Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 11th July 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 11th July 2015.

The salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire has slowed down after an excellent period for some time especially in the middle river 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 continued in June but has slowed up in the last couple of weeks with slight signs of improvement last week. 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 few weeks seemed 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 an improving 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 during last week 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 11th July)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 3, Waulkmill 1, Lower Redgorton 1, Benchil 1, Pitlochrie 1, Stobhall 6, Taymount 4, Ballathie 4, Cargill 4, Islamouth 16, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 4, Kercock 3, Murthly 1 5, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 7, Newtyle 4, Dunkeld House 9, Dalmarnock 1, Lower Kinnaird 2, Upper Kinnaird 1, Findynate 1, Loch Faskally 1, Ruan Ruarie 1.
Total: 82 Largest: Murthly 1 20lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 1, Lower Redgorton 2, Stobhall 1, Murthly 2 1, Newtyle 2.
Total: 7 Largest: Newtyle 5lbs

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.

This week saw the Tay Ghillies Association hold a double presentation to celebrate the capture of a monster salmon and to help protect the river's stocks. This year's recipient of the Redford Cup was Scots angler Willie Cumming of Larbert, who landed a cracking 19 pounder on the Dunkeld House beat of the river.

The TGA also gifted £4,300 worth of sophisticated monitoring equipment to help Tay Board bailiffs catch poachers from the sale of calendars, badges and car stickers, a raffle and a donkey derby night. Thank you to all who took part and anglers who generously contributed.

The Lower Tay below Stanley has seen odd fish recorded this past week and Sea Trout are about but the beats just above the Stanley area were showing signs of improvement in 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 3 on Saturday and fish have been caught on the Stormont Angling club water. Waulkmill and Lower Redgorton also recorded a fish apiece. The Jennings party enjoyed success on the Stanley beats catching a couple of fish and loosing another two. Francis landed a 6 pounds beauty on the fly in Kirkie on the Pitlochrie beat while

Tom caught a 7 pounds fish on Benchil from the Todd Holes. Stobhall and Taymount faired better this past week with 10 fish between them. Stobhall managed 6 for the day on Friday as soon better runs come through the river. Ballathie and Cargill faired better at the end of the week with 8 fish.

Islamouth had a sporadic week with some outstanding days along with some quiet ones confirming that runs are not consistent yet.

Amongst the successful rods was Philip Miller with an 8 pounds fish from Donnits. On Upper Islamouth and Meikleour the fly worked well during the week despite not many rods out fishing. Paul Chisholm caught an 8 pounds fish from the Pump House Croy on the fly from the bank.

The Middle river is fishing reasonably well with consistent catches but experienced a quieter week mirroring the rest of the river. Kercock had a quieter week with 2 fish. Murthly and Glendelvine had a disappointing week recording 12 fish for the week. Newtyle had 4 during the week.

John McNeil from Penicuik landed his first Tay salmon on the fly from the boil on the fly weighing 11 pounds earlier in the week. Dunkeld House have now passed 200 fish for the season and had another good week with 9 fish landed. Earlier in the week Jim Ferrie and Gordon Pollock had fish up to 16 pounds then Saturday saw a good day with 5 fish landed.

Ross Robert Jones caught a 10 pounds fish from the Cutty with his father catching 2 fresh fish from the Rock pool up to 8 pounds. On Dalmarnock Andy McAlwee caught a 3 pounds grilse and reported seeing several others. Kinnaird recorded 3 fish from their beats on Saturday.

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 3000 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. Albert Crowther and Ally Gowans had fish from the Sawmill Stream and Dave Wilson had more success up at Ruan Ruarie as fish fly up the Garry catching an 8 pounds beauty on a spinner.

The Upper areas are seeing fish on their beats. One salmon was reported from the Findynate beat during the week as they run up to Loch Tay.

On Loch Tay fish are running and must be staring to go up the Dochart but nothing was reported last week.

The Isla is starting to see salmon run the river with no 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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