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.

Taymount Beat Speycasting

Here's brothers James & Simon Hart covering the river well this morning on the Taymount Beat of the Tay. What lovely flywater for Speycasting.

Spey Casting Dunkeld House Beat

Here's David Callow perfectly Speycasting his way down through the tricky 'Gauge Tree' pool on Dunkeld House this afternoon. Considering David only took his first Spey casting lesson this morning he did did an unbelievably good job. Very well done David.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Well I'm still looking for my pot of gold (other than my lifestyle !!!) and today on Newtyle in blustery conditions even a wee bit of silver certainly wouldn't have gone a miss either !!!
Anyway, just had to grab this shot and as it was pointing right into the boat. I did indeed lift the bough hatch just in case the big yin was giving me a hint !! Maybe I'll be Sir Lancelot of Camelot this evening which would certainly have an impact on the content of this blog !

Newtyle Beat Boat Work

The Tay was looking really good today but not a great deal of salmon hanging around although a few have certainly been scooting by.

Salmon Fishing Newtyle Beat

Here's a lively wee hen fish being played down at Willies Croy at the bottom end of the Newtyle Beat. This fish was hooked in the Ash Tree pool and walked upstream to be played in the slacker water behind the croy.

Newtyle Beat Salmon Landed

Here's Colin Pringle with his 9lbs hen fish which took a red flameflower fly in the Ash Tree pool late on this afternoon. Colin's fish was returned unharmed to the Tay. For more information on my guiding service Click here.