[Purple Spey]

I will be taking a trip to Scotland during the first two weeks in June, spending most of our time in the North. I might have a day that I could spend fishing. I will not be bringing any fishing tackle. Does anyone know of a good guide that could show me a good day on the water. Thanks for any recommendation.

Mark

 

[Miramichi]

Purple Spey - I have fished in Scotland for quite a few years now in March. Living in Maine it has become my end of the winter and back to salmon fishing trip. As you may know seasons in Scotland aren't like they are in America. The whole place, especially the Northern Highlands are much further north and the area is kept temperate by the North Atlantic drift. All of which is to day that things don't change as fast. June is still the tail end of their "springer" fishing and one of the best times to go.

On most rivers good beats are very difficult to get on a day basis. There are some, though, where it is likely to be possible to get what you want. I would suggest the Thurso River in the far north east. If you google up their website you can get the contact information. The river manager Eddy McCarthy is a good guy and give you good advice. The river employs their own ghillies. The Dee a hundred miles further south on the east coast has many beats and the ability to buy single days of fishing. Usually one ghillie runs the beat. You will not get him to stand by your side all day because others will also be on the beat, but you will get sufficient instruction. Go to fish Dee and then Find Fishing from the menu on the left side. I'm not on Spey Pages that much, so please PM me if you have any other questions.

 

[Guernseybass]

the first two weeks of June are prime time. especially if there is rain.

if you are in the Perth Area at all, The Newtyle fishings on the Tay are said to be outstanding, and are on my bucket list - i have fished the Tummel above Pitlochry though, nice water. good trout and grayling there too.

further north - i would fish the Spey river, due to its history and scenery - with the peaks of Aviemore in the background its very picturesque.

contrary to popular belief, day tickets are available on most scottish salmon rivers (and Irish ones) as local associations hold fishing rights - in this case the Strath Spey association :

http://www.speyfishing-grantown.co.uk/permitsrules.htm

that site shows that day tickets have access to 4 miles of double bank fishing (so 8 miles of water) plus weekly tickets have access to the most famous salmon fishing beat in the world - Upper Castle Grant.

imho the $300 or so weekly ticket is worth it just to fish that 2 mile beat.

i fished it in the 80's with my dad and i still treasure the memories of that day - we had no idea where we were going when we paid ten pounds in the newsagent in Grantown that morning....

that site will also point you to fish pal.

fish pal is the salmon fishers best friend - it lists daily all the salmon beats available in the UK, and you can pay online the night before or same day and go fish.

this is brilliant when the rivers are high or low - there is always somewhere fishable as long as you have a car:

http://www.fishpal.com/SearchResults.asp?dom=Pal

like anywhere in Ireland or Scotland, the locals always know what the fishing is like - ask in the pub, newsagents or ironmongers/hardware store.

if the rivers are in true drought or flood, you can always head to the lochs - lochy, Ness, Broom etc and hire a boatman or fish the inlets outlets etc.

also, ignore the purists - plenty plenty of salmon are caught on big devon minnows spinning each year, so if the small ally's GP's etc are not working, break out the sink tips and large tubes, needles etc - sunray shadows, dee monkeys, scandinavian tube flies etc.

all of which you can fish on a switch rod if you want - though i'd suggest taking a switch and a spey rod too.

all the very best for your trip.

Mark.

 

[G Ritchie]

The majority of the fishing on the northern rivers is let by the week at that time of the year, but you can still find some day rod availability. If you are looking to fish one of the larger rivers in the northern half of Scotland, such as the Spey or Ness, it may be worth contacting Ian Gordon for the Spey or Gordon Armstrong for the Ness Castle beat on the Ness, they should also be able to provide tackle if you don't plan to bring any with you. For the smaller rivers, try Iain Neale on the Findhorn or Ron Sutherland for the association water on the Helmsdale.

 

[Purple Spey]

Fishing in Scotland

Thank you for the recommendations. Much appreciated.

 

[scotsmac1]

Prey for rain, so look at weather, and book river near the rain. Fishpal is good river finder. I would concentrate on NE Coast, the upper Tay, Esks, Findhorn if you have water. tight lines, enjoy. Pm if you need specific help.

 

[fredaevans]

Great link above but a term I've never seen before.

"3.1.4. All finnock caught by anglers of 16 years or over must be returned to the water alive."

What's a 'finnock?'

fae

 

[Tyke]

"3.1.4. All finnock caught by anglers of 16 years or over must be returned to the water alive."

What's a 'finnock?'

fae

An immature sea run brown trout Fred; say below 1 to 2 lbs (probably nearer 2 lbs on the Spey which has run of good sized fish, more like 1lb on West coast rivers where the average size is smaller).

Unlike salmon they make multiple spawning runs so small fish returned ths year, provided the seals/ dolphins don't kill it, will run again next year as a larger fish - some of the big females have made 6 or 7 spawning runs.

Regards, Tyke.

 

[Kendrick]

Discussion going well and all members shared really beneficial information about Scotland fishing. Here I want to tell you I also have good experience of fishing in this beautiful country. Sutherland, Scotland is one of my favorite places of this region to enjoy fishing. It is also a great place for the nature lovers.

 

[JDJones]

FInnock

An immature sea run brown trout Fred; say below 1 to 2 lbs (probably nearer 2 lbs on the Spey which has run of good sized fish, more like 1lb on West coast rivers where the average size is smaller).

Unlike salmon they make multiple spawning runs so small fish returned ths year, provided the seals/ dolphins don't kill it, will run again next year as a larger fish - some of the big females have made 6 or 7 spawning runs.

Regards, Tyke.

Ha, ha. We have a similar run on the Rogue, immuature steelhead, referred to as half pounders. Consequently, even juvenile steelies, yet to see salt, get referred to as half pounders, or worse yet, trout, legally classified keep & kill. Sad.

BTW: Scotland is absolutly gorgeous, coupled with it's history should definitely be top priority on the bucket list of anyone having even an ounce of Celtic blood flowing though their veins!