Robbie Stronach Ghillie on Rothes and Aikenway River Spey
This month Robbie Stronach, Ghillie on the prolific Rothes and Aikenway Beat on the River Spey sits in the hot seat and reveals all his salmon fishing secrets!
1. SSFS: What is the biggest salmon you have ever caught?
RS: The biggest salmon I have caught have been both twenty pounds. The first was in the Big Haddie Pool on the Delfur Beat and the second was from the Geantree Pool on Rothes and Aikenway. Both fish gave unforgettable fights.
2. SSFS: What is the most memorable salmon you have ever caught?
RS: My most memorable fish was not one that I landed myself but one which was caught by one of my guests in the Long Pool at Rothes and Aikenway. It weighed in at a colossal thirty-one pounds. What made it so special was the fact that it was the first fish I had ever netted over thirty pounds.
3. SSFS: What is your favourite fly?
RS: My favourite fly has to be a Gold Bodied Willie Gunn either tied on a tube or double. This pattern has worked all year round for me and has rarely let me down.
4. SSFS: What is your favourite salmon pool?
RS: I would have to say that it has to be the Geantree Pool on the Rothes and Aikenway Beat. I have had great success from this pool over the years and it is a dream to fish with the fly.
5. SSFS: If there was one place in the world you could salmon fish, where would it be and why?
RS: I would love to go to the Western side of Canada and salmon fish. The scenery is spectacular, the fish are plentiful and it sounds like such a special place, just up my street!
6. SSFS: What is the most unusual sight you have seen on the river?
RS: The most unusual sight I have seen on the river was when one of my guests hooked a Mallard Duck in flight, just as his fly line was shooting out over the river. The duck put up a terrific fight after which it was landed safely and returned unharmed!
7. SSFS: What are the worst conditions in which you have seen a salmon being caught?
RS: The worst conditions I have seen salmon caught would have to be when the river was rising fast one day and was chocolate in colour. You could not see any more than three inches into the water. In spite of this, I hooked and landed three salmon. One fish even boiled at the fly before taking. Unbelievable!
8. SSFS: What do you love about being a ghillie?
RS: What I like about being a ghillie is meeting people from different walks of life and also teaching newcomers. It is so important to get new blood into our sport. I also love the feeling when guests go away from my beat having had a wonderful time.
9. SSFS: What is your salmon fishing pet hate?
RS: My pet hate has to be when guests wade too deeply and then try and cast too long a line when it is not necessary. I always believe that when it comes to casting, it is better short and neat than long and untidy.
10. SSFS: What is your favourite dram?
RS: If you offered me a fifteen-year-old Glenfarclas, I wouldn’t say no!
To read about our experience of fishing with Robbie Stronach on the Rothes and Aikenway Beat of the River Spey Click on the link: