The rising sun looks huge above the River Tay in this fine early morning shot which was taken near Pitlochry on the River Tay. The ripple in the mid section of on the sunbeam are the sub surface stones that form the Daffodil Lie on the Kinnaird salmon Beat. As a professional salmon fishing guide I always reach for my camera when I see special light conditions like this.

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.

I caught this superb 42inch Tay salmon which took a size 9 salmon fly in the Cottar Pool on the River Tay's Newtyle Beat during October. What an amazing battle this fish put up before I could steer it to the landing net. Book a professional River Tay salmon fishing guide to assist you to connect with specimen River Tay salmon like this.

Here's Scottish salmon guide Jock Monteith showing a group of Canadian salmon fishing holiday guests how best to tie on a salmon fly. Much salmon fishing technical information is delivered to the fishing guests on a guided salmon fishing day including Spey casting lessons, how to move effectively between each cast and how to set the hook when a salmon takes the fly.

This shot was taken by professional photographer Louise Bellin on the River Tay's Meetings Pool on the Kinnaird Beat while I was serving as the Upper Kinnaird Beat Head Ghillie. My landing net is over my shoulder in anticipation of a pluck on the salmon fly which often occurs in this perfect salmon pool.

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.

Fishing The River Tay

By Jock Monteith 28th May 2026

Of all of the Scottish salmon rivers the mighty River Tay is the most majestic and is renowned for often producing big fish.

It's normal on the Tay to connect with salmon in the 20 lbs class and on occasion much heavier fish than that are caught. The British rod caught record salmon of 64 lbs was caught on the Tay back in 1922 so its big fish reputation is nothing new.

Catching Scottish Salmon

Catching any salmon is a result on any river but personally I always like to know I'm playing a 'specimen salmon lottery ticket' in the hope that the next tug on the fly is from a fish that will show me who's boss throughout the ensuing battle. When you hook a big fish there's an 'out of control' feeling and nothing you can do but take your time in the hope you'll eventually get a chance to land it.

Playing A Big Powerful Salmon

The sheer power from a heavyweight River Tay salmon that's boring down deep and cruising about slowly under its own free will is a really magical part of the sport to my mind. You can be 20 or 30 minutes into the battle with a big fish before you get a brief look at it should it surface or allows you to temporarily steer it in close to the riverbank. Patience is very important in this situation so don't try to rush that first 'heart racing' peek preview as it'll happen soon enough.

The Thrill Of A Salmon Take

For me personally the initial take from a salmon induces a release of adrenalin which instantly changes your focussing ability and almost seems to slow down time until you let the take develop and set the hook properly. With a big salmon you'll receive another spike in your adrenalin levels when you eventually get a look at it which is often nowhere near the end of the fight! This is all part of the fascination of Scottish salmon fishing and its ability to switch from a total calm admiration of Mother Nature into absolute focus and anticipation when the first tug on your fly is felt.

Book A River Tay Guided Salmon Fishing Experience

Book a River Tay guided salmon fishing experience and give yourself a chance of an encounter with one of its famed heavyweights. My experience has been that there's an early run of heavyweight Spring salmon that ascend the Tay from mid January to the end of March each year and traditionally June was always a big fish month on the Tay too. When the spates of Autumn arrive that encourages heavyweight Autumn salmon to move in too and it was the month of October when the British rod caught record salmon of 64 lbs was captured on the Glendelvine Beat. In recent years Spring salmon up to 35 lbs have been landed but make no mistake about the fact that there will be many more Spring salmon in that category destined for the Tay just now in serious need of a perfectly presented fly!