Fly Fishing in Scotland, an overview for American guests

Fly fishing in Scotland involves a variety of techniques when fishing for Trout and Grayling. The article breaks down the different techniques, where and when to use them.

Fly Fishing in Scotland, Brown Trout, trophy, Wild Brown Trout, River tweed — A 62cm wild brown trout caught on a dry fly on the River Tweed in April

Fly fishing in Scotland with the dry fly

Firstly, dry fly for trout in our rivers is arguably the favourite technique for trout. We favour 4 or 5 weight 9ft rods for rivers. As a result of our association with Sage Rods, we favour the Sage LL trout rods and carry several in stock. However in smaller streams we can fish 7ft 2 weight rods, like the Sage Dart. Generally the best dry fly fishing is in the spring and April is a particularly productive month.

Lastly, the rivers in Scotland are clean and well oxygenated. As a result, there’s an abundance of wild brown trout keen to take your dry fly.

Fly fishing in Scotland, trout flies, trout fly, Olive, Para dun. River Tweed — The Olive Para Dun dry fly

Wet Fly fishing in rivers and lochs

Since trout also feed sub surface, it makes sense to go sub surface and fish the wet fly. In order to get your flies at the right feeding level, you should fish with either a sinking line or weighted fly. Although wet flies can be hackled and imitate terrestrial flies, they can also be tied to mimic small bait fish.

trout fly, paltered wet, top dropper, trout flies, trout fishing Edinburgh — A typical palmered fly as part of a team of three fished on lochs

When I was young, we fished a team of wet flies down and across on rivers. These were old fashioned patterns like the Greenwells Glory, which when you study them now, is simply an Olive imitation. Likewise in lochs, we used a team of hackled flies, like Soldier Palmers and Muddlers and pulled them in the surface.

fly fishing trips near edinburgh, Scotland, trout fishing holidays, Fishing guide, Near Edinburgh, boat fishing, fishing near Edinburgh, trout loch, boat fishing for trout — Fly Fishing for trout near Edinburgh success using Palmered flies on a loch

Euronmymphing for Trout and Grayling

When trout are not rising to dry flies and wets don’t work, it’s time to get Euronymphing! Despite a lot of our guests having limited experience in this art form, we have great success. Euronymphing is easy to learn and hard to master. We carry a stock of various rods you can try, and our guides are excellent teachers.

Salmon Fishing, River Ness, Wild Brown Trout, — An 11ft 2 weight Euronymph rod accounted for this stunning River Ness trout

Fly fishing in Scotland with the soft hackled spiders

Meanwhile, this is easily one of our favourite methods on rivers. Since the flies are light and sparsely dressed, casting a team of two soft hackled flies is easy and relaxing. A 3 or 4 weight rod is the best tool. Another successful method is to cast the flies square, and let them drift naturally.

trout flies, Water Hen Bloa, Soft Hackle, Spider, trout flies, wet flies, dry flies, River Tweed — Water Hen Bloa soft hackle spider Simplicity is fly Tying and easy to fish

In addition fish can be caught swinging the flies down and accross. On the other hand, when fishing flies with CDC hackle, you can false cast them (to dry them out) and fish them as a damaged dry.

Grayling flies, Trout Flies, soft hackled flies, spiders, fly box — A selection of soft hackled spiders we use on Scottish rivers

Fly fishing in Scotland for trout using the single hand rod spey cast

Firstly, not all rivers have space to present a back cast. This is when the single hand rod Spey Cast comes into its own. In addition, some of the best trout, hide in the most awkward places, so these cats open up new opportunities.

The Single Hand Spey Cast is effectively a moving roll cast. Also, all the casts that can be performed on a double hand Spey rod, can be transposed to the single hand rod. To conclude, you can single spey, double spey, circle C, snap T and snake roll to name a few.

Fly fishing in Scotland with Streamers

Big trout feed heavily on the prolific fly hatches in early spring. However, in my experience they switch their focus after May to bigger meals. As a result, big trout predate on smaller fish like Smolt, juvenile trout and Minnows. This is when the streamer patterns come in to their own. In order to get the flies to the right depth, it’s important to experiment with weighted patterns and if need be use sinked tipped lines.

Also a quick and erratic retrieve works best. So that you don’t agitate the trout, you get them to nail the fly. In addition it’s worth considering fishing a jig streamer pattern. This can be fished on a Euronymph set up and is also a deadly method. Consequently, you would fish two or three flies and the jig streamer would be the anchor.

Jig Streamer, streamer, trout fishing, lure — A Jig Streamer pattern for trout

Finally try to think like a big trout. To an old guide like me, this comes naturally. In order to find big fish, you need to know where they are likely to hang out, and in some instances, hide. Remember they didn’t get big without being crafty, so factor this into your strategy.

Conclusion

Whatever method of fly fishing you choose we can help you either learn, tune up or perfect these techniques. Likewise, if there is a method you would like to focus on, when fishing with us, let us know and we’ll be sure to factor it in.

Tight lines and best fishes!

Fly Fishing in Scotland, for trout an overview for American guests