Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 9th May 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 9th May 2015.

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 start to May. Traditionally in this period we see good 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 deeper into May to give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver”.

Spring salmon were landed last week in continued better numbers in varied conditions but colder spring sunshine. Good numbers were landed daily recording another superb late spring week 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 Sand Martins, Swifts and Swallows have arrived, Ospreys are being seen, Ducks have their first broods of young and Sand Pipers are on the river banks. The wild flowers are coming out as well with Blue Bells, Primroses and Lupines appearing. It is true what they say, “ a salmon is a bonus!”


Beat catches reported
(week ending 9th May)
SALMON & GRILSE: Benchil 1, Stobhall 4, Taymount 4, Ballathie 1, Cargill 4, Islamouth 6, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 9, Kercock 6, Murthly 1 6, Glendelvine 3, Murthly 2 7, Newtyle 9, Dunkeld House 13, Dalmarnock 6, Lower Kinnaird 1, Upper Kinnaird 2, Findynate 4, Farleyer Upper 3, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 5, Coupar Grange 9, Ericht Fishing 5, Portnacraig Pitlochry 8, Loch Faskally 3.
Total: 119 Largest: Murthly 2 21lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 2, Benchil 4, Stobhall 2, Taymount 1, Cargill 2, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 3, Murthly 1 1, Dunkeld House 1, Coupar Grange 2.
Total: 18 Largest: Lower Redgorton 5lbs

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 and fish are spreading throughout the river. Rain at the start of this week may encourage more to run. 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 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 come 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.

On Benchil Danny Fulton caught a 9 pounds salmon on the fly from the Long Shot and Sea Trout were also being caught from the lower beats. Taymount and Stobhall continued to catch fish on a regular basis. Cargill and Ballathie caught as well but ideally would want lower river levels at this time of year.

On Cargill the successful anglers were Alan Woodhouse, Trevor Bowmer, Kate Bowes, and Deirdre Drury. Islamouth had a good end to the week and recorded their 100th fish of the season.

Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had a superb week with several fish landed including a day of 4 on Friday. At the start of the week Tim Miller couldn’t go wrong landing 4 fish up to 18 pounds. John Wood caught a 13 pounds fish from the Castle pool and then on Friday Scott Porteous and Brian McIntosh’s party enjoyed a superb landing fish up to 15 pounds.

The Middle river is seeing more fish with far better results this past week again and this should continue over the coming weeks in rising temperatures. Kercock had six fish for the week with plenty hooked and lost as well for good measure. Murthly had another reasonable week with fish up to 21 pounds. Newtyle caught on most days with another successful week. At the start of the week Farquhar Murray and

Jon Amos caught fish up to 8 pounds and Steve Robins caught his first salmon on the fly from the Steps pool weighing 10 pounds. Mark Little and Alistair Paisley landed a couple of fish each up to 15 pounds and

David Gardiner caught a superb 15 pounds fish from the Deans Burn. Dunkeld house had a superb week with 13 fish catching every day.

The Broughton family have had a great 2 days fishing at the start of the week landing 5 fish between them, Adam with his first solo fish, a 7 pounder from the Girnal on a vision, then his Grandfather Brian caught a 10 pounds salmon on the fly from the Cathedral Stream, Neil had one in the Cathedral, and brother David caught an 8 pounder from the Rock pool and an 11 pounder from the Gauge on a vision. Later in the week David Legatt caught the beats 80th fish for the season and Derek Gardner caught a fish at 7 pounds.

Dalmarnock are doing well and have landed 13 fish in the last 2 weeks the biggest 19 pounds on the fly, most fish were sea liced. Kinnaird reported odd fish in the week.

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 280 with more fish being caught in Loch Faskally in the last week. 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 were landed most days during the week on the Angling club stretch. At the start of the week Graham Fyfe, Steve Watt and Tom Monaghan caught fish up to 11 pounds and Martin Timmins and Graeme Stewart also caught fish from the clubs Sawmill Stream on fly and spinner.

Later in the week James Dornan, Alley Gowans and Gordon Nichol caught on fly and Steve Watt caught on a spinner.

The last fish of the week fell to Steve Dora on the fly from the Port-na-Craig bank weighing 8 pounds. Loch Faskally reported 3 in the week with Peter McGiff and Kevin Maybury landing fish up to 8 pounds.

The Upper areas are also to seeing odd fish. Salmon were reported from the Farleyer and Findynate beats consistently in the week as they run up to Loch Tay.

On Loch Tay fish are continuing to be caught in reasonable numbers. Reported fish came from Fish n’ Trips this past week with 5.

The Isla is starting to see salmon run the river. Coupar Grange reported 9 earlier in the week.

The Ericht is also seeing fish run up the river with 5 reported off the lower river below Blairgowrie.

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

The Spring Salmon fishing season is into May and expectation is very high after previous seasons and poor overall catches last year. April and the start of May’s 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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