Despite the uncertain times the fishing in Scotland this year post lockdown has been very positive, if not world class at times!
Firstly, it has been immensely encouraging to teach so many newcomers to the sport of fly fishing over the summer. Families, ladies, children, boys & men – I truly hope this continues!
This particular youngster below managed his first ever capture on a fly rod, a solid Rainbow Trout.
This was during a 2 hour lesson with SGAIC instructor & head guide Callum Conner after learning the roll and overhead cast within 30 minutes!
A chunky bow in the net for this young first time fly fisher!
There is no doubt after coming out of Lockdown we had missed the best of the dry fly fishing on our rivers. However, the lack of angling pressure saw us return into a bonanza first few trips as the trout were eager to take just about anything we threw at them!
Panamanian Student Isabelita had an outstanding day with a bunch of big trout and grayling on her first ever fishing trip!!
Panamanian Student Isabelita had an outstanding day with a bunch of big trout and grayling on her first ever fishing trip!!
The Sea Trout fishing has been exceptional on the Tweed. One can only presume the positive effects of net removals etc. On the back of any lift in water levels we were connecting with some very chunky caesars!
I even managed a cast myself at times…
What a fight of this lively bright Sea Trout!
I have observed most of Scotland’s rivers are fishing well this season but most related to us has been the salmon fishing on the River Tay & Tweed. July & August were the best I have witnessed in my time of Salmon fishing on the River Tay.
Our clients done well on the river with the most memorable day being father and son duo Peter & Bertie managing 3 Salmon and 2 Sea Trout – not bad for your first foray into Salmon fishing!
Here is Bertie with his first ever Salmon!
Returning client Derek fished with me five years ago and was great to see him back! After losing his first fish on a spinner right at the net, he changed to the fly and landed this hard fighter!
As we move into Fall/Autumn our attentions will turn to the Upper River Tweed for Atlantic Salmon along with some Pike fishing in the Highlands with lures, fly and dead-baits when the cooler temperatures set in.
A flawless 20lb plus Pike caught a couple of weeks ago by our Head Guide
So safe to say we are looking forward to the colder weather and searching for a few crocs in both species!
As the morning frosts increase it will then be time to target one of our favourite species, Grayling! For anyone it may be of interest we made this short film last winter about Grayling fishing on Scotland’s iconic River Tweed!
Anyone looking for casting tuition and guiding services get in touch – we still have availability for the rest of the season and prospects look good!
Callum Conner
https://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.png00Callum Connerhttps://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.pngCallum Conner2020-09-24 16:19:522020-09-24 16:19:59Positive fishing season in Scotland 2020
Scotia Fishing have access to some of the best Pike fishing in Scotland near Edinburgh!
Edinburgh is a fantastic location to visit in Scotland. The city has all you would ever need as a tourist visiting Scotland. Beautiful architecture, historic streets, palaces, castles, a beach and one of Europe’s best cities for food and drink!
It also benefits from being ideally situated only one hour from beautiful countryside and some of the best Pike fishing!
Best Pike Fishing Guides
Scotland is a bit of a sleeping giant when it comes to Pike fishing. When you think of Scotland, you will likely think of Atlantic Salmon fishing. Scotland is the home of Salmon fly fishing, so we can fully understand this thinking.
However, we feel the Pike is the underdog, If the Salmon is the king, the Pike is the prince!
Our Head Guide Callum Conner is recognised as one of the best pike fishing guides in Scotland. He’s been a fanatical Pike angler from a young age. Covering the length and breadth of Scotland to amass a wealth of knowledge on Scotland’s best Pike lochs and when it is best to fish these lochs.
During this time he has built up a respectable record of large 20lb plus Pike captures. He’s also one of only a hand-full of anglers in the country to have caught a wild of Pike of over 40lbs! (image above)
Using this experience we will guide you on carefully chosen venues to suit your experience.
Best Pike Fishing Lochs in Scotland near Edinburgh
Pike fishing in Scotland will take you into some of the most beautiful scenery the country has to offer. Fishing the iconic Scottish glacial lochs with roaring stags and aggressive tail walking Pike to interrupt the tranquility.
The glacial lochs are the ultimate challenge for the visiting Pike angler. Due to their size, local knowledge is paramount to success.
A good guide will use his experience to assess the conditions and how best to fish the loch. This will maximise your chances of success.
The glacial lochs are the best for larger Pike. We recommend booking a minimum of three days to give you the best chance at landing a 2olb plus specimen!
We’re fortunate enough to have come across some lesser known private lochs and have gained privileged access for our clients.
These private lochs have some of the best Pike fishing in Scotland near Edinburgh. Big numbers of hard fighting Pike can be caught here all year round.
These lochs have fewer 20lb plus Pike, but lots of sporting Pike in the 4-10lb class which are outstanding on light gear and fly!
Best Fishing Methods to catch Pike in Scotland
Spring Pike Fishing
In early spring the Pike can be be lethargic until the water warms up. During this period we will fish for Pike with bait (dead-baiting) during the morning session.
After lunch we will try fishing from the boat with lures and flies in shallow to medium depth water. Using a depth finder to locate the drop-offs from shallow bays into deeper water with sinking fly lines.
Once the water has warmed up and the Pike have spawned by mid to late May we will fly fish from the boat with 9ft #9 fly rods from Loop Tackle and streamer style flies or for spinning anglers we use light lure fishing rods 7ft in length rigged with fixed spool reels, braided mainlines equipped with an array of soft plastic, spinner baits and surface lures from Sakura-Fishing.
Summer Pike Fishing
Summer pike fishing is our favourite! This time of year we can find the Pike in shallow areas and sometimes sight cast to them with surface lures and surface flies. This is the best way to catch pike in Scotland!
Pike will often bow wave chasing fast stripped flies just subsurface. At this time of year your guide will use the Minn-Kota engine to manoeuvre quietly into position for you to reach the sun-bathing Pike!
Autumn/Fall Pike Fishing
Autumn/Fall see’s us revert back to Spring style tactics for pike fishing. As the water cools so does the Pike’s willingness to chase a bait. This all depends on the climate at the time. It is Scotland – so very hard to predict!
As October approaches the Pike will be slowing down and lure fishing opportunities become restricted to the warmer mid-day before eventually resorting to dead-baiting all day.
Winter Pike Fishing
We fish for Pike using dead-baits mostly from October to April. This method involves fishing with static baits.
Using a variety of different frozen baits we cast into the loch at various areas using a selection of rods to cover a suitable area. As the baits thaw the scent permeates into the water.
The Pike has a very advanced sense of smell and will sniff out the baits, sometimes very quickly. On its day, this is a very effective method and large catch days are possible.
Has this post wetted your appetite to try some Pike fishing?
When fall ends and one fishing season ends, it is time to turn my attention to winter fly fishing in Scotland for Grayling.
For me there is no more exciting time of year to be out fly fishing than in winter.
Typical Winter Fly Fishing Scene in Scotland on the River.
As the leaves begin to fall and the frosts become more frequent it is time to dig out the merino wool socks, big thermals, the 10ft #3 weights and the tungsten beaded nymphs!
Grayling are one of Scotland’s best kept secrets. A species you wouldn’t normally associate with Scotland.
You probably think of Trout & Salmon and quite rightly so. For me, the Grayling is the underdog. As a Scotsman this is a characteristic I can certainly identify with! It’s arguably our most consistent wild river species in terms of the quality of fishing – in my humble opinion.
Grayling History
Introduced to the Scottish lowlands in the 1800’s from England as an experiment. Grayling were not an indigenous species but have since flourished.
Since their introduction, they have managed to survive decades of persecution. It was once deemed a pest or nuisance fish, a threat to the Salmon populations for eating eggs.
Thankfully in recent times this attitude has changed and now grayling are very much sought after species in the U.K as angler look to extend their season beyond the traditional trout and salmon season.
Winter Grayling Fly Fishing in Scotland Film
When it comes fly fishing for grayling in winter our head guide Callum Conner has an unmatched passion. He decided to make this film with his friend to encompass what it is all about!
Winter fly fishing in Scotland is certainly not for the faint hearted. Sub-zero temperatures and cold fingers and toes are all part and parcel with the experience! The rewards are very worthwhile for those willing to embrace the cold.
The rewards are very worthwhile for those willing to embrace the cold. You can encounter some of the best winter fly fishing in Scotland within an hours drive of Edinburgh and Glasgow!
To find out more information or book a guided trip please visit our winter package page linked here or get in touch via the contact us button at the top of the screen.
https://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.png00Callum Connerhttps://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.pngCallum Conner2020-03-26 12:21:062020-03-26 12:21:08Winter Fly Fishing in Scotland for Grayling
As the 2019 fishing season in Scotland comes to an end I have to look back with fondness of another great year showcasing fishing in Scotland to clients from across the globe!
Spring Fishing Season 2019
I got our season off and running with my first ever Salmon caught in February from the River Tay! I was having a stressful time and there is no better way to de-stress than to go fishing!
Boom! 8lbs of spring Salmon!
The Spring Salmon season started well with some returning client Richard aka the Salmon slayer managing a fine brace! This was the larger of the two at 14lbs!
Ricky the Salmon Slayer returns!
Local man Bill made the journey south to fish the Tay for the first time and done superb landing this wee springer from one of my favourite pools on the River Tay!
One happy man!
The spring run did suffer later on this season as there seemed to be a smaller than average run. May was unusually tough for us with very few fresh fish entering the system.
The Brown Trout dry fly fishing was at times, sensational! Experienced rods done very well during huge March Brown and Large Dark Olive mayfly hatches. This is the best time of year to fly fish for Wild Brown Trout on our rivers. This presents the opportunity to land fish in excess of 5lbs!
Mr Rehwaldt capitalised on a short but huge March Brown hatch to land this well fed early season brown.
Clara from Malaysia took a day off during a trip to see the Spice Girls and tried fly fishing for the first ever time. She done great matching more than just the hatch!
The Pike fishing picked up after spawning and late May saw us back on the water chasing Scotland’s Apex predator! No leviathans for us during this period but visiting angler managed his first ever Pike on the fly after a few minutes of fishing!
Summer Fishing Season 2019
As the heat increased the trout & grayling fly fishing became a little slower and fishing was predominately nymphs and streamers in higher or coloured waters. Some lovely fish were caught using streamer tactics when conditions dictated.
Maddie smashed it out the park with a number of stunning Tweed Trout on the streamer!
The Grayling would make the odd appearance with some lovely summer specimens on the colder less bright days.
Dr Ian Phillip CBE wanted to rekindle his fond childhood memories of fishing with his father. He must have been looking down guiding him that day as he managed to land his first ever Grayling fishing a stretch of river he used to fish with his father when he was a boy!
The Grilse run arrived on the River Tay and our clients managed some great sport with these on both spinners and fly. Grilse are one sea winter Atlantic Salmon and tend to enter the rivers here in late spring and summer. They are normally very aggressive and good takers!
Mr Summerfield was rewarded for his perseverance!
I managed a couple of days north up on the River Dee for a change of scenery and was rewarded with three Atlantics over the trip with this one the best of the bunch and my biggest for the season.
Caught fishing close in on a big water at Park South
The Tay sea trout put in the odd appearance and seemed to be getting caught at larger than average. Our client managed this chunky sea trout fishing from the boat.
Biggest sea trout I have seen in flesh from the Tay system!
The summer Pike fishing was epic at times on poppers and large jerk baits. Giacomo smashed his personal best with this lean leviathan on the jerk baits!
Fall Fishing Season 2019
As the waters cooled the Pike fishing picked up with this chunky high double being the pick of the bunch for our Dutch party.
The Trout season drew to a close with a few nice fish throughout the year. Trout river fly fishing offers the most challenging and skilful experience here in Scotland.
Look at those markings!
The Grayling fishing picked up and we managed a number of fine specimens including this absolute tank!
The most famous time of year to fish for Atlantic Salmon in Scotland is fall. This is when the largest number of Salmon are in our rivers.
I managed a couple of outings in the River Tweed during this period due to cancellations and was rewarded with this lovely back end fish on the fly from the Upper river. Cleanest I have seen in recent years during this period so high up the system.
Just a man that loves to catch fish!
Ed Sheeran lookalike Tom Allsop done us all proud landing our biggest salmon of the season at 19.5lbs on the Mighty River Tay – what a fish!
That’s how to do it!
Meanwhile, the ladies were absolutely smashing it this year! The lovely Fiona Thomas landing this well proportioned Salmon from the River Tay!
Her first ever fish – way to go Fiona!
The Flordian ladies outdid their husbands with a fine brace of fresh Grilse from the boat too!
We still found a few Sea Trout in amongst the Salmon. Mike from Switzerland landing his first ever on a lure in a big dirty water!
We also landed our first ever Scottish Pink Salmon! These are non-native but do appear every odd year in small numbers. A couple of years ago there were numerous catches throughout Scotland’s salmon rivers. This year – not so many. This one was ready to spawn worryingly – releasing eggs everywhere whilst holding! Also caught among prime spawning gravels. We did try the same area in hope to remove another but to no avail!
What an ugly Salmon!
Winter Fishing Season 2019
Our 19/20 winter campaign is just kicking off but we’ve managed to land some great Pike of late on dead-baits.
The Grayling fishing has been sensational so far with quality over quantity and fish averaging 2lb plus – this is world class fishing! Early winter saw some fantastic results on the river with some beautiful Grays for clients including some firsts!
2019 Fishing Season Summary
No doubt the low spring salmon run affected our overall catches this spring but we still ticked away. Hopefully this small blip was just a one off and we cannot wait for the 2020 springers to arrive! Summer and fall were consistent with some lovely fish caught and plenty of first’s!
The Trout fishing is improving year on year in my opinion. There is no doubt the quality of the fish we have in our rivers. It is the most challenging fishing available here in Scotland from skill level point of view!
Pike continues to be the most consistent species in terms of catches – regardless of the conditions!
The Grayling fishing is improving all the time. It goes in cycles around 7 years they say and at the moment it was at the low end of the cycle meaning numbers are low but the size is up. We notice this immensely with average sizes around 1 1/2 – 2lbs.
2020 is already shaping up to be a busy season. We have some new venues and projects coming soon – stay tuned to the blog for more updates!
https://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.png00Callum Connerhttps://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.pngCallum Conner2019-12-04 10:04:062019-12-04 10:04:082019 Fishing in Scotland Season Review
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