Salmon Fishing Scotland River Tay Salmon Fishing Report for the Week ending 12th May 2012.

Salmon Fishing Scotland River Tay Salmon Fishing Report for the Week ending 12th May 2012.

The catches were reasonable last week despite unsettled water levels at the end of the week. The quality of spring salmon remained high and the appearance of bigger salmon up to 26 pounds in weight was again encouraging.

Settled conditions prevailed for most of the week with river levels falling away until heavy rain on Thursday brought the river up and unsettled the river. By the end of the week the water levels had risen a bit which was no bad thing. Success was reasonable throughout the week but dropped off at the end of the week with unsettled water levels. 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 97 salmon reported with the largest salmon an impressive 26 pounds caught on the Dalmarnock beat by newly married lady angler Sam Datta. There was also a salmon of 25 pounds caught at Stobhall by Mark Scruton fly fishing. Spring salmon were landed throughout the system from the Lower River to the Upper River.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 12th May)
SALMON & GRILSE: Fishponds 1, Benchil and Pitlochrie 1, Stobhall 4, Taymount 3, Ballathie 2, Cargill 6, Islamouth 9, Lower and Upper Islamouth 13, Upper Islamouth and Meikleour House 3, Kercock 3, Murthly 2 13, Newtyle 5, Dunkeld House 4, Dalmarnock 6, Dalguise 4, Lower Kinnaird 4, Findynate 1, Farleyer Upper 2, Portnacraig Pitlochry 7, Loch Faskally 6.
Total: 97 Largest: Dalmarnock 26lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 1, Lower and Upper Islamouth 1, Keithick Mains 1.
Total: 3 Largest: Lower Redgorton & Lower and Upper Islamouth & Keithick Mains 3lbs

On the Lower River 39 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. On Benchil local angler George McKinlay caught a lovely sea liced 15 pounds salmon on a Toby on Wednesday. Taymount and Stobhall caught salmon with Mark Scruton landing a cracking 25 pounds salmon fly fishing from the boat on Stobhall at Tams Corner and

Sandra Robbins was successful on Ladies day at Taymount catching a 15 pounds fish again on the fly and at Tams corner. Ballathie and Cargill were also successful during the week. Islamouth continues to be very productive landing 22 salmon for the week, which included 7 on Wednesday.

The Middle River registered 34. The middle river is seeing better sport now with more water. At Kercock Jim Lamb and Jim McEwan landed salmon up to 16 pounds. The Murthly 2 beat fishing Stenton and the Upper beat had its best week of the season with 13 salmon caught mostly fly fishing.

An 8 pounds fish from Stenton.
At Newtyle there was a first Tay spring salmon for

Norrie McLeod fly fishing in the Trap. Not content with that he promptly caught another from the same place on a deadly Golden Willie Gunn. Dave Cargill was also successful landing a 16 pounds beauty on a Salmo. Dunkeld House had a reasonable week with Bill Robbins landing a 17 pounds beauty on the fly and American visitor Mark Guidry landing a colourful fish on a Salmo. Further upstream at Dalmarnock it was a red letter day for Dr Sandip Datta and his new wife Sam on Friday. They got married in Dunkeld Cathedral 5 weeks ago. Sam was fishing the Clacken Taggart pool in the morning.

She landed a beautiful 26 pounds spring Salmon that was expertly netted by ghillie Colin Mcfadden. It was her biggest salmon to date, a fish of a lifetime. The fish was carefully released to continue its journey. Sandip then caught a 7 pounds springer, and Sam had great satisfaction in telling him it was a tiddler!

The Upper River produced 24. The Upper area of the system continued with a good spring and no doubt the increase in river height will really help it for the coming weeks. Dalguise had a salmon of 23 pounds on Tuesday with 2 others caught in the same day. Kinnaird were again successful and Raymond Doonan caught a cracking 10 pounds spring salmon fly fishing on the Upper Farleyer beat earlier in the week. Salmon continue to fly through the fish ladder at Pitlochry with the total now above 500. Loch Faskally are benefiting from this landing several salmon this past week. Despite the low water levels at Portnacraig salmon were landed on most days.

Dean McGowan had a good day on Saturday landing 2 salmon up to 13 pounds and other successful anglers included Neil MacLellan, Gordon Nichol and Patrick Hammond. The Pitlochry Club had the lower Tummel last week as well and Alistair Stephen landed a 10 pounds fish on the Greenbank fly fishing on Saturday. After all the rain the catches should improve this coming week and everyone will be relieved to see their lines coming round a bit quicker!

The Isla registered 0.

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 is sending of salmon and thanks to all who have sent me their individual fishing experiences on the river. I would be most grateful if you would continue to do the same by emailing robert.salmonfishing@googlemail.com to be included in this report.

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