Recreational angling for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) has a long history in North America, the North Atlantic, Northern Europe and Northwestern Russia. Atlantic salmon, an anadromous species of Salmonidae, is most often fished for in rivers and estuaries during spawning migrations. It the 21st century, angling opportunities exist for both native wild stocks and introduced hatchery stocks. Angling methods include spinning and casting with bait and lures where regulations permit although fly fishing remains the most historic and popular method employed by anglers. Atlantic salmon have long been considered the "King of Gamefish" because it is difficult to catch and executes fast, hard runs and leaps when caught. Classic Atlantic salmon flies are considered an art form and have a long and storied history. Spey casting, a unique method of fly casting was developed on the River Spey in the 19th century in Scotland specifically for Atlantic salmon fishing on large, wide rivers such as the Spey. Although wild Atlantic salmon stocks have declined significantly over the last century, many rivers, especially in the most northern and eastern reaches of its range still provide world class salmon angling. Salmon angling is highly regulated in most countries and access to salmon rivers is often restricted to fee or privately owned fisheries and most often requires the services of a ghillie or guide.
Although there are hundreds of rivers within the native range of the Atlantic salmon that provide angling opportunities, a few of these rivers have played a significant role in the history of Atlantic salmon angling.
In England and Scotland, prior to about 1840, most salmon were harvested with nets. At this time, the rise of recreational angling gave land and riparian rights owners along salmon rivers a new source of income. Anglers would pay a fee to fish a "beat" on the river under the guiding advice of a ghillie, derived from the Scottish "gillicasfliuch" (gillie-wet-foot). This was a derogatory lowland Scot term for servants who carried highland Scot chiefs across rivers and swampy ground to keep their feet dry. The term "ghillie" is still used today on most salmon rivers for the guides.[11]
Classic Atlantic salmon flies are considered works of fly tying art.
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