The salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire has improved in recent weeks with good conditions for fishing and reasonably settled water levels have prevailed to give the river an excellent April and even better results in May with the river equaling last years catches so far and improving on the 5 year average. Traditionally in this period we see good late spring runs and steady conditions as fish spread throughout the system, 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 Summer to give everyone a chance of landing a Tay “Bar of Silver”.
Beat catches reported (week ending 30th May)
SALMON & GRILSE: Upper Redgorton 2, Stobhall 7, Ballathie 5, Cargill 5, Islamouth 20, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 8, Kercock 4, Murthly 1 13, Glendelvine 4, Murthly 2 21, Newtyle 10, Dunkeld House 22, Dalmarnock 3, Lower Kinnaird 10, Upper Kinnaird 2, Findynate 3, Farleyer Upper 9, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 1, Ericht Fishing 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 6, Loch Faskally 11, Ruan Ruarie 1.
Total: 168 Largest: Lower Kinnaird 28lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 2, Lower Redgorton 6, Upper Redgorton 2, Benchil 1, Stobhall 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1, Dunkeld House 1, Lower Kinnaird 3.
Total: 17 Largest: Dunkeld House 7lbs
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 run harder due to the warmer water temperatures and fish are spreading throughout the river. Rain at the start of this week may have encouraged more to run. The mandatory government catch and release restrictions have ended however the river would ask everyone to observe the TDSB recommendations to preserve what we have for future years. Return rates are at an all time low and wild 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 Tay below Stanley there have only been odd fish recorded but Sea Trout are starting to appear in numbers however on the beats just above the Stanley area catches remained reasonable despite rising water temperatures. The time of year has arrived when all the boats are off the beats at Stanley and below until July for summer fishing. Bank fishing is available with reasonably priced daily permits and summer permits covering the whole period. Upper Redgorton produced 2 salmon on Saturday for Perth and District Angling Club member Gordon Holland on the fly from the Craigs up to 10 pounds. Alex Brown enjoyed some great Sea trout fishing on the Stormont Angling Club water landing 7 up to 3 or 4 pounds on Rome Croy. Stobhall did well during the week with a superb day on Wednesday with 4 landed. Ballathie and Cargill worked away with a few fish but ideally would like to see the waters levels drop away.
The Middle river is fishing very well with more fish and continuing good results this past week that should continue over the coming weeks in rising temperatures. Kercock had a better end to the week and were seeing fish running through the beat.
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 550 with more fish being caught in Loch Faskally in the last week. All the beats below the dam including East and West Haugh have been producing fish over the last week, which has been good news. At Pitlochry Dam 6 salmon were caught and fish were landed most days during the week on the Angling club stretch. Jimmy Ross and Neil Tong got the week going with a fish a piece on the fly on Monday up to 12 pounds. Nolan Wall and Richard Turner caught further fish on fly.
The Upper areas are seeing fish on their beats. A total of 12 salmon were reported from the Farleyer and Findynate beats consistently catching on most days during the week as they run up to Loch Tay.
On Loch Tay fish are continuing to be caught in reasonable numbers with Fish n’ Trips reporting one fish last week.
The Isla is starting to see salmon run the river. No fish were reported last week.
The Ericht is also seeing fish run up the river with 1 reported off the lower river below Blairgowrie.
The Earn are also seeing late spring salmon and Sea Trout run however no fish were reported last week.
The Spring Salmon fishing season is now over as we now go into summer and expectation remains high after great catches recently and poor overall catches last year. April and May’s catches have been tremendous and have 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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