Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 4th July 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 4th July 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 for June but has slowed up in the last couple of weeks. The spring period has ended but steady conditions have spread fish throughout the system in the last few weeks, this may be the catalyst for even better catches which hopefully will continue over the next few weeks as we go deeper into summer. This past week seems to have confirmed the end of the 2015 spring run but the river is holding a good stock of fish especially in the middle areas. We now await a good summer run of salmon and grilse. 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 lesser numbers in reasonably settled conditions. We recorded a poor weekly catch despite the recent prolific period. There was good cloud cover and it was warm. Fish were landed daily from all over as the river level receded and the quality of the salmon caught remained outstanding with fish caught in the late teens. Rain on Saturday may just spice things up for the coming week. 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 second 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 Rhododendrons and Azaleas in bloom and Lupines everywhere as well as many others. It is true what they say, “ a salmon is a bonus!”

Beat catches reported (week ending 4th July)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 2, Stobhall 4, Taymount 1, Ballathie 4, Cargill 3, Islamouth 4, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1, Kercock 6, Murthly 1 5, Glendelvine 3, Newtyle 7, Dunkeld House 7, Dalmarnock 2, Lower Kinnaird 1, Upper Kinnaird 1, Farleyer Upper 2, Portnacraig Pitlochry 2, Ruan Ruarie 1.
Total: 56 Largest: Stobhall 19lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 7, Stobhall 1, Taymount 1, Ballathie 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1.
Total: 11 Largest: Lower Redgorton 3lbs

Salmon have been caught throughout the system this past week but in disappointing numbers, despite 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 weeks 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.

The Lower Tay below Stanley has seen odd fish recorded this past week and Sea Trout are about and the beats just above the Stanley area were disappointing possibly due to warm water temperatures as fish race up the system. The boats are back on the beats at Stanley and below for summer fishing. Almondmouth continued to see odd fish caught with 2 in the week and fish have been caught on the Stormont Angling club water. Stobhall and Taymount caught odd fish most days and Ballathie and Cargill performed in a similar way despite conditions improving for them with lower water.

Cargill accounted for 3 fish in the week with Crawford Robertson landing a 13 pounds fish and Andrew Crawford landing a fresh grilse from the Pot Shot. More grilse are now starting the run the river which is encouraging. Islamouth had a quiet week with only 4 fish.

Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had a single fish caught by Calum McRoberts in the Bridge pool weighing 7 pounds.

The Middle river is fishing well with consistent catches but experienced a much quieter week mirroring the rest of the river.

Kercock had 6 fish in the week. Murthly and Glendelvine had a disappointing week recording 7 fish for the week. Newtyle did better with 7 fish during the week.

Their week started off well with Alistair Bell landing a 14 pounds fish on his very first salmon fishing outing. A stripped Sunray accounted for another fish as it attacked the fly like an Exocet missile when it leapt out the water to take the fly. Jon Amos and Murdo Crosbie caught fish up to 13 pounds.

Tom Mitchell, Jon Wood, Mark Little caught further fish and Mark Halliday landed a first ever at 13 pounds from the Trap. The beat is fast approaching 150 for the season.

Dunkeld House continued their outstanding period with 7 fish and they closed in on 200 fish for the season so far. John Young was amongst the successful anglers with a 14 pounds fish from the Cathedral stream on the fly.

Dalmarnock saw a couple of fish caught at the start of the week with Johnny Ross catching an 8 pounds fish on a Salmo from Sowerby and David Gardiner caught a 5 pounds grilse from the Stepps pool. The Kinnaird beats recorded a couple of fish form both beats.

The Tummel is continuing to produce fish but was much quieter as fish make their way up to Pitlochry dam and through it with the counter is now showing in excess of 2650 with rising temperatures, which is ahead of last years total at the same time. 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 much quieter week on the Pitlochry Angling club stretch as fish escape through the dam in numbers. John Batley caught a 6 pounds fish on a spinner at the dam and Dave Wilson had more success up at Ruan Ruarie as fish fly up the Garry catching a 7 pounds beauty on a spinner.

The Upper areas are seeing fish on their beats. Two salmon was reported from the Farleyer beats 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.

The Ericht is also seeing fish run up the river but unfortunately nothing was reported.

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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