It’s known as the king of fish, and Scotland has traditionally been a prime location to find it.

Although wild Atlantic salmon numbers have plummeted down the years,  reports from anglers suggest this year’s catches are among the best for decades.

Scotland has hundreds of rivers with populations of Atlantic salmon, attracting anglers from all over the world keen to test their lines against a remarkable creature.

Atlantic salmon live in freshwater as juveniles then migrate to sea as adults before returning to the same river to spawn.

Their epic migration is all the more incredible as fish somehow find their way back not just to their native river, but sometimes even managing to locate the precise spots from which they came.

With the salmon fishing season in Scotland reaching its final weeks, there are still chances to buy a licence and get out and about.

Here are five of the top spots to test your skills.

River Dee

Rising in the Cairngorms and flowing to the North Sea, the river’s royal connections hint at its prestige as a top salmon river.

Fast-flowing with clear water and dotted with salmon pools, there are various spots along its 86 miles to cast a line.

In one recent week, anglers caught around 100 salmon and over 20 sea trout, among them two salmon weighing over 20lbs at its Park beat on the Lower Dee.

River Tay

Stretching for 117 miles, Scotland’s longest river originates on Ben Lui and continues until it reaches the Firth of Tay.

Its banks are home to a number of highly exclusive estates offering the most productive catches.

The past week has seen three 25lb catches, with the upper river beats at Farleyer, Edradynate and Upper Kinnaird said to be particularly good.

The Tay holds the honour of delivering the largest ever rod-caught salmon in Britain, landed by Georgina Ballantine in 1922, weighing 64 pounds. 

BUCHANTY, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 22: Migrating salmon are seen leaping at Buchanty Spout on the River Tay in PerthshireBUCHANTY, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 22: Migrating salmon are seen leaping at Buchanty Spout on the River Tay in Perthshire (Image: Getty Images Jeff J Mitchell)

River Tweed

Regarded as one of the finest salmon fishing rivers of them all, the Tweed boasts the Junction Pool, where the Tweed and Teviot meet. A famous salmon spot, it comes with a hefty price tag for anyone seeking to fish in it at peak times.

But it’s just one of several beats along its banks, and with a long season that stretches to the end of November anglers are likely to rack up many more catches to add to the 2024 total.

River Spey

The fast flowing river stretches from Loch Spey to the Moray Firth, and is a magnet for people who want to fish in stunning mountain scenery with whisky distilleries on the doorstep.  Stretching for 107 miles, it gave its name to the ‘Spey cast’, a technique used in fly fishing.  With autumn in the air, the season is winding down, but reports suggest fish are still biting and even first time anglers able to take home a photograph of their catch.

River Deveron

Rising in the Ladder Hills in the Grampians and flowing to the Moray Firth, the Deveron is at the centre of serious efforts to boost its salmon’s fortunes. The largest fly-caught salmon, weighing a hefty 61lbs, was caught on the Deveron by Mrs Clementina ‘Tiny’ Morrison in October 1924.  It has Scotland’s fifth highest salmon and sea trout rod catch, no lochs which means it relies on melting snow and rainfall to supply rocky cascades and deep pools.