Salmon Fishing Scotland River Tay, Perthshire, Scotland Report for first week in January 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland River Tay, Perthshire, Scotland Report for first week in January 2013.

The river Tay opened last Tuesday with great publicity in the press and on television. The various issues and activities appeared on Television, Radio and Press giving the river high exposure.

Cat Cubie making the first symbolic cast on the mighty Tay.
There were opening day events throughout the Tay district with the larger ceremonies taking place at Dunkeld and Kenmore. At the Dunkeld Hilton Hotel Cat Cubie performed the symbolic first cast in front of a large enthusiastic crowd after Tay chairman Bill Jack had raised all the issues and introduced the new season on the mighty river. The ceremony was organised by the Hotel in conjunction with the Dunkeld and Birnam Tourist and Angling Associations and was supported by the Tay Foundation. MP’s and MSP’s were also in attendance and the event was televised by both the BBC and STV news with further coverage to come on the One Show on the BBC.

Video highlights of the Opening week on the Tay.
After the Opening ceremony the importance of the Tay to Scotland’s economy was highlighted in the Scottish Parliament by Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser who submitted a motion in the Scottish Parliament celebrating the industry after the event. Freshwater angling brings over £100 million to the country’s economy each year. He called on MSPs to recognise “the vital role that Tay salmon fishing plays in driving tourism and the economy, and support the future of salmon fishing on the Tay and across the rest of Scotland.” Mr Fraser MSP said: “Salmon fishing is important to the rural economies of many communities in Scotland. “Salmon fishing on the River Tay has gone from strength to strength in recent years. “The number of young salmon is on the rise thanks to the success of the catch and release scheme, which ensures the future sustainability of the river. “The Tay has been particularly successful in drawing anglers from across Britain to Perthshire who are eager to test themselves on the river. I’d encourage fishers of all standards to come to Perthshire and explore the fantastic fishing available on the Tay.” William Jack, chairman of the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board also said at the Opening day event: “It is pleasing to note that numbers of large spring salmon, for which the Tay was always celebrated historically, seem to be recovering. 2012 saw the highest average weight of spring salmon in the Tay since 1987 at 17 pounds. “Starting five years ago, we have seen a sustained resurgence with many more spring fish in the high teens and twenties of pounds, and 2012 was the best yet.” “Before the advent of catch and release, all big spring fish caught by anglers were killed. Now they are able to continue their journeys upstream to spawn and help produce the next generation. “It is vital that we retain our spring conservation measures so that this recovery continues.”
Thank you to Alan Richardson for his input in the Dundee Courier.

The pipes and drums at Kenmore.

At Kenmore, Perth Provost Elizabeth Grant made the first cast of the Tay season shortly after 9:30am. The river at Kenmore was thronged with anglers thereafter. All the permit monies were donated to AFYD – Angling for Youth Development. Opening day and the evening gala dinner raised well over £90,000 (yes ninety thousand) pounds for AFYD, CHAS and other charities. That’s the angling community putting something back! Well done all concerned.

The Spring Salmon fishing was well and truly underway after all the excitement of opening day’s celebrations. On the lower river two cracking sea liced salmon came off the famous Catholes beat at Stanley. Freddie Sutherland caught a spring salmon on Wednesday at 15 pounds and

Tim Greenfield on Friday with a pristine 9 pounds springer. After all the mild weather prior to the opening salmon were spread throughout the system and that was reflected on the first day with 17 spring salmon registered and mainly from the middle river upwards. Charlie Hagarty fishing at Dalmarnock landed two fish on opening day at 16 pounds and 18 pounds. The 18 pounds spring salmon earned him the Redford Trophy for the largest opening day fish on the Tay. Jim Ferrie had a superb opening day, firstly assisting Cat Cubie for the all important first cast on the river, them looking after his friend Alexis Ward and guiding her on to a memorable 16 pounds opening day spring salmon on the Dunkeld stretch on the famous river Tay.

Gordon Nicol gave himself and Portnacraig Pitlochry beat a great start to the season with a magnificent deep springer estimated from its length and girth to be about 21 lb. It was caught on a yellow and black tube fly on Pitlochry bank at the Moulin Burn mouth just after noon and carefully released. This must be classed as the fish of the opening week. All in all it was a truly memorable opening so let us hope the season lives up to every ones expectations.

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 the reports.

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