Fly fishing in Scotland Blog

The 2026 season has started exactly how every guide hopes it will—full of energy, optimism, and, most importantly, incredible people from all over the world coming together to experience the very best of fly fishing in Scotland. At You Fish Scotland, the early part of...

Becoming a Certified Scottish Game Angling Instructor http://www.sgaic.co.uk/ is not something that happens overnight. It is a journey of dedication, discipline, and an unwavering passion for the sport. For me, it has been a two-year commitment of structured training,...

Scotland’s wild Atlantic salmon are in serious trouble. For those of us who live and breathe our rivers, this is not news—it’s something we see with our own eyes every season. But the scale of the decline is now undeniable, and the response from those in power simply...

On the 15th of October, a new and deeply personal chapter begins. After years of dedication to guiding, teaching, and sharing the waters of Scotland, I will be stepping into a full-time commitment to something even bigger — a completely free charity focused on helping...

One of the biggest challenges in preparing for the SGAIC and FFI examinations is just how different single-handed and double-handed casting truly are, despite sharing the same fundamental principles. On paper, they’re both fly rods.In practice, they are two distinct...

As the 2026 trout season approaches, there is a strong sense of anticipation at You Fish Scotland — but also reflection. This season feels different. It represents not only the continued evolution of professional fly fishing in Scotland, but also my final full season...

Learning the craft where history, water, and wild fish converge Introduction Fly fishing is more than a pastime—it’s a lifelong skill shaped by environment, tradition, and thoughtful instruction. Nowhere on earth offers a more complete learning ground than Scotland....

Preparing for the FFI (Fly Fishers International) and SGAIC (Scottish Game Angling Instructors’ Association) examinations is a long-term commitment that goes far beyond simply being able to cast a fly line well. With exams scheduled for April and May 2026, preparation...

There are times in life when everything feels heavy. When getting out the door feels like a battle. When your thoughts won’t slow down, and you’re not sure who to talk to—if anyone at all. If you’re reading this, know this first:It’s never too late to start. And...

By You Fish Scotland – Inverness, Scottish Highlands Salmon fishing in Scotland is more than a pastime. It is culture, history, livelihood, and connection to wild places that still feel untouched. Around Inverness, where rivers flow from peat-stained hill lochs to the...

In fly fishing, one cast done well beats ten done poorly. Whether you’re lifting line from the water for a new presentation or delivering a fly accurately at range, the overhead cast—and its close cousin, the pick-up and lay-down—is the foundation everything else is...

Why Silence Might Be the Most Powerful Tool in Fly Fishing Most fly-fishing content focuses on flies, rods, techniques, and locations. But there’s one factor that almost nobody talks about—and yet every experienced Highland guide knows it instinctively: Silence...