salmon fishing in scotland

 

Salmon Fishing in Scotland:

With over a hundred different rivers to select from, Scotland boasts some of the best salmon fishing rivers in Europe, ranging from small, intimate rivers to huge, fast-flowing streams like the River Tay. Throughout most of Scotland, all of them provide good prospects for superb salmon fishing. The salmon fishing season varies by region, but it generally runs from mid-January through the end of October. Although salmon fishing is prohibited on Sundays in Scotland, you can still fish for trout or coarse species such as pike. 

Some of the smaller rivers and tributaries of the main rivers can produce annual salmon catches that are almost as good as some of the top beats of the big four, so for any anglers who prefer to fish on a smaller river, this need not be a compromise in the quality of fishing, though most of the smaller rivers are spate rivers that require a certain amount of rainfall to allow the salmon to move upriver. 

A beat is a segment of a river that is separated into portions. Who owns the land on either side of the river determines the beat. The landowners are referred to as riparian owners since they own the land or river bank that runs beside the river, as well as the fishing rights (assuming they haven't sold or leased them out). A beat can be as short as a kilometer long or as long as 4 or 5 kilometers long, depending on the size of the estate through which the river flows. 

Although no national rod license is necessary to fish in Scotland, as it is in England, permission is required to fish for salmon. Individual beat owners issue permits on a daily basis, which can be reserved in advance. Depending on the size of the beat, all beats issue a maximum number of daily permits, which is normally limited to 6 or 8. The cost of a permit varies greatly based on the river, the quality of the beat, and the time of year. Permits for the first six or seven months of the season can cost anywhere from £20.00 to £75.00 each day. 

Because the main salmon runs often begin in early August and last until the end of the season in October, permit prices begin to rise dramatically from August onwards.

During the last few months of the season, rates can range from £60.00 to over £450.00 per day, depending on the river and the quality of the beat. As a general rule, the higher the annual catch rate on any specific beat, the higher the permit price. For £30.00 to £60.00 per day, you may still go salmon fishing on some of the lesser rivers or less productive beats of the big rivers. 

If you hire a professional guide, he or she will be able to advise you on the finest salmon fishing options available at the moment to meet your needs and budget, as well as get permits on your behalf. Permits are available online, either directly from the beat website or through an online booking service, if you want to fish without a guide. Permits are also available from local tackle shops. On the main rivers, availability for the top beats in the later months of the season, August, September, and October, is extremely limited, so it's always a good idea to book ahead. 

 

Every good salmon fishing beat will have a resident guide or guides, as well as a fishing lodge with tea, coffee, and basic cooking capabilities, a dining room, and toilets. The lodges aren't equipped with bedrooms and aren't used to house guests. They are constructed for the guests' convenience as a location to shelter from the elements and a spot to enjoy lunch. Early in the morning, the local guide will meet guests and show them where they will be fishing. 

The beat is looked after by the local guide/ghillie, who will also offer general guidance. To make the most of your day, engage a personal expert salmon fishing guide who is familiar with the river you will be fishing. A personal guide will look after you for the day, showing you where to find the holding pools and how to fish them effectively. He'll also give advice on tackles and strategies based on the current conditions. 

Fishing for salmon in the River Tay:

The Tay is not only Scotland's longest river (at 120 miles), but it also possesses the biggest volume of water of any river in the UK, making it less water-dependent than most of Scotland's salmon-fishing rivers. Beginning in mid-March, the spring runs give outstanding salmon fishing throughout the season. The river begins its voyage at Killin and goes through some breathtaking scenery, passing through Kenmore, Aberfeldy, Dunkeld, and Perth before reaching the Firth of Tay, just east of Perth, where it becomes tidal. 

The spring salmon run runs from mid-March to late May, and salmon can be found throughout the Tay system throughout the summer. September marks the start of the autumn salmon run, which yields the most fish of the season. Miss Georgina Ballantine caught the largest ever rod-caught salmon in Britain on the Tay in 1922, weighing 64 pounds and still holding the British Record. There is no solid evidence that salmon are spending more time at sea and growing significantly larger before entering the river system, resulting in a huge number of salmon in excess of 30 pounds, and even those in excess of 40 pounds. 

Fly fishing, spin fishing, and harling (trolling) are all options where boats are accessible. On the Tay, the season runs from the 15th of January to the 15th of October, though certain beats have recently extended it to the 31st of October, but only for catch and release.

Fishing for salmon in the River Spey:

The River Spey runs north east from Loch Spey, passing through Newtonmore, Aviemore, Grantown on Spey, and Aberlour before joining the sea in the Moray Firth at Spey Bay, just north of Fochabers. Speyside's waters are used to generate more whisky than any other place in Scotland, not simply for salmon fishing and the Spey Cast. 

The salmon fishing season on the Spey does not begin until February 11th, and there are normally a few spring salmon in the lower reaches of the river. Salmon populations begin to rise in early April, and by June, they can be seen throughout the river. Summer fishing may be great, and several fish in excess of 30 pounds have been caught in the spring runs. 

Most beats are fly-only, however, if the water levels are too high for fly fishing, some beats will allow spin fishing. Permits can be purchased directly from the band's website, through an internet booking agency, or at a local fishing shop. Grantown on Spey's tackle business also rents out tackle. There are other association waters that offer fair licenses, and the River Avon and River Dulnain, both tributaries of the Spey, offer great salmon fishing. The fishing season on the Spey runs from February 11th to September 30th.

Fishing for salmon on the River Dee: 

The River Dee is 85 miles long and flows east from the Wells of Dee spring (at 4000 feet) on the Cairngorm Mountains' Braeriach side. Before joining the sea at Aberdeen, the Dee passes through Braemar, Balmoral, Ballater, Aboyne, and Banchory. Unlike the Spey, which has peat-colored waters, the Dee has exceptionally pure water despite its route being flanked by peat hills. Even after a major flood, the water clears up rapidly.

The Dee is known as one of Scotland's top spring salmon rivers, especially on the lower beats in February and March, but salmon can be found throughout the river as the season develops into April and May.  

Up to the end of the season in mid-October, the summer months bring some great salmon fishing throughout the system. The fishing is exclusively fly fishing, and due to conservation efforts implemented in the mid-1990s to combat declining spring salmon populations, a strict catch and release policy were implemented throughout the season. From the 1st of February to the 15th of October, the season is open.

Fishing for salmon on the River Tweed: 

The River Tweed, like the Tay and the Dee, is the most southerly of the major four salmon rivers, forming part of the English-Scottish boundary. It flows into the sea on the east coast. It begins in Tweedsmuir at Tweed's Well, a few miles north of Moffat, where the Clyde and the River Annan both originate. It goes north into Peebles before turning east and merging with the Ettrick river a few miles south of Galashiels and Tweedbank. It passes through St Boswells, Kelso, Coldstream, and Norham on its way to Berwick on Tweed, where it joins the sea. 

The Tweed is widely regarded as one of Scotland's most productive salmon fishing rivers, and while it is best known for its enormous fall runs, it also produces some superb spring runs on the lower beats as early as February. Salmon may be found on most beats throughout the system in March and April, and it fishes exceptionally well all summer. The main salmon runs take place in the autumn and last until November, when the season ends. Fish weighing over 25 pounds are frequent, and a 50-pound record fish was caught and released on the Tweed in 2013. 

Some Tweed tributaries, such as the River Ettrick and the Teviot, offer good salmon fishing. Fly fishing is the only option, albeit, under high water situations, a few beats will allow spin fishing. From the 1st of February to the 30th of November, the season is open.