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Here's a fine Winter shot of a downstream view of the River Tay taken by the River Tay boatman at Dunkeld. Note the historic 200 year old Telford Bridge in the distance which is one of the Tay's most famous sandstone bridges. This shot was taken during late January after some local snow fall.
Here's another fine heavyweight salmon of 24lbs which was caught from the boat on the Dunkeld House salmon beat. Salmon of this caliber are always present in the Tay during the early months of the year for those astute enough to realise that. Catching one of these is a dream come true for most salmon fishers. Note the fine 'fish friendly' mesh landing net & padded landing mat to protect the salmon during the unhooking stage prior to release.
When you truly realise that pristine heavyweight salmon like this run the River Tay throughout the fishing season then the chance of a capture of one of these will draw your subconscious mind into play. This is a dangerous state of salmon fishing mind as it usually always results in the loss of thousands of pounds in fishing tackle and salmon permit tickets! Look at the perfect condition of this fresh run River Tay Spring salmon.
The May caught River Tay salmon was in perfect ocean run condition and was caught by myself while working as the salmon beat Head Ghillie at the neck of the Kinnard Beat's Rock Pool. This salmon fishing hot spot is located a few hundred yards upstream of the mouth of the River Tummel. This is undoubtedly a Tummel fish due to its short deep build proportions which the Tummel is renowned for.
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.
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.

River Tay Salmon Fishing Report

By 28th January 2018

Here's the latest update for the Tay which is now for the first time this season coming into great fishing order.

Forget the waffle & fluff of 'mince talk' as I'm about to get straight to the point as my ghillie hackles are now on 'red alert' for the coming week now that Jack Frost & the full flood are gone.

Here's another fine heavyweight salmon of 24lbs which was caught from the boat on the Dunkeld House salmon beat. Salmon of this caliber are always present in the Tay during the early months of the year for those astute enough to realise that. Catching one of these is a dream come true for most salmon fishers. Note the fine 'fish friendly' mesh landing net & padded landing mat to protect the salmon during the unhooking stage prior to release.

Early Spring River Tay Salmon Fishing Marketing

The early Spring salmon fishing marketing on the River Tay reminds me of that joke about 'what do you call a blind reindeer' (no idea/no eyed deer!). Study closely the near non existent rod pressure the River Tay gets at this time of year which has been derived through poor early Spring marketing over the decades and weigh that up with the prize on offer and it won't make sense to you either. To stop one of these exceptionally high calibre River Tay Spring salmon on a low cost ticket is as good as it's ever going to get in Scottish salmon fishing for 'real' value and if Rabbie Burns was a River Tay salmon fishing agent he'd be reciting 'Now's the day and now's the hour'!

This perfect heavyweight Spring salmon was landed at Dunkeld from the boat and weighed 23lbs. This fish took a pearly pink Tomic 4 inch classic lure which is a deadly Spring salmon fishing lure. Look at the perfect marine coloured beauty of this specimen Tay salmon which was caught by our River Tay salmon fishing guide during March.

The Finest Scottish Salmon Of All

Rested River Tay salmon beats and deep dark slow moving Spring salmon holding pools are plentiful through January & February and are screaming for a consistently well delivered Posh Tosh or silver & copper Toby 'Salmo'. The quality of the River Tay Springer in these early months is completely un touchable and will no doubt be your finest 2018 fishing memory if you connect with one. Most of the early River Tay salmon caught since opening day have been between 14 & 20 pounds but make no mistake that there will be bigger brutes amongst them too that are slowly cruising up river answering their call from Loch Tay.

Here's an upstream shot of the neck of the Boatlands salmon pool with the Dunkeld Hills visible in the background which is typical of the perfect scenery on the middle area of the River Tay. This salmon fisher shot was taken by myself as I was this angler's salmon fishing guide for the day.

The Early Spring Marketing Dilemma

The self created Scottish marketing dilemma of 'no fish no anglers' 'no anglers no fish' is a complete farce and is denying many Scottish & international salmon anglers who cannot see through this nonsense the opportunity to get an adrenalin fuelled brief glimpse of God's most perfect marine creature. If you're fly fishing give your salmon a bit longer than normal in the cold water to turn before setting the hook. If you're spinning fish with a tight enough clutch to set the hook properly in the first 10 seconds of contact before loosening off for the fireworks!

 

Here's a fine Winter shot of a downstream view of the River Tay taken by the River Tay boatman at Dunkeld. Note the historic 200 year old Telford Bridge in the distance which is one of the Tay's most famous sandstone bridges. This shot was taken during late January after some local snow fall.

The Best Salmon Prize Of The Season

Make no mistake about the fact that the Tay for the forthcoming week offers a good chance for any angler as these prized Spring salmon are definitely now present and on the move. Another fine Springer was caught at Glendelvine and Dunkeld House picked up their first on Friday. At the lower end Catholes & Upper Scone scored too so that's the only proof you need to see. View these early Spring Tay salmon as the true Scottish salmon angling prize and support your favourite salmon beat and play a part in creating fishing demand in the early months on the Tay.

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.

The Real Tay Salmon Fishing Professionals

Congratulations must go to those Tay ghillies & anglers who've been taking their beat & the river seriously and who have been out there 'consistently' covering their Spring salmon lies. My hat is off to you and these men are a real credit to the Tay. To those who have avoided their responsibilities your empty early Spring booking sheets will continue until you take the initiative and apply yourselves properly as Tay salmon do not come up the A9!. If you're a ghilllie who lacks confidence in the boat that's ok as there are many seasoned veterans on the Tay who would be more than willing to 'fine tune' you as we all need at some point in our careers. Learn to celebrate the blank days if your water coverage is good as a blank day brings you one day closer to that spectacular 'beat revenue driving' early Tay springer.

 

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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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