Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 11th April 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 11th 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. On the nature front the first Sand Martins have arrived, Ospreys are being seen and Sand Pipers are on the river banks.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 11th April)
SALMON & GRILSE: Waulkmill 1, Fishponds 1, Benchil 1, Catholes Stanley 1, Upper Scone 1, Pitlochrie 4, Stobhall 5, Taymount 9, Ballathie 7, Cargill 1, Islamouth 16, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 6, Kercock 4, Glendelvine 4, Murthly 2 1, Newtyle 1, Dunkeld House 12, Dalmarnock 2, Upper Kinnaird 4, Findynate 3, Farleyer Lower 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 1, Coupar Grange 3, Portnacraig Pitlochry 6.
Total: 95 Largest: Findynate 32lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 1.
Total: 1 Largest: Waulkmill 2lbs

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 harder due to the warmer water temperatures currently 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.

Unfortunately on the Lower Tay below Stanley there were only a few fish recorded however in the Stanley area catches remained reasonable despite rising water temperatures.

Waulkmill caught their first fish on the season for Jason on a Vision 110 and at Fishponds Archie Wales landed a 9 pounds long tailed sea lice fish. At Stanley a party of Swedish fly fishermen had reasonable success from the Catholes and Pitlochrie beats. Temple dogs seemed to be the in flies as Peter Wennlund caught a 10 pounds fish casting from the boat in the Black Stones on Catholes and Bengt Stadling caught a brace on the Pitlochrie beat from the boat and bank up to 14 pounds.

Kent Hallberg and Sten Hansson also caught further fish. Taymount and Stobhall had reasonable weeks as well with Taymount finishing the week with a 5 on Saturday.

Taymounts week got off to a flyer with Geoff Coates landing a superb 31 pounds fish from the boat on Monday. Ballathie had a good week with 7 fish and Cargill was quieter with one. Conditions have improved to favour the Islamouth beat with several salmon landed during the week for Bill Jack and Bernie Morrits parties. 16 salmon were caught including a 14 pounder for Arnot McWhinnie in the Castle pool. Meikleour and Upper Islamouth also had reasonable success with fish most days.

Martin Moyers caught a 13 pounds fish in the Castle pool, Gilly Gordon-Finlayson landed an 8 pounds fish, 14 year old Ross Jones caught a 10 pounds fish on a Vision in the House pool and David Taylor caught in the famous Boxwood pool.

The Middle river is seeing more fish and this should improve over the coming weeks in rising temperatures.

Kercock had a better week with 4 all caught by Jim Lamb up to 16 pounds. Glendelvine and the Murthly beats continue to work away quietly landing a few fish. Ron Fraser landed Newtyles first fly caught fish weighing 10 pounds from the Steps. Dunkeld House had an excellent week with 12 fish landed. Fish came from the beat most days including some bigger salmon up to 20 pounds.

The week started well with 9 year old Angus Morton catching a 9 pounds fish on his first cast of the afternoon in the Gauge pool. Richard Hutchison caught from the same pool as well. Another youngster in 14 year old Ross Jones landed a 19 pounds beauty on a Salmo from the Rock pool and his father, Ian them caught a slightly heavier fish on a Vision weighing 20 pounds. Thomas Hutchinson caught a 19 pounds fish on a Vision in the Chestnut Tree pool and his father Richard also caught an 8 pounds fish. There seemed to be quite a few double acts on the beat last week!

A further 3 fish came from the beat on Saturday with David Ritchie and Dave Bamford both catching fish up to 11 pounds. Dalmarnock registered a couple on Monday and the Kinnaird beats caught odd ones in the week.

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 the Portnacraig beat had a good week with 6 fish. Peter Shaw and Steven Watt started the week off with fish up to 16 pounds on Toby and fly.

Dave Stewart and Curtis Brunker had superb 18 pounds fish each on the fly from the Pitlochry town bank on Wednesday and later in the week and Jim Fisher landed an 11 pounds fish on the fly from the Portnacraig bank.

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. Gary Waugh had a day to remember on the Findynate beat near Grandtully. He caught an incredible 32 pounds spring salmon fly fishing which could be a creditable candidate for the Fishpal Malloch Trophy in 2015. Gary had a mighty battle with this Leviathan as is ran down the Grandtully rapids 3 times in an over an hour fight. Well done Gary! Gary also caught 2 other springers in his day at 10 and 12 pound. All the fish fell to a yellow and silver 1 inch tube fly.

On Loch Tay fish are continuing to be caught in reasonable numbers. Fish n’ Trips reported only one fish this past week which was a 15 pounds beauty for Robert Harvey.

The Isla is continuing to see salmon run the river with the Coupar Grange beat producing on a more regular basis. They registered 3 for last week.

The Ericht is also seeing fish run up the river but alas nothing recorded.

The Earn are also seeing a spring salmon run but nothing was reported.

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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