I sited this bench in this perfect elevated riverbank position after pulling it out of an upstream tree following a big January flood on the River Tay. This current position allows any occupier to have direct site of the upstream & downstream River Tay and also right up the River Tummel which is directly opposite the bench. This bench is a great resting location for Tay salmon fishing guides and guests and is sensibly positioned above the high water line.

Here's professional salmon fishing guide Steve McIrvine holding a perfect heavyweight Spring salmon of 35lbs which he caught during the month of February when he was the Head Ghillie on the Glendelvine Beat of the River Tay near the Perthshire village of Murthly. Steve is now one of the Ballathie Beat professional ghillies near Stanley.

This perfect 27lbs Tay Springer took me by surprise at the Kinnaird Beat's Rock Pool during a high water period at the end of May while I was working as a professional salmon fishing guide. What a absolutely perfect fish which showed up at 5pm after a full day of salmon fishing effort. You can see the size of this fish against the 32 inch frame of the salmon landing net the salmon is lying on before I released this fine fish.

This young man landed 2 almost identical heavyweight Spring salmon during late March on the River Tay. He achieved this after a 30 minute crash course on how to use a double handed salmon rod on the Ash Tree Pool of the River Tay near Pitlochry. This was the 2nd Spring salmon he caught so I took this shot of him and his father while accompanying them as their personal salmon fishing guide. What a memorable morning that was!

Here's a lady salmon fishing guest Mrs Caplin with a perfect March caught River Tay salmon of 23lbs which was caught upstream of the Dunkeld Bridge with the assistance of her professional salmon guide. This fish was caught on a cold wet Spring day but that didn't matter due to the accomplishment and excitement of the capture of this perfect Tay specimen.

A Seat Beside The River Tay

By Jock Monteith 26th April 2026

There's no better place to be in the world than overlooking one of Scotland's finest salmon rivers if an infusion of 'natural & spiritual' brilliance is what you seek.

Don't take the Scottish salmon rivers for granted and think think deeper about their magnificent prowess whether you've a fishing rod in your hands or not.

This zoomed in shot was taken by me from the Rock Pool on Upper Kinnaird looking downstream to a party of 2 fishers accompanied by their professional salmon guide the moment a perfect 12lbs Spring salmon was landed which is barely visible in the landing net in this shot. The River Tay is a great Scottish salmon river even in low bright water conditions and this guest went on to land another salmon of similar size moments after this fine river shot was captured.

Salmon Fishing Is Good For Your Soul

I once recall giving an interview to BBC Radio Scotland when asked 'what do you think the main attractions are in Scottish salmon fishing' to which I replied 'river therapy' and that if the NHS doctors could prescribe a day's salmon fishing the chemists would be in serious commercial trouble. The reporter thought that was a particularly interesting evaluation! There's more to salmon fishing than looking for that adrenalin rush that contact with one of Neptune's finest brings. The calming effect of the flow of the water and the river environment itself are highly therapeutic too which are huge factors that make up the attraction of this sport.

The Best Seat On The River Tay

The above shot was taken on the Upper Kinnaird salmon fishing beat 'March Pool' where I installed the bench you see up on this perfect elevated high bank. Over the decades I've put in a few different benches in strategically positioned locations on the Tay but this one is my absolute favourites as it overlooks a serious Spring salmon 'hot spot' at the very pool where the River Tummel enters the Tay. Personally I could sit on this bench all day watching the river with no need for a cast and especially on this fine pool as it has a view up and down the Tay and up the Tummel with the added probability of seeing a fish or two show or even one being caught on this popular Kinnaird Beat hot spot.

Early Spring River Tay Salmon Guide Potential

From a commercial point of view I strongly believe that River Tay salmon fishing is undersold through the early Spring months of the season. I've mentioned often in these articles that there's fantastic specimen salmon in the River Tay during the early Spring months with very few salmon fishers out having a cast for them. Most seasons salmon up to 30 lbs or sometimes heavier are caught at this under appreciated time of the River Tay salmon fishing season. The problem is that many anglers are completely unaware of the presence of these perfect Loch Tay bound early Spring heavyweights and often lack the confidence and faith levels required (or the correct mindset and fishing tactics) to be in with a good chance of connecting with one and especially if you're under the guidance of an experienced River Tay salmon fishing guide who knows exactly the type of water where big salmon are likely to be found.

Big Spring Salmon In The River Tay

These perfect heavyweight early Spring salmon that are normally caught on the middle Tay would have gone to sea as juveniles and fed together before heading back to the Tay. Often when one big fish like that is landed another one of similar proportions is not too far away and if you can understand this basic principle and go straight back through the same salmon lie soon thereafter a 'double' is always a possibility. So if you're fortunate to hook and land one don't let the celebrations continue for too long and retrace your steps and go over the salmon salmon lie again would be my professional advice.

I can vividly recall the amazing thrill of landing this perfect fish during late May on the River Tay near Pitlochry in Highland Perthshire. Spring salmon in Scotland are always in perfect condition like you see here as this salmon lay beside my salmon fly rod and reel in the landing net before I released it back to the river.

Low Rod Pressure Stats Are Denying You Salmon

Next time you're out on the Tay or any other Scottish salmon river ask yourself how dreadfully boring life would be without a salmon river in your life. Also ask yourself what do you really think the score sheets would look like if the same angling pressure was applied to January, February & March as the Tay receives in April & May each year. It's very clear in our business that few understand 'perceived value' and that how under pricing can do more damage to a river than even a poor internet profile or naive 'catch stats' based marketing where there's never a 'consistent' measuring gauge. A classic 'chicken & egg' scenario if there ever was one. Success in salmon fishing should be a personal challenge between you and the river and with proper guidance or enough time spent on the riverbanks there's never a fishing day where you shouldn't feel that you're in with a chance of success. The positive vibe that low key underlying confidence brings is also definitely an attractant for wild Atlantic salmon!