Hi everyone, I've seen loads of pictures in magazines of big, wild river trout and have been told that the best time to catch these monsters is in the Spring. Can anyone advise me on the rivers (in Scotland) I should target and how likely it is a visiting angler might succeed? I'm desperate to catch one this year!

Scotland is a big place with hundreds of lochs and many rivers you would be better deciding on a specific area to concentrate on. If you can get hold of a copy of "The Rivers and Lochs of Scotland" by Bruce Sandison, it catalogues just about every available water in Scotland and gives hints on tactics, flies and where to obtain permission to fish.

I would recommend this book as a good general reference. Good luck on your quest.

5-7lb brownies on the Tay
Dalguise Fishings | Salmon Fishing

The troot permit is buttons

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BROWN TROUT:THE RED SPOTS HAND PAINTED BY GOD

I should clarify. I am after big wild river trout only – not loch trout. I've heard the Deveron is good early on. Are there any others that compare? What would be your top 5 big trout rivers? I'd rather not have to buy another book which is likely to confuse me even more. I'd much prefer a recommendation from someone on this forum.

Tweed,Tay,Spey,Beauly, and Tummel

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BROWN TROUT:THE RED SPOTS HAND PAINTED BY GOD

Hi Wickam, any particular spot in a particular river you would like guided to ?

Only joking (half) while i don't know your how much river fishing you've done and i appreciate your ambition, surely catching a few of the bigger fish comes with some kind of apprenticeship meaning time on a water and getting to know its moods.

Most decent sized rivers will hold better trout and Spring is not too shabby but the action can be over quickly for the day, you may have to walk the miles, be observant and very sneaky.

Find a decent sized river near to you and give it a go, there will probably be good trout lurking around. If someone is able to help at the water, good enough but nothing beats finding out for yourself.

Clunk

Big wild river trout are more common than we may think.

They are difficult to catch on fly, primarily because they are nocturnal for much of the season, and very, very wary.
I'm targetting them myself this coming season on my local rivers (key in my opinion, since I can be available when conditions are right).

I caught one 20" wild brown late last season on a GRHE. In October I had several big fish ( definite sightings of brown trout) follow home-carved wooden plugs without hooks almost to my feet, and I hooked a large wild brown when spinning for pike in November. So the fish are certainly there.

Sorry I can't comment on the Scottish waters, but good luck anyway.

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That wouldn't happen with a Pridex

Hi Wickham,

Whilst salmon fishing on the middle/lower Tweed in April and I have been totally amazed at the massed ranks of March Brown like flies (? not sure what they are) floating by me. I’ve witnessed staggering hatches and some very big heads gulping them down. There must be some big trout in those (also minnow rich) beats – yet I don’t know if anyone targets them. Perhaps they do. I believe Ron Holloway is up there now – he may well have some stories to tell!

Colin

Thanks Colin, Clunk and Dogbloke. I like the sound of "some very big heads gulping them down". Now you've got me going! I've fished the Tweed for salmon but I've never seen this ( probably because I've been later in the year). Are the best trout in the upper reaches? Any specific beats?

I think what you saw were undoubtedly March Brown Rhithrogena germanica superhatches.
Whilst not rare they are now quite localized - you were fortunate to witness them.


Buglife | Bug of the month | March brown mayfly

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Save the softmouth trout