock to the system as winter seemed to return to Scotlan…
Read MoreAs salmon anglers, we all hate losing fish. It is often hard enough to get a take, so when you end up losing a fish it inevitably feels like a lost opportunity. Tackle companies are constantly developing different hook designs and trying to capture us with catchy phrases like “chemically sharpened” …
Read MoreScotland not only has excellent salmon fishing opportunities but also a whole host of other exciting activities to offer during a holiday. So, if you are looking to experience some of the other delights Scotland has to offer for a few days during your fishing holiday or there are non-fishers in your…
Read MoreWe are now nearing the Easter period and have moved into the meteorological spring. The days are getting noticeably longer and when the sun comes out and the wind drops it is beginning to feel positively spring like. The long, dark winter nights are becoming a distant memory which will be a relief f…
Read MoreThe River Dee is one of Scotland’s “Big 4” salmon rivers and a fly fisher’s paradise. The crystal clear, fast flowing waters and the mouth-watering pools make it an ideal river for the fly fishing connoisseur.
For years, the Dee had been Scotland’s premier spring river. The Dee was renowned for produ…
In Scotland, many rivers get their first decent runs of spring salmon in March. These fish are usually large and very hard fighting. As each week goes by, there will be more salmon entering our river systems, increasing the chances of encountering that prized springer. March and April are great mont…
Read MoreRecently a thirty-pound spring salmon was caught from the Lees Beat on the lower River Tweed. For most anglers, catching a spring salmon is the ultimate achievement and a fish of thirty pounds even more so. To combine these two incredible feats together has to be a tremendous feeling.
The salmon that…
Over the past few weeks, several famous salmon rivers across Scotland have opened their banks to anglers. The season got underway in January, with both the Helmsdale and Thurso rivers opening on the 11th of the month. In recent days, the Helmsdale has produced it’s first fish of the new season. The …
Read MoreHaving salmon fished in Scotland for over thirty six years and both being very keen anglers, my wife, Samantha and I thought it would be good to share our wonderful experiences with fellow like-minded people. Just over two years ago, we decided to write monthly feature articles, which encompassed al…
Read MoreThe Scottish salmon fishing season encompasses almost eleven months of the year. The first rivers to open in Scotland are in the Highlands. Rivers like the Thurso and Helmsdale open on the 11th of January. The mighty River Tay is not far behind opening only four days later. Most of the other rivers …
Read MoreIf you are a keen angler, then the fishing opportunities in Scotland can only be described as mouth-watering. There is great salt and freshwater sport to be had on rod and line. There are wonderful remote Highland hill lochs to explore, which are home to some magnificent wild Brown trout and Arctic …
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