River Findhorn Salmon Fishing Season Review 2019

This is my 2019 season review, the last in my archive series gathering the original week-by-week fishing reports from the River Findhorn into single yearly records. 2019 will be remembered for the most amazing spring run of salmon we had seen on the Findhorn for many years — proof that this river continues to buck the trend of doom and gloom.

First Fish on the Whole River

The season opened on February 11th with high water and an unseasonably mild spell — 15°C recorded at Kinloss in mid-February, virtually unheard of up here. On February 21st, fishing with Leslie Tyson, I waded out onto the ledge at the top of Soldier’s Hole with the river at a perfect 1’6″ on the Forres gauge. Within minutes of starting, a solid pull, and I knew instantly this was no kelt. After a hard, strong fight I beached a beautiful fresh spring salmon of around 13 lbs. — my first of the season and the first fresh fish reported from the whole River Findhorn in 2019. Legs and hands shaking with excitement; that feeling never leaves you.

Iain’s Fish of a Lifetime

March brought fresh snow to the hills and the river into perfect order. On March 18th I was guiding Iain MacDonald at the Scur Pool, coaching him down the edge of the fast stream on a short line. As the fly swung onto the dangle he cursed, thinking he’d snagged the bottom — until he lifted the rod and all hell broke loose, a great flash of silver exploding across the pool. Twenty-five minutes of furious action later, with most of his backing gone more than once, a magnificent 17 lb. spring salmon went into the net. His largest ever salmon, and a moment neither of us will forget.

A Spring Full of Visitors

April threw everything at us — rain, sleet, snow, hail and gale-force winds — but the fish kept coming. David Clark took a lovely fresh 8 lb. springer from Palamore Pool on a Big Ugly Snaelda, and Robert Mull opened proceedings the same day with a sea trout from the tail of the pool. Mid-April brought regular Austrian visitors Gunther Wimmer and Claus Neumann; Gunther was rewarded with a superb fresh fish of around 16 lbs. from the top of the Roan on a size 8 Cascade double. Yuri Janssen released a cracking 5 lb. brown trout — a real specimen for the Findhorn — from Soldier’s Hole, and Rachel Vosper-Brown battled a big fish in the Garden Pool that broke the leader and left her gutted. Next time, Rachel!

First Salmon and Family Milestones

The summer gave me some of my favourite guiding memories of the year. In late June, young Samuel Brailsford hooked and landed his first ever salmon from the shaded Poolie Pool on the Upper Home Beat at Darnaway — a 4 lb. grilse on a Black and Red Shrimp, with his father Neil watching on. In early July, Malcolm and Fergus Cunningham arrived from Tasmania, the day a surprise 70th birthday present from son to father. Both were new to salmon fishing and Spey casting, and right on cue Malcolm’s reel screamed out as he hooked his first ever salmon — a fresh sea-liced 5-pounder from the Roan Pool.

A Fine Finish to the Season

September fished well between spates. Rob Gilchrist from the USA enjoyed perfect water through William’s Run, and in the final days David Tisdale released three fresh grilse from Palamore Pool. Fittingly, the last fish of the 2019 season fell on September 30th to Leslie Tyson — a fresh grilse of around 5 lbs. from the Roan Pool on a small Altyre Dog tube, closing out a remarkable year.

It was a pleasure to guide so many anglers from the UK and around the world that season. If you’d like to fish these same pools with me, see my guided salmon fishing on the River Findhorn, or contact me about availability.