Here's a beauty of a River Tay salmon in the landing net following the excitement of battle. Nothing beats an encounter like this with a fresh run salmon and especially when hooked on a fly rod which adds another dimension to the whole experience. I caught this beauty while working as a salmon fly fishing guide on the River Tay in Scotland.

I caught this perfect River Tay Spring salmon in February on the Kinnaird salmon beat near Pitlochry. These fish are in a true class of their own and are the objective of most knowledgable salmon fishers who appreciate their brilliance. February isn't generally regarded as a prime Scottish Spring salmon fishing month but experienced Tay fishers know better. I was resting this lovely fish in the landing net for a few minutes when I took this shot before releasing it back to the river.

Here's the beautiful silver flanks of a fresh run Spring salmon which was caught on the River Tay near Dunkeld. Salmon like this create indelible memories such is their power and amazing natural beauty when you encounter of one of these fine creatures. This perfect salmon was caught by one of our salmon fishing holiday guests while accompanied by myself as his personal salmon fishing guide.

Hooking one of these muscle bound Spring salmon is one skill but knowing exactly how to play the salmon correctly is a completely different discipline. This perfect 'Springer' was captured and quickly released on the River Tay by one of our salmon fishing holiday guests during late May near the Perthshire town of Dunkeld.

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.

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.

Merry Christmas To All Salmon Fishers

By Jock Monteith 25th December 2025

Merry Christmas to you and your families and I hope you have a fantastic time today and over the next week or so until work commitments re-commence in early January.

With New Year fast approaching there's definitely a buzz of anticipation in the air created by just knowing there are thousands of perfect Spring salmon heading our way.

During periods of high water like this on the River Tay you need to be searching for salmon close to the edge of the riverbank as fish will lie in close during these conditions. It's also safer for a salmon fisher not to wade into the river during such conditions. Learn how to catch salmon and approach the salmon river correctly with a professional Scottish salmon guide. This is my salmon fly rod and reel lying at the side of the river in this high water photograph.

Salmon Fishing Soothsayers

I'm more than convinced than ever that an amazing Scottish Spring salmon run is heading home to our glorious salmon rivers and that season 2026 will be a big reminder to all of those soothsayers who think they know more than Mother Nature herself and her mystical & ever surprising methods of operation.

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.

Salmon River Magic

Forget the graphs, opinions and egotistical statements from those who most definitely do not possess a crystal ball and tune into the river next time you're out. All you need to hear in the Spring on any of Scotland's wonderful salmon fishing rivers is the laughter of friends, the clinking or glasses, the call of the oyster catcher and the eventual adrenalin releasing tugs on the clutch of your fly reel before the serious excitement begins!

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.

The Salmon Capture Coincidence

If you think about the odds of you swinging your salmon fly precisely at the correct square metre of a salmon pool and the journey from your home to the river paired with the salmon's journey from Greenland's rich feeding grounds makes it a really remarkable coincidence. The sport is truly extra special as any salmon angler who's looked close enough will completely agree.

This is a hand built 16ft River Tay 'coble' boat which are constructed from larch & oak by master boat builder John Ferguson who's based in Stanley in Perthshire. These beautiful river salmon fishing boats are a pleasure to use as a professional salmon guide and open up multi faceted fishing applications in addition to the normal fishing tactics deployed from the riverbanks.

Closed Season Salmon River Habits

No doubt over the next few weeks many of us will be tying a few more appropriate salmon flies and conditioning our fly lines along with other obsessional closed season behavioural habits! What a sport it is to have that effect on your mind as we dwell on the early sounds of a salmon take on the fly reel and other such magical components of the sport we are truly blessed with.

More Salmon Fishing Articles

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.