John Anderson - Ghillie on the Tulchan Beat, River Spey.
John Anderson has been a ghillie for 35 years on the prestigious Tulchan Beat of the River Spey. This month he sits in the hot seat and faces the 10 big questions!
1. SSFS: What is the biggest salmon you have ever caught?
JA: The biggest salmon I have caught is a fresh sea liced 25lb springer. I caught it in the Slop an Roan pool on the Tulchan A Beat. In spite of the fish being caught in May, sixteen years ago, I still relive the terrific fight vividly to this day.
2. SSFS: What is the most memorable salmon you have ever caught?
JA: It was the 11th of February (opening day) in 1994. I caught a 10lb fresh fish on a single hooked Vivien fly. I repeated the feat the following year but on the 12th of February with the fish being caught on the same fly. I think catching a salmon on the opening day of the season is always very special.
3. SSFS: What is your favorite fly?
JA: My favorite fly has to be the Vivien, which is named after my wife. I have caught fish consistently from opening day right through to the end of the season on the pattern. The Vivien is a good all rounder.
4. SSFS: What is your favorite salmon pool?
JA: The Dhu pool on Tulchan would have to be my favorite pool. Dhu is Gaelic for dark and I have caught fish throughout the course of the season from this pool. It has the added benefit of being a great holding pool.
5. SSFS: If there was one place in the world you could salmon fish, where would it be and why?
JA: It would have to be the River Alta in Norway. This is because of the sheer size of fish it regularly produces.
6. SSFS: What is the most unusual sight you have seen on the river?
JA: We were tagging kelts for the Spey Fishery Board to see whether the fish would be caught again downstream (this would give us valuable information on the numbers of fish that make it back to sea). I caught a kelt and tagged it with a white tag 07 (James Bond lol). The kelt was caught on a Green Highlander fly, tagged and released. A minute later the keeper on the opposite bank hooked into a fish, netted it and it was the same kelt.
7. SSFS: What are the worst conditions in which you have seen a salmon being caught?
JA: Three years ago, there was a gentleman who normally went grouse shooting but due to old age was unable to attend the shoot. Instead, he decided to come fishing, whilst the other members of his party were shooting. I took him out fishing for the day and the conditions were horrendous. There were severe gales and heavy rain and the river was rising rapidly. The conditions were so bad that I was unable to row the boat and had to wade with the boat instead. By the back of 9 we had already changed the fly twice. The gentleman persevered and continued. We were meant to finish fishing around lunchtime but he continued to fish and landed a cracking 10 pounder. A great effort given the conditions.
8. SSFS: What do you love about being a ghillie?
JA: I love meeting people from different walks of life. Salmon fishing is one sport where everyone is equal and you can put your troubles behind you. I have made some great friends through salmon fishing over the years.
9.SSFS: What is your salmon fishing pet hate?
JA: I hate it when people strike a salmon when the fish takes. It drives me up the wall!
10. SSFS: What is your favorite dram?
JA: I wouldn’t say no to a Balvenie but to be honest any Speyside malt will do!
John Anderson is the Head Ghillie on Tulcan A Beat of the River Spey. For more information about fishing on the Tulcan Beats, please click on the link above.