Salmon Fishing Scotland River Tay Salmon Fishing Report for the second week in April 2010 and Prospects for the coming week.

Salmon Fishing Scotland River Tay Salmon Fishing Report for the second week in April 2010 and Prospects for the coming week.


River Tay Salmon Fishing report for week ending 17th April 2010.

After last weeks 44 spring salmon being reported this week was much better with 71 which represented the best weekly catch for the season so far. A few others were caught as well and not registered making it a reasonable week in April with hopefully better to come.

The river dropped steadily throughout the week giving good conditions for spring fishing. The weather was good as well with warmer daytime temperatures. This caused a bit of snow melt in the hills making the river rise a bit during the night and fall during the day.

The river temperature started to rise as well and was running at 45F or 7C by Saturday enabling salmon to run. This was apparent by a number of salmon carrying long tailed sea lice. This could be good news for next week as well and hopefully the run will continue.
This week the catches were dominated by the middle river, which is expected at this time of year with a rise in water temperature. The upper lower river beats did reasonably well also. We have not had a strong run as yet which hopefully will improve. It is absolutely imperative we continue to adhere to our catch and release policy to return all spring salmon to preserve what we have for the future. Thank you all for making this possible so far.

The lower river produced 26 out of the 71 spring salmon caught. The catches were sparse on the lower Tay above Perth with only 1 salmon caught at Waulkmill. However the beats above Stanley did much better. The Salmon seem to be running hard through the lower stretches and then slowing down above the Catholes weir. Catholes, Burnmouth, Taymount, Stobhall, Cargil and Ballathie all figured but the Islamouth beats faired best with 19 salmon for the week. A party from Essex did well at the start of the week on the Islamouth Meikleour days with 8 Salmon. This included a lovely 11 pound springer for John Arkwright fly fishing from the boat.

Bob Minto had a 12 pound beauty off the Upper Islamouth on Saturday on a small Tay Lure. Another successful fly angler was Donnie Gow from Crieff who caught a lovely 14 pound salmon at Ballathie on a Posh Tosh casting from the bank.

The Forrest party had a good day on Cargil on Saturday landing a couple of Springers. Gordon Donaldson also caught a 14 pound salmon on the Lower Stobhall beat on a Toby Salmo on Thursday. 2 lovely salmon were also landed on the Catholes on Thursday by George McKinlay and Bill Duncan.


The most notable catch of the week was 8 year old Ellie White landing her first ever salmon on a harled Tube fly on Burnmouth with the aid of her Grand Dad Geordie Stewart. She also landed a Kelt and a Rawner for good measure.

The middle Tay again dominated the catch with 36 salmon for the week. This figure is conservative, as Glendevine, Lower and Upper Murthly would account for another 10 at least but do not report. The milder conditions and higher river levels should encourage fish to run up to the middle river for next week as well. Coupar Grange again faired well with 10 on the Isla. There are also salmon being caught on the Ericht below Blairgowrie.
Kercock and Dunkeld House continue to report salmon on a regular basis.

Allan Rennie continues to have a good season on the Newtyle beat landing another 2 beauties this week including a 15 ½ covered in long tailed sea lice.

The Upper River and Loch only reported 9 salmon for the week. The milder conditions have encouraged spring salmon to run further upstream. The Tummel accounted for 6. Steve Watt, Les Dargie and Davie Stewart all caught but best fish of the week fell to Neil McLennan at 18 pounds and David Bryce with a 17 pound Springer. All these salmon were caught fly fishing on the Pitlochry Angling Club Portnacraig beat. Donnie Whiteford had the first spring salmon off the clubs Sawmill stream at the bottom end of the Pitlochry town water. Lower Kinnard have started to produce the odd salmon as well.
Loch Tay accounted for 28 spring salmon in March and have had 13 in April so far. The best salmon in March was an estimated 25 pound fish caught by the Highland lodges. Highland lodges and Bill Hills party figure best in the catches.

Many thanks for all the pictures everyone sent me of opening week spring salmon and thanks to all who have sent me their individual fishing experiences over the last season on the river. I would be most grateful if you to do the same this season by emailing stanley.fishing@ukonline.co.uk to be included in this report.


Prospects for week commencing 19th April 2010.

As of Monday the river is settled and running at a good level.

The weather is to continue settled with high pressure for most of the week. Hopefully it will be a settled week, which should bring better catches especially after last week with some encouraging catches. Hopefully there will be a few more fish running to let the lower river have a chance.


The water temperature is 45 degrees Fahrenheit or 7 degrees Celsius but the weather is to be a bit colder this coming week a prospect of the odd frost, but this should not discourage salmon to run further upstream. The middle and Upper River should certainly benefit from this. Assuming the river continues to run at a consistent level there should be a better catch this coming week.

There is good availability throughout the river so why not have a go.

As to methods, spinning and fly fishing from the bank should enable you to catch the elusive Tay Springer. Harling is also a favoured method at this time of year.

Finally you are reminded that the Tay's policy for January - May 2010 is that all spring salmon should be released, ie the Tay has adopted a policy of 100% catch and release for spring salmon. Spring salmon are a scarce and precious resource. Please help preserve both them and the long
term future of your sport by following the recommendations.



If you have any news or pictures of catches or experiences on the Tay and you would like to share them please email me on stanley.fishing@ukonline.co.uk to be included in this report.


Tight lines.




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