Salmon Fishing Scotland River Tay Salmon Fishing Report for the Week ending 28th April 2012.

Salmon Fishing Scotland River Tay Salmon Fishing Report for the Week ending 28th April 2012.

The catches were difficult last week due to unsettled water levels from torrential rain and hail showers which again affected the lower river below the mouth of the Isla due to dirty water run off however there was an improvement in catches and the quality of spring salmon remained high with salmon caught up to 22 pounds in weight.

Unsettled conditions prevailed for the week with fluctuating river levels and more typical weather for the time of year. By the end of the week the water levels had dropped back and look settled for the coming week. Success was reasonable despite adverse conditions with catches throughout the week and the quality was again exceptional with more multi sea winter salmon landed. The river temperature was around 46/48F or 8/9C due to the colder weather but this did not stop salmon running and spreading the catches especially for the Upper areas. Salmon continue to be caught from top to bottom in the river with others caught and not registered meaning fish are running through rapidly and progressing upstream which encourages everyone.

There were 74 salmon reported with the largest salmon of 22 pounds caught on the Lower Kinnaird beat. Spring salmon were landed throughout the system from the Lower River to the Upper River.

On the Lower River 26 were landed. The torrential April showers mirrored the previous week and it did not help the lower river as it raised the river and made it dirty due to the Isla becoming very dirty. The beats closest to the Isla were not affected so badly but as the dirty water goes down and mixes the whole river is becomes coloured. That happens by the end of Taymount and Stobhall at the Linn pool. One salmon was caught below this point this week on Upper Redgorton on Tuesday. Stobhall and Taymount even struggled this past week, as did Cargill and Ballathie under difficult conditions. Islamouth however again proved the place to be with consistent catches throughout the week.

Mike Davies with his second spring salmon of the day weighing 15 pounds caught fly fishing from the boat in the Long Head pool on Islamouth.
19 salmon were landed on the beat with John McElroys party catching 11 in the last 3 days with several being lost as well.

The Middle River 26. Murthly 2 had a good week catching 10 from Stenton and the Upper beat just below Newtyle. At Kercock Steve Banks had an 8 pounds salmon and Bob Burns had a nice 15 pounds fish on a copper Toby. It was a very frustrating week for Kercock as 8 other salmon were hooked and lost mostly on the fly. Most of the beats were encountering similar statistics due to unsettled conditions. Newtyle had a better week with James Bowman, Neill Scrimgeour, Allen Rennie, Jess Miller, David and Andy Morris all landing good salmon by various means.

The biggest fish was landed by Newtyle regular Allen Rennie fly fishing St Marys stream weighing 17 pounds. Further upstream at Dunkeld House salmon were landed throughout the week with Willie Cummins catching a 16 pounds springer on a Rapala in the Lady pool.

The Upper River produced 21. Salmon continue to bolt up the Tay to the upper areas with over 200 salmon now through the Salmon ladder at Pitlochry and the first salmon caught on Loch Faskally. The Pitlochry Angling Club Portnacraig beat continued to produce salmon but could do with a bit more water. The locals were showing their experience this past week with Andy Walker, Davy Stewart and Gordon Hanslip all catching good salmon. John Richmond also caught a cracking 18 pounds salmon on Saturday. There will be several other salmon coming from the Tummel but not reported. Back on the Tay Farleyer, Findynate and the Kinnaird beats continue to feature.

A beauty form Lower Kinnaird.

The Isla registered 1 from Keithick Mains.

The Earn registered 0.

Celebrate a Tay spring salmon with a Dalmore Tay Dram and contribute to the future of this mighty river. Dalmore distillery have created a unique expression of their single malt whisky and a generous donation from each bottle sold will be gifted to the Tay Foundation to support their work to protect and improve the river.

Many thanks for all the pictures everyone has sent me of 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 robert.salmonfishing@googlemail.com to be included in this report.

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