Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 18th July 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 18th 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. Over the last couple of days last week we endured very heavy rain causing a massive summer spate, which may trigger off a good summer run. 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 due to a very unsettled river at the end of the week. We recorded an improving catch early in the week. There was good cloud cover and it was warm. Fish were landed daily from all over as the river level receded until Friday and the quality of the salmon caught remained outstanding with fish caught in the late teens and mid twenties. 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 18th July)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 5, Lower Redgorton 1, Upper Redgorton 1, Benchil 1, Upper Scone 1, Pitlochrie 1, Taymount 5, Ballathie 2, Cargill 2, Islamouth 7, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 3, Kercock 8, Murthly 1 5, Murthly 2 10, Newtyle 4, Dunkeld House 7, Lower Kinnaird 1, Upper Kinnaird 2, Farleyer Upper 2, Farleyer Lower 4, Ericht Fishing 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 1, Loch Faskally 2.
Total: 76 Largest: Murthly 2 25lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 1, Upper Redgorton 2, Pitlochrie 1, Cargill 2, Newtyle 1.
Total: 7 Largest: Cargill 7lbs

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 are seeing more 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 5 and fish have been caught on the Stormont Angling club water. Lower and Upper Redgorton also recorded a fish. On Upper Scone David Mitchell caught a grilse on the fly from Horsey.

On Stanley Stephen Pollock caught his first ever salmon fly fishing from the boat in the Long Shot on Benchil on his first ever days salmon fishing, not a bad start! Ian Kettles caught an 8 pounds fish also fly fishing from the boat in front of Stanley Mills. Taymount landed 5 fish prior to the big water and should see an up turn in sport over the next few weeks. Ballathie and Cargill had a couple of fish a piece. The high light at Cargill was James Kirkcaldy landing a 7 pounds sea trout on the fly. Islamouth had 7 fish before the spate and Upper Islamouth and Meikleour accounted for 3 fish on spinner and fly.

The Middle river is fishing reasonably well with consistent catches but experienced a quieter week mirroring the rest of the river. Kercock had a better week with 8 fish. Murthly and Glendelvine had a much better week recording 15 fish from all the beats. Newtyle had 4 during the week. Dunkeld House continue to produce fish with 7 during the week.

Brian Joseph landed a couple of fish up to 15 pounds from the Girnal and Cutty plus lost a good fish on the fly from the Cathedral stream. The Kinnaird beats recorded a couple of fish.

The Tummel is continuing to produce fish but in far lesser numbers 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. Ian Hyslop caught a 6 pounds fish on the fly at Port-na-Craig and further success on the clubs Sawmill stream fell to Jimmy Ross and Andy Khakoo both catching 10 pounds fish on the fly.

The Upper areas are seeing fish on their beats. Six salmon were reported from the Farleyer beats 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 with one 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 well and truly 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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