A First Salmon Hooked: A Father and Son’s Guided Day at Speymouth on the River Spey

There is a particular kind of excitement that comes with hooking your very first salmon, and it never dims, no matter how many decades you spend on these rivers. Last Saturday, on the lower River Spey, a young angler experienced it twice in a single day, and I am delighted to share the story, and the wonderful video footage, with you here.

Father and son team Shane and Sholto McCausland spent the day fishing the Speymouth Angling Association water on the lower Spey, kindly guided by David Johnstone of Nairnfly. David filmed the day as it unfolded, and he has very generously allowed me to share the footage with you.

Two Salmon Hooked, Two Lessons Learned

Over the course of the day, Sholto hooked into two salmon, the first two of his life. Anyone who has felt that first electrifying pull of a fresh Spey fish will know exactly what that moment is like: the reel singing, the rod bucking, and the sudden realisation that you are connected to something wild and immensely powerful.

Salmon, however, are never easily won. Both fish threw the hooks and were lost right at the net. It is the kind of heartbreak every salmon angler knows well, and if I am honest, it is part of what keeps us all coming back. A fish lost at the net is never really lost at all. It lives on as a story, and as a promise to return.

What matters most is that Shane and Sholto had a tremendous day on the river together. There is something very special about a father and son sharing a day’s salmon fishing, and Sholto now has his first hooked fish under his belt. The first one landed will follow soon enough, of that I have no doubt.

The Speymouth Angling Association Water

The lower Spey, where the river makes its final approach to the Moray Firth at Spey Bay, is magnificent salmon country. The Speymouth Angling Association water offers accessible, productive fishing on a stretch of river that has drawn anglers for generations. Fresh fish coming in off the tide can be met here throughout the season, and the lower river has a character all of its own: broad, purposeful, and full of promise.

It is also a wonderful place for a first guided day. The water suits anglers of all levels, and with an experienced guide alongside you, the learning curve of salmon fishing becomes a pleasure rather than a frustration. David looked after Shane and Sholto beautifully, and I am grateful to him for guiding them so well and for capturing the day on film.

Why the Fish That Get Away Matter

After more than 40 years guiding on Scotland’s salmon rivers, I can tell you that the fish lost at the net often mean as much as the ones landed. They teach you about playing a fish on a tight line, about keeping your nerve when the quarry is close, and about the fine margins that make salmon fishing the pursuit it is. Every experienced angler carries a few of these memories, and they are worn like badges of honour.

For Sholto, two salmon hooked on his first guided day is a remarkable start. Many anglers wait seasons for that first connection. He has felt it twice already, and the technique and confidence he and Shane built with David will serve them well on every river they fish from here on.

Plan Your Own Guided Day on the River Spey

If Shane and Sholto’s day has inspired you, I would love to help you experience the River Spey for yourself. I arrange guided salmon fishing days on the Spey and other legendary Scottish rivers, with everything organised for you: permits, beats, tackle if you need it, and patient, one-to-one Spey casting tuition for all levels. Father-and-son days like this one are some of the most rewarding trips I help put together.

You can read more about the river on my River Spey page, or simply get in touch through the website and we can start planning your day on the water. The season runs through to the end of September, and the autumn fishing on the lower river can be superb.

My thanks again to David Johnstone of Nairnfly for the footage and for giving Shane and Sholto such a memorable day, and to both of them for allowing me to share it. Tight lines, Sholto. That first landed salmon is waiting for you.