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This fine shot of professional Scottish salmon guide Jock was taken in the Cottar Pool of the River Tay near Dunkeld and was taken by professional Glasgow based photographer Peter Sandground for the Glasgow Herald Magazine. Jock's black labrador is sitting in the bow of the boat.
A lovely elevated photo of a salmon fishing trip angler in wading gear in the river Tweed next to a long shingle bank. This lovely shot was taken in mid Summer near Galashiels where we host many River Tweed salmon fishing holiday guests. Our Tweed salmon fishing guides always bring clients to quality salmon water like this which the beautiful River Tweed has an abundance of.
Here's some hand carved oak signs that were made for the Kinnaird Beat salmon fishers for easy salmon fishing pool identification. This type of professional salmon beat management doesn't go unnoticed by visiting salmon fishers and is just one small detail for getting you salmon beat in perfect presentation order.
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.
When you hook a salmon it's important to know how to play the fish properly to gain control of proceedings. This perfect Spring salmon was caught on the middle area of the Tay during early June and is typical of the quality of fish found in the Scottish rivers at that time. The fly in this salmon's mouth is the deadly Jock's Shrimp salmon fly pattern.

Book Salmon Fishing

By 15th June 2019

When you're booking your Scottish salmon fishing support the guys that have gone that extra mile to 'select' & present the best salmon fishing venues in an 'informative & visual' manner for your benefit.

 Support also those who have played a part in professionally promoting Scottish salmon fishing over the decades via positive daily internet content and lifetime 'career' application on the rivers of Scotland.

Here's some hand carved oak signs that were made for the Kinnaird Beat salmon fishers for easy salmon fishing pool identification. This type of professional salmon beat management doesn't go unnoticed by visiting salmon fishers and is just one small detail for getting you salmon beat in perfect presentation order.

Salmon Beat Operational Standards

We are now heading into a 'new era' where salmon beats that have raised their operational standards to a level that will meet all salmon fishing guest's expectations will have the opportunity to be properly presented for the first time on a far wider internet marketing reach via this platform. All Scottish salmon beat permit rod sales are important news for any salmon beat or any community that's involved in the delivery of even one 'single rod single day' booking due to the positive economic 'knock on' effect of visiting salmon fishers. If you're going to act as an agent for Scottish salmon fishing be very sure you understand the importance and significance of your commercial stance. If you're a professional ghillie don't let the 'contagious' negativity of what the misinformed & highly dangerous media are consistently spewing about Scottish salmon stock declines put your head down and get yourself out there and show your fishing guests and the beat owners exactly how it's done as demonstrated perfectly this Spring on many Tay beats.

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.

Prior Head Ghillie Status

I've personally earned the right through blood, sweat & tears to represent any Scottish salmon beat that has an owner with a 'commercial pulse' who wishes to take 'full advantage' of my hard earned Google internet reach and absolute professionalism in corresponding with salmon fishing enquiries. Scottish salmon fishing has generally been undersold & grossly under presented up until this website's launch 2 years ago and this is sadly just a hard fact. Supporting this booking platform will encourage more quality salmon beats to participate and take full advantage of additional fishing revenue which also adds further to the growing selection of quality salmon fishing on offer.

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.

True Professional Fishing Advice

You wouldn't take a driving lesson from someone who couldn't drive so book through myself and open your door to top level personal professional advice on any aspect of salmon fishing. My adult life has been spent on the operational side of Scottish salmon fishing and I'm at 'expert' status in understanding salmon beat operational standards, Atlantic salmon & salmon fishing guests and what they expect from their important salmon fishing permit purchase.

A lovely elevated photo of a salmon fishing trip angler in wading gear in the river Tweed next to a long shingle bank. This lovely shot was taken in mid Summer near Galashiels where we host many River Tweed salmon fishing holiday guests. Our Tweed salmon fishing guides always bring clients to quality salmon water like this which the beautiful River Tweed has an abundance of.

The Number One Salmon Fishing Nation

As a nation Scotland should always be the very first thought that comes into any global salmon fisher's mind when considering a salmon fishing trip. We have over 400 rivers with excellent local licensed hotel accommodation options in each valley and a few logistically located international airports thrown into the blend making all salmon venues easily commutable. Now that I've stepped back from a career of full time river life and I'm now fully 'unleashed' in 'cyber space' I'll be driving my keyboard hard each day to give existing and potential Scottish salmon fishing guests a more informative and visual take on God's finest salmon fishing nation.

 

More Salmon Fishing Articles

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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