The Scottish Fly Fishing Co.
Fly Fishing Lessons and Guided Fishing
Founded by experienced fishing guide Nicol Paton, The Scottish Fly Fishing Co. is based at the historic Maryculter House Hotel which sits on the River Dee, on the outskirts of Aberdeen, Scotland.
We own and operate salmon and trout fishing beats throughout north-east Scotland and are a leading provider of fly fishing tuition and fly fishing experiences, We work with clients who predominantly want to try their hand at catching trout and Atlantic salmon, and provide detailed spey casting tuition, fishing tackle and access to fishing permits.
Fishing is a unique pastime — it incorporates many seemingly contrasting features. For example, the tranquillity of experiencing Scotland’s beautiful rivers is often pierced with the exhilaration of landing a spectacular fish; and the calm, solitary endeavour of fly fishing is often combined with friendly social interaction with other fishers throughout the day.
The thrill of what you might find on your line at the end of your next cast is always matched by an ultimate respect for the environment around us and ensuring it's protected for generations to come.
Our mission is to ensure our clients experience all of that, however proficient they may be, and wherever they fish with us, whether on our home beats, elsewhere in Scotland or internationally. Whether you want to fish for an hour or a week, if you are a party of 1 or 21, get in touch with us to find out how we can make your fly-fishing experience one to remember.
As lifelong anglers, our mission is to ensure our clients experience all of the above, however proficient or experienced they may be, and wherever they fish with us — whether on our home fishing beats on the River Dee, elsewhere in Scotland or even internationally.
Whether you want to solo for an hour or a week, and whether you’re a party of one or 21, get in touch with us to find out how we can make your fly fishing experience in Scotland one to remember.
About Nicol
Nicol Paton, the founder of The Scottish Fly Fishing Co., is one of the most experienced spey casting instructors in this area of Scotland.
He was born and raised in Aberdeenshire and spent 20 years fly fishing for salmon on many different rivers throughout Scotland, including the rivers Spey, Ness, Shin, Carron, Dee and the Tweed, to name just some.
Nicol has an intimate knowledge of all of these Scottish fishing rivers and, in particular, fishing on the River Dee and its surrounding areas. He has caught salmon across its length and breadth,and this experience is a cornerstone of The Scottish Fly Fishing Co. as a business — advising clients with an unmatched understanding of where the taking lies are and which Scottish fishing beats and pools provide the best chance of a fish, based on the time of year and conditions.
Nicol has also travelled with groups of clients to fish in Iceland, and we’re always happy to discuss opportunities to provide expert guidance for fishing trips overseas.
For almost two decades, he has been involved with training, development and sports coaching across different disciplines to a high standard and holds his Scottish Game Anglers Instructor Certificate for double-handed rods, along with a host of other teaching and coaching qualifications.
What Does The Scottish Fly Fishing Co. Offer?
Spey Casting Lessons & Packages
Always wanted to learn how to cast? Our Spey Casting Lessons are for all abilities — from those new fly fishing, to anglers on holiday in Scotland, to seasoned anglers looking to brush up on their skills — and offer a variety of scenarios, including perfect teaching areas for first time casters, deep wading, high banks and casting around obstacles behind you.
Guided Fishing
The Scottish Fly Fishing Co. owns and has access to fantastic waters, and this gives us flexibility to adapt to ensure clients get the best chance of catching fish. We carefully take into account the location of our fishing beats — including their scenery, privacy, productivity and accessibility — and our guides are highly experienced in terms of their fishing knowledge and delivering excellent Guided Fishing experiences for our visitors.
Hosted Trips & Courses
We host a number of different casting courses and fly fishing trips throughout the season and partner with some highly sought-after estates, accommodation providers and fishing operators. Each of these are tailored to different abilities and interests, including beginners to fly fishing and those who wish to plan a fishing trip internationally. Fishing and accommodation packages are available for those who want to plan a fishing trip in in the North East of Scotland.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We’re based on the River Dee in Aberdeenshire, but we have delivered fly fishing tuition, guided fishing and fishing trip experiences on rivers all across Scotland. We can also support your fishing trip in other countries, and have been as far as Iceland so far.
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There are opportunities to catch various fish in the rivers of Scotland, but The Scottish Fly Fishing Co. primarily provides fly fishing tuition and guidance for catching Atlantic salmon and trout. We are happy to advise you if you’re interested in catching a particular species of fish.
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Yes — we teach beginners fly fishing on a regular basis. No matter what level of experience you have at fly fishing or how skilled your fishing trip party is, The Scottish Fly Fishing Co. can help guide you on the best techniques for fishing in Scotland.
Fishing on the River Dee
The River Dee is world-renowned for its fly fishing, especially for Atlantic salmon.
Winding its way through the beautiful landscapes of Aberdeenshire — a region that inspired Queen Victoria to build a royal residence (Balmoral Castle) here — the Dee remains one of the most famous and productive salmon rivers in Scotland and is popular with local fishers and for those visiting on fishing vacations in Scotland.
We provide world-class guided fishing trips on the River Dee and expert fly fishing lessons to master the art of spey casting in its home country. Fishing on the River Dee offers an unforgettable Scottish fly fishing experience for all skill levels — one that will live long in the memory.