Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 18th April 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 18th April 2015.

The salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire has improved in recent weeks with good conditions for fishing and settled water levels have 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 remains high on the river for 2015 after consistent catches recently and hopefully favourable conditions may trigger off improving runs 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 spring sunshine. Good numbers were landed daily from all over as the river level receded and the quality of the salmon caught remained 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 18th April)
SALMON & GRILSE: Benchil 1, Upper Scone 1, Pitlochrie 1, Taymount 4, Cargill 6, Islamouth 12, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 7, Kercock 2, Glendelvine 4, Murthly 2 10, Newtyle 6, Dunkeld House 5, Dalmarnock 4, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 3, Upper Kinnaird 1, Farleyer Upper 1, Farleyer Lower 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 2, Coupar Grange 4, Ericht Fishing 3, Portnacraig Pitlochry 13, Loch Faskally 2.
Total: 94 Largest: Taymount & Newtyle 22lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 1, Upper Redgorton 3, Lower Kinnaird 1.
Total: 5 Largest: Upper Redgorton 3lbs

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 was no fish recorded however in the Stanley area catches remained reasonable despite rising water temperatures. Danny Fulton caught a 10 pounds fish on the fly from the Little shot at Benchil. Horsey was the expected hot spot on the Pitlochrie beat and it didn’t disappoint for Upper Scone as Alan McCaig landed a 9 pounds fish from the boat on Monday. Other fish were lost but John Lawson’s party had success on a superb blue sky day on Saturday. Young Cameron Watt had his first experience of salmon fishing landing 2 trout and unfortunately loosing a good fish at the tail of Horsey.

John McNeil caught a cracking 11 pounds fish casting a Vision from the boat in the same pool in the afternoon. Taymount and Stobhall had quieter weeks.

There was a notable first ever fish at Taymount for Carl Jarvis landing a superb 21 pounds beauty with his father and watchful eye of ghillie John Tait. Cargill had a fairly consistent week with fish landed most days. They reported “ a nice settled week of weather and a gradual falling river produced steady sport at Cargill.

We landed 6 lovely fresh fish and lost 7 more. Successful anglers were Andrew Callaghan, Trevor Bowmer, Stewart Scott, Mark McLould, Simon Fairley and Brian Scott. The majority of the fish came to the Toby but we did get some action on the fly.” Islamouth had another excellent week with 12 fish landed. Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had a reasonable week as well with several fish landed. At the start of the week Barry Odger landed a 7 pounds fish and Peter Grose caught a 6 pounds salmon from the Boxwood Bush with the Webb party. Later in the week 3 fish were landed in a day with Simon Drake, Colin Chisholm and owner Sam Mercer-Nairne all catching fish up to 19 pounds in Weight.

The Middle river is seeing more fish and this should improve over the coming weeks in rising temperatures. Kercock had a couple of fish during the week. The Glendelvine and Murthly beats are improving with better results. Murthly 2 had a 5 fish day on Thursday and Glendelvine had 3 on Thursday. Newtyle are seeing a few more fish as well which was good news.

Derek Strachan caught his largest Tay fish weighing 22 pounds from the boat early in the week and came back on Saturday to catch again. James Ross also did the same but with smaller fish, Phil Bissmire caught a 22 pounds beauty and Ken O Donnell caught a lovely 9 pounds fish on the fly from the Cotter. Dunkled House continued their good season so far with a few more fish with Neil Mitchell landing 2 fish up to 10 pounds and Mike Bowsker landing a 10 pounds fish on a Salmo from the Rock Pool. Rick Hardman caught a 20 pounds fish later in the week and several fish were lost as well. Fish seem to be running hard up the system and not taking the baits properly, its all part of the excitement of spring fishing! Dalmarnock have had better success as well and are seeing several fish going through the beat. Dalguise are seeing the fish running as well with odd successes. Their fishing hut has had a major refurbishment and are keen to see anglers fish the beat. Kinnaird is also catching a few fish.

The Tummel is continuing to produce fish on a regular basis as fish make their way up to Pitlochry dam and through it as the counter is now showing in excess of 20 with odd fish being caught in Loch Faskally. 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 13 fish. Gordon Hanslip and Ian Lindsay got the week off to a flying start with 2 fish a piece landed on Monday including a 20 and 18 pounds beauties on the fly. There after the week was steady with Martin Wilson, Graham Nicols, Ally Gowans and Saul MacKay all catching on fly.

Fly fishing seemed to be the way to go as Russell Boyd, Martin Wilson, Tom Monaghan and Rodger Collins all caught fish up to 16 pounds. The Angling clubs sawmill stream also saw fish landed with Ian McLaren catching a brace on the spinner.

The Upper area is also starting to see odd fish. Salmon were reported from the 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 couple of fish this past week.

The Isla is continuing to see salmon run the river with the Coupar Grange beat producing on a more regular basis. They registered 4 for last week.

The Ericht is also seeing fish run up the river with 3 recorded.

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

The Spring Salmon fishing season is well 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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