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.

Knowing how and where to wade through a salmon pool like this fisher is doing for minimal disruption is a vital skill to master in Scottish salmon fishing. Most anglers think that wading deeper is better but the true facts about wading are quite the opposite. Observe that this salmon fisher is only at knee depth so as not disturb the salmon pool which is essential for salmon fishing success.

This perfect Newtyle salmon pool is known as 'The Boil' due to a huge riverbed stone that's positioned in the middle of the river opposite this salmon fisher which creates a huge boiling effect on the river surface. You can see Birnam Hill in the distance.

I took this shot of a salmon fly fishing angler at the Croys Pool of the Kercock salmon beat which is one of many middle River Tay hot spots. This middle area of the Tay is good for salmon fishing from March through to October and the Tay can be fished with the fly or with a spinning lure. This lovely gravel riverbank is easy to fish from unlike the far tree clad riverbank.

It's always best to try to get side on to a salmon when playing the fish. This salmon fishing holiday angler was playing this fish on the River Tay near Dunkeld. This salmon managed to get well below this salmon fisher which is not best practice as a side on position brings the fight to a far earlier close.

Here's a nice spin fishing shot I took of salmon fishing guest on the River Tay having a serious attempt at catching a salmon while on his fishing break. This slow moving deep pool near the village of Stanley is a great fishing area on the Tay. You can see the salmon fishing hut tucked in below the trees on the far side of the river.

Important Riverbank Etiquette

By 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 a salmon beat's fishing rules.

This should be done prior to booking which are there 'primarily' for safety reasons and to ensure the enjoyment of all paying guests.

Salmon Beat Rules Are There For Good Reasons

In most cases the vast majority of Scottish salmon fishers will have read a salmon beat's rules prior to booking their salmon fishing permit but unfortunately a small minority still don't read or take a salmon beat's 'conditions of let' seriously enough. The minority will turn up expecting to 'call the shots' on pool rotations, express their displeasure at having to wear a mandatory life jacket or will often even completely ignore the Head Ghillie's detailed & highly 'astute' daily fishing instructions as if they know his beat better!

Wearing a life jacket should always be a mandatory piece of salmon fishing kit as you can see here on this lady salmon fishing guest. There's always an element of danger while wading in a river so let common sense prevail. You can see this perfect Summer River Tay salmon in the landing net at the March Pool on the Kinnaird salmon beat near Dunkeld. I took this shot as I was serving as this guest's salmon fishing guide that day.

Mandatory Automatic Life Jackets

Human life is precious and irreplaceable when lost. Do I need to really say anymore but it amazes me to hear of fishing guests that try to object to wearing a life jacket even if the beat rules specify that life jackets are to be worn at all times. What on earth do they think a salmon fishery is trying to achieve other than to keep them 100% safe and spare the broken hearts of their relatives should they not return from their days salmon fishing! A completely wasted argument unless someones head is full of sawdust and sadly it's only a matter of time before the next salmon river tragedy occurs due to anglers who think they know best and refuse to wear a life jacket.

Never Underestimate The Dangers On A River

If a ghillie is to rescue an angler from the river it makes the task much easier and less dangerous if the angler is also wearing a life jacket. A drowning man will do anything for a breath of air and that can mean pulling his rescuer under too! The Tay can kill even a strong swimmer in minutes if she ever chooses to show her 'dark side' and the faster flowing Spey will do it even quicker and that's the bottom line. Stay safe and wear an automatic life jacket at all times when salmon fishing whether it's in a salmon beat's 'conditions of let' or not! It is completely irresponsible for any angler to think they can deal with the sheer panic associated with unexpected lungfuls of freezing river water!

Daily Salmon Pool Rotations

On most professionally run Scottish salmon beats some form of salmon pool rotation will be actioned by the Head Ghillie each day to keep the fishing effort fair to all paying guests or give pools a chance to be 'rested' when the beat is less busy. It is not courteous or fair to a Head Ghillie or fellow salmon fisher if an angler displays disappointment at not being allowed to monopolise a specific salmon pool for the entire morning, afternoon or day. Most Scottish salmon fishers understand the basics of salmon beat pool rotation but again a minority don't seem to understand this basic salmon beat operational standard and will complain if they don't get their own way.

The Dunkeld House salmon beat fishing hut is positioned slightly upstream of the town of Dunkeld which can be walked to from Dunkeld Cathedral in 20 minutes. This fishing hut is located right beside the River Tay in front of the Dunkeld House Hotel.

Salmon Fishing Huts

All salmon fishing beat huts are there to provide shelter and warmth for 'primarily' the paying salmon fishing guests to enjoy their lunch or for a cup of tea or coffee on arrival or prior to departure at the end of the fishing day. Buying a salmon beat permit does not entitle an angler to lay on a fishing hut buffet for their non fishing friends and family whereby the paying guests or the Head Ghillie are made to feel unwelcome in the fishing hut at lunchtime. If an angler wishes to completely take over the fishing hut at lunchtime this can be easily arranged if the angler hires the beat on an 'exclusive use' basis or with prior Head Ghillie permission or by taking an earlier lunch without this 'take over' interfering with other guest's access to the fishing hut facilities. Common courtesy really but again this is often not considered by some fishing guests.

Here's a downstream view of the tail of the Cottar Pool and The Boil Pool from the sanctuary of the Newtyle Beat fishing hut viewing gallery. On the vast riverbanks of the Tay and other main Scottish salmon rivers it's always good to have a nearby fishing hut to take shelter in if the weather closes in. Look at the perfectly cut beech hedges that surround this famous fishing hut.

Head Ghillie Fishing Instructions

You'd better believe that these days with all the social media marketing tools & 'catch statistic' nonsense that all Head Ghillies are competitive whether they care to admit it or not. All of them want to see salmon getting caught on their beats and they will give their very best most honest fishing advice to their guests to enable them the best chance to catch a salmon that can be recorded in the beat's record book & hopefully photographed for social media purposes too! If you think the Head Ghillie is trying to give you information that will diminish your chances of success or you know his salmon beat better then you've got it completely wrong. Trust your Head Ghillie judgement 100% and follow his instructions exactly as issued and watch your 'batting average' soar along with your relationship!

This man has been one of my best most loyal salmon guide colleagues over the last 20 years. Martin worked with me on the Newtyle Beat in 2004 & 2005 before I assisted him in getting started on the Kinnaird salmon beat where he's thrived ever since. Martin is in one of his Tay salmon boats in this shot motoring up through the Channel Pool on his Kinnaird Beat.

The Salmon Beat Rules

If you've purchased a salmon fishing permit without reading the beat rules and turn up expecting to run the show yourself that day then don't moan, complain or grumble when you're told otherwise!. All Head Ghillies are assuming you've read the beat fishing conditions and expect these beat operating rules to be complied with 100% at all times for your own personal safety and the enjoyment of all visiting salmon anglers. Letting anglers away with bad etiquette on a riverbank hurts the fishery as it will not go unnoticed by other paying guests who are fishing in compliance. It can also can put a life in danger which is completely unacceptable for obvious reasons.