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River Tummel Salmon Fishing

The beautiful River Tummel is located in central Highland Perthshire and is a highly popular Spring & early Summer River Tay salmon fishing tributary. The Tummel flows out of Loch Rannoch and greets the River Tay some 30 miles downstream. The lower 6 mile stretch of the River Tummel represents some of Scotland's finest salmon fly fishing from the downstream side of the Pitlochry hydro dam to the its confluence with the River Tay. Pitlochry is a highly popular Perthshire town for tourists and salmon fishers and has some excellent hotel accommodation options.

River Tummel Fishing Season

The River Tummel salmon fishing season opens on the 15th of January and finishes on the 15th of October each year. The Tummel is a classic Scottish fly fishing river with beautiful streamy fly fishing pools with intermittent deeper water where salmon are always present right throughout the season.

Big River Tummel Salmon

The River Tummel is the migration route for the once famous heavyweight River Garry salmon which were huge River Tay salmon and were often caught up to 50lbs in weight. Ocassionally colossal salmon will still be seen in the Pitlochry fish ladder or hooked in the Tummel as a reminder of this famous heavyweight strain of Tay fish. Each year salmon of 20lbs plus are caught and the ocassional fish of 30lbs too so there is always the chance of catching a heavyweight fish on the Tummel.

The River Tummel Location

The nearest city to the River Tummel is Perth with Edinburgh or Glasgow not that far away either with good road systems in place to keep driving easy. Both Edinburgh & Glasgow benefit from international airports and transfers can be arranged from either cities to the quality River Tummel Valley accommodation options.

River Tummel Fly Fishing Equipment

Fly fishing equipment for the River Tummel is typically a 14/15ft ft double handed salmon fly rod with a floating line with sink tip. In low Summer water conditions a full floating line can also work well. In the early Spring months an intermediate line or a longer heavier sink tip can be added to a floating line and either rig fishes well.

River Tummel Salmon Flies

The highly popular Spring salmon flies are the Garry Dog, Cascade & Snaelda fly patterns. These can be tied on copper tubes to take them down a little bit in the cold higher Spring water conditions. During late Spring when the water warms move onto single or double hook versions. Other salmon fly patterns that fish well are the Ally's Shrimp, Sunray Shadow, Copperass & the Stoat's tail to name a few. In low water Summer River Tummel water conditions I've the smallest and lightly dressed Stoat's Tail or Silver Stoat patterns are deadly.

River Tummel Fishing Equipment

Studded boot chest waders are essential on the Tummel to get a good grip of the riverbanks and riverbed stones when wading. Polaroid sunglasses are essential too which in certain water & light conditions can actually help you to pin-point where salmon are lying in a pool.  A life jacket on all Scottish salmon rivers is mandatory just in case you should lose your footing at any point. The majority of River Tummel salmon pools do however offer easy wading and often it is much better to stay out of the river where possible to avoid disturbing the salmon pools.

Booking River Tummel Fishing

The River Tummel is a prolific Scottish salmon river and many salmon anglers visit its beautiful salmon beats annually. The limited salmon fishing access that's made available each year is best booked well in advance to guarantee your salmon fishing such is the popularity of this amazing little Tay tributary salmon river. There are some beautiful hotels located in the Pitlochry & Dunkeld area which are within easy commuting distance to the River Tummel.

The River Tummel Fishing Experience

The River Tummel offers an exciting Scottish salmon fly fishing experience and is located in some of Highland Perthshire's most amazing scenery. While regarded by many as a Spring & early Summer salmon fishing river the late Summer and Autumn months produce many salmon too. With snow clad mountains feeding this river for the first half of the year there's little that compares to the excitement of the battle with a powerful River Tummel salmon. 

A Perfect Scottish Salmon River

This beautiful Scottish fly fishing salmon river has to be experienced to really be apperciated and I would say it's definitely one of the very best. Once you've fished the beautiful River Tummel and witnessed the ease of covering its lovely salmon fly fishing pools you'll understand what this Scottish salmon fishing destination truly represents.

Salmon Fishing Beats