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Here's a bunch of daffodils that mark one of the main salmon lies at the Green Bank Pool of the Kinnaird Beat near Dunkeld. The old school professional ghillies of Scotland were astute enough to realise that their Spring salmon showed up each year as the daffodils were flowering so perfect for riverbank Spring salmon lie identification purposes.
When you see a big bunch of daffodils on any Scottish riverbank realise they are not there naturally and someone has planted them there for a reason. On a salmon river that reason will almost certainly be to mark one of the salmon beat's Spring salmon lies as you can clearly see here on the River Tay near Pitlochry. This salmon lie identification was common practise decades ago but largely forgotten these days like many other logical salmon beat management measures.
When you see a biggish bunch of daffodils on any Scottish riverbank realise they are not there naturally and someone has planted them there for a reason. On a salmon river that reason will almost certainly be to mark one of the salmon beat's Spring salmon lies as you can clearly see here on the River Tay near Pitlochry. Daffodils with a beautiful rainbow hovering overhead is a sign from our Salmon God there's a fish there in need of a fly!
Jock Monteith is a well known professional salmon fishing tour organiser in Scotland and leading professional salmon fishing guide. Jock is holding a perfect fresh run 14lbs Summer salmon in this shot at the Daffodil Lie Pool of the River Tay's Kinnaird Beat which he hooked after a few casts while testing out a salmon fishing trip client's new fly rod .
This is the neck of the Gean Tree Pool on the River Tay near the Perthshire village of Murthly. Look at the amazing carpet of daffodils that have been planted beside the boat mooring area. Often daffodils on the Scottish salmon rivers mark the Spring salmon lies for our salmon fishing holiday guests.
When you see a big bunch of daffodils on any Scottish riverbank realise they are not there naturally and someone has planted them there for a reason. On a salmon river that reason will almost certainly be to mark one of the salmon beat's Spring salmon lies as you can clearly see here on the River Tay near Pitlochry. These are the subtle observational markers that real professional salmon fishing guides will know and teach to new salmon fishers while being tutored.

Daffodil Salmon Lies

By 31st January 2026

If you're fishing a salmon beat during the Spring months and there's isn't a professional ghillie around to advise you where to pay particular attention look out for bunches of daffodils or snowdrops on the riverbanks and understand their probable significance.

When you see a biggish bunch of daffodils on any Scottish riverbank realise they are not there naturally and someone has planted them there for a reason. On a salmon river that reason will almost certainly be to mark one of the salmon beat's Spring salmon lies as you can clearly see here on the River Tay near Pitlochry. Daffodils with a beautiful rainbow hovering overhead is a sign from our Salmon God there's a fish there in need of a fly!

Salmon Fishing In Scotland

The old school salmon fishing guides & ghillies of Scotland were astute enough professionals to mark their main Spring salmon lies with bunches of snowdrops during the very early Spring when the snow & ice was present on the Scottish riverbanks and daffodils in the milder months of middle to late Spring. If you really think about that you'll fully tune in to just how professional these career men actually were and how considerate to give their guests that 'precise' Spring salmon lie insight whether they were personally present with their guests or not. There's much more to the observational and tactical side of salmon fishing in Scotland than most people think.

This is the neck of the Gean Tree Pool on the River Tay near the Perthshire village of Murthly. Look at the amazing carpet of daffodils that have been planted beside the boat mooring area. Often daffodils on the Scottish salmon rivers mark the Spring salmon lies for our salmon fishing holiday guests.

The Adjustable Salmon Lie Marker

The daffodil isn't regarded as a native species to Scotland as they were introduced from England & Wales but they are not regarded as an invasive species unlike other imported plant life that can take over the river environment and cause all sorts of ecological issues. As salmon lies can change and adjust in certain terrains of the river valleys a daffodil salmon lie 'marker' can easily be moved with a spade and a couple of pales if an adjustment needs to be made following a big flood where any salmon lie naturally alters.

 

Here's a bunch of daffodils that mark one of the main salmon lies at the Green Bank Pool of the Kinnaird Beat near Dunkeld. The old school professional ghillies of Scotland were astute enough to realise that their Spring salmon showed up each year as the daffodils were flowering so perfect for riverbank Spring salmon lie identification purposes.

The Old Ghillie Methods Worked Well

As Spring salmon fishing becomes more and more popular it would be beneficial for anglers to be given a few extra target areas on beats where there's not a full time ghillie or when the beat ghillie is booked in the boat or as a personal guide to another guest. As a professional ghillie I know fishing guests will pay far more attention to a 'blast of yellow' on the riverbank than the easily forgotten salmon fishing pool advice that's been issued that usually goes straight over their heads due to the excitement of being back on the river!

When you see a big bunch of daffodils on any Scottish riverbank realise they are not there naturally and someone has planted them there for a reason. On a salmon river that reason will almost certainly be to mark one of the salmon beat's Spring salmon lies as you can clearly see here on the River Tay near Pitlochry. These are the subtle observational markers that real professional salmon fishing guides will know and teach to new salmon fishers while being tutored.

Salmon River Pool Features

Most of our Scottish salmon pools have been named due to meaningful landmarks on the immediate riverbank area for example 'The Castle Pool' 'The Junction Pool' or 'The Oak Tree Pool' which is all fine and dandy but that extra level of pool knowledge for a visiting fisher who isn't completely aware of the Spring month hot spots within that pool would be an obvious and effective advantage. When you're on form with the fly and 50 yards away and closing from a bunch of riverbank daffodils let your hackles rise naturally in anticipation of that extra special subsurface hello!

 

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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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