Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 20th June 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 20th 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 late spring period 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. This past week seems to have signaled the end of the 2015 spring run but the river is holding a good stock of fish especially in the middle areas. 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 the previous week. We recorded another superb weekly catch in the current prolific period in ideal conditions all week. There was good cloud cover and it was warm. 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 Rhododendrons and Azaleas in bloom and Lupines appearing as well as many others. It is true what they say, “ a salmon is a bonus!”

Beat catches reported(week ending 20th June)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 4, Lower Redgorton 2, Luncarty 1, Benchil 1, Stobhall 9, Taymount 6, Ballathie 4, Cargill 8, Islamouth 18, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 6, Kercock 13, Murthly 1 16, Glendelvine 16, Murthly 2 34, Newtyle 13, Dunkeld House 20, Dalmarnock 6, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 1, Findynate 2, Farleyer Upper 5, Farleyer Lower 4, Keithick Mains 2, Ericht Fishing 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 4, Loch Faskally 13, Ruan Ruarie 2.
Total: 212 Largest: Dunkeld House 21lbs
SEA TROUT: Upper Redgorton 1, Benchil 1, Stobhall 1, Murthly 2 1, Newtyle 1, Lochlane and Laggan 2.
Total: 7 Largest: Stobhall 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 in the previous 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 catch and 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 has seen more fish recorded this past week and Sea Trout are about 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. Almond mouth started to see odd fish caught with 4 in the week and fish have been caught on the Stormont Angling club water. Lower Redgorton recorded a couple at the end of the week as water heights suited their Bleachings pool.

Danny Fulton had more success at Benchil landing a sea liced 9 pounds fish on the fly from the Long Shot and others were seen with odd ones lost. Taymount and Stobhall continue to catch constantly as do Ballathie and Cargill with 8 salmon landed up to 15 pounds in weight. The river has dropped to its lowest level of the year which should suit the beats and an old legend Colin Leslie used to say that the grilse started running when " the buds were bursting on Ballathie" well all the Rhododendrons are out in bloom so hopefully the grilse will start in good numbers next week. Ben King visiting from Ohio fishing with Jock Monteith landed his first ever Tay salmon on the fly after 10 minutes of tuition!

Iain Jardine landed another fish from the top beat. Islamouth started the week off brilliantly with 14 in two days and with several others lost but then feel away as runs stopped coming through. On the prolific days Jim Ferrie, Simon Furniss, Bill and Sandra Robbins all caught. Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had a quieter week with the water dropping off but had an enjoyable ladies day on Saturday to boost the Angling for Youth Development charity, which was set-up to encourage more young people to try fishing as a hobby and steer them away from a life of antisocial behaviour.

Claire Mercer Nairne, who runs the fishery and was the first elected female member of the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board, said: “Our ladies’ days have two purposes – to introduce women to fly-fishing in a friendly, approachable and enjoyable manner, while raising money for a laudable local charity. Earlier in the week Mr Wilson caught 3 fish up to 8 pounds and Davie Taylor caught an 8 pounds fish as well on Tuesday.

The Middle river is fishing extremely well with more fish and continuing good results this past week that hopefully should continue over the coming weeks in rising temperatures. Kercock had a far better week with 13 fish catching most days. Donald Cameron had 4 fish with his biggest one weighing 14 pounds, Sandy Datta caught a grilse and his wife Sam landed an 8 pounder, father and son James and Jim Redmond had a good day with three fish. Jim had the biggest at 13 pounds. Murthly and Glendelvine have been outstanding with more tremendous catches and recording over 50 fish for the week. Glendelvine caught 9 on Wednesday them Murthly 2 caught 11 from Stenton on Thursday. Newtyle had another excellent week with double figures caught.

Ally Smith caught his first ever salmon on his very first days salmon fishing on the beat caught on the fly. Dunkeld House continued their good form with 20 in the week. 5 fish were landed on the beat on Monday with Ben King landing 4 fish up to 9 pounds and

Phil Watts landed his first salmon weighing 7 pounds.

Jim McDonald caught a 21 pounds fish and

Ben King caught another 2 fish on Tuesday.

Dalmarnock are catching consistently with David Bryce having a good day on the beat landing 2 lovely grilse on the fly from the Ferrie Haugh. Dalguise and Kinnaird recorded 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 1900 with rising temperatures. All the beats below the dam including East and West Haugh have been producing fish over the last week or so, which has been good news. It was a quieter week on the Pitlochry Angling club stretch as fish escape through the dam in numbers. Duncan Webster and Graeme Stewart got the week off to a good start with fish on the fly. Jim Fisher caught on Tuesday and then Chris Boyle caught a superb 17 pounds fish on Wednesday. Dave Wilson continued to do well up at Ruan Ruarie with a couple of fish in the week up to 9 pounds. Successful rods at the end of the week included Gordon Nichol with 2 fish from the Sawmill and the Dam up to 12 pounds on the fly. Loch Faskally reported 13 fish in the week with successful rods including James Thomson with an 8 pounds fish on a Rapala. Campbell Dixon had a great week landing 5 fish up to 12 pounds mostly on Toby Salmos.

The Upper areas are seeing fish on their beats. A total of 11 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 with odd fish registered. Keithick Mains caught a fish on Monday.

The Ericht is also seeing fish run up the river with 1 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. Late spring catches have been tremendous and June has continued to encourage 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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