This fine Spring salmon was hooked from the boat in the Rock Pool on Upper Kinnaird during the Spring month of May by this guided salmon fishing trip client. This happy salmon fisher was just as surprised as I was when the rod in the boat buckled around as the lure had only been fishing for less than 30 seconds! You can see the traditional larch built salmon fishing boat in the background moored up on the sand bank.

Here's a lady salmon fishing guest Mrs Caplin with a perfect March caught River Tay salmon of 23lbs which was caught upstream of the Dunkeld Bridge with the assistance of her professional salmon guide. This fish was caught on a cold wet Spring day but that didn't matter due to the accomplishment and excitement of the capture of this perfect Tay specimen.

Here's Johnny Monteith with another fine Spring salmon which he hooked opposite the sand bank at the Upper Kinnaird Beat's Rock Pool during April. This perfect salmon weighed 14lbs and took an ABU Toby silver & copper coloured spinning lure which was selected and tied on by his professional salmon guide.

Here's a very fortunate River Tay salmon fishing trip guest Willie Logan holding a perfect 'sparkler' of a fresh run Spring salmon which was caught in the channel at the neck of the Kinnaird Beat's Rock Pool. This beautiful fish was quickly released back to the Tay by his salmon fishing guide to continue its upstream migration.

This young man landed 2 almost identical heavyweight Spring salmon during late March on the River Tay. He achieved this after a 30 minute crash course on how to use a double handed salmon rod on the Ash Tree Pool of the River Tay near Pitlochry. This was the 2nd Spring salmon he caught so I took this shot of him and his father while accompanying them as their personal salmon fishing guide. What a memorable morning that was!

River Tay Spring Fishing

By Jock Monteith 18th December 2017

The mighty River Tay is Scotland's longest and deepest salmon river and thousands of salmon fishing visitors come to its famous salmon beats each season.

While salmon can be caught on the Tay anywhere from mid January to mid October the main focus for many is from mid March to mid June when the Spring salmon run is in full swing.

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 River Tay Spring Salmon Fight

There's nothing that compares to the physical beauty and sheer power of a cold water Spring salmon battle on a fly rod. If you've a dodgy ticker best you stick with the trout fishing as our Tay Springers will work your adrenalin gland to its limits. This wee fishy was taken during the beautiful month of May on the Tay's Upper Kinnaird salmon beat which is positioned right beside the River Tummel confluence.

These fresh run Scottish salmon look as if they've been forged from molten silver and are often referred to as 'bars of silver'. This perfect Spring salmon took a 'Jock's Shrimp' salmon fly near the River Tummel & River Tay confluence during late May which is a great time to intercept a fish of this calibre. I took this perfect up close shot while this beautiful fish was still in the landing net before releasing it back to the river.

A Spring Salmon Fishing Experience

Whether you're an existing River Tay salmon fisher or brand new to the sport a Spring salmon or two from the Tay or its tributaries will start your 2018 salmon fishing exploits off on the most positive note of all. To my mind there's nothing to beat the often subtle initial dunt from a Springer as it takes your fly before the fireworks begin and the scream of your reel is heard in the next valley!

Here's a lovely upstream shot of the Lower Tummel salmon beat near Pitlochry with a salmon fishing tour guest trying out his newly taught Spey casting abilities. This lovely upstream shot was taken during early June which is a beautiful time of year to fish the Tummel. Moments after I took the shot this guided salmon fishing guest Martin Hunter hooked and landed his first ever salmon.

River Tummel Salmon Fishing

On the River Tummel itself the Lower Tummel salmon beat near Moulinearn is worth a go too if you can get on as usually most of the Spring fishing is a sell out to long standing salmon fishers who return annually to this beat's beautiful fly pools. Sometimes a week or some days shake free and I was fortunate to secure 3 days for 4 rods for one of my clients last week. The 19th, 20th & 21st of April are currently up for grabs at £60 per day for 4 rods however this needs to be booked as one let.

This is the neck of the famous Ash Tree Pool on the Lower Kinnaird salmon beat which has a lovely fly fishing stream that you can see where many salmon hold up during late Spring through to early Autumn each year. This side of the river is the easiest side to fish from and this salmon fishing trip guest was accompanied by his professional salmon guide.

Pitlochry Area Salmon Beats

The River Tummel near the Perthshire town Pitlochry is a fantastic Spring salmon fishery of the River Tay system and any salmon beats in the Tummel area of the valley or downstream of them are a sensible & tactical choice. The Lower Kinnard salmon beat is another prime & well known Spring salmon holding venue that are also well worth a cast.