Pitlochry Fishing

The Mighty Atlantic Salmon!

Salmon (Salmo salar – Roman for Salmon the leaper)

Watching a salmon leaping up a waterfall on its way home to spawn is one of nature's sights to behold. Records show salmon leaping at least 12 feet in determination to ascend a waterfall. In Highland Perthshire you can often see Salmon leaping at The Hermitage, Pitlochry Dam & Salmon Ladder, Soldiers Leap at Killiecrankie and the Linn of Tummel.

Rivers and burns throughout Highland Perthshire are home to many thousands of migratory salmon, some of which swim many miles into the mountains to reach their home pools to spawn and start another cycle of their amazing life story. The young salmon grow in our clean waters for a few years before starting their epic journeys to the salt water feeding grounds via the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Some of them reach the Davis Straight on the west coast of Greenland before heading home again, a distance of 6000 miles as the crow flies! On their return they battle their way past nets, killer whales, dolphins and the thousands of seals that prey upon them around the coasts. The survivors, a small percentage of those that hatched in our rivers return home safely to re-produce and provide thrilling sport for the angler fortunate enough to encounter them.

Salmon fishing is available throughout Highland Perthshire from 15th January until 15th October although some beats of the River Tay remaining open until 31st October. Click here to peruse our Angling pages.

Salmon may arrive in the River Tay on any day of the year but of course there are peak times. Spring salmon are the earliest running multi sea winter fish. In most rivers the main runs start to arrive in March, but on the River Tay they can arrive much earlier but generally the numbers are fairly low until then. April and May are the hot times for spring salmon, these fish can be large, and in years gone by specimens around the 30lb mark have been encountered.

Salmon require a good freshwater habitat for successful breeding; pollution free water, accessible stable redds, and good water levels.

Catch & Release has been introduced on our rivers to aid the survival of the mighty Salmon, one of our treasured natural resources. Over the last 3 decades the number of salmon returning to our rivers from the sea has fallen by more than half.

For more information on river habitats visit Scottish Natural Heritage, the mighty salmon visit Salmon & Trout Association, fly fishing visit Lets Fly Fish with Ally Gowans

Lets Fly Fish with Ally Gowans

Ally Gowans is a professional writer, photographer, fishing instructor and guide who provides top class tuition and instruction including Spey casting, underhand, roll and overhead casting with two handed rods and all types of single handed casts, including overhead and side casts, roll and Spey casts, underhand casts and the use of single and double hauls with those casts. Learn all the secrets for successful fly fishing.

Fly fishing tuition and guided trips are available within the Highland Perthshire area and throughout Scotland, contact Ally to make arrangements. Ally also holds Spey casting and single handed casting schools in Scotland and various other countries including USA, Canada, England, Ireland, and Italy. If you would like to arrange a fly fishing school close to your location contact Ally for details.

Ally's qualifications include APGAI trout, salmon and fly tying, AAPGAI Master and FFF Master Instructor and Two Handed Casting Instructor. He also hold a coach licence for game angling, a requirement for undertaking public authority coaching duties. These qualifications are fine but they pale into insignificance against over 50 years experience of being a serious fishing bum. Whilst he cannot cure the angling disease he can make it more enjoyable, infectious even, by teaching you trout and salmon fishing and fly tying to the very highest standards.

Ally is the creator of the renowned Ally's Shrimp salmon fly, amongst others, which was voted the "Salmon Fly of the Millennium" by the readers of Trout & Salmon magazine and the Trout Fisherman & Angling Times.

To download a copy of Ally's informative brochure click here. Gift Vouchers are available and make the perfect gift, visit the website for more details.

'Spey Casting Made Easy' DVD was directed and produced by Ally and it is possibly the most instructional fly fishing DVD ever about Spey casting and salmon fishing. This DVD teaches double handed Spey casting techniques in a simple and effective manner. Including chapters on efficient Roll, Single Spey, Double Spey, Snake Roll, Snap Tee and Underhand casts and how to avoid common casting faults associated with these casts. Extra chapters on fly tying Ally's Shrimp, knots, shooting line, sinking line and choosing the correct cast for the prevailing conditions.

Dalguise Beat - River Tay

The Dalguise Beat is a consistently productive and accessible double bank beat on the middle Tay, extending 1.25 miles of double bank fishing. Dalguise lies amongst some of the most breathtakingly attractive countryside to be found in Highland Perthshire, with rich farmland, wooded hills and magnificent views to the distant mountains. The beat lies 5 miles north of Dunkeld and is reached via the A9 trunk road.

Dalguise fishing forms some of the most impressive and respected salmon fishings on the middle Tay. With Kinnaird sitting up river and Dalmarnock down river, it provides some excellent holding water and has a productive catch record. The beat stretches from Kincraigie Burn to Rotmell and marches with the Dalmarnock Beat. It is fishable both by boat and wading, as well as from the bank, over which there is excellent access. There are many pools and streams on the beat, including: Guay Pool, Tail of Guay, Boils, Flats, Casting Platform, Neck of Bridge Pool, Tail of Bridge Pool, Dowally Stream, Calum's Corner, Island Pool, Tail of Island, Neck of Otterstone, Otterstone, Tail of Otterstone, Sarah's Spot. For additional information on the Dalguise Beat click here.

The fishing is normally let as a six rod beat with a further two proprietors' rods being retained. Depending on water height, fishermen divide their time between fishing from a boat, by wading or fishing off the bank. The salmon season runs from 15th January to 31st October annually, excluding Sundays. To complete a booking form click here.

Dalguise offers an excellent lunch hut, built in 1978, in a traditional style of pine with felted roof. The hut is raised above the river and from its veranda there are magnificent views of the upper beat and surrounding countryside with hilltops in the distance. The interior is very atmospheric with records and memorabilia of many exciting days on the water from years gone by.

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Lower Kinnaird Salmon Fishing - River Tummel & Tay

Lower Kinnaird Salmon Fishing commences at the River Tummel road bridge (A827) incorporating the last three salmon pools of the River Tummel and down into the renowned Junction Pool where the River Tummel meets the River Tay. The beat extends a further 2 miles downstream and incorporates some of the best 'holding' fly water on the River Tay including famous pools such as Ferry Stream, Plantation, Swimming Pool, Island Stream, Green Bank, Ash Trees, New Pool, Fir Trees, Kindallachan & the Guay Pool.

Fresh run fish are present in the Kinnaird beat from January onwards due to the early run of Loch Tay salmon and the early arriving River Tummel salmon which back up in this magnificent beat throughout the Spring months. The fishing increases in potency from March onwards with more and more salmon seeking refuge in the unique pool formations Kinnaird is fortunate to benefit from.

The Head Ghillie Martin Edgar has worked on the Kinnaird water for 10 years, his understanding of the beat is second to none which compliments his enthusiasm and drive in delivering the perfect client experience. The fishing hut on Lower Kinnaird has full cooking facilities, hot and cold water, WC, fridge and freezer. The beat also holds a good stock of high quality fishing equipment should a client wish to hire fishing tackle.

Mill Pond - Trout Fishing
This is a small loch, set in beautiful surroundings, with natural brown trout. It has a well equipped bothy and is ideal for BBQs and picnic lunches. Float tubes can be used on this loch under the supervision of one of our ghillies and there is also a boat for the use of anglers.

Permit Prices:
Prices and availability available by contacting the Estate Office by phone or email.

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West Haugh & Dunfallandy Beats - River Tummel

Salmon Fishing on West Haugh and Dunfallandy Beats, River Tummel

West Haugh and Dunfallandy beats of the River Tummel offer some of the finest salmon fly fishing water on this river and some of the very best spring salmon fishing in Scotland. The fishings cover some 1.7km of the river, mostly double bank, and includes famous pools such as the Sawmill Stream, Poldour, the Middle Pool and Pool Treigh.

The occasional fish is landed in January but from the middle February onwards you can be sure that fish are in residence and when the main runs of springers are arriving from March to June top class fishing can be expected whenever conditions are good.

Salmon fishing permits are sold by the Milton of Fonab Caravan Park.

Permit prices:
15th January to 4th March, £25 per permit
5th March to 23rd March, £35 per permit
24th March to 1st June, £50 per permit
2nd June to 18th June, £35 per permit
19th June to 15th October, £25 per permit

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