Salmon Fishing Scotland Prospects for the river Tay, Perthshire, Scotland week commencing 1st April 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Prospects for the river Tay, Perthshire, Scotland week commencing 1st April 2013.

There has been another very successful week completed on the mighty Tay in Perthshire, Scotland with continued cold weather and superb catches despite some inclement bitterly cold weather making it a debateable pleasurable pursuit of that magical spring salmon. The weather was consistently cold for the week with frosts most nights and arctic winds. River levels dropped back during the week to summer levels with no rain. Catches continued at good levels all week, which was very heartening. The colder spell will continue for this coming week, but hopefully this will not stop us maintaining good sport.

Catholes on the lower Tay.
Currently the river is running back at a lower level after more cold weather and there is continued cold weather forecast this week (10” and steady on the Ballathie gauge). The weather is set to remain cold over the next week, which should benefit the lower river mainly and maintain the chance of producing some sport and some early "Bars of Silver" if you are prepared to brave the elements.

A spring salmon being played at Stanley Mills.
The weather is set to remain cold with frost forecast at night. Colder conditions certainly benefit the river at this time of year slowing the spring salmon run down and giving everyone a chance to catch as they run up the river slowly. The river is falling with colder temperatures and will continue to do so until we get rain or a thaw from milder weather. The water temperature is currently around 39 degrees Fahrenheit or 4 degrees Celcius but may drop back further! These are typical temperatures for this time of year but certainly not in recent years. The temperature may come back further with the colder forecast but there have been salmon running slowly throughout the system. Hopefully there might be a chance of a fresh fish anywhere in the river. There will no doubt be quite a few kelts about on many beats which are now fairly silver as the prepare to return to the sea. They tend to be very thin with large heads and gill maggots and should not be mistaken for a spring salmon. Should you require guidance on salmon identification at this time of year please see this link for some help.
As to methods, in settled conditions fishing by any method will have to be slow and deep with large lures to catch the elusive Tay Springer. Harling is also a favoured method at this time of year but be warned wrap up well or it will not be a pleasant experience.

Spring Fly fishing at its best on the Catholes at Stanley.
Finally you are reminded that the Tay's policy for January - May 2013 is that all spring salmon should be released, i.e. the Tay has adopted a policy of 100% catch and release for spring salmon. Spring salmon are a scarce and precious resource. Please help preserve both them and the long term future of your sport by following the recommendations.

When releasing salmon please try to keep the fish in the water as much as possible to give them every chance to recover prior to release. Releasing fish from boats in the river is not recommended.

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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Salmon Fishing Scotland March Fishing ends with a bang on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland March Fishing ends with a bang on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland 2013.

March on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland has ended extremely well with another superb day for the river and taken the weekly catch up to approximately 150 spring salmon.

Sandy Watson plays a good spring salmon on the fly from the boat in front of Stanley Mills on the Pitlochrie beat.


A superb 15 pounds spring salmon for Sandy Watson.


Jason Stratton with a cracking springer from the Catholes stream caught fly fishing from the bank. This was one of two he landed in consecutive casts. Well done Jason, it must have been very exciting.


Islamouth have been picking up spring salmon on a regular basis this week. John McElroy with a superb fish from the boat at the tail of the beat.


Alan Greene with a 7 pounds springer from Luncarty caught on a spinner. This was one of three spring salmon landed on the beat which is unusual for the beat but must be put down to the cold water temperature this year. All round it was an extremely successful week for the river.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland Superb Spring Fishing Season at Stanley, Perthshire, Scotland 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Superb Spring Fishing Season at Stanley, Perthshire, Scotland 2013.

It was spectacular spring day in late March on the Catholes at Stanley, Perthshire, Scotland today with winter sunshine and magical scenery.

The Catholes stream with glorious blue skies but cold.


John Shaw was just making his fourth cast of the morning when the line tightened fly fishing at the top of the Catholes stream.


John landed this magnificent 19 pounds spring salmon and fittingly it was the largest off the beat for the season and also the 50th which was tremendous.


The lower Tay beats have been doing very well this season all due to this very cold spell. The catches are the best for 20 years and the spring season still has a month to run.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Salmon Fishing on the Mighty Tay, Perthshire, Scotland 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Salmon Fishing on the Mighty Tay, Perthshire, Scotland 2013.

The Tay in Perthshire, Scotland is currently having it's best spring salmon fishing week of this tremendous season and should go over 100 spring salmon registered for the week. Everyone is getting fed up of the continuous cold weather but the salmon fishermen on the lower areas of the river are certainly not complaining because it is making their season.

Rayan Bunyan caught this lovely 9 pounds spring salmon from the boat on Ballathie with the aid of ghillie Gary McErlain.


Local angler Arnot McWhinnie plays a salmon on the fly from the boat in Cawn Pore on the Pitlochrie beat at Stanley with Upper Scone.


A cracking spring salmon successfully landed.


Perth fisherman Neil Tong with a superb 11 pounds springer caught on Islamouth from the boat.


Charlie Martin with an 11 pounds salmon from the Newshot pool on Islamouth caught fly fishing.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland Catching Spring Salmon in March on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Catching Spring Salmon in March on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland 2013.

It was another memorable spring salmon fishing day on the Tay in Perthshire, Scotland with over 20 salmon registered.

John Morrison playing a good salmon fly fishing on the Pitlochrie beat at Stanley.


John with his first of two spring salmon landed in the day on the fly wading from the bank.


Harry Wise plays a good salmon from the boat in front of Stanley Mills.


A cracking 17 pounds beauty prior to release.


Euan Clark with a 14 pounds springer also caught from the boat. A superb day all round.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland Super Spring fishing on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland March 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Super Spring fishing on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland March 2013.

The phenomenal spring fishing continues on the mighty Tay, Perthshire, Scotland and it is all because of the cold weather. The low cold water is slowing the spring salmon down and the Lower river is certainly benefiting as the catches demonstrate.

A winter to give the lower river a spring to remember on the Tay. Are there more fish running the river? Maybe not, the cold water is slowing them down and with it being low water as well they are maybe more concentrated and easier caught. Spring salmon are far more aggressive and more likely to be caught if covered by a bait or fly therefore there is a greater percentage caught by rod and line at this time of year. Great news for our marvelous river.


Freddie Sutherland with a superb 14 pounds beauty from the Woodside in the Catholes at Stanley caught on a Devon.


John Lessels with a sea liced springer from Luncarty yesterday. This was one of three spring salmon he caught during the day.


Young Billy Robbins with a cracking 13 pounds spring salmon caught fly fishing on Upper Redgorton yesterday.


John Bennett with a superb spring salmon caught on the Catholes yesterday on a Toby.


Sandy Harrison with a 13 pounds spring salmon caught fly fishing on Upper Redgorton.
A superb week for the Tay so far!

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Salmon Fishing Scotland March Spring Fishing on the Pitlochrie beat at Stanley, Perthshire, Scotland 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland March Spring Fishing on the Pitlochrie beat at Stanley, Perthshire, Scotland 2013.

The winter weather continues but so does the spring salmon run with another superb day on the river Tay, Perthshire, Scotland.

A squally snow shower comes through at Stanley Mills on the Pitlochrie beat.


Stuart Howie with a super 11 pounds spring salmon caught from the boat on a harled tube fly.


Steven Watt with a fresh 9 pounds springer caught fly fishing from the bank in Cawn Pore.


Last turn of the boat in Horsey and Arnot McWhinnie plays a lively spring salmon on a Kynoch.


A superb 13 pounds beauty successfully landed prior to release

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Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Fly Fishing on the Tay March 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Fly Fishing on the Tay March 2013.

Another cold week has dawned on the Tay in Perthshire, Scotland but the spring salmon have been about and catches have been superb for the start of the week.

Billy Davidson from Bankfoot playing a spring fish fly fishing on the Catholes at Stanley. This was his first of three for the day! Memorable day for Billy. Well done!


A cracking sea liced 9 pounds spring salmon.


Billy releases the fish back to the river to continue its journey up this magnificent river.


I was lucky enough to get a cast myself today in the Catholes stream. This was an 8 pounds beauty falling to a Monkey fly.


Another cracker from the Catholes stream, this time 13 pounds. We finished up with 5 for the day and all were caught fly fishing. This was spring fishing at its best on the Tay.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland river Tay, Perthshire, Scotland Report for week ending 23rd March 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland river Tay, Perthshire, Scotland Report for week ending 23rd March 2013.

The conditions last week were again superb on the Tay in Perthshire, Scotland apart from the start of the week with snow melt and dirty water on the lower river but very cold weather and improved catches at the end of the week filled everyone with more optimism for the coming weeks. The good news for this week is that we have colder settled conditions giving us great prospects with an even colder weather forecast for the latter part of the week, which will maintain early spring sport on this marvelous river especially on the lower and middle river.

The Spring Salmon fishing is never easy but when settled conditions prevail the sport can be magical as proved this past week despite arctic temperatures with some outstanding catches with 60 plus spring salmon registered in the Tay system. This was a continual improvement on the previous week despite dirty water at the start of the week and superb for the river. Spring salmon were caught predominately at the latter part of the week up to 20 pounds in weight and throughout the river. The Tay is fishing currently very well and is certainly a good destination to catch your first spring salmon of the season. The river offers a variety of possibilities for all standards of anglers with ghillies only too keen to teach the novices and this mighty river can produce a memorable salmon for the keen fly fisher. Levels have dropped and the pools can be easily covered from bank and boat with modern technology. Why not have a go and sample this magical river. The fishing is supreme and the scenery is not bad either.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 23rd March)
SALMON & GRILSE: Lower Redgorton 2, Upper Redgorton 3, Fishponds 1, Upper Scone 2, Pitlochrie and Catholes 3, Burnmouth 7, Taymount 8, Ballathie 4, Cargill 2, Islamouth 5, Lower and Upper Islamouth 4, Upper Islamouth and Meikleour House 1, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 4, Newtyle 6, Dunkeld House 2, Dalguise 2, Lower Kinnaird 2, Coupar Grange 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 2.
Total: 63 Largest: Upper Redgorton & Murthly 2 20lbs

Spring salmon have been caught throughout the system this past week encouraging everyone and there has also been the emergence of some larger multi sea winter spring salmon up to 20 pounds, which is superb news. The Upper reaches have encountered fresh salmon again, as fish have been keen to run with good water levels earlier in the month despite cold temperatures. The Upper river registered 2 spring salmon with Portnacraig registering both fish. Bruar boys Gordon Nichol and Calum McRoberts had success in Sawmill stream with fish of 12 pounds fly fishing and 10 pounds spinning respectively.

Neil MacLellan caught on the fly at the Dam beat on Wednesday. Warmer weather will help the upper areas in the next few weeks as temperatures inevitably will rise and catches will swing to this part of the Tay.

On the Middle river 19 spring salmon were caught this last week. When the water starts to warm up the middle river will fair even better.

Lower Kinnaid picked up 2 spring salmon with Mark McGillivray landing a beauty in the Ash Tree pool. Peter Haggerty, a guest of Peter Shuttleworth, on his first ever visit to Dalguise landed a lovely 12 pounds cock fish in the Tail of the Bridge pool on an 18g Silver Toby. Well done Peter, just rewards for braving the blizzards and east winds, rod rings freezing up just to make it even harder! Dunkeld House had a couple of fish in the week. Newtyle did well with 6 spring salmon for the week.

Ben Birdsall who has recently written a book on whisky and is based in Switzerland caught a fine 9 pounds Tay Springer on Friday from the Steps Pool on a Vision 110. His fishing partner Ray Hind also caught a stunning fish of 12 pounds, again on the Vision from the Steps. The Murthly beats continue to do well with Murthly 2 fairing best under the stewardship on Tony Black. Glendelvine and Miekleour also had fish.

The Lower River dominated the catches understandably with colder conditions after the snow melt started to clear on Thursday and a dropping water with 41 spring salmon for the week. Islamouth had better catches this week with Tom Borthwick landing a 10 pounds springer in the Long Head and Richard Muir catching a 13 pounds fish in the Newshot both on Vision 110’s. Ballathie and Cargill caught during the week.

Taymount continued to fair well during the week catching several spring fish. Amongst the successful anglers were David Budd and John Hutcheon landing 4 on Thursday between them. Friday saw Eddie Slaven and Danny Fulton landing fish in Stank End then John Murray and Brian Stobie caught on Saturday. Burnmouth had a successful week landing 7 fish. Frank Muller had a good trip to the Tay landing fresh fish on Cargill and the Catholes plus several other Kelts. Neil Williams had a 13 pounds beauty on a harled fly in front of Stanley Mills and Euan Clark landed his second springer of the season fly fishing in Horsey on the Pitlochrie beat. On the same beat Alan McCaig caught a 9 pounds beauty in Horsey with Upper Scone.

At Fishponds John McElroy had a 18 pounds cracker on the harl and Upper Redgorton finished the week well with a 20 pounds beauty for Greggor Nimmo. Lower Redgorton also had fish for the Davis brothers. The continued colder conditions for this coming week should prove successful for the lower river again.

The Isla registered 1 salmon from Coupar Grange.

It was certainly another superb spring week to remember with some great stories, very cold weather and springers caught with good conditions but now as we enter the end of March with more settled weather (hopefully!) and river levels the spring catches should improve further over the coming weeks assuming the run continues.

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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Salmon Fishing Scotland Prospects for the river Tay, Perthshire, Scotland week commencing 25th March 2013. 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Prospects for the river Tay, Perthshire, Scotland week commencing 25th March 2013. 2013.

There has been another successful week completed on the mighty Tay in Perthshire, Scotland with continued cold weather and good catches especially at the latter part of the week despite some inclement bitterly cold weather making it a debatable pleasurable pursuit of that magical spring salmon. The weather was consistently cold for the week with frosts most nights and arctic winds. River levels dropped back during the week after rain on low ground on Sunday raising the heights slightly. Catches continued at good levels apart from early in the week following snow melt from the Isla, which was very heartening. We have now gone back into a much colder spell yet again for this coming week, which may give us more snow, but hopefully this will not stop us maintaining good sport.

Horsey on the Pitlochrie beat at Stanley.
Currently the river is running back at a lower level after more cold weather and there is continued cold weather forecast this week (1’4 and steady on the Ballathie gauge). The weather is set to remain cold over the next week, which should benefit the lower river mainly and maintain the chance of producing some sport and some early "Bars of Silver" if you are prepared to brave the elements.

Dalmarnock above Dunkeld.
The weather is set to be cold with frost forecast at night and possible snow during the day and will get colder at the end of this week yet again. Colder conditions certainly benefit the river at this time of year slowing the spring salmon run down and giving everyone a chance to catch as they run up the river slowly. The river is falling with colder temperatures and will continue to do so until we get rain or a thaw from milder weather. The water temperature has dropped and is currently around 36 degrees Fahrenheit or 2 degrees Celcius but may drop back further! These are typical temperatures for this time of year. The temperature may come back further with the colder forecast at the end of the week ahead but there have been salmon running throughout the system after milder conditions and this resulted in fish being caught well up the system. Hopefully there might be a chance of a fresh fish anywhere in the river. There will no doubt be quite a few kelts about on many beats and possibly some later run fish, which have yet to spawn. Should you require guidance on salmon identification at this time of year please see this link for some help.

Spring fishing action from Stanley.
As to methods, in settled conditions fishing by any method will have to be slow and deep with large lures to catch the elusive Tay Springer. Harling is also a favoured method at this time of year but be warned wrap up well or it will not be a pleasant experience.

Finally you are reminded that the Tay's policy for January - May 2013 is that all spring salmon should be released, i.e. the Tay has adopted a policy of 100% catch and release for spring salmon. Spring salmon are a scarce and precious resource. Please help preserve both them and the long term future of your sport by following the recommendations.

When releasing salmon please try to keep the fish in the water as much as possible to give them every chance to recover prior to release. Releasing fish from boats in the river is not recommended.


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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Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Fishing in a Cold March 2013 on the Tay.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Fishing in a Cold March 2013 on the Tay.

It was another bitterly cold day in Tayside with very strong easterly winds and sub zero temperatures. It was not for the faint hearted but the rewards were there for the few that braved the elements.

The fire is certainly on in the iconic Wash House hut at the Pitlochrie beat in Stanley, Perthshire, Scotland.


Euan Clark with a superb 15 pounds beauty caught fly fishing in the Horsey pool of the Pitlochrie beat.


Tom Borthwick with a 10 pounds springer from the Longhead pool of the Islamouth.


This was a spring salmon caught on Upper Redgorton which was covered in long tailed sea lice caught fly fishing by Ross McGreggor.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Fishing Catch at Stanley, Perthshire, Scotland March 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Fishing Catch at Stanley, Perthshire, Scotland March 2013.

The lower Tay has had a great spring fishing season so far due to the cold weather which has made all the difference. Spring salmon are going through the Tay system much slower as the river temperature is still below 40F or 5C. This gives the lower beats a chance and the catches have certainly proved that over the season so far. Last year in the same week the temperature was reaching an incredible 50F or 10C which was unheard of and catches were hard to come by. The middle and upper reaches will have their day yet as temperature rise and the fish really start to run in April and May.

Spring action on the lower river at Stanley. Upper Scone ghillie Dave Barwick nets a spring salmon in Horsey on the Pitlochrie beat.


He carefully unhooks the fish.


A quick picture for the successful angler, Alan McCaig from Bridge of Allan prior to release.

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