Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 13th June 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 13th June 2015.

The salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire has been excellent for some time now with improving 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. The current trend has continued in June so far. 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 and summer 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 despite some hot days and bright conditions. Good numbers were landed daily signaling another superb late spring and early summer 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,

Kingfishers dart past, Ducks have their first broods and possibly second 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 13th June)
SALMON & GRILSE: Benchil 1, Upper Scone 1, Stobhall 2, Taymount 4, Ballathie 1, Cargill 7, Islamouth 17, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 8, Kercock 3, Murthly 1 6, Glendelvine 3, Murthly 2 22, Newtyle 18, Dunkeld House 12, Dalmarnock 12, Dalguise 2, Lower Kinnaird 5, Upper Kinnaird 3, Findynate 1, Farleyer Upper 4, Farleyer Lower 2, Portnacraig Pitlochry 19, Loch Faskally 2.
Total: 155 Largest: Dunkeld House 21lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 2, Upper Redgorton 1, Benchil 3, Upper Scone 2, Taymount 1, Murthly 2 1.
Total: 10 Largest: Lower Redgorton & Upper Scone 4lbs

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. Bigger water 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. Handling of fresh salmon in particular is a big issue now if we are serious about successful release to enable as many salmon as possible to survive to spawn.

When releasing salmon please try to keep the fish in the water as much as possible to give them every chance to recover prior to release. Releasing fish from boats in the river is not recommended and is bad practice. Further information on the policy and good release practice. 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. Upper Scone and Benchil each recorded a fish in the week and the rods were reporting seeing fish running through the beats. Stobhall and Taymount accounted for a few fish in the week. The water levels are starting to favour Cargill and Ballathie with the height about to go under 2 feet. Cargill had a consistent week with 7 lovely silver salmon landed up to 15 pounds mostly caught on the fly and mainly off the top beat.

Jason French landed his first ever salmon on Friday and Paul Clarke had fish from the bridge stream on his three day trip. Islamouth had another good week with fish every day accounting for 17. It is coming into a great height for the beat as well and sport should improve for fly fishing. On Upper Islamouth and Meikleour despite lower water levels, they had a successful week with 8 fish landed up to 16 pounds. Malcolm Anderson had further success with two fish up to 15 pounds, but highlight of the week was Mrs Alex Rearie catching a sea-liced 16 pounder on Saturday. Having never even held a fishing rod before she had a morning’s tuition before going on to catch her fish in the afternoon! With two weeks fishing still to go the beat are already on our best June since 1995.

Eddie McGhee had an 8 pounds fish earlier in the week on his first cast from the mouth of the Isla.

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 3 in the week and were seeing fish running through the beat. The Murthly and Glendelvine are having an outstanding period with another 31 fish this past week. Early in the week

Alan and

Jim Ferrie had a good day on the Upper Murthly beat landing 7 salmon on the fly mostly from the Tronach pool. Newtyle had another week to remember with 18 fish landed. It started on Monday with Peter Dobson landing a 10lbs fish from the Ferry Pool, 90-year-old Jack Hopper landed an 8lbs fish from the Alders and John Gunn caught a 15lbs fish in the Ferry Pool.

Tuesday saw Peter Dobson landed a fly caught 10lbs fish in the Ferry Pool and Jack Hopper landed another 8lb'er in the Ferry Pool. On Wednesday Peter Dobson landed 2 fish of 10 & 12lbs from the Ferry Pool. On Thursday Ronnie Fraser landed 2 fly caught fish of 10 and 12lbs from the Cotter and the Trap. Graham Fyfe landed a 9lbs fly caught fish from the Alders, Andrew Watkin landed 2 fish at 8lbs from the Ferry Pool and David Gardner landed an 8lbs fish in St Mary's.

Friday saw Ronnie Fraser land a 9lbs fish from the Trap and Donald Gow landed a 7lbs fish from the Dean's Burn. Saturday Adam Lennon landed a 12lbs fish from the Trap, David Gardner and Andy Gunn both landed fish of 9lbs and 5lbs from the Ferry Pool. What a great week! Dunkeld House also had another super week with 12 fish. The outstanding fish for the week was a first ever fish for Ashley weighing 21 pounds from the Gauge Pool.

There was another first ever for Chris Barr on the fly from the Gauge Pool as well. Dalmarnock had a superb week with 12 fish. Regular anglers and a party from Norway enjoyed success landing fresh fish up to 10 pounds. Dalguise reported a couple of fish in the week with Malcolm Freeland landing an 8 pounds fish from the Island Pool on a Rapala. The Kinnaird beats had a better week with 8 fish caught. Jim Andrew was one of the successful rods on the Upper 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 1360 with rising temperatures. All the beats below the dam including East and West Haugh have been producing fish over the last week, which has been good news.Neil McLennen had a superb day on East Haugh on Monday landing 5 salmon on fly. At Pitlochry Dam 19 salmon were caught in a superb week on the Angling club stretch. The week got off to a great start with

Danny Docherty catching two fish at 19 and 14 lbs - both on the fly;

Ismo Leppanen caught a 9lber on the fly; in the evening Steve Watt had two in quick succession up to 14 lbs both on the fly; Gordon Nichol and Andrew Williamson also caught on fly. Tuesday saw another good day with Saul Mackay with an 11lber on the fly; Alun Williams had a good day with a 7lber on the fly followed by a 20lber on the spinner; downstream on Sawmill Steve Watt continued his great run with two fish at 7 and 11lbs - both on the fly. Wednesday saw Steve Watt land another 3 on fly up to 10 pounds and Jim Fisher catch an 11 pounder also on fly. Gordon Nichol, David Russell, Martin Wilson and Greame Stewart caught further fish up to 14 pounds. Loch Faskally reported 2 fish in the week with successful rods including Gary Gormley with a 10 pounds fish on a Rapala 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 however no fish were registered.

The Ericht is also seeing fish run up the river with 4 reported off the lower river below Blairgowrie.

The Earn were also seeing a late spring salmon and Sea Trout run however no fish were reported last week possibly due to the water levels dropping.

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 early June has 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.

Fishing Salmon River, Salmon River, Fishing for Salmon, salmon Fishing Alaska, Fishing Alaska, Fly Fishing Salmon, Fly Fishing, Salmon Fishing Report, Trout Fishing, King Salmon Fishing, Salmon Fishing Forum, Salmon Fishing Scotland, Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland, River Tay Scotland, Scottish Salmon, Salmon Rivers Scotland, Fishing Tackle Scotland, Salmon Fishing Flies, Fly Fishing Flies.