Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 6th June 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 6th June 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 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”.

Late spring salmon were landed last week in continued better numbers after conditions settled from big water earlier in the week. We recorded another superb weekly catch in the current prolific period. Good numbers were landed daily signaling 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. Grilse are starting to run with odd ones caught and in excellent condition. Sea trout are making an appearance as well with some top quality fish caught. On the nature front the Sand Martins, Swifts and Swallows are all over the skies, Ospreys are being seen, Ducks have their first broods of young and Sand Pipers are on the riverbank. It is a magical time of year with the wild flowers coming out everywhere with Blue Bells, Primroses, Irises and Lupines appearing as well as many others. It is true what they say, “ a salmon is a bonus!”

Beat catches reported(week ending 6th June)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 1, Benchil 1, Stobhall 1, Taymount 11, Ballathie 3, Cargill 4, Islamouth 12, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 7, Kercock 3, Murthly 1 9, Glendelvine 5, Murthly 2 14, Newtyle 10, Dunkeld House 13, Dalmarnock 2, Upper Kinnaird 3, Findynate 3, Farleyer Upper 2, Farleyer Lower 2, Coupar Grange 4, Ericht Fishing 4, Portnacraig Pitlochry 23, Loch Faskally 9, Ruan Ruarie 4.
Total: 150 Largest: Taymount 27lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 1, Luncarty 1, Upper Redgorton 3, Benchil 1, Stobhall 1, Taymount 5, Cargill 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1.
Total: 14 Largest: Luncarty & Upper Redgorton & Benchil & Stobhall & Taymount & Cargill 3lbs

Salmon have been caught throughout the system this past week in reasonable numbers, which is understandable with the superb conditions at times 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 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. Almondmouth recorded a fish on Friday and Danny Fulton caught a fresh 9 pounds fish at Benchil plus lost a much bigger fish in the Little Shot on the fly. Taymount had a superb week with Helen Spacer catching a memorable 27 pounds beauty measuring in at 41" from the Flats.

This was Helens first ever salmon! It put up an incredible fight running in 60 yard bursts sub surface all over the pool. Helen caught her fish on a Vision and hopefully has caught the bug! The beat also had five on Friday all caught from the bank on the fly with several others lost. The successful anglers included Tommy Wallace with a 5 pounder in Stank End, Marc Whalen with 2 up to 10 pounds in the Aldren stream, Nathan Hargreaves had a 5 pounder in Stank End and Gary McClellan caught a super 14 pounds fish at the Holy Bush.

The week brilliant ended with Mike Mugglestone catching a 14 pounds beauty from the Red Rocks on a Salmo. Stobhall were not so lucky in the week but recorded a fish on Friday. Ballathie and Cargill continued to catch a few fish but higher water levels are handicapping their returns. Cargill persevered and were rewarded with 4 cracking salmon up to 24 pounds in weight. A few other fish were hooked and lost as well. Successful anglers included Sandy Wylie on Saturday with a lovely 6 pounder, Stewart Scott with a personal best 24 pounds from Clocksden, Nigel Russel caught a 15 pounder from the same pool on the fly and

Ian Muir caught a 13 pounder from the Bridge Stream fly fishing. Islamouth had a reasonable week considering the fluctuating river levels for fly fishing with

Neil Tong,

John McElroy and

Gordon Fleetwood all featuring in the catches up to 16 pounds. Upper Islamouth and Meikleour enjoyed another successful week with several fish landed.

Tom and Patricia Saville caught a 9 pounds fish in the Cormorant Tree pool; Julian Kollard and Mark Hudders both caught and lost a few others them Brian McIntosh, David Taylor and Paul Chisholm

finished the week off well with fish up to 11 pounds.

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 Murthly and Glendelvine are having an outstanding period with another 27 fish this past week. Newtyle had another week to remember with 10 fish landed. Jimmy Gair and Ronnie Fraser landed 3 fish on Monday on the fly up to 16 pounds and Fraquhar Murray had a fish from the boat in the Ferry Pool.

Ronnie Fraser celebrated his birthday with a 7 pounder on the fly from the Boil. At the end of the week Roger Worth, Derek Strachan, Stuart McArther, Matthew Amos and

Ken Hillsden all caught good fish up to 12 pounds. The Dunkeld and Birnam Angling Club stretch just above Newtyle are also catching a good few fish that are not recorded on daily catch statistics.

Dunkeld House continued to do extremely well with another very successful week. Ray Bailey enjoyed success on the fly from the Cathedral stream with 2 fish up to 10 pounds. 13 fish were caught during the week with some great action.

The beats above Dunkeld had a quieter week however Upper Kinnaid had a couple on Saturday and Jock Monteith caught a cracking 12 pounds fish earlier in the week on the fly.

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 750 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 23 salmon were caught in a superb week on the Angling club stretch. Matthew Currie started the week off with a couple on spinners up to 10 pounds and a couple fell to the fly for Rory McNab and Greame Stewart. Les Dargie added to the weeks total with an 8 pounds fish on the fly. Thursday saw a club Red letter day with 11 fish landed mainly to Steve Watt accounting for a personal catch of 9 up to 14 pounds, further fish were caught by Saul MacKay with a superb 17 pounds fish on the fly and Martin Wilson with a 9 pounder also on fly. Further fish were caught at the end of the week for

Alisdair Kerr with his first ever salmon,

Martin Wilson, Steven Watt, Gordon Hanslip and Ewan MacLachlan up to 11 pounds. The Clubs Sawmill Stream also saw fish caught during the week for Les Dargie and Ally Gowans. Ruan Ruarie on the Garry produced more fish this week as fish sprint up the system for Robert Gardiner and Brian Lindsay with a couple a piece on spinner up to 8 pounds. Loch Faskally reported 9 fish in the week with successful rods including Mark Edwards with an 11 pounds fish on a Tomic lure.

The Upper areas are seeing fish on their beats. A total of 7 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 running but nothing was reported last week.

The Isla is starting to see salmon run the river. Coupar Grange reported 4 last week including a 24 pounds fish.

The Ericht is also seeing fish run up the river with 4 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 the 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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