Scotland Spring Salmon Fishing

If fishing for salmon in Scotland in the Spring is one of your dreams. Then look no further. Pitlochrie and Catholes Spring are amongst the most famous spring fisheries on the Tay let alone the World. They are fished together on an alternative day basis until the end of April. Both beats extend to some one-and-a-half miles of superb double bank fishing.

Catholes is fished on both banks on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and Pilochrie is fished on both banks on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The beats are situated about six miles from the top reaches of tidal water. In the spring with water temperatures being low the salmon tend to have their first stop in these waters because of the Weir at the top of the Catholes thus making then both prime spring beats. The fishing comes with two ghillies and two boats on each beat.

The owners are anglers and support the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board Spring Conservation Measures and consequently would encourage all tenants to follow these guidelines.

Catholes offers some of the best spring fishing on the Tay with a weir crossing the river at the top of the Beat which acts as a temperature barrier.

The fishing is spinning and fly fishing from bank and boat in mostly small easily covered pools. It fishes six rods per day and has two boats and an excellent hut at the side of the river. It has 13 named pools including The Slap, The Pot, Gean Tree, Little Cast, Catholes Stream, Black Stones, Back Dam, Lucknow, Eric's, Geoff's, Freddie's Woodside and the Little Head.

Pitlochrie has nine named pools including the world famous Pitlochrie Pool and others including, Dyke Side, Kirkie Stream, The Wash House, Cawnpore, Minister, Woodside, Horsey and the Tar Tank. This beat offers good bank fishing in all heights of water for fly fishing and spinning. It is also excellent for harling from the two boats provided. It fishes six rods and has a hut situated overlooking the Wash house.

Ghillies. George Stewart: One of the River Tay's real characters with over 40 years experience of these beats. Bob White: Has over 20 years experience in angling for atlantic salmon and has extensive fly fishing knowledge. He can offer tuition in overhead and spey casting techniques.