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
The 2016 Summer fishing in Scotland is almost coming to an end – where have the months gone!
Apologies for the lack of updates with the blog, we’ve had a lot going on at Scotia HQ.
We’ve had a very positive season with many clients visiting from across the globe including USA, Canada, Australia, Europe and Asia. Our summer has been rather cold, which although not so pleasant for those visiting the country on vacation, has made for better fishing conditions!
Scotland in summer, it takes some beating for natural beauty!
Late spring and summer period has seen some great fishing spells for all species, particularly salmon. The Tay has received consistent runs throughout the summer months with many multi sea winter Salmon mazing an appearance throughout the river system.
The lower river has fished particularly well from July onwards, with some beats having their best July for over a decade!
Returning the new record Salmon landed 18lbs of Tay silver!
Our clients felt the rewards of this with some good catches. The highlight of the bunch had to be returning customer Jacopo (only 13 years of age) landing a Tay powerhouse 18lb Atlantic Salmon!
Also having a great day was big Sebi from Switzerland with a stunning brace of Tay silver on the fly! Not bad for your first time ever Spey casting!
A few “woo hoos” were in order!
His girlfriend also lost two spinning – what a day that could have been!
With the colder weather our rivers fished very well and we had much better brown trout fishing than last year. We picked up a number of nice browns on nymphs during this period.
Robert (Rab) aka 603 Fly Guy with a nice brown on the Euro nymphing set up!
I had a great day out with Robert on the river chatting about all things fishy – the fishing was as good as the banter also!
Cody had a cracker right at the close of play, proving it pays to fish hard to the end!
Cody’s new PB Brown Trout on the Frenchie…
As well as the ever obliging and very welcome Grayling…
Rafael’s first ever Grayling!
The Hill loch brown trout fishing has been hit or miss, on the colder days it has almost felt like winter up at these higher altitudes, putting the fish down. We have still managed to catch a few though!
It can be cold up on the tops of these hills. Still as beautiful though!
Leonard had some good sport fishing traditional Scottish wet fly tactics.
Leonard with an average wild brown trout…
The Pike fishing has been consistently good with fly and modern lure fishing tactics. For a couple of weeks the big fish were hard on the feed and our clients landed some great pike during this period on lures..
The biggest of the season so far goes to Piotr using light lure fishing tackle.
As fat as they get, this Pike was sitting under some of the largest shoals of Perch fry I have ever seen!
Chad managed a cracking first ever Pike on the fly.
A hard fighting Pike on fly…
Just look at the beautiful colouration on these Pike!
I managed a couple of short breaks myself including a three day trip to Iceland (report to follow soon). I also took a recent foray up to the Highlands with my partner. We were unlucky with the weather though and endured some spectacular wind and rainstorms, which put an end to the fishing, but made for some interesting photographs!
Tornado like wind storms up in the Highlands of Scotland
The summer fishing period in Scotland is coming to an end for 2016. With the arrival of Autumn we hit one of the best times of year to fish for all fresh water species in Scotland.
It is also one of the most beautiful seasons to be on the water with the leaves turning on the trees and misty mornings – I can’t wait!
The Fishing season in Scotland differs from river to river, loch to loch and species to species. This can become problematic for visiting anglers. We have decided to list the full fishing seasons of Scotland in this post to help visiting anglers when planning their visit.
Our native Wild Brown Trout, one of the most popular targets in Scotland.
Trout Fishing season in Scotland
The traditional Trout fishing season runs from the 15th of March to 6th of October. Some fisheries (including the Tweed and Annan) have delayed their opening day until the 1st of April and end it earlier on the 30th of September. We can only presume this is to allow extra recovery time for the Trout and allow Salmon anglers more room during the peak back end period.
Stocked Rainbow Trout Fishing is available all year round, there is no closed season. The majority of Rainbow Trout are triploids (sexless), so they do not spawn in our waters and therefore do not require protecting.
Traditionally the Grayling season operates during winter, although nowadays many rivers offer year round fishing for this wonderful species.
Grayling Fishing Season in Scotland
In recent years the Grayling has become a much sought after quarry for the discerning fly-fisher, particularly during the trout closed season. Subsequently most grayling season permits on our rivers run during the closed season for Trout. Please note that on many rivers the Grayling can be targeted on a Trout permit but it is recommended not to specifically target them during their spawning and post spawn periods which is generally April & May.
River Tweed & Tributaries – Available from the 1st of December to 28th March.
River Annan – Available from 1st of December to 28th March.
River Tay & Tributaries – Available all year, although not recommended in April & May.
River Earn – Available from 15th of November to 15th January.
Atlantic Salmon fishing in Scotland is available 11 months of the year.
Salmon & Sea Trout Fishing Season in Scotland
The Salmon & Sea Trout (often referred to as migratory species) fishing season is more diverse and varies in Scotland from river to river. Over centuries the Salmon have adapted their survival strategy to suit their environment, migrating at different times of the year. Some of our river management systems recognised this and subsequently adapted the seasons to suit, offering the Salmon protection during vulnerable spawning and post spawn periods.
Pike – One of Scotland’s most popular coarse species target.
Coarse Fishing Season in Scotland
Coarse fishing is available all year round in Scotland, there is no closed season. Many lochs that allow Trout or Salmon fishing only distribute coarse fishing permits out-with the game fishing season. This is mainly to manage confusion over which species you are fishing for.
The main Coarse species that can be found in Scotland include: Perch, Pike, Roach, Rudd, Carp, Bream, Tench Chub & Ruffe.
Pollock can be targeted year-round in some areas of Scotland.
Sea Fishing Season in Scotland
The Sea fishing season in Scotland is like the coarse fishing season in that there is no closed period. Certain times of the year however suit different species and many can only be found during the warmer months. Sea fishing is also completely free in Scotland!
https://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.png00Callum Connerhttps://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.pngCallum Conner2016-03-27 17:24:302016-03-27 20:37:19Fishing Seasons in Scotland
Fishing in Scotland in September got off to a flyer for our clients! We endured some beautiful weather, it still felt like summer for most of the month, with temperatures reaching 24 celsius which is crazy for Scotland. We also had one of the driest Septembers on record which didn’t help the Salmon fishing it must be said. Our first trip saw us looking after the lovely Bec & Gord all the way from B.C for two days on the River Tay. On the first day Gord managed to connect with a Grilse fishing the boil pool .
Gord’s first ever Atlantic Salmon!
We saw very few fish the first day but enough to know they were there! Next day saw us on the Lower Tay, we were seeing lots of fish, ridiculous amounts to be honest but we just could not stop them. These fish had obviously dropped back in the recent big water and decided they wanted to head back up river – how anti social! We tried everything but it just wasn’t to be. I was gutted for Bec as she really stuck at it with the fly and deserved a fish for her efforts!
Juraj made the right choice and fished with Scotia..
Next trip saw us Trout and Grayling fishing in Scotland on the Tweed system. With the water so law we were using the in fashion technique of “French Nymphing”. This is a highly effective method, especially in low water conditions associated with summer fishing. My guest was Juraj from Slovakia who was a big fan of Loop Tackle (good lad), he came dressed top to toe in Loop merchandise which was great to see! Juraj had done plenty fishing, especially French nymphing and had brought a box of lovely nymphs of which I will be replicating at the vice very soon.
My Loop brother Juraj slips back a nice lady…
Despite low water conditions the fishing was great, albeit with mostly smaller stuff. Juraj must have landed between 40 & 50 small Trout and Grayling up to 1lb in weight, with the Grayling above being the pick of the bunch!
I also had out Ian from Australia for a days fly fishing targeting Grayling. Grayling were a species on Ian’s bucket list and his goal for today was to get one worth of a photo. It didn’t take long for Ian to start catching using French Nymphing tactics in the fast shallow runs.
A typical french leader set up…
We must have had over 40 fish throughout the day up to 3/4 of a pound. No monsters but great sport! Ian managed to get a Grayling worthy of a photo and was delighted with his day, mentioning it’s the most fish he has ever caught in a day! Fantastic, it’s always great to hear!
Ian’s best of the day. Although he did lose what looked like a belter in the same pool shortly before!
The mist burns slowly away…
We had a few beginners half day fly fishing in Perthshire courses on this month. With a group of lawyers and some lovely ladies from America and Northern Ireland. We had some amazing weather, again not the best for fishing but for visitors coming to Scotland there wasn’t a better way to see our country in all its beauty!
Here’s a couple of pics of the groups.
American ladies enjoying fly fishing in Scotland, in the sun!
Lawyers from Glasgow enjoy a half day introduction to fly fishing.
With low water conditions in September 2014 the Salmon have been a little on the scarce side, they’re just haven’t arrived there in the volume they should be at this time of year. Callum was looking after a group of three American gentleman Salmon fishing in Scotland on the Lower Tay in very low water, below summer level. We tried both fly and spinner throughout the day and despite a number of fish showing and running past us we struggled stopping them. This has been a common occurrence this year, it’s very strange and highly frustrating! We were gutted we couldn’t get the guys into a Salmon but they still had a great day out on the Tay!
The closest we got to a Salmon, the famous Fishponds cushion!
Lunch is served…
September Fishing in Scotland
With a day off I managed to get out for a days Pike fly fishing with my good friend. We opted to take the float tubes with us instead of boat fishing. For anyone who hasn’t fly fished for Pike from a float tube – you are missing out! It was a tough morning with only a small Pike of around 3lb to show for our efforts. I had to talk my friend into staying and get re-motivated (yup, guiding on my day of, sigh). A wee pit stop was in order and we piled some food into us to get the blood sugar levels up. Concentrating on one of our hotspots where there is always Pike hanging around it wasn’t long before Jack hooked into a fish.
23lbs of Trossachs Pike
I could tell instantly it was a big fish as it hardly fought once hooked, as it came towards the tube it woke up, oh yes! A long tussle ensued and I finned to shore snapping away with my camera as my friend tired this beast. Eventually we landed her, quick weigh and some pics and back she went to fight another day!
The following day saw me help out fly casting guru, Loop Akademi Director and one of life’s good guys Eoin Fairgrieve, as he was out the country he needed someone to fill in for some spey casting instruction pupils on the River Tweed. It was a first time for me on the lovely Ladykirk beat with very welcoming and professional ghillies (I’ll be back). As I was helping one of the pupils I made a point to him about checking his fly every dozen or so casts. He pulled in his fly to check it and it was tangled – point taken. Then within three or four casts I had to help him land this spanking wee Grilse!
Well done that man!
This turned out to be only fish for the pupils on that day. The guys were a pleasure to teach and I personally enjoyed the day, always good to see your pupils improving.
Lennie was looking after American couple for some Trout fishing on a hill loch. It was a rather dreich (wet and misty) day with the fish not in the most cooperative of moods but they still managed a few Trout including this lovely Brown.
Michael displays the Trout suing the famous baguette grip
With the weather being so warm for such a length period the stillwater temperatures hadn’t dropped and the fishing was really challenging as the fish were switching off during the day and only feeding at first and last light.
Lennie was also looking after the Ruzzin’s (Husband and Wife) from the USA who wanted to do some Pike fishing whilst in Scotland. They had some great sport with hard fighting Pike up to 8lbs caught using soft plastic lures. Pike are such a great sport fish and come highly recommended from our guides. We use fly and modern light lure fishing outfits and the Pike really give a good account of themselves.
A wee spirited Jack Pike
Hanri and Erns were our lovely guests from South Africa out to sample Salmon fishing in Scotland on the River Tay. The river was now very low, off the guage and below summer level. We really were up against it. There was a few fish about but as is often the case in such conditions, they are very hard to tempt. Despite the lack of Salmon they both enjoyed learning to Spey cast in the spiritual home of Salmon fly fishing!
Hanri fishes in nice light on the Tay…
Also out for Salmon were Mickey from Essex who was a “diamond geezer” or great bloke for those unfamiliar with the Southern English slang! he was great company and a pleasure to spend the day with. His casting really improved throughout the day and he was double spey casting like a boss by the end of play!
Mickey pops out a double Spey on the Middle Tay
We also had a father and son Salmon Fishing trip on the river Tay with Jim and Phil from the USA. We still had desperately low river levels, despite being fish about they were extremely difficult to tempt. We tried super small flies, spinners fished slow, fast – the lot that week! The father and son duo were super keen to learn Spey casting and deserved a fish for their persistent efforts, sadly it just wasn’t to be!
Still it’s, not a bad place to spend a day is it?
Phil fishes the Boil Pool
During that week I took a photo of a fellow angler fishing on the Tay, I thought it really summed up Salmon fishing in Scotland in September!
Says it all!
Fishing in Scotland in September
We also had out a friend of one of our clients (Graham Davis, who gave us this live testimonial) from earlier in the year. Graham kindly recommended our services and Jim spent two days fly fishing for Trout and Grayling. being from Tasmania, Jim was desperate to fish Loch Leven, which is where the Trout in his native homeland all originated from! It was tough day, typical of Leven and they had one rise to a fly and missed it – bugger!
The lady of the stream…
I had Jim out for his second day on the river chasing a big Grayling. This area doesn’t produce numbers but instead quality! It’s a hard old slog but quite often these days are rewarded if you persevere. Jim must have landed well over 20 small Trout up to 3/4 of a lb in the morning but no Grayling. We found some fairly shallow fast running water, attached some heavier nymphs to the French leader and gave this area a good going over. It wasn’t long before Jim connected with a Grayling and as it surfaced I got excited as I noticed it was pig. This was the fish we were after! Jim carried on applying pressure as it flopped around on the waters surface ( I hate it when they do this ). Before I could even get a chance to say ‘ease of’ it was gone! A few grunts of disappointment followed before we re-grouped and got stuck back into the pool.
Jim covers the pool…
Jim covered it right down to the bottom before he connected with another Grayling, this time around 1lb. Once I netted it I was showing Jim how to display the fish for the camera. ( For those who have never handled Grayling, they are the hardest fish to handle and photograph, very wriggly!) As I showed him I managed to magically make the Grayling disappear through my fingers – “sorry Jim, we’ll get another don’t worry”. Jim saw the funny side and luckily for me he had caught Grayling before so wasn’t that fussed about the photo! That was the only Lady of the day, despite covering lots of ground. The Grayling were not lying in their usual spots and I was still amazed to find them in such shallow water for this time of year in all honesty. It’s been a funny old season!
Pike on the fly, from the tube – it’s better than sex!
Our second Pike job of the month saw us out with Swiss guest Arnaud who was a big Pike fan! He wanted a good experience having never caught more than one Pike in a day back in his homeland. He also would like to catch a Pike on the fly having never done so either. There are never any guarantees but I felt quietly confident we could achieve one on the fly and beat that record :). Well, to say we beat it was an understatement, Arnaud ended up with 9 Pike up to 12lbs including one on the fly!
Arnaud’s biggest of the day…
A great day for Arnaud and he has booked another trip with us for Salmon later in the month – last day of the season to be precise! Looking forward to seeing him again as his enthusiasm is very infectious – lets hope we can carry on the good luck!
Last trip in September saw us out with a lovely family from Bermuda. No fish but what a great day they all had. They were great fun and the day was full of humour, it’s just a shame the Salmon weren’t interested – bloody low water conditions!
The Boyle family from Bermuda and our man Lennie!
Fishing in Scotland in September is normally a great month and to be fair, we did see in glimpses what it can produce but in regards to Salmon fishing it wasn’t the best. We really need some rain and taking fish! At the time of writing we have just seen a rise in level on the river Tay with more rain forecast for the week – yeeha!
Big thanks to all our customers fishing in Scotland in September with us, it was a great month and we had a blast!
October is shaping up to be a great month for Pike and Salmon fishing. We still have some availability so if you are interested in booking a trip get in touch now by using the “Email Us” button at the top of the page.
Tight lines!
Callum & Lennie
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https://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.png00Callum Connerhttps://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.pngCallum Conner2014-10-05 19:08:262014-10-05 19:17:32Fishing in Scotland in September – 2014 Round Up
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