Here's the ultimate Scottish rural pursuit challenge. This is the capture of a perfect River Tay salmon on a fly rod which is easy to say but not easy to achieve without astute tactical awareness, casting skills and patience. This salmon was caught at sunrise by one of our River Tay salmon guide team members during late July.

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.

The most famous of the bigger Scottish rivers are the Tay, Spey, Dee & Tweed and this perfect fish of around 14 lbs was caught on the fly on the River Tay during July near the Perthshire town of Dunkeld. Look at the perfect deep bodied build of this perfect salmon as it lay in the landing net prior to being released.

Here's the perfect end result of a carefully presented River Tay salmon fly in the middle area of the Tay Valley near Dunkeld during May. Look at the physical perfection of this salmon and it's no wonder these Spring run fish are the most highly regarded of all the Scottish salmon runs. The fish is in the landing net beside my salmon fly rod & reel.

Here's a perfect example of God's finest marine creature the Atlantic salmon. These fish are amazingly powerful and awesome to look at once your skill levels are high enough to place one in the landing net for a close up inspection. This fine specimen was caught near Pitlochry on the River Tay by one of my salmon fishing trip guests.

Look at the shape and colours of this perfect marine feeding machine! This is a Scottish Spring salmon which was captured on the River Tay near Dunkeld during January. This fish fell to a carefully presented tube fly in the higher Spring water level even though most Tay fishers wrongly think spinning is the best method at that time of year. This fishing was captured by one of my salmon fishing holiday guests while I was assisting him as his personal fishing guide for the day.

Hold Back With The Landing Net

By Jock Monteith 25th June 2026

Given the skill and patience involved in getting to the point where a salmon cooperates then what's the point of rushing proceedings.

There's nothing worse than a fishing buddy or ghillie lifting the landing net too soon during the early stages of battle and 'ruining' the scenery between you and your salmon!

Here's Alan Rennie playing one of 5 Spring salmon he caught that with myself as his salmon guide in the boat that day. Look are the riverbank where there's no leaves on the trees yet there's some beautiful sunlight which just gave the surface of the water of the river enough warmth to get these fish on the move and in a 'taking' frame of mind. This photo was taken in the Cottar Pool on the Newtyle Beat of the River Tay.

Do Not Play A Salmon Too Hard

Firstly lets start with a few hards facts regarding what I'm about to mention to clear up yet another of the misconceptions surrounding playing salmon. On the few occasions that I've witnessed salmon not surviving the trauma of being caught have been when the angler has fiercely bullied them to the net and the fish has gone berserk and completely beat itself due to the stress and strain of resisting. The other instances when I've seen salmon not surviving the fight have been during warmer water conditions when an angler hasn't held the salmon in a good oxygenated stream flow to properly revive and then eventually release the fish.

Keeping a high rod tip is essential while playing a salmon as was the case here with this lively River Tay Summer salmon that this salmon fly fishing visitor was playing. The high rod tip ensures the fly line is kept clear or riverbed obstacles which could snag the line and cause the loss of the fish. Look at the lovely red sandstone cliffs on the other side of the river.

Relax During The Salmon Fight

On most of the fight footage videos I watch there's usually always a fisher or ghillie standing out in the river with a landing net after only a few minutes of the fish being hooked. On average it's about a pound of salmon body weight per minute of battle so unless you're only catching very small Summer grilse leave the landing net alone and stay away from the battle scene until the time is right. There's much more personal or commercial value for whoever is landing the fish to pull out their camera and shoot a video which takes the pressure 'off' the angler and captures the special moments of playing the fish when it is clearly not ready to be landed.

This fish had only just entered the River Tay when it was caught by myself near Dunkeld while I was working as a salmon fly fishing instructor. This fresh run salmon was covered in long tailed sea lice which are acquired in the ocean and then drop off the fish within 48 hours of being back in the fresh river water. This fine Spring salmon had swum from Perth up to Dunkeld within that 48 hour time frame which is good going against the powerful flows of the Tay.

Hold Back Until The Salmon Is Ready

Nothing puts more pressure on an angler and reduces the enjoyment of the salmon fight than a non thinking colleague standing out in the river way before the salmon is anywhere close to being ready for landing. Not only does that kill the 'fight experience' for the fisher but it can 'panic' a salmon at a time when it still has full battery power! Stay out of the way until the salmon fight appears to be coming to an end would be my advice and ignore previous times when you've witnessed a fly or lure immediately pop out of the fish's mouth in the landing net making you think the fish was lightly hooked (as landing net mesh is a first class disgorger) therefore don't panic yourself thinking most fish are lightly hooked and that's why everything needs rushed! You'll know when the time is right to land a salmon as the fish will be under control and showing its flanks near the margins of the river.

Take Control Of Your Salmon

If you play any salmon 'side on' with a reasonable bend in your rod the action of the rod will eventually tire the fish for you as a salmon fly rod is not just for casting with. Just like ourselves fish also get a build up of lactic acid in their muscles during physical exertion so all salmon will eventually tire and can be easily landed when the time is right. With a big fish just take your time and don't try to rush it as you could be 30 minutes or more with some of them. Playing your salmon from a 'side on' position increases the chances of a successful outcome as does shouting any salmon landing 'assistance' back out of the river if you see that happening way too soon into proceedings!

The Enjoyment Of Catching A Salmon

Personally speaking there are a few attributes involved in catching a salmon that I'll always find highly exciting. The first is that little and often gentle knock on the fly reel that's lets you know your fly is under close quarter inspection! That little initial adrenalin inducing tug of approval intensifies my thoughts and is a seal of approval that the tactical approach has been good enough. The second thrill is indeed the exhilaration of battle and seeing a salmon jump out in the middle of the stream as the drag on the fly reel sings its heart out. Thirdly, I've always had an obsession with inspecting all salmon I've landed as they all have differing characteristics and especially perfect fresh run Spring salmon which are in a total class of their own as anyone will understand who's experienced a close up encounter with one!