About TroutQuest
TroutQuest™ is owner-operated by Roger Dowsett, a trout and salmon fly fishing guide based in Ardgay, Sutherland in the Northern Highlands of Scotland, 38 miles north of Inverness.
From our base here we offer guided fly fishing trips and salmon and trout fly fishing experiences, and we can arrange a wide variety of custom fly fishing holidays and short breaks. Our location is ideal for guided fly fishing excursions for individuals or small groups of anglers throughout the counties of Ross-shire, Sutherland and Caithness.
In 2009 we made our first guided trip to Orkney, returning there in 2010, 2012 and 2017, and visiting South Uist in 2015. In 2007 we took a group to New Mexico, USA and in 2011 we headed for warmer climes with a saltwater trip to Cuba.
TroutQuest has leases or private arrangements for wild brown trout fishing on a number of excellent lochs locally. In addition, there are many fine day-ticket waters for salmon, sea trout and brown trout that we can use in combination, to produce unforgettable fishing experiences.
About SalmonQuest
SalmonQuest™ provides salmon fishery management and marketing services.
In 2007 we went into partnership with Novar Estate to form the Novar Fishings Partnership to run the salmon fishing on the River Alness. We managed all aspects of the Novar Fishings, which comprised 7 miles of private salmon, sea trout and brown trout fishing on the River Alness, until the end of the 2018 season.
Roger Dowsett
In 2001, Roger gave up a 20 year career in the petroleum and I.T. industries to start TroutQuest, and pursue a new life in fly fishing, his life-time passion. He has fly fished extensively for trout and salmon, on rivers and lochs throughout the UK & abroad.
Prior to starting TroutQuest, Roger spent many years fishing on the River Kennet and small stillwaters of southern England, and then while working in Aberdeen, on the River Dee. Numerous fishing trips in Scotland and to Ireland, and two trips to Argentina (Tierra del Fuego and Northern Patagonia) convinced him to make the big life switch. Since starting TroutQuest in 2002, he has fished & guided extensively throughout the Northern Highlands & Islands, and has managed to squeeze in some memorable hosted fishing trips to the USA & Cuba too.
Roger is a professionally qualified fly fishing instructor and guide holding the Game Angling Instructor Certificate (GAIC) for both trout fishing and salmon fishing. He is also a member of the Salmon & Trout Association (S&TA), the Game Angling Instructors' Association (GAIA), and the Wild Trout Trust.
TroutQuest was an ambition for many years, and the initial Ross-shire location was a return to his home as a youth, and where he caught his first salmon on the River Alness as a teenager. TroutQuest is now based just across the county border in Sutherland.
TM: TroutQuest and the TroutQuest logo; SalmonQuest and the SalmonQuest logo are trademarks of Roger Dowsett trading as TroutQuest and SalmonQuest.
2025 Season Update
As we approach our 24th fishing season in business, I have begun the transition to retirement, so I will be reducing the amount of guiding that I do going forward. It's time to slow down a bit and fish more! - RD