Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 4th April 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 4th April 2015.

The salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire has improved in recent weeks with good conditions for fishing and settled water levels prevailed. April traditionally sees good spring runs and good conditions as fish spread throughout the system and this may be the catalyst for even better catches which hopefully will continue over the next few weeks. Expectation is high on the river for 2015 after successful springs in 2014 and 2013 and hopefully favourable conditions may trigger off improving runs and catches as we go through April to give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver” as the last 2 years have proved.

Spring salmon were landed last week in continued better numbers with superb conditions in glorious Easter sunshine. Good numbers were landed daily from all over as the river receded and the quality of the salmon caught remains outstanding with fish caught in the late teens and early twenties.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 4th April)
SALMON & GRILSE: Upper Redgorton 1, Fishponds 1, Catholes Stanley 2, Upper Scone 2, Pitlochrie 2, Catholes Campsie 7, Burnmouth 1, Stobhall 6, Taymount 8, Ballathie 1, Cargill 11, Islamouth 13, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 5, Kercock 2, Glendelvine 3, Murthly 2 2, Newtyle 3, Dunkeld House 2, Dalmarnock 1, Dalguise 2, Upper Kinnaird 2, Findynate 3, Farleyer Upper 2, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 7, Lochlane and Laggan 1, Coupar Grange 8, River Ericht 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 6.
Total: 105 Largest: Cargill 29lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 1, Upper Redgorton 1, Fishponds 1, Benchil 1, Upper Scone 1, Coupar Grange 1.
Total: 6 Largest: Benchil 4lbs

Salmon have been caught throughout the system this past week in reasonable numbers, which is understandable with the superb conditions making it ideal as fish are running slowly due to the colder water temperatures currently however this is changing with the temperatures rising and fish are spreading throughout the river. The mandatory government catch and release restrictions have ended however the river would ask everyone to still release all spring fish to preserve what we have for future years. Return rates are at an all time low and spring salmon are a precious resource to the Tay and all rivers in Scotland. If an area of the river starts to kill salmon to excess the mandatory policy will ultimately increase beyond the spring and maybe for the whole season that would not be a popular concept for our fragile rural economy. Thank you for all who preserve the recommendations and shame on the few who cannot, their shortsighted outlook will bring everyone down and cost jobs throughout Scotland’s river systems.

On the Lower river unfortunately below Stanley there were only a few fish recorded however in the Stanley area catches continued at a good level. Fishponds caught their first fish on the season and

Alex Graham caught a superb 20 pounds spring salmon fly fishing from the bank on Upper Redgorton. Chris Rae caught a superb 4 pounds early run Sea trout on Benchil on the fly from Aitken Head. At Stanley on the Pitlochrie beat

Dan Lennon had a memorable day fly fishing as well. He caught 2 fish up to 15 pounds from Pitlochrie pool on the bank and casting from the boat in the Wash House. The Catholes caught fish most days including 5 on Saturday for a regular party. Earlier in the week Ian Kettles landed a 15 pounds fish from the Back Dam on a Devon them the fly took over with fish for Iain Jardin and a brace for Stuart Waddell. On Saturday the Toby was the successful lure with

Dougie Wangert catch 3 fish for his day and others caught by

John Dewar and

Brian Stobie. Taymount and Stobhall constituently caught most days with each beat catching 3 on Friday. Stephen Curnow had a memorable Friday morning on Stobhall landing 3 fish up to 20 pounds on a Salmo before having to leave at lunchtime!

A regular party on Taymount enjoyed a good week with Simon Marriott and Peter Chapman catching early in the week. Andrew Spencer had a double with fish up to 14 pounds. On

Saturday Peter Chapman landed a superb 20 pounds fish.

Cargill had a fantastic finish to their week. They ended up with 11 spring salmon up to an impressive 29 pounds. Successful anglers were Sandy Wylie, Steve Curnow, Colin McDowall, Wilson Imrie, Jim Elder, James and Ian McKenna and John Lawson. The river had stayed at a reasonable level for the beat but slightly lower would improve sport. The majority of fish were caught from the bank spinning a mixture of vision 110 lures and Toby Salmo lures. Islamouth had another good week with 2 days of 4 fish and fish landed on all the other days as well. Upper Islamouth had a “reasonably satisfying week with fish landed up to 17 pounds. They were seeing fish on a regular basis, but could do with water levels dropping as well, to slow them up as most are passing through quickly. The Rapala continues to dominate the catches, but with warmer weather more anglers are now trying the fly. The Gilchrist party who are regular Spey anglers traveled south and had three fish to 17 pounds.”

The Middle river is seeing more fish and this should improve over the coming weeks in rising temperatures. Kercock had a couple of fish with Kenny Milne landing a 14 pounds fish and

Simon Rutherford caught an 8 pounds fish on his birthday. The Murthly and Glendelvine beats having picking up fish on a regular basis with Jamie Thomson landing a cracking 21 pounds fish from Glendelvine. Newtyle landed a few including a 10 pounds fish for Jon Wood, Andrew McKay caught a similar fish and Peter Butterfield caught a lovely 7 pounds beauty. Dunkeld House had a quieter week with Claire Howell catching a 15 pounds fish and Brian Lewis catching an 11 pounds springer. Dalmarnock registered a fish and Dalguise got their season going with a couple of fish. The Kinnaird beats had a brace also.

The Tummel has started to produce fish on a regular basis as fish make their way up to Pitlochry dam. All the beats below the dam have been producing fish over the last week, which has been good news. At Pitlochry Dam Nick Webster caught a 7lber on Port-na-Craig bank on a Flying C; and Saul Mackay landed a 9lber on Port-na-Craig bank on the fly.

Nick Webster followed up his success of Wednesday with another superb fish a 12lber from Port-na-Craig bank on a Flying C; while Teasses gamekeeper Kenny Horne continued his good run with two fish, at 9lbs and 7lbs, from Pitlochry bank both on the fly.

The Upper area is also starting to see odd fish. Salmon were reported from the Findynate and Farleyer beats as they run up to Loch Tay.

On Loch Tay fish are continuing to be caught in reasonable numbers. Fish n’ Trips reported a few this week and continued their good season so far.

Some outstanding fish have been caught. Michael Collins caught a couple up to 18 pounds.

Stewart Tate enjoyed a good visit with a couple of fish up to 17 pounds. Other fish were successfully landed by Helen Murray and Justin Edwards.

The Isla is continuing to see salmon run the river with the Coupar Grange beat producing on a more regular basis. They registered 8 for last week.

The Ericht is also seeing fish run up the river with a few fish caught in the week.

The Earn are also seeing a spring salmon run with Lochlane and Laggan registering their first fish of 2015.

The Spring Salmon fishing season is into April and expectation is very high after previous seasons and poor overall catches last year. Last weeks catches hopefully encouraged everyone after fish were caught in the system in continuing better numbers. Let us hope with improving conditions after big water and an upturn in catches will continue as last year proved. Tight lines!

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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