Early Spring Salmon Success on the River Findhorn
We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from the banks of the River Findhorn in Moray, Scotland, where the 2025 Atlantic Spring salmon season is off to a promising start!
First Catches of the Season
The season’s first successes came in early March on the Altyre Estate waters. Local angler David Johnstone opened our account on March 6th with a fine specimen of around 9 lbs from the Palamore Island pool on the upper beat. The fish was safely released back to continue its journey.
Just a day later, on March 7th, Alistair “Ali” Foyers landed and released his first Spring fish of the season – a beautiful 11-pounder taken from the Roan pool on the lower beat. Ali’s success came on a small Monkey tube fly.
The neighboring Moray Estate beats have also been productive, with their largest fish weighing in at an impressive 23 lbs from the Home beat at Darnaway.
Challenging Conditions
Weather conditions since the February 11th season-opening have been extremely testing, with some bitterly cold and windy days challenging even the most dedicated anglers. Despite this, river levels have maintained well, supported by small amounts of snowmelt feeding into the upper River Findhorn and Divie.
Mid-March Success Story
The week beginning March 17th brought welcome rainfall and snowmelt from the upper catchment, raising water levels to 1’5″ on the Forres gauge – perfect conditions for the Tim Foster party who had returned for their annual three-day salmon fishing trip at Altyre Estate.
The improved conditions quickly paid dividends when Craig Cockburn connected with a magnificent specimen at the Soldier’s Hole pool. After an intense 30-minute battle with the powerful fish, Craig successfully landed a spectacular fresh-run salmon of around 21 lbs, complete with sea lice indicating its recent arrival from the ocean. The successful fly was a 1″ Cascade tube.
This memorable catch represented Craig’s largest-ever salmon – a moment perfectly captured in his beaming smile! His fishing partner Tim followed up with his own success shortly after, landing a 10 lb Spring salmon from the same productive pool.
Ali reported several other Spring fish showing in the pool throughout the afternoon, suggesting more opportunities await in the coming weeks.
Looking Forward
It’s been an encouraging start to our salmon fishing season here on the North East coast of Scotland, and we’re looking forward to what promises to be another great year on the beautiful River Findhorn!
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Ian Neale, known as the Speycaster, is a seasoned fishing guide with extensive experience in renowned global fishing locations like the Ponoi River in Russia and the Rio Grande in Tierra Del Fuego. A published author, he has written extensively on salmon and sea trout fishing, with his first book, “Shadows in the Stream,” released in 2000. Ian has also appeared on various TV programs, demonstrating his expertise in Speycasting and discussing the importance of wild Atlantic salmon stocks to local economies. His passion for fishing and respect for nature are evident in all his endeavors.
