Salmon Fishing Scotland River Tay Salmon Fishing Report for the Week ending 5th May 2012.

Salmon Fishing Scotland River Tay Salmon Fishing Report for the Week ending 5th May 2012.

The catches were reasonable last week due to settled water levels however colder weather and the river dropping back to summer levels curtailed activity at the end of the week. The quality of spring salmon remained high and the appearance of a few much bigger salmon up to 32 pounds in weight was very encouraging.

Settled conditions prevailed for the week with river levels falling away which is more typical weather for the time of year. By the end of the week the water levels had dropped back. Success was reasonable throughout the week but dropped off at the end of the week with colder weather and lower water. The quality was again exceptional with more multi sea winter salmon landed. The river temperature was around 48F or 9C due to the colder weather but this did not stop salmon running and spreading the catches. 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 80 salmon reported with the largest salmon an impressive 32 pounds caught on the

Ballathie beat by 12 years old James Meakin. There was also salmon of 25 pounds caught at Lower Kinnaird and 24 pounds on Loch Faskally. Spring salmon were landed throughout the system from the Lower River to the Upper River.

On the Lower River 29 were landed. The boats are now off the lower river from Stanley downwards and summer fishing has started. Most of the beats do summer permits at this time of year until the boats go back on in July. A few sea trout have started to appear this past week, which is encouraging. Further upstream sport has been slow with odd fish caught. The lower water suits the Ballathie and Cargill beats as their catches improved this past week. There was great excitement on Friday when Ballathie caught the first 30 pounds salmon of the season for the river. Everyone has been expecting larger salmon to appear as last year but they have been in short supply until this week. Strangely the other rivers in Scotland have seen larger salmon this week as well. Islamouth has again been the top beat on the river this week landing 16 salmon all caught fly fishing. On Thursday 7 salmon were caught with Perth angler Neil Tong landing 4 for the day up to 17 pounds from bank and boat.

On Saturday Ian Mitchell caught a 21 pounds salmon from the tail of the Long Head.

The Middle River 21. Kercock have had a better week with several salmon landed on fly and spinner. Successful anglers included David Crosbie and Norman Wood landing 2 salmon in 2 days up to 12 pounds on the fly and Dougie McLean and

Dennis Robb catching fresh salmon on Thursday. Jim McEwan also had a 7 pounds fish on a Salmo. At Newtyle the Bowmans were successful on Tuesday and Dunkeld House beat had a better week with Simon Furniss catching 3 himself on Tuesday. The middle river is seeing better sport now but a bit more water would help things further.

The Upper River produced 28. The upper river continues to produce but must be struggling with low water now. Despite low water fish have been caught in reasonable numbers and there is now over 300 salmon through the fish ladder at Pitlochry. Loch Faskally are benefitting from this and on Thursday Shaun Camburn landed a 24 pounds salmon trolling a pink Kynoch, which has brought their tally up to 8 for the season. Below the Dam the Portnacraig beat had a reasonable week landing salmon up to 20 pounds on fly and spinner. Successful anglers included Gordon Hanslip, Davie Stewart, Stephane Bovy and visiting father and son Tony and Anthony Churchill.

Graeme Lightbody and John Bryce both landed a salmon fly fishing on Saturday despite the very low water. The upper beats on the Tay have been working away as well with Dalguise, Kinnaird, Farleyer and Findynate all contributing. A notable salmon of 25 pounds was caught off the Lower Kinnaird beat on Wednesday.

The Isla registered 2 from Keithick Mains and Islabank.

The Earn registered 0.

The Tay Conservation Dinner will be held at the Dunkeld Hilton Hotel on Saturday 20th October 2012.

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.

Fishing Salmon River, Salmon River, Fishing for Salmon, salmon Fishing Alaska, Fishing Alaska, Fly Fishing Salmon, Fly Fishing, Salmon Fishing Report, Trout Fishing, King Salmon Fishing, Salmon Fishing Forum, Salmon Fishing Scotland, Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland, River Tay Scotland, Scottish Salmon, Salmon Rivers Scotland, Fishing Tackle Scotland, Salmon Fishing Flies, Fly Fishing Flies.