Summer conditions remain on the Tay in Perthshire, Scotland making fishing difficult with a low settled river and some scorching weather. Catches have dropped dramatically understandably due to extreme temperatures. Warmer weather remains, and there is a continued settled forecast for this coming week with not much prospect of rain. Limited catches have spread as temperatures have climbed maintaining some sport in the river but cooler weather would help to encourage more fresh fish to run into the lower stretches to sustain sport.
Low summer conditions at Stanley.
Currently the river has dropped back and settled at low summer levels after a little rain last weekend (-2” and steady on the Ballathie gauge). The weather will remain good over the next week with a little chance of rain. The low water will benefit the lower river more but salmon will continue to spread with warmer temperatures and more water would help to hopefully maintain the chance of producing some sport for everyone.
The Cubby Hole and start of the Alderens on Taymount or Stobhall.
The weather is set to remain settled with more summer like weather. Warmer temperatures will encourage salmon to run up the river. The river is currently dropping, steady and at a low summer level. The water temperature has soared to around 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 degrees Celsius by late afternoons. These are extreme temperatures for this time of year and not helping. The temperature is fluctuating daily with the warmer forecast but cools overnight making early mornings the best prospect of sport. Hopefully there might be a chance of a fresh fish anywhere in the river if that temperature comes back a bit.
The bones of the river showing at Benchil.
As to methods, in settled conditions fishing by any method should enable you to catch the elusive Tay Salmon. The water temperature is warm making floating lines with the addition of a sink tip being a favoured tactic and using normal dressed flies. It is still worth a go with sinking lines as well depending on water heights and stripping a Sun Ray Shadow is always worth a go. Summer conditions also enable you to try a riffled hitch, which can be very exciting. When spinning, Tay favourites include Toby Salmos, weighted and floating devons, flying C’s and Visons or Rapalas. Harling is also a favoured method at this time of year on many beats.
A summer sunset on the Tronach at Murthly taken by Tony Black.
Finally you are reminded that the Tay's catch and release policy for 2013.
From 1 June to end of Season:
• All hen fish of any size and all cock fish over 10 pounds should be released.
• All coloured and gravid fish to be released.
• No more than one clean fish weighing, where possible, less than 10 pounds should be retained per angler per day.
• Anglers should not use worms in September or October in any part of the district.
Worming in June, July and August
Please adhere to these recommendations and help preserve the long term future of the river and your sport the recommendations. We have had a superb run and catch this season, which may just be down to the majority of anglers returning salmon over the past seasons. Thank you to all anglers who have this season so far returned their spring salmon to maintain our sport for the future, it is vitally important and is a great contribution by individuals who care for their sport and the river. Well done!
When releasing salmon especially in warmer conditions 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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