salmon fishing day trips scotland

Fishing holidays in Scotland

Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland are a luxury holiday provider offering professionally guided fly-fishing holidays and vacations throughout Scotland and the UK

Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland

What we offer.

We at Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland specialise in designing bespoke Scottish salmon fishing holidays and experiences that are tailor made to suit your requirements. Our highly knowledgeable team, has over thirty-five years experience, of salmon fishing in Scotland which they use to make sure that you get the most from your Scottish salmon fishing holiday. Whether you are looking for a single day’s guided salmon fishing, a short break or even a week-long touring and salmon fishing holiday , we have it covered. We also arrange corporate salmon fishing experiences across Scotland which have proved to be very popular for that special day away from the office.

Exclusive Scottish salmon fishing locations

Through our selected partners, we have salmon fishing available on the some of the most exclusive rivers in Scotland, from the small intimate streams of the Scottish Highlands to the larger more famous rivers like the Dee, Spey and Tay. For the visiting salmon angler, we offer a plethora of choice when it comes to the different salmon fishing locations around Scotland . All the beats that we use are private and offer the ultimate relaxation and solitude for our clients.

A multitude of accommodation and transportation options

In addition to the wide array of salmon fishing locations, we also have a variety of accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets. Whether you are looking for a simple Bed & Breakfast, boutique hotel, luxury self-catering lodge on the banks of the river or even a Scottish castle, the choice is yours. We also offer a wide range of transport options , so when you arrive in Scotland to begin your exclusive salmon fishing holiday, you can just sit back, relax and enjoy a stress-free experience. The Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland team can arrange car hire or private transfers by car or air. Why not take advantage of our exclusive “Arrive & No Drive” service? This service takes care of all your transportation needs once you arrive in Scotland.

A world class guiding team, tackle hire and riverside catering

We all know how important it is to have local knowledge when you come salmon fishing to a new country. Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland has been lucky enough to assemble a world class guiding team . All our guides have a minimum of ten years guiding experience on rivers around Scotland and most, hold their AAPGAI qualification. We are also the only company in Scotland to offer the services of a female guide. The knowledge and experience of our guiding team is second to none and they will ensure that you get the most from your Scottish salmon fishing holiday.  We at Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland understand how inconvenient it can be to have to transport your fishing luggage across continents to your chosen fishing destination. We therefore offer a comprehensive tackle hire service which includes top quality salmon rods, reels, lines, waders and life jackets, so that this is one thing less for you to worry about. We can also provide you and your party with riverside catering including lunches, BBQs and decadent afternoon teas, so all you need to do is to concentrate on hooking the next salmon.

Other activities available

In addition to salmon fishing, we also offer other activities such as, Trout fishing on an exclusive Scottish loch set on a stunning private estate, as well as grayling and pike fishing during the season. If there are non-fishers in your party, we can arrange stalking, shooting, private sightseeing and whisky tours or even a round of golf, if you prefer.

Our promise to you

Our promise at Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland is to provide you with excellent customer service and design a holiday that will suit your requirements and budget. We will aim to arrange salmon fishing on the most productive rivers in the country, depending on the time of year you are planning to come to Scotland. This will give you the best chance of making contact with that hard-fighting Scottish salmon. At Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland, we pride ourselves in making your Scottish salmon fishing dreams a reality!

Big 4 in 4 Challenge

4 rivers, 4 days, 4 atlantic salmon.

For those who like a challenge we at Salmon Fishing Holidays are the home of the “Big 4 in 4” challenge. The challenge involves anglers fishing each of Scotland’s big four salmon rivers the River Spey, Dee, Tay and Tweed on four consecutive days.

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Salmon Fishing in Scotland | Days and Tours

Fascinating wee creatures, Atlantic Salmon live in freshwater in their youth, but migrate to sea upon reaching adulthood and eventually return upriver to spawn. Salmon fishing season in Scotland varies locally from early January through to late November. Best Fishing Scotland will be delighted to take you and your party Salmon fishing across the best locations in Scotland with expert guidance and a friendly, personable outlook.

We are also happy to offer a one day fishing experience from Edinburgh to complete your holiday

Sea Trout Fishing Days and Tours in Scotland

Until recently sea trout have often been viewed by salmon purists as a lesser quarry. We disagree and love fishing for them. Your salmon permit covers sea trout as well. Prime months May to September.

With fishing beats being mainly located on private estates and the number of anglers usually restricted by the estate – you will find yourself with more than enough elbow room to fish in the peace, tranquillity, and companionship of your closest friends.

You can rest assured that day or longer tour packages Best Fishing Scotland provides a fantastic fly-fishing guide, all your rod, reel, line, and wading requirements – and, most importantly appropriate permits and licenses for salmon and sea trout fishing in Scotland.

A Scottish Company , operating across Scotland,  we cater for individuals, groups, and families of all ages and abilities.

Proudly displayed by Bill, above, this absolute monster, prize-winning salmon was caught in Scotland after an arduous 25-minute battle. Not surprising considering it weighed 25lb and reached a whopping 44 inches long at full extension – Oomph!

Salmon and Sea Trout Fishing

Best fishing scotland.

We offer an intimate journey through the finer points of salmon and sea trout fishing in Scotland. Salmon and sea trout day or tour to include:

All Equipment Provided

All licences and permits in place, experienced, friendly guidance and tuition from beginner to advanced, brown trout | grayling fishing, salmon | sea trout fishing, accommodation, north american visitors.

Best Fishing Scotland will guide you through your bespoke fishing day or tour in Scotland today.

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What’s Best?

One day salmon and sea trout fishing after a first day brown trout and grayling fishing is our most popular product. as in all things b est fishing scotland will tailor  your experience to your needs..

Providing the Best Fishing Days and Tours in Scotland since 1999

Testimonials.

Coming from South Africa the fishing experience was a real financial push for me.

But Standing in the tweed, crystal clear water around me, the odd salmon rising, I realised a profound feeling that can't be explained. Thank you so much for one of the most amazing days of my life. A real bucket list experience for me.

Rob your patience and calm energy really set the tone for the day.

I apologise for my naivety on the river😊 thank you for all the advice, I am dead keen to keep going and grow as a river fisherman.

Bill thank you for organising the day out, and Rob I cannot thank you enough for guiding me down the river. I really couldn’t have done it without you.

You guys have something special on your doorstep, that river has a spiritual charm that really gets you. The beautiful Salmon was the cherry on top of a perfect day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Let's hope I can plan another trip in the near future.

Hi Bill. I would just like to thank you for a very good day out on the river and in an exceptional place, the peace and tranquility was out of this world, great day out with a brilliant instructor.

Thank you once again.

Hi Bill, just travelling home after a wonderful few days fishing. It was an awesome experience! Our guides Roger, John and Rob were the best. Patient, encouraging and fun to be with. Thank you so much for organising such a great trip, All the best,

Martin & Tim

Had a fantastic couple of days fishing with my sons with Bill and his team. Equipment was good quality, locations beautiful and the service was outstanding. Tried euro-nymphing as well as conventional fly fishing. Would happily recommend to others. We even caught a couple of fish!

Anna - Cambridgeshire

I am so happy that Bill Drew was my guide. He brought me to a beautiful, quiet, and historic section, where I was the only person fishing the beat all day. Within minutes, I was catching healthy, wild brown trout and grayling. Bill is a clear and patient teacher, who tailored his approach to fit my interest in European-style nymphing. He is also an entertaining storyteller, and between our conversations and the plenty of fish I landed, this was a truly memorable day. I hope to come back soon to have another go at the massive grayling that broke me off!

Zane Tuta Denver, Colorado, USA

Bill, thanks for sending the Manifesto and the photos. It was an outstanding day on the Tweed and surrounding area. Thank you for being such a fantastic fly fishing guide and tour guide as well. The day could not have been better and we will remember you and the trip always or until our memories fail, whichever comes first!

George and Debbie Meriwether - USA

Thank you again for such an enjoyable morning’s fishing. You really go out of your way to teach the technical aspects, but also the wider context. It’s really engaging and I genuinely can’t have hoped for a better introduction to fly fishing.

Nick and Son - Edinburgh

Brilliant day out, what Bill doesn’t know about fishing isn't worth knowing.

Alex - Harrogate

Bill is a fantastic guide, with an immense amount of knowledge of the local area and of course the art of Euro nymphing. He has a great sense of humour and will tell you many a story. We had the water to ourselves and the day went by so fast. I highly recommend a day out fishing with Bill

Ryan - Scotland

Together with my five old friends I spent a few great days fly fishing in the beautiful Tweet River in June 2022. An impressive experience where Bill and Roger taught us fly fishing from A-Z with a lot of patience and professional tips.

But not only the fly fishing was great, we also learned a lot about the nature, the history and the country and people of Scotland. Trips to a brewery, the oldest inhabited house in Scotland and a whiskey brewery made our holiday an unforgettable experience - many thanks Bill!

Stephan Berger - Switzerland

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Gordon Castle and Walled Garden

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Gordon Castle offers the ideal venue for a fishing holiday in the Scottish Highlands

“There is no question that this is the finest and most profound stretch of water in Scotland.” A.Grimble, The Salmon River Of Scotland, 1902

We own five miles of double bank fly-fishing, split into four beats of 6 rods each, on the world-renowned River Spey, one of the “big four” Scottish salmon rivers.  Our catches of salmon and sea trout are amongst the most prolific in Scotland. All our fishing holidays are individually tailored to your requirements, include ghillie support, and can be arranged with excellent fully catered or self-catering accommodation.

All of the Gordon Castle beats are fly fished with up to six rods and, in the interests of conservation, we usually operate a catch-and-release policy for sea trout and salmon. We offer a variety of fishing throughout the season (the salmon season runs from 11th February to the end of September). From June onwards the salmon are at their most prolific. However, the ardent fly-fisher may prefer the earlier season when the “springers”, although fewer in number, provide the fiercest fight and a great sense of achievement when caught.

Please  contact the Factor in the Estate Office  for more information.

Fishing Accommodation

Fishing availability and booking

Tackle advice and instruction

Fishing, Because Therapy is Expensive

The meaning of ghillie:, a scottish sporting gentlemans gentleman, a fishing guide.

At Fish On Scotland we specialise in fly-fishing breaks and guided fishing tours for salmon and trout across Scotland. Set amongst some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, Scotland’s lochs and rivers offer some of the finest trout and salmon fishing available.

Our experienced and knowledgeable ghillies are passionate about what they do, they want to ensure you are in the right place, at the right time to hook that elusive wild Atlantic salmon or brown trout. Of course, our bespoke fishing packages can include 5 star accommodation and luxury hampers for lunch, that’s the easy part…

The difficult part, and we think the most important part, is giving you the best chance possible to catch a fish. Whether it’s an Atlantic salmon, a brown trout or a rainbow trout, it’s about knowing the where and the when and the how.

AND WE DO…

Your Ghillie Packages

Which season suits you , our lochs and rivers, about your ghillie.

Fish On Scotland was born from a lifelong passion for fishing and a frustration with ghillieing for big companies whose main goal was profit, at the expense of catching fish and even the fishing experience itself. I decided it was time to cast off on my own. I wanted to create a fishing tour company that above all else put the customer’s fishing first.

GET IN TOUCH

Call rob on 07502417355, address : 2 fingal road killin scotland fk218xa.

SALMON FISHING TRIPS

Book early to avoid disappointment, particularly in April, May, September & October when availability is limited on the most prolific rivers.

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FISHING GIFT VOUCHERS

Fishing gift vouchers are the perfect solution for your loved ones at Christmas or birthdays. Our vouchers can be purchased at any amount and used towards the package of their choice.

GUIDED FISHING TRIPS

Our packages include transport, lunch, full safety equipment, top of the range fishing tackle, waders, permits, professional photography, qualified casting tuition and professional fishing guidance.

WHY CHOOSE SCOTIA?

A range of packages & species with venues to suit all skill levels. Our passionate, qualified & insured fishing guides are focused on providing excellent service & value for money.

WINTER FISHING TRIPS

Winter fishing for Grayling or Pike in November - February. A special time of year to fish in Scotland.

ABOUT SCOTIA FISHING

Scotia Fishing provide professionally guided fishing trips, holidays & vacations throughout Scotland. Fly or lure, novice or expert, we will tailor a package to suit your individual requirements.

At Scotia Fishing we specialise in creating memorable fly fishing breaks, fishing events and guided fishing trips in Scotland for Salmon, Trout, Grayling, Pike and Saltwater species. Our team of professional fishing guides are dedicated to providing you with first class service and showcasing the best fishing in Scotland.

Scotia Fishing was founded by Callum Conner to share his unrivalled passion for fishing in Scotland.

WHY SCOTIA?

Knowledgeable, professional fishing guides, focused on delivering the best value fly fishing holidays & fishing trips in Scotland.

FISHING PACKAGES

Choose from an array of inclusive guided fishing packages for Salmon, Trout, Grayling & Pike.

FISHING BREAKS

Scotia Fishing offers a range of guided fishing breaks in many stunning locations throughout Scotland.

We pride ourselves on offering an extensive range of guided fishing trips in Scotland. Check out our list of species we have fishing and guiding expertise.

Visit our fishing blog for our latest news, customer catches, stunning photography and reports from our fishing trips in Scotland.

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Salmon Fishing In Scotland

By Jock Monteith

An insight into fishing for Atlantic Salmon on Scotland’s famous salmon rivers and useful information on where, when and how to fish for salmon in Scotland

Scottish Salmon Runs

Scotland is one of the world’s truly renowned salmon fishing destinations and is fortune to have in excess of 400 salmon rivers which are all in relatively close proximity to one another. This amazing migratory species of fish starts its humble beginnings in the shallower fresh water streams and pools of their native rivers where they can spend up to 3 years as juveniles before nature sends them to the rich feeding grounds off the Greenland Coast and the Faroe Isles. Salmon can spend anywhere from 1 year to 4 years feeding in the see before the urge to return to their native rivers begins and their journey home. Nature has structured these runs of salmon to return in different cycles and many of the bigger Scottish salmon rivers have runs of salmon that continue through the Spring Summer & Autumn months each year. On the smaller West coast & Northern rivers the majority of fish arrive during the Autumn as often it’s the Autumn rains that provide sufficient water for these salmon to run. All the spawning starts when the first frosts appear during late Autumn so any river that has high ground in its headwaters will normally see the start of the spawning season sooner than the lower lying Scottish rivers. 

Salmo Salar

The Romans named this remarkable migratory fish Salmo Salar ‘the leaper’ as these fish are true masters at upstream navigation and will battle through some of the fastest flowing and turbulent waterfalls and river valley gorges nature can throw at them to return to their place of birth to start the Atlantic Salmon life cycle begins all over again. The salmon spawning season is naturally triggered in Scotland by the first few hard frosts of the year which occur anytime from October through to December. The female salmon is known as the 'hen' and the male salmon is known as the 'cock'. Salmon lay their eggs in the softer less compacted riverbed gravels where eggs lie dormant until the middle to end of Spring when they hatch. These juvenile salmon are hatched with a yolk sack intact and are known as alevins which then develop into fry. Fry then develop into parr before heading to sea as smolts. The fertisilsed egg to smolt stage can take anywhere from typically 1 to 4 years depending on how good the natural feeding is in these juvenile salmon's native streams. Once in the sea a salmon can remain there feeding for 1 to 4 years. Salmon that return after 1 sea winter are known as grilse and when they return are are typically between 3lbs - 6lbs in weight. 2 or more sea winter salmon typically range between 8lbs to 45lbs.

Salmon Fishing Rivers

Predominantly the bigger Scottish salmon rivers are well worth fishing for most of the year and   River Tay salmon fishing  begins on the 15th of January each year with a season that runs through to the 15th of October.  River Dee salmon fishing   in the North East Aberdeenshire area of Scotland opens on the 1st of February and runs through to the 30th of September with  River Spey salmon fishing  closing on the same September day but opening just a week later on the 11th of February.  River Tweed salmon fishing in the South East is one of Scotland’s latest closing salmon rivers on the 30th of November and shares the same opening date each year of the 1st of February with the River Dee. The Tay is Scotland's largest and deepest salmon river and benefits from a massive loch-fed head water catchment which includes several huge lochs. The benefit of this unique headwater catchment is 2 fold, firstly these loch act as a stabiliser for maintaining good main stem river water levels through periods of low rainfall and secondly they also act as a sedimentation settling tank to offset the likiehood of unfishable water through river water discolouration during periods of heavy rainfall. These 2 components make the River Tay Scotland's most reliable salmon river for the best chance of favourable fishing conditions.

Fishing Trips

For those who are planning a salmon fishing trip to Scotland it is always best to consult  a professional salmon fishing guide or agent who has served their time in a professional 'riverbank career' capacity and who can build you a meaningful salmon fishing itinerary with astute inside local knowledge & understanding that can sometimes even encompass a few different salmon fishing venues on a few different Scottish rivers to broaden and enrich your Scottish salmon fishing trip. As an example, one of our American clients recently fished the River Dee & the River Tay during his Scottish salmon fishing trip and caught a perfect fresh run River Dee Spring salmon and another perfect fresh run River Tay Spring salmon the day after changing salmon rivers. Like any business real knowledge gained through decades of professional 'hands on' involvement with attention to detail on the delivery are also the keys to success for properly planning a Scottish guided salmon fishing trip.

Fly Fishing Scotland

The Northern & Eastern Scottish salmon rivers have fresh run  Scottish Spring salmon in them from the start of their fishing seasons with the main Spring runs appearing when the water warms slightly after mid March. The Spring fishing is very special in Scotland as the absolute physical fighting qualities of these fish in the cold well oxygenated Spring water is renowned. The sub surface ‘glint’ off the flanks of a fresh run Spring salmon as it nears the landing net will stay in your mind indefinitely following the excitement of the cold water battle. As a former River Tay Head Ghillie I always loved to fish the Tay for a chance of a ‘Springer’ as they’re referred to locally and catching them is the ultimate Scottish salmon fishing experience. Any fresh salmon caught in Scotland between January and the end of May is commonly regarded as a Spring fish. In the last 20 years there’s been a big push in Scotland by myself and many other dedicated professionals to conserve Spring salmon stocks and the bi-product of these sterling efforts has definitely assisted in improving the number of Spring salmon in recent years.

Scottish West Coast Salmon Rivers

The smaller rivers which predominantly are found over on the West Coast or the smaller tributaries of the Northern or larger East coast rivers fish best during late Summer spates and once the Autumn rains appear. Many salmon will enter the smaller West coast rivers on the first spate of the year and if you can time this correctly you’ll be in for some serious salmon & sea trout action. I recall fishing the West coast’s River Fyne as a boy after an Autumn spate and thought my eyes were playing tricks with me as the riverbed appeared to be moving in the pools I was fishing! These small rivers only require a 9ft 6/7 weight single handed trout rod to fish for salmon with which is an amazing experience to play a sizeable salmon on!

Booking Your Salmon Fishing In Scotland

The ownership of  Scottish salmon & sea trout fishing beats  (venues) are usually privately owned as part of an individual estate’s assets. These  Scottish salmon beats  tend to be anywhere from half a mile to 3 miles in length and can include both riverbanks or just one side of the river. Often where you have two different owners on a beat the fishing area will be split in two and will be rotated on a daily basis and you’ll fish the Upper beat one day and the Lower beat the next day. All Scottish salmon rivers fall under the management of a District Salmon Fishery Board who take care of the policing of the river along with various conservation works whether it be running a man made hatchery or working on natural  Atlantic salmon habitat enhancement projects  or in some cases both. Most salmon river venues rely on agents to sell their fishing for them and generally all across Scotland the marketing of salmon fishing still remains in the dark ages with only a few agents showing any kind of commercial flare. When you book a guided salmon fishing day through ourselves we purchase and include the appropriate salmon fishing access. 

Scottish Salmon Fishing

Salmon fishing permit access is purchased directly from the owning estate or through a  Scottish salmon fishing agent . There’s is currently no requirement unlike many other parts of the world where a fishing license is required in Scotland. When you purchase a  Scottish salmon fishing permit  on its own you are expected to have the correct salmon fishing equipment levels and some general Scottish salmon fishing tactical awareness to get value from buying the salmon fishing permit. For those who do not have the equipment or are in need of tactical salmon fishing tuition it is necessary to hire a professional  Scottish salmon fishing guide  who will provide the permit access, all the required  salmon fishing equipment for Scotland  including chest waders and a life jacket and tactical awareness to optimise your chances of catching salmon.

Salmon Fly Fishing Tuition

The significance of the rod position instructional numbers pertain to the hour hand clock positions (8, 11, 1, 11 or 4, 1, 11, 1).  Always starting with the clock face in front of you then rotating the clock face either downstream or upstream mid cast depending on whether you are practising  the Scottish Single Spey Cast   (upstream rotation) or  Double Spey Cast  (downstream rotation). The single or double Spey key relevant components can be verbally explained and recited in 8 seconds. These key points when understood make it easy for a new salmon fisher to master via a full logic based understanding of the cast and what makes it flow.  All Speycasting tuition should be conducted with sunglasses or safety glasses for eye protection and a piece of wool to simulate the weight of a salmon fly. Lifejackets should always be worn at all times.

An Insight Into Atlantic Salmon Fishing In Scotland

Scotland is one of the world’s truly renowned salmon fishing destinations and is fortune to have in excess of 400 salmon rivers which are all in relatively close proximity to one another. This amazing migratory species of fish starts its humble beginnings in the shallower fresh water streams and pools of their native rivers where they can spend up to 3 years as juveniles before nature sends them to the rich feeding grounds off the Greenland Coast and the Faroe Isles. Salmon can spend anywhere from 1 year to 4 years feeding in the see before the urge to return to their native rivers begins and their journey home. 

Salmon Fishing Guide

The cost of salmon fishing access on its own in Scotland can vary from £50 per permit per day to over £500 per permit per day. This big salmon fishing permit price range is mainly based on demand for a certain section of a Scottish salmon river which will be also down to historic salmon catches. This is where a professional Scottish salmon fishing agent can be worth their weight in gold by keeping you within the realms or reasonability balanced with the other attributes that make up a perfect Scottish salmon fishing experience. With  guided Scottish salmon fishing prices start at between £450 and £495 per day which is inclusive of professional guide, all the required salmon fishing equipment and tactical tuition for those who need it. Approximately one third of the guided salmon fishing fee will be spent on the salmon fishing access and that money will be allocated to the best salmon beat venue that's available on the date(s) requested by the fisher(s).

Fishing In Scotland

This is best qualified by asking yourself whether you would like to fish a smaller river with a shorter 9ft or 10ft single handed fly rod or whether you wish to fish on the larger Scottish salmon rivers with a 14ft or 15ft double handed salmon fly rod. Maybe a combination of both tactical approaches and river variance would be best for you which offers real Scottish salmon fishing diversification. This multi styled salmon fishing approach would suit the Autumn months best as most of the smaller Scottish salmon rivers don’t fish well until the late Summer or Autumn spates have occurred. The smaller Scottish rivers can be exciting and in many cases you’re sight fishing with a low stance and your polaroid glasses on. Once your eyes adjust to the water you’ll be able to see salmon and how they are reacting to your salmon fly as it swings past them. On the bigger rivers it’s a total different game and you’re relying more on your instincts as to where salmon could be holding or looking for one to show to give away their holding location. On the bigger Scottish salmon rivers methodical evenly spaced water coverage comes much more into play to position your fly in front of an often unseen ‘taking’ fish.

River Tay Salmon Fishing

When I think central Scotland I always think of the  mighty River Tay   which is Scotland’s largest salmon fishing river. Draining a massive 2500 square miles of central Scotland the Tay always has sufficient water in it for salmon to run up river from the high tides at Perth where the Tay meets the North sea. The Tay also has an advantage in the fact that several big headwater lochs feed the river. Tay system lochs like Loch Tay, Loch Rannoch & Loch Tummel are but a few that create sustainable all year round fishable water levels which make this Scottish salmon river a safe bet as a fishing venue for for your salmon fishing trip. Follow this link for more information on  guided River Tay salmon fishing .

River Dee Salmon Fishing

Other world famous Scottish salmon rivers like the  River Spey,   River Dee ,  River Teith, River Earn, rivers North & South Esk and smaller well known rivers like the River Lossie, River Nairn, River Deveron and River Findhorn are other Scottish salmon fishing venues that can all offer excellent sport during your Scottish salmon fishing trip if timed correctly. Notable the River Dee offers great salmon fishing access on many spectacular salmon beats through the extensive Dee salmon fishing season of February through to September. The Dee is most definitely a gem in the crown of Scottish salmon fishing venues where fishing access fo experienced salmon fishers is readily available or a professional River dee salmon guide for those who are new to the sport or in need of assistance or tuition. Follow this link for more information on hiring a professional  River Dee salmon guide .

River Tweed Salmon Fishing

The most dominant and famous Southernly Scottish salmon river is without doubt the  beautiful River Tweed  over in the South East corner of Scotland. The famous Tweed is a tremendous lowland Scotland salmon fishing venue where salmon can be caught all through the extensive Tweed fishing season from the beginning of February through to the end of November. Over in the South West of Scotland you have other famous salmon rivers like the River Annan, River Stinchar, River Doon, River Nith and the border River Esk. All of which offer great salmon fishing sport usually from mid Summer onwards. Follow this link for details of  River Tweed guided salmon fishing .

Salmon Fishing Events

A salmon fishing event day on the famous River Tay makes for a highly memorable day out in some of Perthshire's most majestic natural beauty. Corporate salmon fishing events include the professional services of 'time served' River Tay guides and a fully catered riverbank lunch which is served in one of many luxury salmon fishing huts. Follow this link for more details on our bespoke  Scottish salmon fishing event days .

North Of Scotland Salmon Fishing

In the North of Scotland we have some exciting possibilities too such as the often prolific River Brora, River Helmsdale, River Naver, River Sheil, River Thurso, River Forss, River Inver, River Conon, River Beauly and the River Kirkaig. These all have their days but tend to be more water dependent with the exception of the Conon & Beauly which have hydro released compensation water assistance on occasions.

Scottish Islands Salmon Fishing

Over on the West Coast of Scotland there’s famous Islands such as Skye, Mull, Lewis, Harris and South Uist and North Uist. All of these Scottish island have many small salmon and sea trout rivers which fish very well from the Summer months forward on the back of recent spate water. These rivers are very easily covered with a single handed fly rod and again it’s all about the timing of your visit.

Fly Fishing Rods For Scotland

On the bigger Scottish salmon rivers a 14ft or 15ft doubled handed salmon fly rod is imperative as a longer line lifting ability while Speycasting or overhead casting will be too difficult with a shorter fly rod. There’s also much more salmon fly control available with a longer rod when the fly is fished at distance. Working with a longer line (even if shooting additional distance) with allow you far more additional river fly swim time over the course of your salmon fishing day. When you hook a salmon at range there is also much less chance of the salmon drowning your fly line too which could easily result in excess pressure being put on the hook hold. On the smaller Scottish salmon rivers a fly rod of between 9ft and 12ft will cover all salmon fishing scenarios whether a short Spey cast is used or an overhead cast. A good strong leader and plenty of backing on your reel can be useful from experience when a hooked salmon decides to bolt downriver during higher water conditions.

Salmon Fishing Guide Service

It is very important prior to booking Scottish salmon fishing that you understand the difference between purchasing salmon fishing in Scotland and what that includes (or doesn't as the case may be) versus hiring a professional Scottish salmon guide which will also include the salmon fishing access to one of Scotland's better & pre-vetted salmon fishing venues. For decades Scottish salmon fishing agents have generally not made this very important point clear enough which is crucial for the enjoyment & correct qualification of your Scottish salmon fishing experience. Here's a link through to exactly what the difference is between purchasing salmon fishing access which includes the basic services of a beat ghillie (guide) and hiring the services of a  professional Scottish salmon guide  who will provide all required additional services.

Salmon Fishing Gift Vouchers Scotland

The most effective and informative way to introduce a loved one or colleague to Scottish salmon fishing is to purchase a fully guided & instructional Scottish salmon fishing gift voucher for them. This servcice will ensure that they have a memorable day(s) on the either of the big four Scottish rivers, the Tay, Spey, Tweed or Dee with a professional salmon guide who will supply all of the correct equipment levels (incl. chest waders, life jackets & waterproof jacketss) and necessary tactical salmon fishing tuition. A fishing date can be selected at point of purchase or the fishing date can be left 'open' and the fishing date decided upon later once the gift voucher recipient receives their gift. This fully comprehensive Scottish guided salmon fishing gift voucher service is especially popular as a Christmas gift voucher or as a general fishing gift for other special occasions.

How To Set A Salmon Fly Hook Properly

Having been involved in Scottish salmon fishing since 1970 one of the most important parts for success is knowing how to set the hook when a salmon takes your fly. As a former professional salmon beat head ghillie on the Tay in charge of several fishers on a regular daily basis I've witnessed great opportunities to catch salmon lost by fishers who fail in this very important discipline which is seldom properly discussed and in many cases left for the salmon to hook itself when it's objective soon into the contact will be to get rid of the fly. My own advice when a salmon takes is never to lift into the take with a soft actioned rod and slack reel clutch setting as logically there's little or no hook point pressure applied from doing so. After ignoring the initial tugs at the start of the take and after several seconds of the fly line being drawn consistently off the fly reel simply clamp the fly reel face with your hand to stop the line flow dead to briefly feel the weight of the fish for a further few seconds. Make sure the rod is pointing down in the direction of the fish when you do this in order to maximise direct hook point pressure from the reel to the hook. After feeling everything tighten up and the weight of the fish then release the reel and lift the rod. If this is done correctly and as detailed here your fish will be hooked properly regardless of where the initial micro hold of the hook points were positioned in the soft or tougher tissue within the salmon's mouth as it turned on your fly. Here's leading UK course fisherman demonstrating how he successfully hooked and landed his  first ever Scottish salmon on the fly  after several years of trying. This effective hook setting method will allow the salmon's forward momentum & bodyweight to set the hook for you. In warmer Summer water the take will usually develop much quicker than the colder early Spring water. In colder water conditions allow a few more seconds before clamping the reel as the lower temperatures usually mean a much slower initial start to the take.

Salmon Fly Fishing Riverbank Movement

When you're fly fishing through a salmon pool it is good etiquette to take at least one good sized step between each cast and especially if there are other fishers present on either riverbank. Personally I move 3 feet between each cast to separate each swing of the fly by a yard. Less than that shows the salmon too much of the fly and any more may miss a hot spot in the pool. The less you show a fish of the approaching fly to my mind works better than training a fish to accept the presence of the fly in the pool. What you're looking for is a reaction from a salmon and startling a fish that hasn't had the opportunity to get used to an approaching fly is more likely to have the desired effect. Adopt a sense for what speed and depth your fly is fishing at and don't just cast and hope. Adopting this mindset of how & where your fly is actually fishing coupled with good fly swing spacings will catch you more salmon and give you entry into the top 5% of consistantly successful Scottish salmon fishers. 

Control The Depth Of Your Salmon Fly

If you're fishing a sink tip and wish it to work optimally apply your downstream movement on the forward delivery as the fly lands on the water and simultaneously throw a big upstream mend. By the time your line tightens and the fly starts fishing you'll have got your fly down to the desired swim depth. In addition to these fly swim tactics keeping the rod tip extended out and high for the first third of the swing and gradually bringing the rod angle round as the fly fishes toward the riverbank will give you that added fly swim control for the first third of the swim. This little adjustment can often be the difference between a take or not especially when you want to slow up a fly out in a faster stream and at distance.

Playing A Salmon In Scotland

When  playing a Scottish salmon  it is important to keep the rod tip as high as possible and maintain reasonable rod pressure on the salmon throughout the fight. The high rod position will also act as a shock absorber and safeguard against any sudden movements from the salmon and it will also keep the line away from any sub surface obstacles. The best position to take on the riverbank while playing a salmon is from a side on position. Don't allow the fish to get too far below you and if a salmon takes off down river then walk down the riverbank after it. When playing a salmon always be looking for an appropriate landing area for the final stages of the fight where there's deep snag free water which is out of the main current. Never attempt to play a salmon in fast heavy water as it will use the water pressure to its advantage and kite about and take forever to land. Never attempt to rush a salmon to the landing net and always wait until the fish starts to tire and shows signs of fatigue which are indicated by slower movements at close range and showing its flanks and tail.

Landing & Photographing A Salmon In Scotland

Hold back with the landing net until the time is right and place the net down in the water and draw the salmon over it and lift the net. Don't try to snatch at the fish as usually even a fatigued salmon will get startled and bolt quickly in that instance. Unhook your salmon in the landing net and in the water to avoid injury to the fish prior to release. Most mobile phones these days have an excellent HD camera built into them so if you land a salmon please take a good shot of it. A photograph is always a nice memento of the encounter so a mobile phone (or camera) should be carried at all times. Make sure your device is kept in a waterproof pouch to keep it safe from water penetration. If photographing a salmon while fishing alone make sure the fish is lying flat in the bag of the landing net with the salmon perfectly in frame on or close to the water line. Take a few shots to make sure you get a good one. Try to avoid contact with the salmon at all times. If you're fishing with a colleague briefly lift the salmon to the water line in the landing net with the salmon's flanks as square to the camera as possible and have your colleague take a few shots. Sometimes tilting the belly of the fish up slightly by lifting the net's mesh will capture the beauty of the salmon's flanks more effectively. Again try to avoid contact with the salmon at all times. Sunlight is always best behind the camera and ideally with the pool where it was hooked behind you and a big smile which should be easily achieved!

Unhooking & Releasing Your Salmon

Always carry a pair of artery forceps which is the best tool for unhooking salmon quickly & efficiently with. These should be kept on a spring loaded retractable lanyard and clipped onto your fishing jacket for ease of access when required. Ideally unhooking a salmon should be done while the salmon is still in the landing net and in the water. When releasing your salmon find an area of the pool that has a nice steady flow in a foot or two of water and once the fish has recovered release it directly from the landing net by lowering the net's rim and let the salmon swim out itself. If you have to handle the salmon to revive it pre-wet your hands and hold the fish with its nose to the stream for as long as it takes for you to feel the fish trying to pull away. This can sometimes take a few minutes but there's a great sense of satisfaction from seeing your  Scottish salmon released correctly  and swimming away strongly after the excitement of the capture.

Tipping Your Scottish Salmon Fishing Guide

It is customary in Scotland and good salmon fisher etiquette to tip your guide at the end of each fishing day regardless of whether you've been successful at catching salmon or not. There's a lot of hard 'life consuming' work involved in maintaining a salmon beat and professionally hosting salmon fishing clients which these 'special men' have comited their lives to. The professional approach from the career ghillies of Scotland is essential for the overall enjoyment of Scottish salmon fishing and the magic that surrounds this wonderful pursuit. The daily tip should be between £20 & £40 per fisher however if you feel a larger tip is deserved for whatever reasons feel free to act accordingly. 

Single & Double Spey Cast Rod Positions

With  the single Spey cast  (from the right hand bank of the river) follow these exact rod positions; 4 oclock, 1, 11, 1 left hand up (upstream anchor) or the 4, 1, 11, 1, 11 right hand up (downstream anchor) with the double Spey cast from the right hand bank of the river. Alternatively (from the left hand bank of the river) use the 8, 11, 1, 11 right hand up (upstream anchor) for the single Spey cast or the 8,11,1,11,1 left hand up (downstream anchor) when using the double Spey cast. The left of right hand bank is deterred by looking always in a down stream direction only. This simplistic method gives you easy reference points for the important rod positions which are 1/3rd of what you need to know. The other 2/3rds being ’smoothness and fluency’ of lift and swing & ‘watching the anchor point’ to achieve good visual timing off the water and therefore not relying on guesswork while wading down through a pool in inevitably different altering depths.

How To Build Up Line Energy While Speycasting

It is of crucial importance while following these rod position numbers and that ’smoothness of lift and swing’ builds up the line energy by keeping everything taught prior to the anchor point and immediate following power stroke. These exact rod positions as per the giant (hour hand only) clock face in the sky method which always starts in front of the fisher and rotates either upstream or downstream mid cast depending on which Spey cast is being performed.

Watch Your Spey Cast Anchor Point

It is crucial that you watch the anchor point so that you catch the timing correctly so the line lifts off the water. Too many Spey casters only look to the target area (like racehorses with blinkers on) and inevitable guess their timing off the water instead of getting a visual confirmation for when the time is exactly right for the forward power stroke delivery cast. The anchor point positioning should be approx 1 rod length off either shoulder depending on which one of the casts you are performing.

Smoothness Of Spey Cast Technique

On both double Spey casts it is crucially important not to overpower the vertical lift or outward swing with the rod when moving between cast position numbers 1, 2 & 3 to either rod position 11 or 1 so as to make sure the fly stays in the rough downstream anchor point area (1 rod length away)  prior  to the in swing which creates the important loading. This is a common double Spey casting error as most people feel compelled to flick the fly away upstream of the intended downstream anchor point zone which is counterproductive and reduces line energy build up significantly prior to loading with the in-swing.  On both single Spey casts it is very important to spread the swing energy smoothly & evenly between 1 & 11 or 11 & 1 depending on which side of the river the single Spey cast is being performed from. Slow down on the swing or speed up as required until you are evenly spreading the correct amount of swing energy in order to achieve a straight line anchor point positioned one rod length off either your right or left shoulder. The same goes for the in-swing energy on a double Spey cast between 11 & 1 and 1 & 11. At no time during this movement should a ‘flick’ be used but only a steady, smooth evenly paced energised draw. If you are ‘smooth & fluent’ enough with the lift and swing on all 4 Spey casts you should start to get consistent with the positioning of the anchor point (ideally 1 rod length off either shoulder) and should start to achieve a straight line anchor point on the surface of the river prior to the end of the fly line’s release (forward delivery cast) to the target area. If you are watching the anchor you'll be able to judge the exact & precise time off the water for yourself and track back to work out what’s going wrong if you are not consistently achieving this straight line anchor point in the correct position. Don't be a race horse with blinkers on as watching the anchor point tells you so much about your lift & swing.

The Spey Cast Rod Angle Changes

Understand that on the single Spey casts there is a defined turning point in the sky at 11 or 1 at the top of the lift when the rod tip moves from the vertical lift (parallel to the riverbank) to an outward swing angle in order to keep the fly away from you as it passes between position 2 & 3 of the cast. Make sure you understand why this is so important for safety reasons and that it is important too with the double Spey casts so as to keep the fly away from you as it passes on its way to the anchor point position.  Understand that the outward swing should not dip but instead consistently hold its outward rod angle height throughout the swing. If necessary to briefly pause the rod precisely at 11 or 1 in order to change the rod angle at the top of the lift as it moves onto the swing angle range.

Perfect Your Spey Cast Line Lift

As importantly make sure you are slowly lifting your hands during the lift so that your bottom hand is up level with your chin as the rod reaches the 11 or 1 o’clock position as this lifting of the hands if done slowly and smoothly (between 4 & 1 or 8 & 11) always draws more line up to the surface/air which make the swing more controllable and easy for them (less line water resistance but only if done smoothly & slowly).

When To Use The Single Spey & Double Spey Casts

Each different Spey cast is used primarily for safety reasons depending on the wind direction and anchor point space availability. In other words if the wind is blowing upstream or downstream you would only use the single or double Spey cast that can achieve a down wind anchor point position. This way the salmon fly cannot be blown into you on the forward power stroke delivery.  During all casts your body position should be facing the target area and not at a downstream angle where it is going to be more difficult to achieve a correct anchor point due to the unnatural twisting of the upper body to compensate for an incorrect downstream body angle. Follow this link for more useful & logic based information information on  the traditional Scottish Spey cast .

Spin Fishing For Salmon in Scotland

On the bigger Scottish salmon rivers it is also often possible to spin fish for salmon. A spinning rod of betwen 9ft & 10ft are the most popular lengths of spin rod paired up with a fixed spool reel with 18lbs mono (or 30lbs braid). In Scotland the best spinning lures are as follows; ABU Salmo 30g Toby in silver/copper (or the lighter 18g Toby in same colours), the black bodied Flying C 18g -25g with a No 2 silver (or gold blade), the Vision Oneten champagne or red firetiger colour. The really important factor to master when spin fishing is having a thorough daily water coverage fishing plan and sticking to it like glue. What I mean by this is making sure your boot positions on the riverbank are separated by exactly 1 rod length between each cast of the lure and maintaining a consistent almost square but slightly upstream casting angle with each cast of the lure. If you deploy these tactics then your water coverage over the full course of the fishing day will be colossal and that will increase your chances of success significantly. The other vital component for success on the bigger Scottish river where spin fishing is allowed is to always fish with a tight initial clutch setting in order to give the best chance of an effective hook set when a salmon takes the lure. Once a salmon has been hooked properly then loosen the clutch off a little bit (180 degrees) to play the fish. Too slack an initial clutch setting accounts for the unnnecessary loss of thousands of salmon in Scotland each year so always start with a tightish clutch setting where only a strong pull will give line as that will set the hook properly when the weight of the salmon is felt for the first time as long as a suffient bend is applied to your spinning rod at that moment.

River Spey Salmon Fishing

The globally famous River Spey is the home of the traditional Spey cast and is Scotland's fastest flowing salmon river. The Spey fishes from the 11th of February through to the 30th of September each year and offers prolific sport in the Grantown to Aberlour areas during late Spring and early Summer as does the lower river near Fochabers from July through to the end of the season. If you're a salmon fisher this is a fly fishing box that simply must be ticked at some point in your fishing career as the Spey is steeped in Scottish salmon fishing history as are many of the Spey Valley's renowned single malt whiskies. Follow this link for more details on River Spey guided salmon fishing .

A GUIDE TO SALMON FISHING IN SCOTLAND

With too many lochs and rivers to name, there are fewer places more peaceful, beautiful and inspiring than Scotland when it comes to a fishing vacation. For the seasoned angler, Scotland is a joy, not only for its soul-soothing scenery, but also because it’s one of the best Atlantic salmon fishing destinations in the world.

Our  Scottish castles and manor houses  can offer luxury for your next fishing trip. And for first timers, here is everything you need to know about salmon fishing in Scotland:

THE SALMON SEASON

There are many places to fish for salmon in Scotland and the months of the different rivers and lochs vary. The overall season begins around mid-February and closes around October or November. So salmon fishing is a sport that can be enjoyed almost all year round, bar the very cold winter months.

As an example, here are the four main rivers for salmon fishing and their relative seasons. These rivers are known as The Big Four, and they are the most popular places to fish for salmon and trout.

• River Tay – 15 th  January until 15 th  October

• River Dee – 1 st  February until 30 th  September

• River Spey – 11 th  February until 30 th  September

• River Tweed – 1 st  February until 30 th  November

WHERE TO FISH

When it comes to choosing a place to fish, you will be spoilt for choice in Scotland. Not only is there The Big Four, but there are wonderful fishing spots in every region.

CENTRAL SCOTLAND

Home to three of The Big Four (rivers Spey, Dee and Tay), this region is one of the most coveted fishing destinations in Europe. In addition to the big rivers, there are plenty of smaller, lesser known waterways to choose from and often these rivers are hugely productive in salmon. These are the Findhorn, Deveron, Earn and Teith which are east to Loch Lomond, plus River Awe and Orchy to the west.

THE ISLANDS

For the best island fishing, head to the Western Isle where summer and autumn fishing will be at its finest. The Isle of Mull and The Isle of Skye are the easiest to reach but if you want to go further afield, The Isle of Uist and The Isle of Harris are worth the trip. The main fishing on the islands can be found on the lochs, but there is also some superb river fishing.

Whilst rivers such as the Tweed and Tay further south offer vast amounts of space and boast serious size, the north is a little more understated. If you find The Big Four too daunting, you will love the intimacy and variety in the smaller streams up north. There are a couple of big rivers, such as the Conon and Beauly, and some more accessible rivers such as the Helmsdale, Thurso, Naver, Halladale, Dionard and Laxford.

There’s the River Tweed of course (where more than 15,000 salmon can be caught each year), but the south is also home to the River Nith and the River Annan, both of which are highly productive in salmon. There is also the River Stinchar which is one of the best Ayrshire salmon rivers and it has some excellent fly water. Others worth mentioning are Whiteadder, Bladnoch, Border Esk, Ettrick, Teviot, Cree, Girvan and Doon.

If you’d like to  visit Scotland  on a fishing vacation then do  get in touch with us  and we can start planning your perfect visit. You can see other  activities you could do on your vacation  here.

Annabel started out her working life in the youth development and adventure travel industry.  She planned and organised for many groups of school children to take part in expeditions to developing countries around the world.  In 2008, she started working for Loyd & Townsend Rose and is now responsible for the smooth running and development of the website and other marketing aspects of the company.

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L eave a  r eply.

Please will you tell me the 2023 dates for salmon fishing on the river Tilt in Perthshire.

Thank you in anticipation.

Roy Bassnett Trout Row Cottage, Brock, Lancashire, PR3 0GL.

Dear Roy, thank you for your comment. The season on the River Tilt is from April through to mid October however, the salmon are best from July to October. I hope that helps. Best wishes. Annabel

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Salmon Fishing in Near Edinburgh/ Glasgow

© Alba Game Fishing

River Tay at Scone Palace

Salmon Fishing Near Edinburgh and Glasgow

Guide salmon fishing trips near Edinburgh and Glasgow on various premium rivers. Spey Casting instruction/ fine tuning, Scott Mackenzie and Orvis Mission double hand rods, SGAIC guides and Orvis Endorsed. Transport incl.

If you are looking for a salmon fishing trip near Edinburgh or Glasgow, there are many rivers to choose from. We have a team of professional fly fishing guides who can help deliver a memorable experience.

We will provide the salmon fishing permits, transport, quality salmon fishing tackle , breathable Orvis waders, boots with tungsten studs, life vests and spare sunglasses. We have options such as cooked lunches, served in river side huts or pro-photography of the day.

Alba Game Fishing is an Orvis Endorsed outfitter, established in 2004 and we have access to some fantastic rivers, such as the Tay, Spey, Tweed, Teviot, Dee and Don as well as smaller rivers like the Whiteadder, Earn, Tummel and Teith.

Get in touch to help us understand the type of experience you are looking for and we can add accommodation in the best Scottish hotels , itinerary writing and add in non fishing (touring) activities. Transport is provided in luxury vehicles and we are fully insured as a tour operator and with Hire and Reward insurance for transportation of guests.

Price on Request

Departure days.

• W Wednesday

January — October

Contact details

• +44 (07734) 810706
• View tour details
• [email protected]

Key facilities

• Pets Welcome
• Disabled Parking

Tour information

• Edinburgh - City Centre
• Edinburgh Airport
• Glasgow Airport
• Glasgow City Centre
• Inverness Airport
• Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire
• Driver guide
• Small coach
• Small Group (1-16)

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Tour company information

Alba game fishing scotland ltd.

Established in 2004, Alba provides fishing trips and bespoke vacations throughout Scotland. A team of 20 pro fishing guides & casting instructors. This will help you source, where the best fishing spots are in Scotland and marry them with touring and other activities. We are fully insured as a tour operator and carry private hire insurance for transportation. We offer a luxury service complimented by stunning locations, gourmet lunches and accommodation, & photography. Our fish days are perfect for beginners or experts alike, we have private fishing venues throughout Scotland.

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 Guided Salmon Fishing Trip

Scotland is famous for the majestic Atlantic salmon and fly fishing for salmon in Scotland is on the bucket list of many. We offer guided salmon fishing trips in Scotland on a range of different rivers and locations, however the river Tay, Tweed and Spey are certainly three of the most famous rivers, when it comes to a salmon fishing in Scotland.

It will be of no surprise Spey casting, the double handed casting technique, takes its name from one of these rivers.  These mysterious fish don’t eat in returning back to fresh water, therefore there are numerous theories as to why a salmon would ever take a fly. The truth is, no one knows for sure, however when they do, you should be prepared for some reel screaming action from these hard fighting fish. The challenge, the fight and the fish themselves, is what keeps anglers hankering for more. If a guided salmon fishing holiday in Scotland sounds like an experience for you, enquire now and we can tailor your trip to suit.

Salmon Season

The typical Salmon fishing season in Scotland is early February to 31st October. However there are some rivers that start earlier than this and others finishing later. Just to note there is a rule in Scotland which doesn’t allow fishing for salmon or sea trout on a Sunday. (fisheries management scotland )

Sample Packages

1 day salmon fishing.

• Your guide will pick you up from your location and take you to venue.
• Tackle provided if required and tuition given to those less experienced.
• A full days guided fly fishing on the Salmon River with homemade Scottish Lunch provided.
• After the day we will then take you back to place of pickup.

Salmon Fishing - 3 nights /2 Days fishing

• Day 1 You will be picked up from the Airport and transferred to Accommodation.
• Depending upon arrival time this will allow you to explore the surrounding areas.
• Day 2/3 Your guide will pick you up from your accommodation after breakfast and you will then be taken to the River.
• For those less experienced, fly casting tuition will be given.
• A full days guided Salmon fishing with homemade Scottish lunch provided.
• You will then be driven back to your accommodation for Dinner.
• Day 4 You will be transferred back to Airport

2 Rivers - 5 nights/4 days fishing

• Day 2/3/4/5 Your guide will pick you up from your accommodation after breakfast and take you to the River.
• A full days guided salmon fishing with homemade Scottish lunch provided.
• Day 6 You will be transferred back to Airport

Combination Package

• If there are days where you would like to experience others types of fishing such Trout Fishing, Salmon Fishing and Grayling Fishing then this can be easily arranged.

Accommodation/Dining

Whether its a cabin, hotel or self catering cottage we have it covered. You may want to dine in the hotel or try other restaurants, cook for yourself or be cooked for in self catering accommodation, the choice is yours.

Combining Trips

Along with offering guided fly fishing trips for salmon, there are options of combining other types of fishing such as trout and grayling. In addition, if would like to take a break from casting, there are luxury experiences on offer. For example a tour of a whiskey distillery to taste the finer things in life. You may be an avid salmon angler, however fishing for another species for a day, can be a good way of experiencing whether it’s a pursuit for the future. Click to find out more.

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Salmon Fishing in Scotland – Advanced Tips and Techniques

Salmon fishing in Scotland has much to offer any angler. In this article I will describe in detail the techniques we use to target salmon throughout Scotland. 

Introduction

I have fished our Scottish waters for over 45 years and have been a professional Orvis Endorsed Guide for 16 years. I am the founder of Alba Game Fishing , Scotland’s foremost provider of fishing trips. We offer tailored trips for all species throughout Scotland. 

I decided in 2004 to quit the corporate world as CEO of a small software company in Edinburgh and swap my suit for a set of Tweeds and wellies. I pioneered the blend of fishing, photography and lunches all wrapped up in a premium service and we were the first company in Scotland to offer this. Since then we have fine tuned our offering, and constantly looked to improve both our venues, tackle and the team of guides and casting instructors we have. 

• Choosing the right river at the right time
• Preparation for the day
• Get into the right mindset
• Reading the river
• What fly lines to use, flies and sink rate tips to select?
• Techniques and how to fish the fly
• Playing and releasing a fish effectively
• Photography 

Choosing the Right River at the Right Time

You can never truly predict what time of year the productive fish catching days will be for each river, but you can certainly make an educated guess. First, you should study each river and how it fishes at different river levels. Then, you can marry that with fish catch returns and conditions, which will allow you to draw conclusions. This is an ever changing equation and needs constant monitoring. Your finger needs to be on the pulse.

I often get asked “how much is a day’s salmon fishing?” which is similar to the question… “how much is a ticket at Wimbledon?” Or “How much is a car?” At this point, this is where you have to start asking the following questions, to try and narrow it down.

Ask the Right Questions

Where will you be based (if your staying in Fort William don’t ask for a day trip on the Tay)

What is your budget? (A champagne beat on the Spey, doesn’t cost lager money)

What experience do you have of Spey casting? (Often none is the best – this way you don’t have to undo bad habits)

What is your main motivation for booking a trip? (Believe it or not, some guests want to focus on scenery, service and the all-round Scottish experience rather than a guaranteed catch)

A client called me in July and asked for a day on the Dee. I asked him where he was staying. He said Perth. I asked why the Dee, he said because a friend in the States said it was the best. I explained the Lower Tay would be a heck of a lot closer, and more productive in August (and less expensive)and steered him to the Scone Palace fishings at Fishponds. Luckily the day worked out, he caught and released a grilse of 6lb and a salmon of 13lb both on the fly. It doesn’t always work out like that, but it’s great when it does.

Preparation for the Day

My Dad was a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy and one of his motto’s was “ proper planning and preparation prevents piss poor performance .” This wisdom is embedded in my psyche. Starting a day ill-prepared often leads to failure and time spent planning is time seldom wasted.

I am obsessive about detail, and I like to spend time checking and preparing gear. It’s also trained into our team. I always have a well organized fly box, containing confidence patterns that are appropriate for the river you are targeting. The correct sink tip/ leaders, you wouldn’t want to arrive on the river Thurso in summer armed with only with 10ft/12ft poly leaders, when what you need are 5ft/6ft instead. Equally don’t turn up to the Tay with a 5ft leader for a 580grain line and a 15ft rod. 

Spare life vests and sunglasses are a must in case guests forget theirs (they always do). Check all hooks, clip off excess nylon. Freshen up leaders. Check the rod and reel for damage, have plenty of tackle to cover varying scenarios. 

We use a lot of tube flies on the Big 4 rivers, the Tay, Dee, Tweed and Spey. Tube flies, Collie dogs, Snaeldas and sun rays are a bit of a nightmare to store, they get damaged, tangled and lose their shape when they get bashed around in storage. 

I learned a beautiful tip from John Richardson, one of our fly Tyers. You’ll need a box of clear plastic straws, 8mm and a cheap heat sealing machine. The whole set up can be bought for under £30.00 and it’s a game changer. Importantly, when you take the flies out of the tube, they are in a perfect shape with no damage and they also dry out on the straws too.

The Salmon Fishing Mindset

Often guest focus on tackle, and techniques too heavily. Whilst these are vitally important, you can throw everything in the bin if you don’t turn up with the right mindset.

Salmon fishing can be a frustrating business, and it’s not recommended for the faint-hearted. “Persistence beats resistance,” I hear my Dad say. Never a truer word. 

I met a fellow angler on the river once, we’ll call him Bill. He had been to Farlows a few days before the trip, and splurged his credit card on the very best rod, reel, line and waders. Even his underpants were made by Patagonia (he told me). Everything on him looked brand spanking new. He charged into the water, like a buffalo sending shock wave out across the water. With a noise like that, every fish in the pool would have scattered. He then flailed away, thrashing the water into a foam, casting repeatedly in the same spots and clumping around the river bed with the finesse of an elephant. It was grim to watch, and we quietly went as far away from him as possible, making a mental note to avoid everywhere he had been.

When we arrived in the hut at lunch time, Buffalo Bill had ran out of steam. He sat in the hut, on his phone and trying to conduct business from the sanctuary and tranquility of the hut. It was everything we had all come to the river to escape from. The point is that it’s vital to treat fishing for wild salmon in a similar way to stalking a Stag. You have to move with stealth and with respect, and enjoy and the connection with your environment. You have to switch the devices off.  Disconnect to reconnect .

Relax and Focus

Your mindset should be like a hunter, relaxed and focused. It’s almost a zen like state, with pure focus and a clear head. I promise you, if you try this, you will catch more fish. It gives you confidence and that is a vital component when salmon fishing. More than everything, you must quietly believe that at any moment, each cast might catch a fish. You must stay true to this belief. For every cast that doesn’t catch a fish—and there will be many—just quietly shift focus on to the next cast. Stay focussed, stay positive and treat the salmon with the respect it deserves.

Reading The River

Now we are starting to get into the nitty gritty. Reading the river is so important and this helps you understand where the salmon lies are and at what river heights. I fish the River Teviot in winter for grayling and whilst this is one of my great passions, I am also using this time to work out where all the salmon lies are. The Teviot is also a great salmon river in it’s own right and sometimes a worthy alternative when the Tweed is unfishable. The salmon lies are easy to spot in gin clear water and you can spot the depressions in gravel behind boulders, the resting spots that still offer good oxygen and the deeper channels where fish might run and get protection from predators. 

I cannot stress enough the importance of gleaning knowledge from the resident ghillie. Treat these professionals with respect they deserve, and they will look after you too. Respect their knowledge, they live and breathe the river every day and they know where the fish get caught. A good ghillie will also understand where fish will be on differing river levels. Yes you can usually work this out if you’re a competent salmon angler, but there are always spots that will take you by surprise. The ghillie will know where they are. Equall,y if you have a guide who fishes a river regularly, he too will know the spots. With that said, you can be sure he’s also learnt some from his relationship with the ghillie.  

What lines, flies and Sink tips to select for salmon Rivers?

It can be confusing deciding what fly line to use on a salmon rod. And knowing the differences between Standard Spey, Skagit, Short Spey (Scandi), Spey and Shooting head lines can be a challenge.

Standard Spey Lines

When I learned to Spey cast all those years ago (1980″s) my tutor insisted on using a 65ft head Spey line. This is known as a Standard Spey line in Scotland. In fact, in the 1980’s we were still probably 15 or 20 years away from the advent of Scandi, Skagit and Shooting head lines. Learning on a 65ft head Spey line is a great way to learn the basics, and a great examiner of your technique. These lines also offer the best presentation and land with more delicacy than the shorter and more aggressive head scandi, and shooting head lines.

Short Spey Lines (Scandi) 

Spey Lines with a short head are sometimes referred to as Scandi Head lines, they have a shorter length head than a spey line. The weight of the head is to the rear of the line, for example 43ft in length (as opposed to 65ft) Scandi lines come integrated (better) and looped to a running line. The head as a longer more graduated taper and therefore better for presentation. However they are not ideal for throwing heavier sink tips, poly leaders leaders and heavy flies. They are also easier to cast than a standard spey and ideal for smaller flies.

Skagit heads  

These heads have a more aggressive taper and a lot more mass at the tip of the flyline. The Skagit head is ideal for heavier sink tips and Skagit Heads of varying sink rates can be attached loop to loop, (similar to polyleaders, but balanced to the Skagit Head) and large weighted flies.

In simple physics mass moves mass. Therefore, a heavier head Skagit will turn over a heavier tip and your fly with a lot more ease than a Short Spey Line. These are also easy to cast, and your guide can get you up and running safely and quickly for an enjoyable day on the river.

Shooting Head

This   is a short, denser section of fly line attached to a thin running (shooting) line offering minimal resistance and drag on the head in flight. Once you get the head outside the rod tip (get the right level of overhang), the heavier shooting head pulls the thinner running line through the guides. Choosing a running line can be as important as the head. Ideally pick a running line that is easy to handle and does not suffer from too much memory. 

Here are some benefits of a shooting head system:

• Quick loading, requiring minimal false casting.
• Effective in confined spaces or when back cast room is limited.
• They punch well through the wind.
• Like a Skagit, Shooting heads provide more mass, handling heavier or larger flies easily
• Basically a shooting head allows you to cast further, with less effort.
• Flexibility of loops to loop different heads quickly, without changing over spools or reels.

What flies and Sink Rate tips to use?

You will sometimes hear guides and ghillies say that fly presentation is more important than choice, and whilst this is true, it shouldn’t be ignored that fly choice can be the game changer. Let’s start by asking why a salmon takes a fly? After all, as soon as they enter freshwater they do not feed. So why would they feast on a bunch of thread and feathers? Here are a few reasons we’ve worked out:

A salmon has no hands, so if something interesting appears in front of it it might be tempted to ‘mouth’ the object out of curiosity.

Spawning fish are territorial and aggressive at times. A fly might just piss off the salmon enough to force it to grab the fly out of aggression.

Pavlov’s Conditioned Response

A salmon fly might resemble a food source that it fed on in the ocean, I.e. a sun ray (sand eel) and Shrimp pattern Red Francnsnaelda.

Nobody can explain this one. Your client completely flops a cast, the fly lands in a heap with the tippet like a bowl of spaghetti, the salmon takes the fly!?

Consider also which color flies work well in what water colors. If the water is peaty and dark brown like some of the West Coast spate rivers, then the patterns may differ from those for the clearer rivers. 

Versileaders/ Polyleaders

Selecting the right Versileaders, Sink Tips or poly leaders is as important as fly choice and presentation. If you’re not fishing the flies at the right level, you’re not in the game. These are essentially tapered leaders which are either coated with a tungsten material of varying densities, or a plasticised material for floating. A sink tip is generally a faster sinking tips, looped on to the end of a fly line.

Common sense applies to what tip to use with what rod and line. For example a # 8 weight Scandi line is going to struggle to cast the very heavy sink tips or Versileaders, and there will be some hinging on the cast stroke. This is because the Scandi head tapers and there is no mass at the end to move the heavier tip.

No one tippet is the best, as it depends on the tint of the water you are fishing and the topography of the river. In most cases I use Maxima as its tried and tested and has a degree of stretch/ elasticity, which in my opinion is better than fluorocarbon tippet which is brittle and more likely to snap under sudden strain. I use 15lb breaking strain for the bigger rivers (0.37mm diameter) and 10lb (.30mm) for the smaller spate waters. It comes in clear, Chameleon (brown) and Ultragreen. Fulling Mill also carries a copolymer that is good for the smaller rivers . Here are some scenarios to help understand the thought process into what tippet to choose.

Open Bankside with no trees, clear day light cloud cover and water running clear = Maxima Clear or Fulling Mill Copolymer.

Closed bankside surrounded by trees, water running peat colored = Maxima Chameleon 

Sunny day, clear water= Maxima Aquagreen 

What you are looking for is the line most invisible in the water and against the skyline. Be tactical, think it through and don’t be a one trick pony. 

Techniques to fishing a Salmon Pool

Now assuming you have all the aforementioned in place, you’re approaching a pool and are ready to go.

Approach the pool with caution and stealth, think very carefully about where the salmon lies are. Stay quiet and stealthy. You are stalking a wild beast that has made an incredible journey and is a miracle of nature, so show it the respect it deserves.

Go only deep enough to give you an anchor point for your spey cast. Avoid deep wading and disturbing fish. I see it all the time, anglers almost standing as deep as where the fish would run. If you can fish a pool from the bank without wading I would always recommend this. If you do need to wade, go slowly and easy, like you were sniper approaching a vantage point. Also never wade somewhere you can put your fly through first. 

Be your salmon fly

Imagine in your minds eye the fly swimming under the water. It’s vital that you are swinging the fly with control of the fly at all times, and that there are no bellies in the line nor drag. The fly should swing even and true and you should target the pool with precision and optimism. On occasions, a skated fly or a fly cast across the stream and ripped back quickly will work if fishing a sun ray or a hitched fly, but be aware of the technique you are fishing and the method you are using and stay in control.

After each cast, take a gentle step downstream and allow the fly to swing approx 3 ft below where it was before. Casting a fly repeatedly in the same spot will not convince the salmon to take the fly and this also allows you to cover more water and search out those “taking fish” 

Don’t strike

When good tactics induce a take, you have to discipline yourself to react in the correct way. This can be harder for trout fishers, as they are used to “Striking” when they feel a take. 

It can take a lot of investment in time and money to create the moment when a salmon takes. Don’t mess it up at this stage! Let the fish take, turn back to its lie and then set the hook properly with side pressure and a grip of the line on the handle or by holding the reel. Once you have hooked a fish like this, let the clutch take over and play the fish. You have a very good chance of landing it because the hook is set properly. 

Be tactical 

This includes being alert to how to land the fish. Adrenaline will be coursing through you, and senses are working overtime. Stay calm and focused and take as much time as the fish needs. It sounds silly to say this, but play the fish, don’t try and rush it into the net. Some fish come quickly, and others fight like demons. Its not often size related and some of my best fights have been smaller fish. When retrieving line back on the reel try to do so in a smooth efficient manner, pump the rod smoothly and retrieve on the way down. 

It pays to plan ahead and look for slacker water to land the fish. Side pressure is more effective than the rod raised to the sky, and this helps steer the fish to where you would aim to land it. When shallow gravel is nearby, netting a fish is impossible so beach the fish instead. If you have a bit of depth, net the fish, then keep it in the net under water while you compose yourself and unhook the fly and plan for a quick photo.

Photographing Fish

If you’re fishing catch and release, then you would want a good photo.  Photography  requires planning. So, ensure your camera settings are correct and in place before you cast a line. There’s nothing worse than fiddling around with your camera while the poor fish waits, and is put through more stress. 

Wrap your forefinger and thumb around the knuckle of the tail and avoid bending the tail against the body. This will put less strain on the tail muscles when you lift the fish up. Rather than gripping the tail you are simply forming a sold loop with your finger and thumb and avoiding squeezing too much. It’s worth also washing your hands in the river prior to handling, do this when the fish is resting in the net, it will help remove bacteria from your skin and transferring it to the fish.

All too often I see fish in November with skin disease and the areas of the fish impacted are where hands of anglers have been during grip and grin photos. Finally cup your hand gently under the belly of the fish and find the centre of gravity, again do not squeeze the belly of the fish, simple lift it up from the net and minimise the time out of the water. I can rattle off a few photos in a matter of seconds with good planning and then be looking to release the fish.

Releasing the fish

Finally, feeling elated and bursting with excitement, the final act of kindness and respect, is releasing the salmon back to its environment safely and without fuss. Using the same method of holding the fish you adopted for catch and release, hold the fish under water in the stream so that oxygenated water runs through its gills. Allow the fish time to recover. You’ll know when this is, and it varies depending on how long the fish was played out and how strong the fish is. When the fish is ready, it will kick to get away from you. Seeing these magnificent creatures swim safely back to their element is one of the most rewarding aspects of angling. Salmon are the King of fish.

So there you have it, front to back. The process of preparing for a day of Salmon fishing, which includes approaching the water and fishing a pool, catching and releasing. I hope 2021 presents many exciting salmon fishing opportunities for us all, and we can get out on the rivers again and enjoy freedom, open space, camaraderie and good sport. Tight lines and have a great season.

If you’re interested in learning more from Stewart, check out his last piece on salmon fishing for beginners . You can also visit his website here .

Stewart Collingswood

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Salmon fishing lessons in Scotland

Learn to fish for salmon on Scotland’s rivers

Highly experienced guides and SGAIC casting instructors

Courses held in locations throughout Scotland

Premium fly fishing and spin casting tackle, waders provided

Courses are ideal for beginners or intermediates looking to fine tune

Transport and lunches can be arranged

Description

Salmon fishing lessons – ideal for beginners

Firstly, salmon fishing lessons in Scotland can be held on many of our great salmon rivers. Firstly, you will learn the various techniques to cast a double hand spey rod. As a result you will learn the roll cast, single spey , double spey and circle-c cast. Moreover you’ll learn when and why to use these casts. Likewise, you’ll learn how to read the river and fish a pool. Lastly, you’ll learn to understand tackle and fly selection.

On the other hand, these courses are not complicated. In fact, they are jargon and fluff free and our instructors will not try to confuse and over complicate things. Accordingly, these courses are ideal for complete beginners. Furthermore, your instructors are highly experienced, having spent their whole lives fishing the rivers in Scotland for salmon . Some hold casting qualifications, whilst other represent the Scotland Team for river fishing.

Lastly, you’ll learn to understand the salmon behaviour during different fishing seasons. Finally learning techniques for different river heights.

Spey casting tuition and learn the art of spin casting

Likewise, we can teach how to spin cast for salmon. You’ll learn about the best tackle to use for salmon and what lures to use. In fact you can mix the day with fly fishing and spin casting lessons. Lastly, how to fish a pool and what type of water to target when spin casting.

Safety when fishing for salmon in Scotland’s rivers

Firstly, your course includes river safety. Therefore, you’ll learn how to wade safely. In addition what safety gear to wear. How to use a PFD and the importance of a wading stick. In addition why you should wear eye protection and a baseball hat.

In addition, we can arrange transport and organise river side lunches to enhance your day,

Furthermore, this is an immersive experience that connects anglers with nature and the rich Scottish fishing heritage.

Summary of Salmon fishing lessons

Learn the life cycle of the salmon and behaviour traits.

Understand the fishing tackle for spey casting and spin fishing.

Various Spey casting techniques.

Basic Spin cast techniques.

Learn about fly line choice and what depth to fish at.

Salmon flies and fly selection.

Understanding wind direction and why to use certain spey casts.

Learn river and wading safety.

How to prepare and dress properly for a day salmon fishing

Understand how to fish a pool and your tactics for success.

Learn river etiquette and how a day on the river works with other guests and the ghillie to consider.

Try to catch a salmon!

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