When & where to go
If you have already decided which river to fish then you should go to that river's section (choose 'Areas
& Rivers' in the salmon fishing menu above) and refer to its pages on where and when to fish. These should
help you choose a suitable beat and a particular time of year.
Remember that whatever your decide, you may be constrained by price and/or availability. For example,
there is no point choosing the best week of the season on the best river, if there are no rods available or
the price is beyond your budget. You will often be far better fishing a good beat at off peak times or take
'shoulder' weeks around peak times.
Before booking, the first thing you should decide is how flexible you are on the dates you fish and the
notice you need of these dates. If you are flexible on both, then you can follow the conditions, catches,
prospects and availability pages in the relevant river section and book at the last minute when you see
everything looking favourable. Undoubtedly this gets you the best value for money fishing and can sometimes
reveal a last-minute bargain when other tenants can't manage their pre-arranged dates and have to relet in
a hurry.
If you are not able to be flexible on dates, because of prior commitments or are part of a larger group,
then you will need to book well in advance and hope that the conditions suit you when the time comes.
Remember to read the relevant pages for your chosen river, since this is only a guide to help you decide
which river to fish, if you haven't done so already. Another important consideration is what type of
fishing you require.
Large Rivers
These may be the most famous rivers, however, larger beats can pose a problem for those anglers not used
to casting long lines with large rods, or fishing from boats with the constant presence of a ghillie.
However, if this isn't an issue, and you have a pocket to match, then they will offer the best chances of a
fish when booked a long time ahead. The ghillie's advice and encouragement can also be on a par with some
of the best professional instructors. The Tay and the Tweed are the largest rivers on this site yet some of
the Lower Dee beats are similar.
Small rivers
Smaller rivers will suit independent and experienced fishermen since ghillies are less often supplied than
on the larger rivers. Those who dislike fishing with large rods should also consider this option, as should
people who like fishing in the uplands. The upper beats of the Dee are beautiful and full of Highland
character and it is a smaller river than the Tay and Tweed. The Esks are smaller rivers still and well
suited to independent fishermen.
Lochs
Loch fishing for salmon is less easy to find in Scotland but there are some fine examples of small loch
systems with interconnecting rivers in the Western Isles, many of which are quite famous, prolific
fisheries.
Sea trout
If you want to fish for sea trout then consider the Esks and some of the smaller rivers on the West Coast.
In addition some of the larger rivers have a good sea trout run - the Tweed in particular often produces
some large specimens. Its tributary the Till is a well known sea trout river, as is the Earn, a tributary
of the Tay.
