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The River Spey

Sea Trout Fishing on the River Spey

In addition to its reputation as one of the World's best salmon rivers, the River Spey is arguably the best sea trout river in the British Isles, despite some stiff competition from rivers further south, particularly in Wales, where sea trout, or sewin, fishing vies with rugby as the national sport, on renowned rivers such as the Teifi, Dovey and Towy. Some of the best Spey sea trout fishing is to be had on nearly twenty miles of Association fishing upstream of Grantown on Spey, with daily and weekly permits available to all at reasonable prices. Spey sea trout average around two and a half pounds and fish over five pounds are not uncommon. A double figure sea trout on the Spey, however, would be notable. The Spey sea trout rod fishery has been one of the largest in the UK, with a 10 year (1992-2001) average annual catch of 4,590. By comparison, only the Rivers Tywi and Teifi in Wales have caught more fish. Recent seasons, in common with the general trend, have seen a decline in these figures but the sea trout fishing on the Spey during the summer months can still be excellent.   

The River Spey at Grantown on Spey

Spey Sea Trout Fishing

The Spey sea trout run normally begins in late May, with stocks increasing throughout June and into July. The best of the night fishing is to be had from mid June to mid July on the upper middle part of the river, from Grantown on Spey upstream to Aviemore, where the two main Associations on that part of the river, The Strathspey Angling Improvement Association and The Abernethy and Aviemore Angling Association, offer between them seventeen miles of prime sea trout fishing, with daily and weekly permits available to all. A further six rods are available for private let on the Kinchurdy beat, which offers three miles of excellent sea trout and salmon fishing  just upstream of Boat of Garten.

Grantown Angling Association

Sea trout are normally present on the Grantown Association beats in worthwhile numbers from early June, with the best of the night fishing from mid June to mid July, when we might expect reasonably mild nights with the river having settled to a good night fishing height, i.e. below six inches on the gauge at the new bridge. Weekly permit holders may fish all beats throughout the night (except on Sunday). For more information on the Association permits and regulations, see Strathspey Angling Improvement Association .

A Spey sea trout of 7.5 lbs taken on a needle tube fly June 2015

Below are two maps showing some suggested night fishing pools on both the lower beat (Upper Castle Grant) and the upper beat (from Dulnain Mouth to Inverallan) of the Strathspey Angling Improvement Association water at Grantown on Spey. Sea trout may be caught at night on other pools, of course, but these maps provide a good starting point, showing many of the more productive night fishing pools, most with fairly easy access and good car parking no more than a mile from the fishing, in some cases only yards from the river.

For map and photographs of all the Grantown Association Pools see:

Grantown Angling Association Pool Photographs

For more information, see:

Strathspey Angling Improvement Association

Fishing the River Spey

Spey Salmon and Sea Trout Catch Statistics

Spey Sea Trout

Abernethy Angling Association

Just upstream from the Grantown Association water lies the Abernethy Angling Association beat. Like the Grantown water, the Abernethy waters offer superb sea trout night fishing on 15 named pools over six miles of the Spey. The Abernethy Angling Association has now merged with the Aviemore Angling Association, which manages a further four miles of left bank fishing around Aviemore, with several excellent night fishing pools. Daily or weekly permits are available for both associations at very reasonable cost.

Abernethy Sea Trout

One of three sea trout taken on the Abernethy Angling Association water of the River Spey on a simple one inch needle tube fly, between 11pm and midnight, 29th May 2017

For information about the sea trout fishing on the water managed by the Abernethy and Aviemore Angling Improvement Association see:

Abernethy Angling Association

Contact

Joan Jeffers (Secretary)
Tel: 01479 821803
Email: salmonpools@googlemail.com

Sea Trout Pool Photographs

To view some photographs of the pools on the Abernethy and Aviemore Association Beats, see:

Abernethy Angling Association Pools

Aviemore Angling Association

View Google maps and aerial satellite views of the River Spey

Pan the whole length of the river and zoom into aerial views of the salmon and sea trout fishing pools

View Larger Map

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