Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 25th April 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 25th 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 into May 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, Swifts and Swallows have arrived, Ospreys are being seen,

Ducks have their first brood of young and Sand Pipers are on the river banks.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 25th April)
SALMON & GRILSE: Lower Redgorton 2, Upper Redgorton 1, Catholes Stanley 3, Upper Scone 1, Catholes Campsie 1, Stobhall 6, Taymount 7, Ballathie 1, Cargill 3, Islamouth 20, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1, Kercock 4, Glendelvine 7, Murthly 2 3, Newtyle 15, Dunkeld House 10, Dalmarnock 1, Dalguise 3, Lower Kinnaird 4, Upper Kinnaird 2, Findynate 2, Farleyer Upper 1, Farleyer Lower 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 8.
Total: 107 Largest: Findynate 28lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 1, Lower Redgorton 1, Pitlochrie 1, Ballathie 1.
Total: 4 Largest: Lower Redgorton 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 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 only been odd fish recorded but Sea Trout are starting to appear however in the Stanley area catches remained reasonable despite rising water temperatures. Lower Redgorton landed a couple of fish and Billy Tinlan caught his first Tay salmon weighing 9 pounds on Upper Redgorton. At Stanley there were 4 fish caught on the Catholes during the week.

Stuart Ross landed a couple fly fishing from the boat in the Black Stones and Catholes Stream. John Williams from the Northumberland Fly Fishers also caught in the Black Stones a fish of 10 pounds. Saturday saw Ian Kettles catch an 11 pounds fish from the Black Stones on a Toby. Stobhall and Taymount continued to battle away despite rising temperatures and land some good days.

On Monday Stephen Carnow on Stobhall caught a 20 pounds fish at the top of Lower Eels Brigs, he also had a 22 pounder, a superb sea liced hen from tail of the pool above the Findford stream. Both caught from the bank on a Toby Salmo.

Phil Walker’s party on Taymount “found relatively favourable conditions, with mostly bright, spring days, frosty mornings, and river levels dropping steadily until Saturday, when overnight rain raised the river by at least a foot, by lunchtime!” They had success on most days on the fly with Phil landing 2 fish himself from the March pool and Stank End weighing up to 10 pounds. Mark Emms caught fish up to 12 pounds from the Red Rocks and Majors Cast while Alistair Sheach caught a 15 pounds beauty on a wee black and yellow Monkey. Cargill and Ballathie reported fish running hard through their beats but found them difficult to tempt. It was “ a week of hard fishing at Cargill with some rewards.

Neil French had three springers and connected with others on the fly. Meanwhile Islalmouth continued to fish very well with 20 fish for their week all caught on fly. Early in the week catches were good as 12 fish were landed for Patrick Gordon’s party. John McElroy and Gordon Fleetwood’s party ended the week with steady catches as well with Neil Tong, John, Gordon and

Rodger Moore landing fish on fly to 15 pounds. Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had a tough week with only and odd fish. Robert Brown caught on his second cast in the Boxwood Tree pool on Monday.

The Middle river is seeing more fish and better results this past week and this should improve over the coming weeks in rising temperatures. Kercock had four fish for the week with plenty hooked and lost as well for good measure. Matt Blake caught a 14 pounder on a Collie Dog, Brian Gibson landed a 12 pounds fish on a Toby and there was success on the fly for Chris Jones and Ed Thomson. The Murthly and Glendelvine beats are having steady weeks as well with Murthly 1 having 5 on Monday that have still to be registered. Ian Scruton’s party had 3 fish on Thursday all on fly with Tony Megson,

Chris Moore and Ian landing fish up to 12 pounds covered in sea lice.

Newtyle had a tremendous week with 15 fish on the beat, 11 on the fly. Ron Fraser accounted for 4 on the fly up to 12 pounds. Gavin Fitzgerald from British Columbia landed a 10 pounds fish on the fly, his 1st Tay Salmon in 28 years! Other fish fell to Colin Adams, Jonathan Amos, Glyn Hall with 2, Kevin Reed caught 3, Paul Richardson and David Gardiner up to 16 pounds.

John Briddick caught the best fish of the week weighing an impressive 26 pounds on the fly from the Boil and that was his second days salmon fishing, not bad for a beginner! What a week. Dunkeld House chipped in with another good week with 10 fish landed and numerous others lost. Peter Sproston, Paul Mitchell enjoyed success over several days with fish up to 12 pounds.

Pauline Mitchell also got into the act with an 8 pounds fish.

John Olav from Norway caught on the fly from the Gauge pool. It was another good week for the beat. Dalmarnock recorded one fish in the week and should enjoy more success in the weeks to come. Dalguise are enjoying more success with 3 fish last week and the Kinnaird beats are doing likewise.

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 150 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 8 salmon were caught and fish landed each day during the week on the Angling club stretch. The week started off well for Matti Rautio and Callum Imray with fish on fly and spinner.

The fly again seemed to be the way to go with Ben Thompson, Adam Brougham and Graeme Stewart all landing fish up to 9 pounds. Steve Dora caught a cracking 15 pounds fish later in the week again on fly and Steve Watt weighed in with a couple during the week. Ian McLaren caught again in the clubs Sawmill stream below the dam beat.

The Upper area is also starting to see odd fish. Salmon were reported from the Farleyer and Findynate beats as they run up to Loch Tay including another 28 pounds whopper from the latter.

On Loch Tay fish are continuing to be caught in reasonable numbers. Reported fish have been quiet this past week.

The Isla is continuing to see salmon run the river however reports are lean.

The Ericht is also seeing fish run up the river.

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

The Spring Salmon fishing season is nearly into May 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 and an upturn in catches will continue. 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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