Another Big Tay Springer

Here's another big Tay Springer of 23lbs. All the salmon featured on this blog were carefully returned to the Tay. This big fish fought like a tiger in the Cottar Pool on Newtyle.

River Tay Springer

Here's a 24 lbs Tay Springer which was the second fish caught 2 seasons ago. This was mid February when there is always a fair chance of connecting with a big silver fellow like this one.

First Tay Springer

Here a peach of a Tay Springer of 16 lbs which was our first Tay fish of the year 2 seasons ago. This fine specimen was returned to the river as usual.

River Tay Spring Salmon

Not long to go now before we start seeing the most prized salmon of all entering the big Scottish rivers. This was a 20 pounder caught on Newtyle on the Tay which was returned moments after this perfect photo was taken These are the ones you never ever forget.

Drynachan Lodge Cawdor Estate

Here's Drynachan Lodge on the Cawdor Estate with the River Findhorn flowing through it. Drynachan is another true Scottish hunting & fishing gem. For more information Click here.

One For The Pot Catering

Here is Cara Richardson who is one of the very best fishing, shooting & event caterers in Scotland. She is a truly skilled professional who not only provides superb cuisine for her clients but adds a touch of class to all her catering events. For more information on Cara's professional services Click here.

River Thurso Estuary Caithness

Here's a video of the mouth of the River Thurso where thousands of salmon and seatrout pass through annually on their migration to their spawning grounds in the headwaters of the river. Many seals congregate here for obvious reasons !!

The Old Man Of Hoy

Here's the island of Hoy in the distance (Click photo to enlarge) and if you scan to the left of the island you'll see the famous Old Man of Hoy sticking up. This photo was taken from the mouth of the River Thurso today.

The Monteith Speycaster Sunk Line Multi Tip

For more information on this revolutionary sunk line multi tip Speyline Click here.

The Monteith Multi System Speyline

This is the most versatile and easily understandable Speyline in the world and with some stock still available what a great Christmas present it would make for any salmon fly fisher. For more infomation on this superb product Click here.

River Tay Dunkeld

Here's the Tay this afternoon looking upstream from Dunkeld Bridge. If you click on the photograph you should be able to spot the Dunkeld House boat which is out harling for hatchery broodstock collection purposes.

Salmon Fishing Scotland

Here's the mighty Tay running through Dunkeld today.

Ardanaiseig Hotel Loch Awe

This is a simply superb Scottish luxury hideaway on the banks of Loch Awe.

This is the boathouse !!!

The Famous Endrick Pike Head

This was a colossal pike that was found dead on the Endrick Bank in 1934. I read about this pike in the 70's when Fred buller wrote The Doomesday Book Of Mammoth Pike and it is now on display in the Art Galleries in Glasgow. Beside this pike's head is a full cast of another pike of around the 20 lbs mark. The head of the Endrick pike is at least 4 times larger and Buller himself conservatively estimated this beast to be in the 80 lbs bracket !!!!!

Ferry Cottage Kinnaird Beat River Tay

What a perfect setting for a self catering cottage on the banks of the River Tay on the famous Lower Kinnaird beat. Perfect accommodation coupled with high quality and professionally run salmon fly fishing water. What more could a salmon angler wish for !!!

Sand Martin On My Rod !!!

Strange things can happen to you when you're salmon fishing !!!! This sand martin landed on my rod and stayed there despite several attempts to shake it off. Eventually I dipped it's tail feathers in the river and it flew away to come back and land on my rod again 30 seconds later !!! If I hadn't been able to photograph this no one would have believed me !!

River Tay Dunkeld

What a beautiful day today is in Highland Perthshire. Now is the time to secure Spring fishing for next season while it's available.

The River Tay Dunkeld

Here's how the Tay is looking today. This is the Cathedral Stream on the Dunkeld House Beat.

The Trap Newtyle Beat River Tay

Here's a photograph of tail of 'The Trap' on Newtyle back in early September.

Schiehallion & Loch Rannoch

Here's a braw view of Schiehallion (click to enlarge) and Loch Rannoch yesterday where the River Tummel originates from. When you think that this is only one mere artery of the Tay system it gives you a feel for just how massive the Tay catchment really is.

Gleneagles Shooting School Perthshire

Here's a great friend of mine dusting every clay pigeon that moved at the Gleneagles shooting school in Auchterarder . This has got to be one of the finest clay pigeon shooting venues in Scotland, I've worked closely with the Gleneagles hotel on the salmon fishing side of things for several years and just love the place.

Spey Casting On The River Tay

Here's a long line being delivered at 'The Boil' on Newtyle back in October. Traditional Spey action rods and matching Spey tapered lines are well capable of delivering distance without losing the art form elegance which has been lost by the Scandinavian shooting head tackle systems and casting techniques which by comparison are simply ugly. For more information on proper quality British built Speycasting products Click here or to thoroughly and quickly learn how to use a traditionally actioned Spey rod Click here

Spey Casting Tuition Dunkeld

Here's the beautiful green bank in front of the Atholl Arms hotel that I use for Spey casting tuition. As you can see there's still plenty of water in the Tay this morning. For more information on my highly effective Speycasting tuition Click here.

Speycasting Jumeirah Beach Dubai

Here's some Speycasting action in Dubai from last Spring. Amazing that i didn't get arrested !!!!

That's the Burg Dubai tower in the background which is the world's tallest buiding.

Buchanty Spout River Almond Perthshire

Here's a raging torrent driving down through this famous Perthshire waterfall this morning.

River Tay Dunkeld Bridge

This is how the Tay should look and not surprizingly after all the recent heavy rainfall. This is a great time of year to book Spring & Summer fishing as most estate offices are opening their fishing diaries for bookings just now. For more information on my guiding & Speycasting services Click here.

Little Blackhall & Inchmarlo Beat River Dee

Big & clear falling water on the River Dee today. This is the 'Fawn Pool' on the Little Blackhall & Inchmarlo beat. For more information on this superb River Dee salmon beat Click here.

A Spirited Evening's Entertainment

This is how hospitality works up on Deeside !!! My liver thinks I've won the lottery !!!

To book a rod on the world's finest Spring salmon fishery Click here

The House Pool Park Beat River Dee

Here's another shot of seriously prime Scottish salmon fishing. This is Park which is absolutely 'died and gone to heaven' salmon fishing. This is a venue I'll be utilising often next season for obvious reasons.

The Doomseday Book Of Giant Salmon

If you've not already got this magnificent book now's the time to add it to your Christmas list. This is a serious look back in time to the size Atlantic salmon regularly used to grow to. To order a copy of this Click here.

Lower Kinnaird Beat Spey Casting

This should be what we are all looking forward to in the forthcoming season. This is the Ferry Stream on the fabulous Lower Kinnaird beat which in my opinion offers some of the very best fly fishing water the River Tay has to offer.

Park Beat River Dee

Here's my great pals Ken Reid (Dee District Salmon Fisherie Board PR Officer) and Chris Webster (TV Producer 'Tarus a Bhradain' salmon fishing series) up on the prolific Boat Pool on the Park Beat of the River Dee which is officially the worlds finest Spring salmon fishery.

The Monteith Logo

For more information on this unique Speycasting product range Click here.

River Thurso Caithness

Here's a video of the River Thurso at Westerdale Mill which is near Halkirk. This is an awesome wee Scottish river way up in the North. There are many great rivers up here like the Helmsdale, Halladale, Forss & Brora which are all fabulous and fish well for salmon & sea trout.

The Monteith Spey Casting Rod

This is the most perfectly actioned 15ft Spey casting rod and proud to also say that the blank and build are 100% British. For more information Click here.

Phenomenal Fish Stocks

In this day and age with mass interference by mankind in the delicate aquatic & marine environments of the planet, over-fishing & poor management of fisheries it is still good to see fish populations thrive of their own accord. Thankfully, our Atlantic salmon are no strangers to effective reproduction even though some of our species seem to think they can do a better job. The message here is simple - protect the environment of our fish and their baseline broodstock numbers and they will take care of the rest as they have been mysteriously doing since the ice age.

The Monteith Multi System Speyline

This is the most versatile Speyline in the world. It also casts and fishes like a dream too. For more information or to order one of these Click here.

Salmon Fish Scotland & One For The Pot

Imagine salmon fishing some of Scotland's finest fly fishing venues to be served at lunchtime with Scotland's finest riverbank cuisine. Here's myself with Cara Richardson proprietor of One For The Pot who is arguably one of Scotland's finest event caterers. Cara has agreed to bring her expertise into the fold for those salmon fishing clients who would like something more memorable served up on the riverbank at lunchtime.

Jock Monteith

This is the starting position for fishing 'The Boil' on Newtyle which has always been a great pool for the fly. I caught my first salmon here at the age of five nearly forty years ago.

Jock Cousteau !!!

The Monteith Speycaster Sunk Line Multi Tip

For more information on this superb & ground breaking sunk line solution Click here.

Jock Monteith & Jason Bird

Here's my pal Jason Bird & I smiling out loud moments after witnessing Jason's wife Sarah landing a topper of a 20 lbs salmon at 'The Boil' pool on Newtyle on the 12th of October this year. Track back to this date on this blogs archives to see the fight footage & banter !!! Another remarkable success on Sarah's very first day ever salmon fishing.

Annandale Estates Beat River Annan

Here's some good Speycasting technique being displayed on the River Annan this morning. The rising river knackered any chance of a fish by mid-day but great to see more students of this artistic Scottish cast graduating through the ranks.

River Tummel Pitlochry Perthshire

Here's big water on the River Tummel today which makes this Tay headwater look awesome.

River Tay Cathedral Stream Dunkeld

The Tay is rising quickly today following a night of heavy rainfall which still doesn't appear to be letting up. In actual fact today it is wetter than a big bag of wet things !!!

Speycasting Tuition Dunkeld

The closed season can be a good time to brush up on your Speycasting technique. I am still available to give lessons to anyone wishing to brush up on this Scottish artform cast. For more information Click here.

The Copper Bodied Cascade Salmon Fly

Here's what I've personally found to be one of the most successful & consistent taking salmon flies which has worked very well for me over the years.

18 Pounder Released

With 'Catch & Release' high on the agenda in recent seasons here's one catch I won't forget even though it didn't put up too much of a fight !!!!

Cathedral Stream Dunkeld House River Tay

Here's the Cathedral Stream on the Tay's Dunkeld House beat looking braw today. Pity the season is closed and i'd bet there's a few sea-licers hanging around here just now.

The River Tay Today

Here's the Tay from the Newtyle fishing hut today.

River Tay Today

Big water in the Tay today following the recent heavy rainfall.

Loch Alvie Pike Fishing Hot Spot

Here's a panoramic video of how this perfect Scottish pike loch was looking today.

Loch Alvie Pike Fishing

Several pike were taken quickly this morning including these 2 jacks which were on at the same time. Pike up to 35 lbs have been taken here in Loch Alvie recently !!!

The Bogoch Kinrara Estate Strathspey

This is 'The Bogoch' which is the most spectacular place to take a punt out through the rushes for a go at old Essox Lucious who thrives in this environment. Click on the photograph to enlarge for a closer look at this wonderful place.

Gaick Estate & Shooting Lodge

This has got to be some of the most breathtaking scenery in Scotland. This is Gaick Estate which is owned by the Louis Vuitton empire and is a superb deer shooting venue.

The River Tay Salmon Fishing Season

Here's a photograph from January the 15th 2006 when we took a strong stance against this traditional (& ridiculous) opening day on the Tay. Both STV & the BBC appeared at the Newtyle fishing hut to cover the story for the lunchtime & evening news. Given the amount of unspawned salmon in the main stem of the Tay at this time of year these days (especially after a mild Winter) coupled with the large number of kelts (predominantly precious Spring salmon kelts) it is a crime against the Tay (given her present state of affairs) that anglers are allowed anywhere near the river until mid February or even March. Finding a true Spring salmon in the Tay mid January these days is a very rare occurance and many anglers come to the Tay for the so called sport of catching unseasonable salmon which technically should be illegal. Sadly this ridiculous practise has not been addressed by our fishery management who are far too concerned in my opinion in pleasing the minority of fat cats and not focussing on the true welfare of the river they have self-tasked themselves with looking after. I wonder what part this ridiculous practice and it's cumulative effect has had on the Tay in decimating salmon stocks especially over the last few decades ?

The Newtyle Wishing Well

The Monteith Speycaster Sunk Line Multi Tip

Here's this brand new product on a successful field trial. This type of sunk line versatility from a single Speyline has never been conceived before. This revolutionary sunk line solution knocks the spots of all other sunk line Speylines for that reason and all ugly flying shooting head systems on price, fishing & casting performance. With the back end now here this product is a must for the sunk line salmon fisher. For more information or to order this unique product Click here.

Rainbow Trout Fishing In Glendevon

It was cold & damp this morning but still some enjoyment was achieved by 6 Belgian holidaymakers who wished to learn how to fly fish.

The Hermitage River Braan Dunkeld

Here's the River Braan at it lowest coming over the Hermitage waterfall this morning. I'll post you a comparable video of this same scene when it's in full spate in the not too distant future.

The Monteith Speycaster Sunk Line Multi Tip

This revolutionary sunk line solution knocks the spots of all other sunk line Speylines and all shooting head systems on price and fishing & casting performance. With the back end now here this product is a must for the sunk line salmon fisher. For more information or to order this unique product Click here.

Dunkeld On The Tay

What a brilliant sight for any ghillie who's in love with the Tay.

Spey Casting River Tay

Here's the 'Boil Stone' getting a tickle off the left bank.

Newtyle Beat River Tay

Here's a panoramic view of The Trap on Newtyle this morning. Note the awesome Autumn colours on the Beech and Oak tree lined terrace on the right bank and the early morning mist.

French Television On The Tay

Here's my good friend Vincent Brigode with his colleagues from the French Canal Plus TV who are here in Scotland to cover some of Scotland's finest country pursuits.

Salmon Fight Action 1

Big Tay fish on.

Fight Action 2

Fight Action 3

Still ploughing away.

20 lbs Salmon Landed

Here's Sarah Bird with a perfect big Tay hen salmon this afternoon which took a black 'flying C' at 'The Boil' on Newtyle. What a great start to Sarah's salmon fishing career especially on her first day salmon fishing. For more information on my guiding service Click here.

Salmon Released Newtyle Beat River Tay

Here's Sarah's big Tay hen fish regaining her freedom at 'The Boil' this afternoon. Well done Sarah for setting a great example by releasing your first ever Tay salmon.

Newtyle Beat Spey Casting

Here's Sarah Bird learning the Speycast at 'The Boil' on Newtyle this afternoon. Little did she know what was about to happen on her first ever day salmon fishing !!!

Speycasting Newtyle Beat River Tay

Here's Jason Bird 8 minutes into a Spey casting lesson this morning on the Newtyle Beat. Well done Jason.

River Kinglass Argyll

Here's the waterfall at the dam on the River Kinglass which flows through the Ardkinglas Estate in Cairndow. I remember hooking a 12lbs sea trout in the fish ladder here at the age of 10 which duly turned heel and rocketed down the ladder, out of the pool and downstream 100 yards before being landed by the ghillie. In those days the Kinglass was full of seatrout & salmon.

River Tay Today

Selkie Monteith

What a fine dog this guy is.

Dunkeld House Beat Fishing Hut

Here's the most beautiful new fishing hut on the banks of the Tay on the Dunkeld House beat. Full marks to proprietors Simon Furniss, Jim Ferrie and Iain Kirk (Head Ghillie) for their fine initiative which clearly enhances the client experience over and above the good salmon fishing this beat offers. For more information or to book a rod on the Dunkeld House beat Click here.

Lower Kinnaird Beat River Tay

Here's Jim Tritton (Head Ghillie) and a client out harling the 'Ferry Stream' on Lower Kinnaird this afternoon. Just as I arrived they were landing a salmon that was hooked from the boat.

The Dutchess Pool Kinrara Beat River Spey

Although the Spey is closed now it's still a bonnie walk down it's riverbanks. Here's the Dutchess Pool on Kinrara this morning.