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Look at this and tell me you cannot see the nose of an astute marine predator. This is a River Tay Spring salmon that was captured near Dunkeld during the Spring month of May which is a great fishing time on the Tay. I caught this salmon opposite the mouth of the River Tummel where it enters the Tay while I was off duty as a River Tay salmon guide.
This shot was taken by professional photographer Louise Bellin on the River Tay's Meetings Pool on the Kinnaird Beat while I was serving as the Upper Kinnaird Beat Head Ghillie. My landing net is over my shoulder in anticipation of a pluck on the salmon fly which often occurs in this perfect salmon pool.
Here's a salmon fly fisher out in a traditional River Tay coble boat covering the Cathedral Stream salmon pool with a fly rod. This is a great area for a resting salmon to be located that's navigated up through the fast water below the bridge. The Telford Bridge you can see in the shot is over 200 years old and joins the village of Birnam to the town of Dunkeld.
Here's a great shot of Jock Monteith's Tweed jacket and favourite Monteith salmon fly rod. The salmon fly rod was hand built by Harrisons of Liverpool and the light blue fly line was produced by Airflo in Brecon, Wales. My Tweed jackets were always made by Haggarts of Aberfeldy who used to supply all of the fishing & shooting estates in Scotland.
This perfect 27lbs Tay Springer took me by surprise at the Kinnaird Beat's Rock Pool during a high water period at the end of May while I was working as a professional salmon fishing guide. What a absolutely perfect fish which showed up at 5pm after a full day of salmon fishing effort. You can see the size of this fish against the 32 inch frame of the salmon landing net the salmon is lying on before I released this fine fish.
There's nothing more inspiring than the low Scottish sun appearing through the clouds on a cold early Spring fishing day to warm up the surface layer of the freezing cold river water as you can see in this photograph. This warmth is often an indicator trigger preceding the capture of an early Spring salmon so whenever I see this my expectation levels soar. I took this selfie during the early Spring month of February on the River Tay while out fishing from the boat near the River Tummel mouth.

The Magnificent Salmon Adventure

By 31st May 2026

It can't just be me even though you never hear anyone talking about the magic of Scottish salmon fishing but here goes anyway!

What is this amazing pursuit all about when it can keep you awake at night and make you desperate to get moving in the direction of the salmon river way before sun up!

There's nothing more inspiring than the low Scottish sun appearing through the clouds on a cold early Spring fishing day to warm up the surface layer of the freezing cold river water as you can see in this photograph. This warmth is often an indicator trigger preceding the capture of an early Spring salmon so whenever I see this my expectation levels soar. I took this selfie during the early Spring month of February on the River Tay while out fishing from the boat near the River Tummel mouth.

Salmon Fishing Will Change Your Life

This is a life changing pursuit for anyone who's got half an inclination for the great outdoors and fishing. This game can completely consume your mind if you're not very careful and will put your head in a spin on any day you're booked onto a salmon river. When you're not fishing it'll make you browse in 'cyber space' for websites associated to all aspects of the game. That excitement and need for perfect preparedness is exactly the same for the vast majority of professional Scottish salmon men who still leap out of bed each day even after decades of full time river life.

This perfect 27lbs Tay Springer took me by surprise at the Kinnaird Beat's Rock Pool during a high water period at the end of May while I was working as a professional salmon fishing guide. What a absolutely perfect fish which showed up at 5pm after a full day of salmon fishing effort. You can see the size of this fish against the 32 inch frame of the salmon landing net the salmon is lying on before I released this fine fish.

God's Finest Natural River Assets

If you blend together God's finest migratory asset the wild Atlantic salmon, magnificent Scottish rivers, sparkling fresh water, amazing natural riverbanks and a vast array of riverbank creatures for some pleasant and natural background music then you'll start to see a part of the bigger picture. Add into the mix the thrill of the initial adrenalin inducing tug on your fly reel when a salmon shows interest which instantly focuses your thoughts well before the need to set the hook and you'll see another part of this 'amazing' natural pursuit.

Here's a great shot of Jock Monteith's Tweed jacket and favourite Monteith salmon fly rod. The salmon fly rod was hand built by Harrisons of Liverpool and the light blue fly line was produced by Airflo in Brecon, Wales. My Tweed jackets were always made by Haggarts of Aberfeldy who used to supply all of the fishing & shooting estates in Scotland.

The Sheer Excitement Of The Salmon River

To do this and experience all the above with other like minded souls in a controlled group of tactical brilliance is as close to excellence as you'll ever find on this troubled planet. Don't be surprised in this business if you find yourself in a heightened state of excitement even prior to arrival in the morning at the salmon river and hours before you even get your rod built up. As a professional ghillie I never got annoyed with anglers who turned up at the fishing hut far too early while I was still getting ready for the fishing day as I never ever lost sight of why that had very likely happened.

This shot was taken by professional photographer Louise Bellin on the River Tay's Meetings Pool on the Kinnaird Beat while I was serving as the Upper Kinnaird Beat Head Ghillie. My landing net is over my shoulder in anticipation of a pluck on the salmon fly which often occurs in this perfect salmon pool.

Salmon Fishing Anticipation

Many of us are involved in Scottish salmon fishing due to uncontrollable salmon fishing anticipation thoughts that can get your fingers wheel spinning as you're tying on your favourite fly at the start of the fishing day or watching it darting and waggling away in the sunlight for those who have good vision and the inkling to observe. Every day in this game re-shuffles the pack therefore every blank day logically brings you one step closer to those adrenalin releasing tugs on your fly reel immediately prior to your fly rod buckling under the magnificent power of a fighting fit 'silver clad' Greenland fed torpedo!

Here's a salmon fly fisher out in a traditional River Tay coble boat covering the Cathedral Stream salmon pool with a fly rod. This is a great area for a resting salmon to be located that's navigated up through the fast water below the bridge. The Telford Bridge you can see in the shot is over 200 years old and joins the village of Birnam to the town of Dunkeld.

Current Salmon Fishing Prospects

It's been just over a week since we were permitted to be back out on the Scottish rivers by the powers that be. My goodness what a catastrophe it has been and very sad to see so many people badly affected by this global fiasco. So here we are now wondering why some of our rivers are all of a sudden so plentiful of salmon that are fairly keen to introduce themselves to the fly! Was it the fact they were completely undisturbed unlike the normal bombardment they'd have received through April & May and settled in the pools attracting other fish to lie with them or is it because rod pressure was higher this year due to the partial release of 'activity' lock down at a time when rod pressure normally eases off a bit. This is a difficult one to work out or maybe we just entered another cyclical upswing period as most of these fish that are being caught are super fresh run versions. Hopefully our management & scientists are observing and taking note carefully.

 

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.
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