Cast Off 2026: Trout Time Begins

Yes, I know….I know…..I really need to get better at keeping this blog up to date. With so much focus on content for my YouTube channel, the blog can often seem like an afterthought however I will make a commitment to keep this page more regularly updated.

So that’s the 2026 trout season kicked off for the majority of the rivers across the UK and Ireland. As usual it feels like such a long dark cold winter till mid March when the snowdrops appear, the birds start signing in the morning and the days begin to stretch out that wee bit longer signalling the imminent arrival of Spring.

Admittedly Im not one for making a point of heading out on opening day to have a cast for trout. Im usually still in “Spring salmon” mode till April at least when the hatches become a bit more regular and the trout begin to come onto the feed hard.

Once we get going however I do plan on exploring some new trout water this year, including the river Tweed in the Scottish borders and also the River Don in Aberdeenshire.

Last year’s trout season was quite good to me, on my last trout day on the river Clyde I managed to land my personal best trout coming in at around 6lb on the fly. Talk about finishing off the trout season in style! I couldn’t quite believe it, the fight was something like Ive never experienced from a fish before and its a memory I will treasure for years to come. I was lucky enough to capture the experience on camera and you can watch in in my YouTube channel on the link below.

Anyway I hope everyone has a successful and prosperous trout season ahead for 2026. Tight Lines!

Robert