Returning a September fish
AUTUMN WILL SOON be here, and this bountiful time of the season often gives us our best chance of a fish in Scotland. Here are a few opportunities for those of you who’ve yet to make arrangements.
Tight lines to you all,
Roy.
BEAULY
Rods available in September on the lower beats. This can be a very productive time of year, as long as the hydro chaps at Kilmorack dam are behaving themselves! There are 3 rods in the week commencing 8 September; 5 rods, week commencing 29 September.
For details contact: edward.mountain@bidwells.co.uk
TAY
On Upper Islamouth/Meikleour there are three days at the end of September. This is some of the best and most productive fly water on the Tay system and a joy to fish. You’ll be very well looked after by two great ghillies as well. 5 rods on 25 to 27 September.
For details contact fishing@islamouth.co.uk
Murthly 1 has a few rods available throughout the first three weeks of September. There’s usually a decent run of fish in the middle Tay at this time. It’s also the month when I saw the biggest salmon I’ve ever clapped eyes on, when in the boat by myself on the pool directly above the Murthly beat. I was within a rod’s length of the left bank and a fish head and tailed over in the channel that ran along the right bank. Even at some 90 yards its back looked like a lorry tyre. So, with trepidation I quickly manoeuvred the boat to intercept the fish. We didn’t make contact, but even after more than 20 years I can still see that great dark back porpoising out of the water.
For details about availability please telephone the Bidwells office in Perth on 01738 630666.
The Fishponds beat, below Stanley on the left bank and another one of my old stamping grounds, has an opening at the end of September. This is absolute prime time (bar floods of course) on this part of the river: 5 rods for 3 days, commencing 29 September.
For details contact estate@scone-palace.co.uk
There are rods available on the Catholes/Luncarty fishing for 13 to 15 October. Lovely fly water on Catholes.
For details contact stanley.fishing@ukonline.co.uk
NITH
At Drumlanrig, where there is fishing on three beats, there are rods throughout October and in to November. For details contact sporting@buccleuch.com
There are a few back-end rods at Barjag, which is noted for producing some big “greybacks” as the autumn fish are called. For details contact dalswintonsalmonfishing@btopenworld.com
ANNAN
Kirkwood is one of the finest fly-fishing beats on this river. There are a scattering of openings during the autumn, including the last two weeks of September, and the weeks commencing October 27 and November 10.
For details contact aisteel@aol.com
