It's been a busy few days at FishPal with customers calling for advice and to book fishing during the Easter Holidays.
This week we are looking forward to attending the finals of Lantra. Scotland's much-anticipated Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards. Scott Milne from Stirling Council Fisheries is a finalist and we wish him the very best of luck.
It's then off to Tayside before finally arriving on Friday in Speyside for the 3rd Ladies Fishing Festival. 26 ladies from beginners to advanced will be fishing Knockando Estate and Gordon Castle Estate. All monies raised from this two day ladies event will be used by RSAA to get more young people into fishing.
If you would like to go fishing during the Easter break, please give Tom a call in our offices on +44 (0) 1573 470612 or visit the Find Fishing section on the website for the latest availability for salmon, trout, grayling and rainbow trout.
The FishPal offices will be closed Good Friday 30th March and Easter Monday 2nd April. We will re-open on Tuesday 3rd April at 9.00am.
During the London Fly Fishing Fair we held a competition to win a £250 FishPal fishing voucher and over the two day event, we received over 1,000 entries.
The lucky winner is junior angler Harry Brownlow, pictured next to his fly tying bench with his fishing vouchers.
Eugene Burzler with a Tyne Springer.
River Tyne. One or two fish starting to turn up this week with a few more lost - read more.
River Dee. Biggest fish of the week at 22lbs was also caught on Monday by syndicate rod Hugh MacKay from Tanar Mouth off the Craigendinnie bank - read more.
Cumbria. After a few more rises of water levels we are now at one foot at the end of March and with good clarity - read more.
There are currently over 250,000 permits sitting on the site. If you would like to go fishing, please give our offices a call on 01573 470612 and speak to a member of our fishing team.
One of two fish off the Teith for Philip.
Washed off the Tweed last Saturday, Philip Black was invited to fish the River Teith. During his fishing session he caught two salmon on the fly.
It has always been well known that the Teith comes into its own around St Patricks day. The river is now into the 9th week of the season and fish are in the system - read more.
Lewis Thom with Richard Orton and his springer earlier this month.
Whilst catches may be slow and not as many as we would like. I was speaking with Ian Gordon this morning, who has beginners on the Knockando Estate. He was demonstrating with wool on the end of his line and had 2 salmon take his wool, much to the enjoyment of his pupils.
Ian Gordon and Scott Mackenzie will be teaching ladies on the 2 day course.
This weekend 26 ladies will be fishing the River Spey on Knockando Estate and Gordon Castle Estate. Now in its third year the River Spey Anglers Association organise this event to get more ladies into fishing, and in doing so, the money raised from the 2 days will be used to introduce young people into fishing.
During the weekend there will be tuition and guidance from Ian Gordon, Scott Mackenzie, David Mateer, both estate's ghillies and members of the RSAA.
Will there be a repeat performance of Anne Henderson's first salmon and ladies hooking and losing fish? If you would like to join them the RSAA have 2 places left, due to cancellations. The cost for both days which includes fishing, tuition, lunch and a gala dinner is £190 per lady. For more information please follow the link.
Whilst some of the Fishpal team were uber busy at the London Fly Fair last week, Tom was fishing Park beat on the Dee.
Friday saw levels above 4ft and rods were still fishing using different tactics targeting spots close to the bank.
Saturday and the sun came out. A super day with levels dropping and success for Tom, a sea-trout and kelt - read more.
Since 1967 The Atlantic Salmon Trust has been leading the way in research into migratory salmonids - read more.
Congratulations to Mary Bowman. Whilst fly fishing the Lower Tummel last week she caught her first ever salmon, a lovely fish of 10 pounds.
Spring salmon were landed last week in good numbers in relatively cold weather. The river conditions favouring those who braved the elements in most cases - read more.
Fish have been caught below Stanley with Upper Redgorton on a roll with four fish in three days earlier in the week. The price for a days fishing starts from £30.
Loch Tay is seeing sport with Fish n Trips recording four last week which included fish up to 21 pounds. There has also been news of a 36 pounds monster caught in a private boat by the "Lomond boys" Robert Ramage, Sid and Fraser Garth.
Newtyle on the fly caught last week.
Over the next few weeks the new beat pages for the River Tay and its tributaries will merge with the new FishTay website.
The price of a days fishing on the River Tay during the Easter Holidays starts from as little as £20 and a boat for 2 anglers from £100. Find Fishing.
For the first time this season we were greeted with some nice settled water with decent clarity.
Junction angler returning his fish.
With the better conditions, confidence was high for a decent week of catches. 40 Salmon and 5 Sea Trout, the best fish for the week was a 21lb Salmon caught on the Birgham Dub Beat - read more.
For places to fish and stay during April in the Scottish Borders, please visit the website or call our offices on (+44) 01573 470612. We have fishing on the site to cater for all abilities - find fishing.
Fishing on the River Nairn at Nairnside Fishing for 3 rods.
The beat enjoys a variety of fly water across its 1.13 miles of double bank water for salmon and sea trout. The beat has been lightly fished - read more.
We were notified last Tuesday evening about the tragic loss of Andrew Lee. He was a good and funny man, with a great passion for life and of course his fishing.
He will be a sorely missed in the Tweed valley by many people. We have no further details yet about forth coming events but will keep you posted.
We would like to pass on our deepest sympathies to his family and his close friends from all at FishPal, Mark, Tom, Anne, Gail and Joe. A very sad day.