Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 15th August 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 15th August 2015.

The summer salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is improving steadily 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 slowed up for a few weeks but now there are good signs of improvement week on week as we approach autumn. 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 and approaching autumn. This past month confirmed the end of the 2015 spring run but the river is holding a good stock of fish especially in the middle areas and some of these fish are now drifting back down to the lower river. We now are now seeing a developing summer and possibly autumn 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 from yet another spate and more settled levels as the week went on. We recorded an improving catch as the week went on which was a 30% plus increase on the previous week and hopefully that will bring even more success this coming 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 the week may spiced things up again and should give excellent conditions for the coming week. Grilse are running in better numbers with more caught and in excellent condition. On the nature front the Sand Martins, Swifts and Swallows are all over the skies, Ospreys are being seen, Kingfishers dart past, Ducks have 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 15th August)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 32, Waulkmill 10, Lower Redgorton 9, Luncarty 6, Upper Redgorton 4, Fishponds 3, Benchil 2, Upper Scone 10, Pitlochrie 6, Stobhall 11, Taymount 19, Ballathie 2, Cargill 14, Islamouth 26, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 6, Kercock 8, Glendelvine 10, Murthly 2 14, Newtyle 9, Dunkeld House 1, Dalmarnock 4, Lower Kinnaird 6, Upper Kinnaird 2, Farleyer Upper 5, Farleyer Lower 2, Ericht Fishing 18, Portnacraig Pitlochry 3, Loch Faskally 2.
Total: 244 Largest: Waulkmill & Lower Kinnaird 23lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 1, Luncarty 3, Upper Redgorton 1, Fishponds 1, Stobhall 5, Glendelvine 1, Murthly 2 3, Newtyle 2, Dunkeld House 4, Lower Kinnaird 1, Lower Aberuthven 1.
Total: 23 Largest: Glendelvine 4lbs

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 from the sea 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, as it is a barometer at this time of year of fish running the river. They caught 32 and fish have been caught on the Stormont Angling club water as well encouraging everyone. Lower Redgorton, Waulkmill, Upper Redgorton and

Fishponds also registered fish in better numbers in the week with more fish running and showing. Upper Scone had fish most days the Swiss anglers having success.

On Stanley Kenny Hyslop got the week off to a good start with a grilse on the fly from the Long Shot on Benchil and Tweed angler Aaron Nichol had a grilse later in the week from Aitken Head. On the Pitlochrie beat Gordon Hanslip and Gordon Nichol from Pitlochry had success on the fly from Horsey and the Woodside. On Saturday Derek Strachan and Neil Tong landed fish up to 10 pounds. Taymount and Stobhall had a steady week with 30 fish between them. A local party was fishing Taymount and had fish all week and on Stobhall Alistair Sheach had success later in the week with fish on fly and spinner. Ballathie and Cargill also had success with Cargill having 2 days of six fish landed. Most fish were caught on the fly and weighed up to 16 pounds.

Gary Lees-Buckleys party had a great day on the fly landing several good quality sea liced fish. Islamouth had a much better week with 26 fish. Kelly and

Graham Katon caught good fish up to 14 pounds and Spencer Daws had fish on the fly up to 15 pounds. Meikleour and Upper Islamouth had good success in the week as well with the fly being the most productive method.

The Middle river is fishing reasonably well with consistent catches but would like a settled river to do better. Kercock had another reasonable week with 8 fish. Murthly and Glendelvine continue to do well with 24 fish. Newtyle had a good week with 9fish caught.

Successful rods included Peter Rhodes, Harvey Burniston, John Mitchell, John Laybourn, Jim Carle and Stuart McArthur catching grilse and salmon up to 10 pounds.

Dunkeld House had a quiet week with only one fish.

Dalmarnock had 4 fish in the week with Brendan Quinlan catching a couple of fish up to 11 pounds. The Kinnaird beats were catching most days including a 20 pounds fish from the lower beat.

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 4000 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. The regular anglers have been having more success this past week with Gordon Nichol, Andy Khakoo, Brian Joseph and Gary Waugh all catching fish up to 12 pounds mostly on fly. Loch Faskally reported a couple with Allan Hall and David McKerron catching fish up to 12 pounds.

The Upper areas are seeing fish on their beats. Five 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 18 reported.

The Earn were also seeing salmon and Sea Trout run with odd fish being reported.

The Salmon fishing season is 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 and catches are on the up so let us hope with improving conditions the upturn 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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