Fishing in Scotland – Expert Q&A Guide with You Fish Scotland
Fishing in Scotland – Expert Q&A Guide with You Fish Scotland
Planning your dream fly fishing trip to Scotland? At You Fish Scotland, we make your journey — from first contact to your unforgettable day on the water — smooth, simple, and stress-free. Whether you’re chasing your first Atlantic Salmon, stalking wild Brown Trout, or hunting hard-fighting Pike, we’re here to make your experience extraordinary.
To help you prepare, here are answers to the most common questions anglers and visitors ask when booking their guided fishing experience in Scotland.
❓ Q. What do I need to bring?
A. Just yourself — we provide all fishing gear, equipment, and waders for your day on the water.
❓ Q. Do I need a fishing licence or permit?
A. No — we take care of all permits and permissions. All you need to do is enjoy the day.
❓ Q. What happens if the weather is bad?
A. We seldom cancel. With access to multiple rivers and beats, we’ve only cancelled three trips in fifteen years.
❓ Q. Will I catch a fish?
A. Fishing can’t be guaranteed, but our expert guides will maximise your chances with clear, easy-to-follow instructions. Simple adjustments like avoiding early strikes or staying quiet on the water often make all the difference.
❓ Q. Can I bring my own gear?
A. Yes — as long as your equipment is clean and disinfected to help protect Scottish rivers.
❓ Q. Can my partner come along?
A. Absolutely. If they’re not fishing, there’s no extra cost. If they decide to fish, there will be a small additional fee.
❓ Q. Do you offer transfers?
A. Yes — we can arrange hotel pick-up and return for £50.
❓ Q. Where are you based?
A. We’re based in Inverness, with a trusted network of guides across Scotland, including Edinburgh and Banchory.
❓ Q. Can you arrange something for non-fishing partners?
A. Yes — we can help plan alternative activities to make their day just as special.
❓ Q. What accommodation do you recommend?
A. We work with several hotels and B&Bs in Inverness. We recommend booking early, as Inverness is a desired destination. Please contact us for recommendations, as this will vary depending on the number in your party.
❓ Q. What are the main flight routes into Inverness?
A. Inverness Airport has direct flights from Amsterdam, Dublin, London Gatwick, and Heathrow, allowing you to clear customs before connecting.
❓ Q. How much should I tip the guide?
A. Tipping is optional, but the average is around £50+ per day.
❓ Q. Do you provide lunch?
A. Yes — optional lunches are available at £25 per person.
❓ Q. Do you offer half and full-day trips?
A. Yes — choose from half-day or full-day guided fishing adventures tailored to your skill level and target species.
Fishing Seasons in Scotland
❓ Q. What is the Atlantic Salmon fishing season in Scotland?
A. The season typically runs from early February to late October, depending on the river. Some rivers open earlier or close later than others, but the prime months are May to September, when water levels and conditions are ideal.
Spring salmon (“springers”) arrive early in the season, followed by grilse runs in summer and often a strong autumn run. Your guide will help you fish the best beats at the best time to maximise your chances of success.
❓ Q. What is the Brown Trout fishing season in Scotland?
A. The Brown Trout season in Scotland runs from March 15th to October 6th each year. Spring and early summer offer fantastic dry-fly and nymph fishing as trout feed actively, while late summer and early autumn provide exciting sport with bigger, well-conditioned fish.
✅ Best months: April to September
✅ Top dry-fly action: May & June
✅ Bigger trout: late summer to early autumn
Your guide will always choose the right waters and times to give you the best chance of success during the open season.
❓ Q. What is the Pike fishing season in Scotland?
A. Unlike salmon and trout, Pike fishing in Scotland is available all year round, making it an excellent option outside the traditional game fishing seasons. The best pike fishing is typically during the spring and autumn months, when water temperatures are ideal and fish are most active.
✅ Open season: All year
✅ Best months: March to June & September to November
✅ Top method: Fly fishing or lure fishing from a boat or bank
Our guided pike fishing trips give you the chance to catch hard-fighting pike in beautiful Highland lochs and rivers, using top-quality equipment and proven tactics.
❓ Q. How do I book my fishing trip?
A. Book directly on our website or contact us. Your booking is confirmed once payment is received.
❓ Q. How will we stay in touch before the trip?
A. We recommend WhatsApp for easy communication. We’ll send Google Maps or What3Words directions and keep you updated on any schedule changes.
❓ Q. Where can we eat in the evenings?
A. Inverness is popular in peak season — we recommend booking restaurants in advance to avoid disappointment.
❓ Q. Can I adjust my fishing times?
A. Yes — to give you the best chance of success, we may recommend early mornings or late evenings during warmer weather.
Book Your Guided Fishing Trip in Scotland
Whether you’re a first-time angler or a seasoned fly fisher, You Fish Scotland delivers unforgettable guided salmon, trout, and pike fishing experiences in breathtaking Highland locations.
✅ Expert local guides
✅ Premium equipment provided
✅ Flexible itineraries
✅ Transfers and lunch options available
Meet Our Guides
Wes
Wes has been a full-time professional fishing guide for 12 years covering both fresh and saltwater species.
His passion for fishing was ingrained into him as a young boy fishing in his hometown of Castlerock in Northern Ireland, Since then he has had a nomadic lifestyle traveling around the world fly fishing in just about every continent apart from one.
His passion for flyfishing can be easily displayed when out guiding as his determination for getting his guests that first fish is what drives him forward. His reward for his efforts is very simple, it is all about the smile of the guest then the release of the prized catch.
Wes promotes catch and release with a high emphasis on fish welfare and the safe handling of these magnificent creatures.
Jenny
Jen started to work within the business at the age of 14 and started guiding at the age of 18.
She has been guiding full-time now for 3 years and has just recently started to work on her SGAIC course (Scottish Game Angling Instructor Course)
Jen is loved by all her past guests and is highly recommended by these to others making her very popular.
Jen has just started her own baking business (baked by Jen) and only guides on her days of.f
She has traveled to America to get experience in Texas fly fishing for Reds, Drums, Sheepshead, Bass, and Blue Gill. Covid -19 stopped her from continuing this trend for the last two years and she is determined to get back.
Her love of fly fishing is all about the guests and her casting skills have impressed those that were taken back as her guests didn’t expect a young girl to be able to fly fish the way she does. She is also a mean cook and has provided our guests with some outstanding meals.
Roz
Roz is an integral part of business as she runs everything behind the scenes, the things you do not see such as Admin, Banking, and all the Accountancy materials required just to keep us legal.
Roz is the backbone of the business as she supports Jen and me with everything we do. She is often spending hours preparing food for hampers in the early hours of the morning as we have several guided trips going out every day.
Roz is an accomplished Pianist and Vilionist and writes her own music, her love of music both live and recorded is there for all to see. Roz can fly fish if required but would rather be on the hospitality side of the business as she enjoys the chit chat and making sure our guests are happy.
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Roz: +44(0)7590 277014
Wes: +44(0)7450 907163
Office: +44(0)1463 772121
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