About Ian Neale

Ian Neale – The Speycaster

Ian has over 40 years of experience as a salmon fishing guide and is an expert in the Spey casting technique of fly fishing. Based in Moray, Ian leads trips to salmon fishing beats on the River Findhorn, River Spey and River Dee.

Head Fishing Guide

Ian was the head guide on the Ponoi River on the Kola peninsula in Russia for five years. The Ponoi River is arguably the best Atlantic Salmon fishing river in the world. Ian was also head guide on the Rio Grande, in Tierra Del Fuego, home to some of the finest Sea Trout fishing in the world.

Published Author

Ian has written extensively on salmon and sea trout fishing in various UK game fishing magazines for many years and published his first book, Shadows in the Stream, in 2000. Ian’s largest salmon to date is 28½ pounds from the River Helmsdale, Sutherland in February 1982, whilst fishing with his good friend, Bill Currie.

As Seen On TV

Hooked on Fishing, Sky TV

Ian has made several T.V. appearances with various fishing personalities, including Paul Young’s “Hooked on Fishing” programme on the Rio Grande River in Tierra del Fuego. He also featured on Sky TV “Tightlines” programme, where he was filmed demonstrating the art and technique of single and double Speycasting on the River Dee on Park Estate in Aberdeenshire.

Good Morning, TV2 Norway

Ian appeared on Norway’s TV 2 channel on the Good Morning programme, featuring the salmon fishing at Park Estate on the River Dee on Royal Deeside. This was part of a travel programme capturing the delights of Scottish salmon fishing, golfing, historic castles and whisky galore!

BBC Landward TV Appearance

Ian also appeared on the BBC Landward programme, where he was filmed on the Altyre Beat of the River Findhorn in Scotland. This film featured the resurgence of the wild Atlantic salmon stocks on the east coast rivers of Scotland and highlighted the importance of this recovery to the prosperity of the local economies.

Author of “Shadows in the Stream”

Ian is the published author of “Shadows in the Stream – Seasonal Approaches to Game Fishing“.

Synopsis

This portrayal of a game fisher’s year takes the reader from the icy waters of the Helmsdale in February, through springtime on Highland and Border rivers, on to high summer runs of grilse and seatrout, and finally to the quest for late autumn and early winter salmon throughout Britain and Ireland.

Review by Trout & Salmon Magazine

“Shadows in the Stream is a hugely entertaining and enlightening read. The author takes us month by month through his seasons in pursuit of salmon, sea trout, brownies and rainbows in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, New Zealand and Russia.

Complemented by some striking colour photographs, the book is fascinating and illuminating, and the author’s passion for all aspects of the sport shines through.

The author begins his season by breaking ice on the Helmsdale in February and finishes among the falling leaves of a Tweed autumn. The agony and ecstasy of early-spring salmon fishing is well described; it is easy to imagine oneself fishing alongside the author and thoroughly enjoying the experience. Highly recommended!”

Highly Recommended

Sandy Leventon, Editor Trout & Salmon Magazine