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Fishing trips and touring throughout Scotland

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UK +44 7734 810 706  

USA TOLL FREE 800-972-0408

  • Home
  • About
    • About Home
    • Why Alba Game Fishing
    • Team of fishing guides
    • Videos of Fishing Holidays throughout Scotland
    • What Fishing Tackle is best in Scotland
    • Partner with Alba in Scotland
      • Barrio Fly Lines
      • 4×4 Hire Scotland
      • Links
    • Fishing in Scotland – Blog
    • Alba Brochure – 2024 Fishing and Touring in Scotland
  • Fishing in Scotland
    • Packages Home
    • Salmon Fishing Scotland
    • Trout Fishing in Scotland
    • Pike Angling
    • Corporate Events
    • Sea Fishing Trips Scotland
    • Fishing Gift Vouchers
    • Grayling Fishing
    • Bespoke Luxury Vacations in Scotland
  • Fishing Events
    • Fishing Events in Scotland
    • Fly Fishing Experience Days Team Building
    • Corporate and Incentives – Trout fishing near Aberdeen
    • Learn to fly fish in Scotland
  • Bespoke Vacations
    • Mixed Fishing & Touring Vacation in Scotland
    • Macnab challenge in Scotland
    • River Tweed Fishing Lodge September/ October
    • Fishing vacation, staying in Fishing Lodge in Scotland – Perfect Staycation
  • Fishing Accommodation
  • North American Guests
  • Basket

What Fishing Tackle is best in Scotland

The Best Fishing Tackle to use in Scotland

What type of fishing tackle should you use when fishing in Scotland? Here is a list of fishing tackle we offer our guests to enjoy whilst fishing with Alba in Scotland.

At Alba Game Fishing we pride ourselves on using the highest-quality fishing tackle to help maximise your chances of success, whatever species of fish in Scotland you aim to target. We are also constantly updating tackle, upgrading and trading old gear in. In 2022 we added eight new Sage rods, and 10 new auto inflate life vests. 

fly box, dry flies, Richard Wheatley, compartment fly box
A customised fly box from Richard Wheatley

Why its a good idea to leave your waders at home

It’s never a good idea to burden yourself unnecessarily and fly into Scotland with lots of tackle and waders. Firstly, waders would have to be thoroughly sterilised before wearing them in a Scottish river, for fear of introducing parasites such as Gyrodactalus Salaris. 

Secondly, we can save you the hassle of carrying extra weight, and the worry you might lose your tackle on the journey.  We provide everything you need to fish in Scotland. High quality rods, reels and a choice of Rio Fly lines for all scenarios.

Our breathable Orvis waders are comfortable and we match them with sturdy wading boots fitted with PosiGrip tungsten studs to ensure a good grip, we have them in all sizes. We also carry a stock of women’s fishing waders, including the award-winning, lightweight Orvis Waders.

The best fly rods for river fishing in Scotland

For trout and grayling we use Orvis and Sage fly rods, mainly 5 and 6 weights. We carry a range of Orvis Clearwater and Orvis Helios 2 and 3 rods, and Sage LL, Sonic and X rods, and Sage ESN rods for nymphing. Recently we added a couple of the excellent Vision Nymphmaniac rods, 11ft #2 weight. These are ideal rods to learn Euronymphing with, they also offer great reach.

Sge spey rod, sage x, sage sonic, Double hand rod, salmon rods, salmon fishing, fly fishing
Sage Double Hand Spey Rods 2022

For salmon fishing, we use Sage double hand Spey rods, and Scott Mackenzie switch rods. We use 11ft, 13ft switch rods for the smaller rivers, and the spate rivers on the West Coast of Scotland, like the Gruinard, River Alness, Orchy, Oykel and the Shin. For the bigger rivers, we use 14ft and 15ft double hand for large rivers such as the River Tay, River Dee, River Spey and River Tweed. All of these are matched with a selection of salmon fly lines for all conditions. Skagit, shooting head, short spey, and 65ft full spey lines are available. All the salmon flies are tied by our guides here in Scotland, and they are highly effective.

grayling, flies, fly box, patterns, tungsten, jig heads, tactical fly box, river flies
A well armed box of nymphs

Sakura and Daiwa, spinning rods for predators and salmon

A lot of the big rivers allow spin casting, for salmon. In addition there are many predators in Scotland worth targeting.

In our opinion, the Sakura range of rods reign supreme and are ideal for targeting predators such as salmon, pike, perch and pollack. We carry a range of Sakura rods in stock and you can enjoy trying various models such and the Shinjin, Trinis and Shukan. 

For large salmon rivers like the Tay and the River Tweed, we use 10ft and 11ft Daiwa whisker spinning rods, these rods are idea for controlling big fish in big water. We also use these rods when shore fishing in the sea for large Pollack.

Sage, Flyfishing, trout reel, American, Sageflyfish, fly fishing, tackle, Rio lines
Sage Trout Reel – Front View

Alba Game fishing Trout Rivers best fishing tackle for dry fly

Rod: Sage LL 9ft #4 weight

Reel: Sage Trout Reel -5-6

Line 1: Rio Technical Trout

Line 2: Bario SLX 5 weight

Tippet: Varivas Super Yamame leader 4X (5.9lb) 14ft

Additional tippet Fulling Mill Masterclass 6X

Flies tied by Davie McPhail and Cuillin Rae

grayling nymphs, grayling flies, tungsten, jig hooks, Fly box, Fulling Mill,
A well loaded Grayling and Trout fly box

Best nymphing tackle for Scotland’s Trout & Grayling Rivers

  • Rod: Sage ESN 10ft 2 weight Nymphing rod
  • Reel: Sage ESN reel
  • Line 1: Mastery Nymph line
  • Line 2: Orvis Hydros Nymph line
  • Add’l Leaders: Rio Two Tone Indicator Tippet
  • Tippet 1: Fulling Mill Masterclass Fluorocarbon
  • Additional tippet Rio Powerflex
  • Nymphs tied by Davie McPhail and Cuillin Rae
 

Ideal salmon fishing tackle for big 4 rivers and Scottish spate rivers

  • Best Big 4 salmon Rivers tackle (Rivers Tay, Spey, Tweed, and Dee)
  • Rod: Sage Sonic 14ft # 9weight/ Mackenzie DTX G2 14ft 9/10 weight double hand Spey rod
Sge spey rod, sage x, sage sonic, Double hand rod, salmon rods, salmon fishing, fly fishing
The Sage X and Sage Sonic Spey rods
  • Reel: Danielsson Control 8/13
  • Line 1: RIO Products Scandi Outbound Versi tip
  • Line 2: Scott Mackenzie G3 Phased Density 5 Shooting Head
  • Poly Leaders: RIO Products Freshwater VersiLeader 10 ft/ various densities
  • Tippet: Maxima 15lb Chameleon (20lb in the spring)
  • Ideal salmon fishing tackle for smaller spate rivers (eg, Rivers Shin, Alness, Cassley, Luce, Gruinard and Avon)

    • Rod: Mackenzie Atlas Fly Rod – 6 piece – 11ft 4
    • Reel: Hydros IV for line weights 7-9
    • Line 1: Scott Mackenzie G3 Phased Density 5 Shooting Head
    • Add’l Leaders: RIO Products Freshwater VersiLeader 10 ft/ various densities
    • Tippet: Maxima 12lb Chameleon (15-20 lb in high water)
     

     

    Leave your waders at home, we have plenty in stock

    We carry stock of a wide range of waders and boots in various sizes for men and women. 

    Orvis Sonic and Access waders are breathable and comfortable and we carry Redington waders. 

    We also have men and women boots in all sizes up to size 15 US. Our boots are mainly Orvis and with some Vision boots, all with Vibram soles and tungsten studs. We hold over 50 Pairs of both in stock.

    As well as waders and boots, we carry a large stock of Orvis wading jackets. If you need wading sticks, we can help.

    salmon tackle, rod rack, river tweed, River Tay, River Spey,
    Home made fishing rod section holders

    Fishing Clothing for all seasons – what to wear?

    Footwear

    All year round, regardless of what time of year I would recommend waterproof training shoes, for boat fishing waterproof outdoor boots or waterproof outdoor boots, for bank fishing. For anything else, chest waders and boots with studs. This includes predator fishing from the sea shore, as the studs will give ultimate grip and the waders stop you getting splashed by the odd rogue wave.

    Nov  – March:

    Firstly I recommend wearing base payers, trousers and top. Then warm fleece trousers a long-sleeved shirt made of merino wool or thermal material like Polartec. Next a thick fleece or Patagonia nano puff jacket. You can then wear a second lightweight thermal jacket on top of this. This is why Patagonia jackets are so versatile and lightweight and don’t take up space when packing. Remember to bring a warm hat and most importantly, polarised sunglasses, for eye protection.

    Alba can provide lightweight waterproof wading jackets, over trousers. Furthermore if wading, we supply breathable waders, boots and auto inflate PFD life vests.

    Lastly, two pairs of socks are essential(a thin pair and thicker pair). The water is very cold and your feet need warmth. To allow for this, we go up a size in wading boots.

    April – Oct:

    Soft thermal under trousers are best, a long-sleeved thermal (merino wool, polartec or capilene) T-shirt, and a lightweight fleece or micro puf patagonia jacket. It pays to bring thin thermal leggings too, in case you want to layer up when wading. In April, Sept and Oct the weather can turn cool so bring extra body layers. A baseball hat and warm hat as back up and most important, polarised sunglasses.

    In addition, bring extra socks too, usually a thin pair with a warm merino pair on top works best. The water is cold in April. We always go up a size when supplying wading boots to allow for this.

    Alba will provide lightweight waterproof jacket, trousers and if wading we supply waders, wading jackets, wading boots and auto inflate life vests.

    Atlantic Salmon, Salmon, fishing, fly fishing, Spey Casting, catch and release, River Tweed, River Whiteadder, fishing guide
    Autumn Atlantic Salmon

    The Weather in Scotland

    Scottish weather is totally unpredictable. This is because we are close to the sea. In fact Scotland is influenced by both Arctic weather, and the warm air from the gulf stream.This contrast. Consequently this makes for unpredictable weather, and indeed some dramatic scenery and skyscapes.

    In the winter the temperature tends to hover around the 3 degrees c mark, with occasional frosts. Snow tends to only settle on the higher ground and in the mountains. We have an expression in Scotland, 4 seasons in one day and in the summer this can sometimes be the case. Its best to always have a few spare layers, and indeed an extra pair of socks!

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