The summer salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is improving week on week after an excellent spring period with varying conditions for fishing and unsettled water levels due to inclement weather for the time of year and hydro influence. We have had 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. Recent rains have given the river plenty of fresh water and this has triggered off an improvement in the 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 better numbers due to fresh water but daily hydro influence did not help matters. We recorded an improving catch as the week went on and hopefully that will bring even more success this week. 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 and early 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 1st August)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 15, Waulkmill 1, Lower Redgorton 5, Upper Redgorton 1, Fishponds 2, Benchil 2, Upper Scone 4, Pitlochrie 1, Stobhall 4, Taymount 13, Ballathie 3, Cargill 6, Islamouth 11, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 4, Kercock 12, Glendelvine 7, Murthly 2 9, Newtyle 10, Dunkeld House 6, Dalmarnock 2, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 9, Farleyer Upper 3, Ericht Fishing 8, Portnacraig Pitlochry 9, Loch Faskally 2.
Total: 150 Largest: Cargill 20lbs
SEA TROUT: Upper Redgorton 1, Benchil 2, Upper Scone 1, Cargill 1, Newtyle 2, Portnacraig Pitlochry 1.
Total: 8 Largest: Benchil 5lbs
Salmon have been caught throughout the system this past week in steadily improving numbers and conditions at times making it ideal as fish run harder due to the warmer water temperatures and fish are spreading throughout the river. Bigger and fresh water 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 were seeing more fish recorded this past week, also the beats just above the Stanley area were showing signs of improvement in warm water temperatures as fish race up the system. Almondmouth are catching more fish, which should encourage everyone, as it is a barometer at this time of year of fish running the river. They caught 15 and fish have been caught on the Stormont Angling club water as well. Lower Redgorton saw an improvement with 5 fish. Waulkmill, Upper Redgorton and Fishponds also registered fish in the week. On Upper Scone George Mason enjoyed success on the fly with 4 fish during the week from Benchil.
The Middle river is fishing reasonably well with consistent catches but would like a settled river to do better. Kercock had another superb week with 12 fish. Amongst their successful rods were
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 3550 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 livelier week on the Pitlochry Angling club stretch with more water despite fish escaping through the dam in numbers. Grilse were running with Ian Hyslop, Gordon Nichol, Gary Waugh, Steven Lee and Ian McNicol all picking up small fish on fly and spinner. Gary Waugh and Paul Carter caught bigger fish up to 10 pounds and Andy Khakoo caught a grilse from the Sawmill stream on the fly for good measure. Loch Faskally reported a couple of fish.
The Upper areas are seeing fish on their beats. Three 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 seeing salmon run and caught however no fish were registered.
The Ericht is also seeing fish run up the river in bigger water with 8 reported.
The Earn were also seeing salmon and Sea Trout run with odd fish being reported.
The Spring Salmon fishing season is now over as we now into summer and expectation remains high after great catches recently and poor overall catches last year. Late spring catches have been tremendous and June continued to encourage everyone after fish were caught in the system in continuing better numbers. Recent rain and fresh water is encouraging more salmon to run the river so 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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