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Here's an upstream shot taken from the Upper Kinnaird salmon fishing hut looking towards the traditional Tay salmon fishing boat and water gauge. Look atn the perfect rainbow stretching across the sky on the far riverbank. This is a very popular salmon fishing holiday destination on the River Tay.
This Tay 'coble' boat was hand made by famous River Tay boatbuilder John Ferguson who's based in Stanley in the Tay Valley. These traditional salmon fishing boats serve many different fishing applications and are a pleasure to be out on the Tay in one for the day. This photograph of me in the boat with my fly rod & my labrador dog 'Selkie' was taken in the Cottar Pool on the Newtyle Beat of the River Tay by professional photographer Peter Sandground.
Spring salmon are the real prize in Scottish salmon fishing due to their perfect physical condition and powerful fighting qualities. The river Tay, Tweed, Dee & Spey all have a run of these special creatures between March & June so if you're planning a salmon fishing trip to Scotland try to make it while these Spring salmon are in the river. This perfect example of a Spring salmon was caught by one of our River Tay salmon fishing guide team members.
Here's a lovely Tay Spring salmon that fell for the deadly Jock's Shrimp tube fly near the River Tummel mouth where it enters the River Tay. Fly fishing in Scotland is great fun and is highly satisfying when salmon are outsmarted. This fine salmon took the Jock's Shrimp salmon which you can see in the photograph.
Here's a shot of myself while serving as a professional River Tay salmon fishing guide with my black labrador dog 'Selkie' out in the Cottar Pool of the Newtyle Beat near Dunkeld. This shot was taken by professional Scottish photographer Peter Sandground for the Glasgow Herald Magazine.

Salmon Fishing Agents

By 11th April 2019

In any form of business if there's no competition things tend to get stale and boring and the salmon fishing game is no different as for over a decade presentation levels have sadly not moved forward.

I personally believe this has seriously hurt this industry so now should be the time that all salmon fishing providers should raise their presentation game as we are indeed in a service orientated business.

Here's a shot of myself while serving as a professional River Tay salmon fishing guide with my black labrador dog 'Selkie' out in the Cottar Pool of the Newtyle Beat near Dunkeld. This shot was taken by professional Scottish photographer Peter Sandground for the Glasgow Herald Magazine.

Take Professional Salmon Fishing Advice

When you're selling Scottish salmon fishing access it's got less to do with actual 'catch statistics' than you may think. The salmon rivers of Scotland are the most beautiful natural arenas and it's their immense beauty coupled with the hypnotic flows of the river and the escape from work duties that are the biggest attraction for most salmon anglers. These days however it appears that every angler is completely dependent on seeing catches prior to booking a salmon fishing permit and if no anglers are fishing then guess what!

Here's a lovely Tay Spring salmon that fell for the deadly Jock's Shrimp tube fly near the River Tummel mouth where it enters the River Tay. Fly fishing in Scotland is great fun and is highly satisfying when salmon are outsmarted. This fine salmon took the Jock's Shrimp salmon which you can see in the photograph.

Salmon Are Unpredictable 

Salmon have always been unpredictable and that's never going to change nor would I ever want it to. What then do you have to sell if you cannot guarantee a fish to a client (which you cannot) and there you have the answer. The possibility of a salmon is all the salmon angler needs to know regardless of how many fish have been caught and how many anglers are fishing for them. You simply cannot beat that feeling of having a chance nor eventually finding yourself in the right place at the right time as your lure or fly swings in front of a fish that wants to befriend it.

Spring salmon are the real prize in Scottish salmon fishing due to their perfect physical condition and powerful fighting qualities. The river Tay, Tweed, Dee & Spey all have a run of these special creatures between March & June so if you're planning a salmon fishing trip to Scotland try to make it while these Spring salmon are in the river. This perfect example of a Spring salmon was caught by one of our River Tay salmon fishing guide team members.

Salmon Operate On Their Own Agenda

Salmon do not understand our numbered weeks or statistical charts nor thankfully even the aerial elegance of the Spey cast when delivered correctly to the river. For them most of the time it's a reactionary response coupled with a desire to possess or investigate a moving fly or lure that will deter the outcome of your fishing day. This is the beauty and fascination of Scottish salmon fishing and if it were too easy to catch these fine creatures then where would the challenge be. It takes skill to catch the 'King of Fish' along with persistency & consistency of effort and long may that continue to be the case.

This Tay 'coble' boat was hand made by famous River Tay boatbuilder John Ferguson who's based in Stanley in the Tay Valley. These traditional salmon fishing boats serve many different fishing applications and are a pleasure to be out on the Tay in one for the day. This photograph of me in the boat with my fly rod & my labrador dog 'Selkie' was taken in the Cottar Pool on the Newtyle Beat of the River Tay by professional photographer Peter Sandground.

Professional Salmon Fishing Agent

I'm glad to be the forerunner in the revamp of how Scottish salmon fishing should be presented and I hope other agents will lift their game to the same level for the general well being of this amazing pursuit. Scotland is fortunate to have so many beautiful salmon fishing venues and it's about time the entire global salmon fishing community got to properly see them through the power and reach of the world wide web. If you're a Scottish salmon fishing agent get yourself into gear and get rid of any shabby internet presentation or slow to down load websites and start showing the Scottish salmon rivers and the brilliant career professionals who staff and promote these rivers some proper and genuine marketing respect.

 

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This perfectly timed photograph was taken by professional photographer Louise Bellin on the Kinnaird Beat of the River Tay at the famous Junction Pool which is directly where the River Tummel enters the Tay. Jock, dressed in traditional Tweeds and waders holds his fishing rod, demonstrating the perfect Spey cast required in this salmon fishing hot spot for maximum water coverage of the lovely Tay salmon pool.

Fine Tune Your Speycast

Jock Monteith

14th August 2026

The vast majority of Scottish Speycasters tend to cast like 'racehorses with blinkers on' with their heads only aligned to the target area and not to the crucial mid cast 'anchor point' which is vital for a perfectly timed power stroke delivery.
This perfect River Tay Springer was caught by myself on the 23rd of February from the Kinnaird salmon beat near Pitlochry. These early run Scottish salmon are perfect specimens and are guaranteed to get your heart racing. This fish was quickly returned and swam off strongly to continue its upstream migration to the upper reaches of the Tay. You can see the gold ABU Toby lure, Bruce & Walker Hexagraph spinning rod and Van Staal spinning reel used in the capture of this fine Spring run salmon.

Successful Salmon Spin Fishing

Jock Monteith

13th August 2026

Here's a few paragraphs on how to set a spinning lure hook based on practice not theory. Nothing beats professional time spent on a Scottish salmon river for observing the various aspects of this glorious pursuit.
This is the Steps Pool on the Newtyle Beat of the River Tay and I've drawn the optimal wade line in red which allows anglers to fish through the pool safely and effectively without spooking any salmon that may be present. I took this downstream shot while working as this guest's salmon fishing guide for the day.

Salmon Lie Approach

Jock Monteith

12th August 2026

Over the decades I've seen great opportunities for an easy 'early day' salmon completely blown by anglers who put on waders that go up to their chests and think they have to do the same while wading in the river!
Here's Jock Monteith amidst a Spey casting lesson on the River Tay under the historic Telford Bridge demonstrating perfect D Loop loading with the single Spey cast. The traditional Spey cast is the most effective and satisfying casts. This photo was taken by local Dunkeld photographer Charlie MacDonald. Jock is wearing his Graham of Menteith tartan kilt while demonstrating Spey cast with his 15ft Monteith salmon fly rod.

The Spey Cast Swing

Jock Monteith

11th August 2026

Understanding the value of a correct 'logical' line lift at the beginning of the Spey cast is crucial for negating the cast crippling 'water resistance' experienced by an incorrect line lift. Today I'll elaborate on what maintains this 'ease and smoothness' of cast through the middle section of the cast known as the 'swing' which is crucial for adequate rod loading in the D Loop.
I designed this deadly salmon fly pattern 20 years ago while working as the Head Ghillie and salmon fishing instructor on the River Tay's Newtyle Beat. Here's the exact dressing before anyone asks; Hook: 1

Salmon Fly Selection

Jock Monteith

10th August 2026

There's been millions of words written on this fascinating subject over the decades by many serious salmon fishers who all have their own take on what the best patterns are. At the end of the day it boils down to faith as we will never truly get permanently inside a salmon's mind.
This guest was fishing with me on the River Tay near Dunkeld. This pool tail is a renowned hot spot for running salmon so I waded out to this fishing position to make it easier to fish the main salmon lie between the fisher and the far riverbank. Directly in front of the big tree that you can see on the opposite riverbank is the main salmon lie hot spot.

Important Riverbank Etiquette

Jock Monteith

9th August 2026

For the daily operation of any salmon beat to run smoothly it is important that all fishing guests read & understand the beat rules which are there primarily for safety reasons and to ensure the enjoyment of all paying guests.
Here's myself with a fine Spring salmon in the landing net immediately prior to its release. A good landing net with fish friendly mesh is an essential piece of salmon fishing equipment. I caught this fine salmon at the Daffodil Lie Pool on the beautiful Kinnaird Beat of the River Tay in Highland Perthshire.

Spin Fishing For Tay Salmon

Jock Monteith

8th August 2026

If your effective hooking rate with a spinner on the River Tay isn't close to 100% then there's a few different angles of thought to consider the next time you're out slinging cutlery across Scotland's biggest & deepest salmon river.
Here's the bow section of a hand built River Tay 16ft salmon fishing 'coble' boat with a Brady fishing back and Bruce & Walker salmon Spey rod fitted with a Van Staal salmon fly reel. Professional salmon guides in Scotland take their personal salmon fishing equipment seriously too!

Salmon Beat Ghillies

Jock Monteith

7th August 2026

Having served my time as a professional ghillie on the River Tay the next few paragraphs highlight a few of the finer points that I personally believe that makes a resident professional salmon beat ghillie stand out from the crowd.
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