Here's a few of my professional salmon guide friends from the famous Ballathie Beat of The River Tay near Stanley. The man with the green jumper is Geordie McInnes would I first met on the Tay back in the 70's on the Newtyle Beat. Geordie went on to be a famous Tay ghillie and before he retired a few years ago he was one of the Ballathie Beat ghillies.

Here's Jock Monteith photographed with his black labrador dog 'Selkie' in the Cottar Pool of the Newtyle Beat during late Spring. This shot was taken by professional Scottish photographer Peter Sandground while Jock was in his tweed jacket and traditional River Tay salmon fishing boat near Dunkeld. You can almost make out the bluebells on the grassy slopes in the background.

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.

Here's a picture of River Tay professional salmon fishing ghillie legend Willie Laird in a pondering pose beside the river. Willie was a career ghillie and boatman on the Tay for 50+ years before his retirement in 1986. Willie was the Head Ghillie on the Tay's Newtyle Beat near Dunkeld for all of his adult life.

Here's 3 River Tay salmon fishing professional ghillie legends. Willie 'the ghillie' Laird, Ian Redford & Calum Gillies were 3 of the most renowned salmon fishing men in the 70's on the Tay. This was a 15th of January opening day picture taken at lunchtime in front of the Newtyle Beat fishing hut in Birnam.

Here's a picture of River Tay legendary salmon guide Willie Laird with a perfect February caught 42lbs Spring salmon and happy student fishing guest! Willie was a career ghillie on the Tay for 50+ years before his retirement in 1986. Willie was the Head Ghillie on the Tay's Newtyle Beat near Dunkeld.

Ambassadors Of The River Tay

By Jock Monteith 14th February 2018

Life is an ever evolving process where we all initially make our decisions based on the information we receive so ultimately you're relying on the accuracy of that information to make these vital career decisions.

Here's a few of my own personal observations & thoughts over the decades as I approach my 53rd year.

Here's a picture of River Tay salmon guide legend Willie Laird out in the boat on the river. Willie was a career ghillie on the Tay for 50+ years before his retirement in 1986. Willie was the Head Ghillie on the Tay's Newtyle Beat near Dunkeld which is still a very popular Tay salmon fishing beat.

The River Lifestyle Of A King

As a youngster I watched my entrepreneurial father commercially batter himself to death with massive payroll responsibilities to meet every Friday afternoon while most of his exceptionally wealthy building trade clients sat on the vast amounts of money that were always way overdue to him. I compared that to the life my late colleague Willie Laird was concurrently enjoying on the Tay as a professional & highly respected ghillie and it was a one horse race!

Here's Jock Monteith powering upstream in a traditional larch built River Tay salmon fishing 'coble' boat at the confluence of the River Tay & River Tummel during the month of May. Jock has his cold weather clothing on and Tweed cap in addition to his life jacket which is essential for all boat or riverbank duties.

Modern Day Society Illusions

On a personal basis being around the River Tay for a big part of my life opened my mind as to why on earth anyone would want to spend their entire life 'trapped' in an office environment or ultimately owned by the Rothschild banking cartel via life term loans on money that never truly existed. True wealth in my opinion is derived from having your health 100% intact & your God given right to be a 'free spirit' while you're on this planet. From what I can see big traps have been set up in society and Governments view us as nothing more than exploitable revenue generating commodities while they continue their games of deception.

Here's professional Scottish salmon guide Jock Monteith our delivering a long fly fishing line across the River Tay near Dunkeld wearing a traditional heavyweight Tweed jacket that hand been handmade by Haggarts of Aberfeldy.

River Tay Ghillie School

The real men of the River Tay you'll bond with for life as these men are still and always have been in a true league of their own. I recall walking into a middle Tay fishing hut as a 5 year old in 1970 in complete 'observation' mode and met three of these 'special' men and one of them George McInnes is still fully operational today on the Ballathie beat of the Tay displaying his 'magical' abilities in hosting fishing guests and producing salmon even when the going is tough. Personally I think the Tay District Salmon Fishery Board should set up a Tay Ghillie School for those in need of 'fine tuning' and appoint big Geordie as the Head Master!

Real Wealth On A Salmon River

Willie Laird in my opinion was a 'billionaire' in 'life style' and he didn't own a house, a car or even a bank account. As a youngster I used to send him a Christmas card and a birthday card on the 16th of March which I never forgot as it was one day after my own. I always addressed his cards to 'Sir William Laird', Ladywell Cottage, Birnam, as respect for his brilliant life purpose and the integrity and absolute professionalism he delivered to thousands of River Tay salmon fishers throughout his 50 years of professional river life.