The conditions remain difficult on the Tay in Perthshire, Scotland with continued good weather; slightly lower water temperatures, rain showers, a low river but catches have been maintained again this past week but it must be said it has not been easy for many beats. The summer like weather continues but with an autumnal feel and a forecast for this week of sunshine and showers will hopefully encourage better sport on this marvelous river and spread it throughout the whole river. Most people are now looking for a big spate to clean the river out and trigger off better sport but that will not happen unfortunately this current week.
Some action from last week on the lower river.
Summer is still here with autumn fast approaching but with cooler river temperatures and some rain hopefully making settled conditions to improve sport as has proved this season so far with some outstanding catches and numerous spring salmon registered in the Tay system above expectation, let us hope the sport can be maintained for the remainder of the season then it will certainly be one to remember in years to come. The Tay is currently fishing reasonably well with improving conditions after low warm water; salmon run this mighty river every day of the year due to its vast volume of water and is certainly a good destination to catch a salmon. Cooler temperatures and recent rain have spiced up the river and helped encourage more salmon to run, however it must be said everyone has to work extremely hard to gain results under the current conditions. The salmon gods are hopefully going to bless us with an improved run of grilse and autumn salmon. 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 now risen and temperatures dropped to hopefully encourage more salmon to run the river and spread out. 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.
Currently the nature along the river is tremendous with numerous wild flowers. Ospreys visit the river on a daily basis but should be disappearing shortly and you could see an Otter or a Kingfisher darting past while you are in mid cast! It is true what they say, “ a salmon is a bonus!”
The Tay Foundation Summer Lunch and Auction took place at the picturesque setting of Derculich on the Upper Tay last Sunday. The event replaced the annual dinner and was a tremendous success raising a provisional £30,000 plus (final figure still to be given soon) for the Tay Spring Salmon Restoration Appeal.
Beat catches reported
(week ending 31st August)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 20, Waulkmill 11, Lower Redgorton 11, Luncarty Summer and Autumn 2, Upper Redgorton 8, Fishponds 1, Benchil and Pitlochrie 6, Upper Scone 2, Catholes 1, Stobhall 5, Taymount 24, Ballathie 21, Cargill 14, Islamouth 5, Lower and Upper Islamouth 6, Upper Islamouth and Meikleour House 3, Kercock 9, Murthly 1 2, Murthly 2 12, Newtyle 7, Dunkeld House 5, Dalmarnock 2, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 5, Farleyer Lower 3, Keithick Mains 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 1.
Total: 188 Largest: Waulkmill 30lbs
SEA TROUT: Murthly 2 1, Newtyle 3.
Total: 4 Largest: Murthly 2 & Newtyle 3lbs
Salmon have been caught throughout the system this past week encouraging everyone after occasional rain showers and cooler river temperatures.
The Lower River had 136 salmon for the week in trying conditions. There was steady action at Isalmouth during the week with several salmon caught. Ballathie and Cargill continue to have the best catches in the river again this week with continued low water as salmon have packed into the beat and have landed 35 salmon between them for the week up to an impressive 28 pounds caught by 16 year old Henry Johnston.
For good measure Henry also caught a 25 pounds fresh sea liced salmon on the same day. Taymount and Stobhall caught on most days throughout the week. On Taymount Paul Cottril and Jonathan Maddocks enjoyed good success.
At Stanley Sarah Hinchliffe caught her first salmon fly fishing in Kirkie then lost 3 the following day on Benchil which was bad luck but eventful. Drew Hodgkins caught a superb 14 pounds fish from the Long Shot and Andrew Clements finished the week with a sea liced salmon from the Woodside on Saturday on the Pitlochrie beat. Upper Redgorton had a steady week for John Williams party. Waulkmill and Lower Redgorton also had steady weeks catching on most days with the lower water suiting them. A superb 30 pounds Almondmouth had a steady week with 20 salmon. Salmon are also being caught down on the Stormont Angling Club water.
On the Middle River 47 salmon were registered and are desperate for more water to encourage more salmon to run and liven sport up. Salmon are lying in most of the pools throughout the beats but are proving difficult to tempt, rain and more water would change that.
Lower Kinnaird landed a few fish during the week with Annie Maughan catching her first ever salmon after several years trying. She caught her 8 pounds fish fly fishing in the famous Ash Tree pool. Andy Kerr caught a grilse on Dalguise on the Island and reported several fish showing but hard to catch.
There was another first salmon on the Dalmarnock beat, this one fell to Darren Bolt in the Stepps pool under the guidance of Gordon Pollock.
On Dunkeld House a young Max Moore was very pleased to catch a grilse and
Ben Furniss caught a 12 pounds salmon from the Rock pool on a flying C then landed a grilse from the Ivy Tree pool on the fly. On Newtyle Malcolm Andreson, Don Gow and Steven Smiley all caught grilse on the fly and Gordon Smith caught an 8 pounds sea liced fish from the Cotter.
Clive Mason caught a good fish fly fishing the Boil on the lower beat. The Murthly beats faired well for the week with Patrick Stuart-Fotheringham being successful with the fly. Kercock had nine fish for the week with John Jones and Gordon Stewart both landing grilse on a size 12 Willie Gunn’s at the Croy's.
Jim lamb also had a fish at the Croy's, while brothers Graham and Malcolm Fyffe caught four fish between them and David from Isle of Lewis also had a nice grilse.
The Upper reaches are now struggling for salmon after prolonged low water levels. The Upper River registered 3 salmon last week from Farleyer.
The Tummel system registered 1 salmon. The Tummel has struggled with bright weather and low water. Brian Joseph was the skilful angler who caught a 9 pounds fish at the dam and Gordon Nichol landed an 8 pounds fish from the clubs Sawmill stream during the week. Salmon are still running through the Dam in numbers. Currently there is now approaching 5000 salmon through the ladder, which is now a good increase on last year.
The Isla registered 1 salmon but the recent water has made fish run and this figure does not reflect the truth. The salmon was registered from Keithick Mains.
It was certainly a hard week with good conditions and a reasonable catch, the river must hope for yet more rain with lower river levels to encourage salmon to run over the coming weeks and spread throughout the entire system. Please maintain the Catch and Release code for the river to protect our sport for the future.
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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