River Tay Prospects for the week commencing 29th August 2011.
Currently the river is settled and the weather is to remain settled for the coming week which hopefully will not be too bad and give us reasonable fishing throughout the coming week. Watch out for the remains of Hurricane Irene at the end of the week. There are now the first signs of Grilse running the river along with good quality summer salmon and hopefully this will build into a good run over the coming weeks.
The weather is to be more settled for the week with the chance of some rain at the end of the week, hopefully this will give us less rain and not unsettle the river too much. The water temperature is around 56 degrees Fahrenheit or 13 degrees Celsius.
Salmon fly fishing on the Tay.
The river temperature is rising and with fresh water, this will encourage salmon run throughout the river to be caught in all areas of the system. Hopefully there might be a chance of a fresh fish anywhere in the lower, middle and upper river.
The river is running at a reasonable height meaning that salmon and grilse will still be running and favour the lower, middle and upper Tay beats conditions permitting. The encouraging grilse run in Summer 2010 might suggest that we will see more 2 sea-winter fish this year, so let’s hope that some of these turn out to be the early-running bars of silver that we are all hoping for. A run of Multi-Sea winter salmon are also running the Tay with now several salmon are being caught in the 20 plus pounds range which is superb news. A Malloch Trophy salmon is a real possibility!
There is good availability throughout the river so why not have a go.
As to methods, Spinning from the bank, fly fishing with sink tip floating lines and harling are the favoured Tay pursuits at this time of year. Currently we have excellent fly fishing conditions on the Tay with a number of salmon being landed on the fly recently.
Finally you are reminded that the Tay's conservation policy for the remainder of the season which is that all hen fish of any size and all cock fish over 10 pounds should be released. All coloured and gravid fish should be released. No more than one clean fish weighing, where possible, less than 10 pounds should be retained per angler per day.
Anglers should not use worms in September or October in any part of the district.
Worming in June, July and August only. During the months of June, July and August the Board requests that worming should only be undertaken with Circle Hooks or Shelton release hooks which are designed to help prevent deep hooking. Contact the Tay Board for details of suppliers.
Please help preserve both them and the long term future of your sport by following the recommendations.
To help you follow our guidelines I have included these helpful pointers.
How to SAFELY Release a Salmon
“The best method of releasing a salmon is to leave it in the water
and touch nothing but the hook with fingers or pliers.
“Whatever the method, care combined with speed, will give the fish the best chance of survival.”
Lee Wulff, Atlantic Salmon Journal Winter 1964/65
• Use barbless or pinched hooks
• Retrieve your fish quickly; release it immediately
• Keep the fish in the water
• Use rubber or knotless cotton net, if one must be used
• Cut the leader if necessary
• Remove the hook carefully
• Hold the fish gently in natural swimming position, facing upstream until it revives
• Don’t pump the fish. That is, don’t move the fish back and forth in the water.
How should hooks be removed?
Very Carefully
In quiet water, bring the wild salmon quickly within reach. Leaving the salmon in water and without squeezing it, remove the hook carefully with pliers or thumb and forefinger. If a net must be used, it should be rubber or knotless cotton. If necessary, cut the leader near the fly and spare the fish.
The Science of Live Release
“Peer-reviewed science supports live release as a proven and effective conservation tool.”
Dr. Fred Whoriskey,
ASF Vice-President, Research & Environment
Studies in North America and Europe have shown live release works, and in some instances Atlantic salmon have been angled 2 and 3 times.
Science has shown that virtually all Atlantic salmon will survive when released, as long as the angler uses the proper techniques, refrains from angling in overly warm water, and does not overplay the Atlantic salmon.
Like athletes sprinting on a track, Atlantic salmon build up lactic acid in their muscle tissues when they are being played.
The Key is Oxygen – The fish need oxygen in order to recover and continue their journey.
To recover, Atlantic salmon need:
• careful handling by the angler to reduce stress
• to remain in the water where they can breathe and reduce the oxygen deficit in their tissues
• to be held in an upstream position for water to flow more easily across their gills
Photographing Your Spectacular Live Release Salmon.
Use a photo partner:
* Digital camera: make settings on the camera before you begin fishing or use a point and shoot film camera. Give it to your partner before the angling session.
* Whether a digital camera or a film camera, tell your partner to fill the frame, and take several images.
* If it is a film camera, be sure there is film in the camera. This may seem to be a simple matter, but mistakes do happen...
Let your Partner get into Position:
* Tell him/her what you are going to do. Alert your partner before you take the fish out of the water.
Support the Atlantic salmon:
* Carefully take the barbless hook out of the fish’s mouth. With rod tucked under your arm, move one hand to the base of the tail. With your other hand, support the fish under the forward part of its body. Keep it in the water, with the fish pointed upstream to help its recovery.
* If a third person is present, give him or her the rod to hold, so you can concentrate on the wild salmon.
Take the Picture Quickly:
* With your photo partner warned, raise the wild Atlantic salmon partially out of the water for less than five seconds - or consider leaving it semi-submerged for the photo instead!
Return the Fish to Continue its Spawning Run:
* Support the salmon underwater in a natural position facing the current, handling it as little as possible. Give it time to recover. The goal is for the wild salmon to swim away on its own.
* Digital cameras offer the opportunity to adjust the film speed to suit conditions. In low light, such as evening, morning, heavy cloud, or deep shadow, consider setting the speed to 400, to take care of both movement and the low light. Experiment beforehand on speeds above 400, as many digital images become heavily pixilated at greater sensitivity.
* Remember to adjust the white balance for deep shadow, to warm the image.
* Today’s print films even at 400 speeds are superb. Use 400-speed film at dawn, dusk or in shadow.
* Don’t forget to smile! Your photo is a valuable memory.
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 robert.salmonfishing@googlemail.com to be included in this report.
Tight lines.
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