Real Farm Holidays
Salmon School
Best Salmon School in the UK! *
Watch our videos from 2012 filmed by Anthony and Sue Rudge:
After 7 years of very successful Salmon Schools, hosted by Anthony Steel of Kirkwood & Mark Bowler of Fly Fishing & Fly Tying Magazine & expert guidance from Glyn Freeman,
for 2013 we offer 5 versions of this fantastic fishing experience:
Our 4 Day Starter Salmon School: 8 – 12 September 2013 £950 Starter Salmon School Brochure 2013 coming soon
Our 4 Day Advanced Salmon School: 6 – 10 October 2013 £950 Advanced Salmon School Brochure 2013 coming soon
Our 3 Day Ladies Only Salmon School: 10 -13 October 2013 £750 Ladies Salmon School Brochure 2013 coming soon
Our 4 Day Skills Salmon School: 3 – 7 November 2013 £950 Skills Salmon School Brochure 2013 coming soon
Our 3 Day Skills Salmon School: 7 – 10 November 2013 £750 Skills Salmon School Brochure 2013 coming soon
All Salmon Schools
October and November are the best months for salmon fishing on the River Annan and you will be fishing on two top-class beats, Kirkwood and Jardine Hall. On each beat you will be accompanied by experienced anglers and instructors for casting tuition. You will mainly fish hard and learn by experience but there will be talks and tuition sessions as well. The spey casting tuition from Glyn Freeman is second to none.
Based at Kirkwood, your accommodation will be in one of our holiday cottages situated in the Stables Courtyard. You will have your own bedroom but will share a cottage with a fellow “student”. All meals, breakfast, packed lunch and evening meal (lots of Real Farm Meat!) are included in the price, as is the fishing, accommodation, guidance and tuition.
* Feedback from 2010, 2011 & 2012 Salmon Schools (average of over 30 people replying anonymously):
“Value for money of school overall” – we scored 9.38 out of 10!
“Learning Benefit of the school overall” – we scored 9.38 out of 10!
“Enjoyment of the school overall” – we scored 9.63 out of 10!
Book Now!
Phone 01576 510 200 or email AS@SalmonSchool.co.uk
See bottom of page for terms and conditions.
4 day Starter Salmon School 8 – 12 September £950
Our skills schools (see below) are aimed at those who have experience in fly fishing, however, we are now offering a Starter Salmon School. This school is especially for beginners and has focused tuition with no less than 1 instructor to 3 participants.
You will learn how to tackle up, cast, tie flies, wade with health and safety in mind as well as the basics of fishing, and a lot about the king of fish, the salmon.
There is no better place to learn how to salmon fish from scratch, surrounded by experts and with access to 2 different beats, you will leave the school with a good knowledge and varied experience which allows you to enjoy salmon fishing on your own.
For more details see our Starter Salmon School Brochure coming soon or register your interest here.
4 Day Advanced Salmon School 6 – 10 October £950
Many of our ‘schoolers’ return again and again to refresh their skills, keep improving their techniques, and also to take advantage of these fantastic fishing retreat packages! With all your food, accommodation and fishing included what more could an angler ask for?
Surrounded by like minded people, it is a brilliant opportunity to learn even more and reunite with previous school participants, as well as those who maybe haven’t been here before, but are already keen salmon anglers looking to have fun fishing while improving their sport.
For more details see our Advanced Salmon School Brochure coming soon or register your interest here.
3 Day Ladies Only Salmon School 10 – 13 October £750
Brand new to 2012 we introduced the Ladies Only School! In addition to Salmon School hosts, Anthony and Mark, the Ladies Only School is co-hosted by Fiona Armstrong, journalist, broadcaster (BBC News, ITN, GMTV), and keen angler.
In her report for the Telegraph April 2012 Fiona wrote, “Fishing is traditionally a man’s world, but statistics show some of the most phenomenal catches have been by women…Let’s face it girls, we’re naturals.” We think she has a point and want to encourage more ladies to fish and to fish well with expert tuition, guidance and shared experience on the school.
As well as Glyn Freeman (AAPGAI), we also have another brilliant instructor, Sue MacNiven (AAPGAI) who is at present the only lady in the UK qualified at advanced level to teach salmon spey casting with double handed rods, so you will be in very good and impressive hands!
You will learn to tackle up, cast, wade with health and safety in mind, tie flies, as well as the basics of fishing, and a lot about the king of fish, the salmon. We will also have culinary demonstrations (fish smoking and cooking) hopefully with fish caught on the school!
Feedback from 2012 Ladies Only Salmon School (average of 6 people replying anonymously):
“Value for money of school overall” – we scored 9.4 out of 10!
“Learning Benefit of the school overall” – we scored 9.8 out of 10!
“Enjoyment of the school overall” – we scored 10 out of 10!
To see how 2012 Ladies Only School went:
Read Mark’s write up,
Read our write up,
go to our News Page
or ‘Kirkwood Cottages’ on Facebook
For more details see our Ladies Only Salmon School Brochure 2013 coming soon or register your interest here.
Our Skills Salmon Schools
4 day 3 – 7 November £950
3 day 7 – 10 November £750
November is one of the best times of the year for salmon on the River Annan and if you want to learn and improve spey casting while standing a good chance of catching a salmon with expert guidance on techniques and water craft, then this school is the one for you.
For this school, we don’t encourage fly fishing novices (for beginners see Novices School above), but there’s no need for previous salmon fishing experience. This school ideally suits anglers who have caught trout on flies, but possibly never salmon.
An excellent experience and a must for anyone wanting to improve their fishing and up their game on the river.
For more details see our Skills Salmon School Brochure 2013 coming soon or register your interest here.
Read our previous schools’ write ups below:
2011 Salmon School Write Up from Fly Fishing & Fly Tying Magazine’s Hugo Fairclough.
Sadly, we must remind you that weather is a major factor in fishing and if faced with poor weather conditions we may have to change how we fish or the location. In very high water spinning and worming is possible and permitted. It is unlikely that we would not be able to fish at all, but it is possible. If so, we would have extra tuition and talks and organise more fly tying sessions etc. Once booked and paid for no refunds are given under any circumstances and we recommend that you purchase a suitable holiday insurance policy to cover you for any unseen eventualities.