The summer salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire has been 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 ended some time ago 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”.
Summer salmon fly fishing action from the Tay.
Late spring and summer salmon were landed last week in reasonable numbers due to fresh water from yet more rain and settled levels by and large all week. We recorded another good catch 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 in bloom as well. It is true what they say, “ a salmon is a bonus!”
Beat catches reported (week ending 22nd August)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 33, Waulkmill 3, Lower Redgorton 11, Upper Redgorton 4, Fishponds 1, Stanley Pitlochrie Benchil 9, Upper Scone 3, Stobhall 16, Taymount 14, Ballathie 2, Cargill 6, Islamouth 19, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 4, Kercock 11, Murthly 2 6, Newtyle 11, Dunkeld House 4, Dalmarnock 2, Lower Kinnaird 5, Findynate 1, Lochlane and Laggan 1, Ericht Fishing 4, Loch Faskally 6.
Total: 176 Largest: Almondmouth 22lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 2, Lower Redgorton 1, Upper Redgorton 1, Newtyle 1.
Total: 5 Largest: Newtyle 3lbs
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 again this past week, also the beats just above the Stanley area were doing well as fish continue to 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 33 including a 22 pounds fish on Saturday and fish are being caught on the Stormont Angling club water as well encouraging everyone. Lower Redgorton, Waulkmill, Upper Redgorton and Fishponds also registered fish in better numbers with 19 caught between them in the week with more fish running and showing. On Upper Redgorton Greg Hutchins and David Black both caught grilse in the Fire Shot. Upper Scone had 3 fish in the week. On Stanley Benchil and Pitlochrie were both fishing well with fly the successful method. John Morrison, Andrew Dobbie, Danny Fulton and Tweed Ghillie Rod Dixon all caught on Fly. Taymount and Stobhall had good weeks with over 30 fish off both beats. Brian Giles was one of the successful anglers on Stobhall. Cargill and Ballathie had a hard week with conditions not suiting the beats. Cargill had 6 fish up to 15 pounds with young anglers enjoying sport.
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 11 fish. Murthly and Glendelvine had a quieter week with 6 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 4400. 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. Gordon Nichol and Andy Khakoo had grilse from the Sawmill stream below the town. Loch Faskally reported 6 fish with Carlos and Gonzalo Valdelomar, Pete McIlroy, James Hyslop and Steven Kennedy catching fish up to 10 pounds on various types of Tobies.
The Upper areas are seeing fish on their beats. One salmon were 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 seeing salmon run and caught however no fish were registered.
The Ericht is also seeing fish run up the river in bigger water with 4 reported.
The Earn were also seeing salmon and Sea Trout run with odd fish being reported from Lochlane & Laggan.
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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