Jock monteith Salmon Fish Scotland logo
Here's an angler out fly fishing the renowned Meeting Pool on the River Tay's Upper Kinnaird salmon beat which is a perfect salmon fishing hot spot and one where many new salmon fishers are launched into the sport each year. This is the confluence of the rivers Tay & Tummel and the Tay is the river that goes up to the left hand side of frame. Look at the beautiful big riverbank oak tree to the left of frame.
This floating salmon fly line is swinging around perfectly here into a renowned salmon lie on the River Tay near Dunkeld. The rod in the picture is my 16ft Bruce & Walker Spey casting rod which I've used as a professional salmon guide for over 20 years due to its perfect casting action.
This old bench was found hanging from a riverbank tree 1 mile upstream of its now perfect location directly in front of the River Tay & River Tummel confluence following an early Spring flood. As soon as I saw the bench and had salvaged it I knew exactly where it was going to be re-sited and its now been here in this perfect elevated riverside location for the last decade. This is the most perfect seat for observing one of the most beautiful areas or the entire River Tay from. I added the accompanying rod rest rack in too as you can see.
This perfect fish was one of 3 fish landed at sunrise on the River Tay during early June on a size 9 Jock's Shrimp salmon fly pattern fished off a floating line with an added 15ft sink tip section. The Tay often produces special moments for those astute enough to know how to fish it effectively. The Tay is Scotland's most accessible salmon river and less that 90 minutes from both Edinburgh & Glasgow.
This was one of my fishing guests fishing the River Tay in June after being taught to Speycast with this 15ft double handed salmon fly rod. The Tay is Scotland's biggest salmon river which is popular for salmon fishing trips. Look at the lovely riverbank and wooded Perthshire hillside on the far bank.

Salmon Fishing Luck

By 19th October 2025

In salmon fishing regardless of how technically gifted you are with a fly rod or how good a beat you're fishing there's always an element of luck involved in catching a salmon.

Opportunities to hook and land salmon are like moving targets that appear and disappear throughout the course of most fishing days and even if they don't always seem apparent they always do exist.

This was one of my fishing guests fishing the River Tay in June after being taught to Speycast with this 15ft double handed salmon fly rod. The Tay is Scotland's biggest salmon river which is popular for salmon fishing trips. Look at the lovely riverbank and wooded Perthshire hillside on the far bank.

What Often Makes A Salmon Ready To Take A Fly

A subtle barely noticeable temperature lift around mid morning during the cold early Spring months, a shift northwards in barometric pressure, an alert running fish that's briefly paused in the pool or the smell of fresh water in a salmon's nostrils following significant rainfall in the headwaters are a few of the more obvious factors that can put a fish in the right frame of mind to take a fly. My advice on this based on decades of 'observant' riverbank experience is to never allow your head or enthusiasm levels to go down as salmon are indeed also true masters of surprise!

This perfect fish was one of 3 fish landed at sunrise on the River Tay during early June on a size 9 Jock's Shrimp salmon fly pattern fished off a floating line with an added 15ft sink tip section. The Tay often produces special moments for those astute enough to know how to fish it effectively. The Tay is Scotland's most accessible salmon river and less that 90 minutes from both Edinburgh & Glasgow.

Perfect Your Salmon Fly Presentation

Obviously if you're able to read a salmon pool effectively and work out where the best taking areas will be based on the prevailing water conditions that's going to help matters. Fishing your salmon fly down through the pool in a measured and methodical manner is also going to help you to get lucky! Knowing how to set the hook effectively will also allow you to capitalise on a 'take' rather than squander it like many salmon fly fishers still do every season.

This old bench was found hanging from a riverbank tree 1 mile upstream of its now perfect location directly in front of the River Tay & River Tummel confluence following an early Spring flood. As soon as I saw the bench and had salvaged it I knew exactly where it was going to be re-sited and its now been here in this perfect elevated riverside location for the last decade. This is the most perfect seat for observing one of the most beautiful areas or the entire River Tay from. I added the accompanying rod rest rack in too as you can see.

Being In The Right Place At The Right Time

At the end of the day in salmon fishing there's a lot to be said for simply being in the 'right place at the right time' even though having a good understanding of the relative fishing skills are also important to get you into that exact moment in the fishing day! I was watching a salmon fisher's youtube video recently just knowing the fish he was playing was going to come off and sure enough it did so grasping the basics of how to properly play a fish is a vital skill too. Understand the important components of the game you're playing and make sure you can not only get to the point where you know exactly how to set the hook effectively but you can also play a salmon correctly.

This floating salmon fly line is swinging around perfectly here into a renowned salmon lie on the River Tay near Dunkeld. The rod in the picture is my 16ft Bruce & Walker Spey casting rod which I've used as a professional salmon guide for over 20 years due to its perfect casting action.

Learn To Effectively Fish For Salmon

There's no real point in investing in the correct salmon fishing equipment levels and buying often expensive fishing access to quality salmon beats without fully understanding the basic salmon fishing skills that are needed. Competence in this fine pursuit is gained from often subtle riverbank observations gained over time which plays a big part of the overall salmon fishing fascination for many. Learning these basic yet very important salmon fishing skills should be a top priority for any salmon fisher to bring them to the point where they finally find themselves in front of a taking salmon and know exactly how to 'make it count' with clinical precision!

Here's an angler out fly fishing the renowned Meeting Pool on the River Tay's Upper Kinnaird salmon beat which is a perfect salmon fishing hot spot and one where many new salmon fishers are launched into the sport each year. This is the confluence of the rivers Tay & Tummel and the Tay is the river that goes up to the left hand side of frame. Look at the beautiful big riverbank oak tree to the left of frame.

For More Salmon Fishing Tactics Information

This website's sister site has a new search directory for 'Questions & Answers' regarding various different salmon fishing topics & tactics. While the sister site design & content is fairly new and still very much a 'work in progress' there's already much useful content that could assist Scottish salmon fishers to gain additional 'edge' in this fabulous pursuit. Follow this Salmon Fishing Portal link to access this new salmon fishing information source.

 

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.
More Articles