About the Spey

[Editor]

The Spey is one of Scotland's most diverse and potentially most productive waters. In its lower half, Spey provides more than fifty miles of prime salmon fishing from Loch Insh down through Aviemore to Grantown-on-Spey and on past the junction with the Avon (A'an), to Aberlour, Craigellachie, Fochabers and the sea at Speymouth. Its upper reaches drain fifty high miles of the Monaliadh mountains down past the junction with the Truim, Newtonmore, Kingussie and the great wetland area above Loch Insh.

Spey fishes from its opening day, February 11th., offering early springers in some years as far up as Grantown and Nethybridge. The Spey pattern is that the spring run intensifies in March and increases through April and into May on the main river and on its interesting tributary the Avon (pronounced A'an). The summer brings in both salmon and grilse to the whole river up to Loch Insh. The lower river, from Aberlour to the sea, can have a strong finish to the season with late runs of fresh fish. The Dulnain, joining the main river near Grantown, has rocky and streamy pools with salmon and sea trout in them from April. Its upper reaches are highland with rocky sections and falls and this area has made a name for itself with late summer and autumn salmon, given the right water conditions.

The Spey has some legendary salmon water to savour. To quote only a sample, the Castle Grant water near Grantown is succeeded downstream by Tulchan, Ballindalloch, Carron, Elchies and Craigellachie. Below this the river changes character and produces some superb open beats including those with such ringing names as Arndilly, Rothes, Delfur, Orton and the Brae water.

The Spey, particularly in its middle and upper waters, has excellent brown trout fishing and a mild April can produce wonderful rises to olives. Finnock are also taken on the fly in spring, but are usually returned to the water. There is some local loch fishing for brown trout and for rainbows, mainly near the middle river, adding a family element to this fine area of Scotland. Its settings are highland; its bankside forests of ancient pines and softer birches are magnificent. As a gamefisher's river, given just a little bit of luck, Spey can be stunning.

Bill Currie