Salmon Fishing Scotland River Tay Salmon Fishing Report for the Week ending 19th May 2012.

Salmon Fishing Scotland River Tay Salmon Fishing Report for the Week ending 19th May 2012.

The catches were reasonable last week despite unsettled water levels at the start and middle of the week. The quality of spring salmon remained high and the appearance of bigger salmon up to 24 pounds in weight was again encouraging.

Unsettled conditions at the start of the week after heavy rain at the weekend brought the river up and coloured. By the end of the week the water levels had fallen despite more rain in the middle of the week and hydro pulses unsettling the river on a daily basis. Prospects for the coming week should be better with falling water and much better weather including some warmer sunshine at last. Success was reasonable throughout the week despite unsettled water levels. The quality was again exceptional with more multi sea winter salmon landed. The river temperature was around 46F or 8C 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 92 salmon and 10 sea trout reported with the largest salmon an impressive 24 pounds caught on the Ballathie beat. There was also a salmon of 20 pounds caught on a regular basis throughout the river. Spring salmon were landed throughout the system from the Lower River to the Upper River. Sea trout catches should now improve with warmer weather forecast.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 19th May)
SALMON & GRILSE: Fishponds 1, Benchil and Pitlochrie 2, Stobhall 1, Taymount 2, Ballathie 2, Cargill 2, Islamouth 7, Lower and Upper Islamouth 2, Upper Islamouth and Meikleour House 4, Murthly 2 1, Newtyle 4, Dunkeld House 6, Dalmarnock 1, Dalguise 7, Lower Kinnaird 2, Upper Kinnaird 2, Edradynate 1, Farleyer Upper 2, Keithick Mains 1, Coupar Grange 15, Portnacraig Pitlochry 26, Loch Faskally 2.
Total: 93 Largest: Ballathie 24lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 1, Lower Redgorton 2, Benchil and Pitlochrie 2, Stobhall 1, Cargill 1, Newtyle 1, Keithick Mains 1, Coupar Grange 1.
Total: 10 Largest: Lower Redgorton & Benchil and Pitlochrie & Stobhall & Cargill 3lbs

On the Lower River 19 were landed. This was a poor week for the lower river due to the continued unsettled water levels. Local angler George McKinlay caught a couple of salmon on Benchil including a 17 pounds beauty on Friday. Cargill and Ballathie continue to work away quietly and produce large salmon. Ballathie landed a superb 24 pounds fish on Friday. Islamouth again caught throughout the week.

The Middle River registered 16. The middle river is seeing better sport now with more water but last week proved difficult with the unsettled conditions.

At Dunkeld House Chris Metzner from Australia caught his first ever salmon fly fishing in the Cathederal Stream and Brian Joseph caught an 11 pounds salmon on a Toby Salmo in the Ferry Pool.

On Newtyle John Gunn was successful harling landing a 15 pounds salmon in the Ferry pool. Regular Allan Rennie, caught a cracking sea liced 9 pounds fish fly fishing the Deans Burn and later in the week the Flying C was the favoured bait of David Bryce landing a 15 pounds beauty from the Trap.

The Upper River produced 42. The Upper area of the system continued with a good spring and no doubt the increase in river height really helped it last week with their best return for the year so far. Dalguise had an excellent week with a high point on Tuesday when John Cameron caught 4 salmon to his own rod on the fly up to 19 pounds from the Otterstone Pool. Further upstream Eddie Higgins caught his first spring salmon on Upper Farleyer with John McCallum. On the Tummel the extra water made it a week to remember at Portnacraig for the Pitlochry Angling Club. On Thursday 11 salmon were landed up to 16 pounds on fly and spinner. The successful rods included Matthew Currie, Mark Currie, Rory MacNab, Steve Watt and Gordon Nichol. Catch of the club season so far fell to Blackpool fisherman Gary Westhead landing 6 salmon to his own rod on Wednesday fly fishing from both banks up to 17 pounds. He will remember that day for a time. There was 26 salmon landed for the club last week with the vast majority fresh run salmon.

Steven Watt caught a cracking 17 pounds fish on Saturday. There will be a number of other salmon caught in this area and not reported. Salmon are now streaming through the dam with the counter at over 700.

The Isla registered 16 with Coupar Grange doing very well landing salmon up to 19 pounds.


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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