Bill Hill

As the local ghillie for the The Falls of Dochart Inn, Bill Hill was a seasoned fisherman known for remarkable catches on Loch Tay and the River Dochart. He landed a legendary 40lb salmon, standing as the largest caught on the loch in the past 50 years.

A Leeds angler has smashed a Scottish record with what is believed to be the biggest salmon taken from Loch Tay in 30 years.

Bill Hill, of East Keswick, Leeds, was trolling off Firbush when he hooked and landed a cock salmon which weighed in at a tremendous 40lb.  A cast of this salmon  can be seen in our smokehouse today.

The fish measured 48in. long with a 24in. girth and on one of its runs it stripped 150 yards of 15lb. line from the reel. It took Bill a breathtaking 55 minutes to finally slide a net under the monster.

He was delighted with his catch but one on the following day pleased him more for his 10-year-old son Paul caught his first ever salmon which weighed in at 15lb.

This is where the story of the smokehouse all began.  Bills other son, Simon Hill, runs closely behind on his salmon catching abilities, and is the head smoker who has carried the family recipe and skills which has kept  Bills legacy going.