Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 8th August 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 8th 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 signs of improvement week on week. 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. We recorded an improving catch as the week went on 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, early twenties and a couple close the thirty pounds mark. Rain during the week may spiced things up again and should give excellent conditions for the coming week. Grilse are starting to run in 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 8th August)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 6, Waulkmill 4, Lower Redgorton 2, Luncarty 3, Upper Redgorton 2, Fishponds 3, Upper Scone 5, Pitlochrie 7, Stobhall 23, Taymount 8, Ballathie 3, Cargill 9, Islamouth 14, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 4, Kercock 10, Glendelvine 11, Murthly 2 10, Newtyle 5, Dunkeld House 4, Dalmarnock 2, Dalguise 4, Lower Kinnaird 1, Upper Kinnaird 4, Findynate 1, Farleyer Upper 3, Farleyer Lower 3, Ericht Fishing 20, Portnacraig Pitlochry 7.
Total: 178 Largest: Stobhall 29lbs
SEA TROUT: Upper Redgorton 2, Stobhall 1, Taymount 2, Ballathie 2, Newtyle 1, Lower Aberuthven 1.
Total: 9 Largest: Newtyle 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 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, which should encourage everyone, as it is a barometer at this time of year of fish running the river. They caught 6 and fish have been caught on the Stormont Angling club water as well. Lower Redgorton, Waulkmill, Upper Redgorton and

Fishponds also registered fish in the week with more fish running and showing.

Young Hugo Hay landed his first salmon with his proud father on Upper Redgorton. Luncarty are catching fish as well with young Lucas Cheng at six year old catching his first salmon as well. Later in the week Michael Beer also caught his first salmon weighing 11 pounds. On Upper Scone the Gallagher brothers caught 5 fish between them.

At Stanley there was a good day on Saturday with 7 fish landed mostly on fly from Horsey on the Pitlochrie beat. Stobhall had an excellent week with 23 fish for the Hart party including a 29 pounds whopper. Taymount also had fish with 6 from the beat on Friday. Conditions are not ideal for Ballathie and Cargill but fish are still being caught in reasonable numbers. Cargill had 9 in the week up to 18 pounds.

Ian Muir caught an 18 pounds fish on the fly from the Garden pool, Andy Scaith caught a 12 pounds fish, Mike Howells and Richard Penrose also caught fish up to 15 pounds. Islamouth had a good week with several salmon up to 28 pounds.

Earlier in the week John McElroy enjoyed good success with fish up to 20 pounds. Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had a quieter week but still caught good fish up to 14 pounds.

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 10 fish. Murthly and Glendelvine continue to do well with 16 fish. Newtyle had a frustrating week with less fish caught but are still seeing good sport. Miles Goodman caught a grilse at the Steps but in three days 20 fish were hooked but only 2 were landed! It was another quiet week on Dunkeld house with 4 fish. Kevin Colville had an 8 pounds fish on Thursday.

Dalmarnock are seeing salmon as well with William Sutherland landing his first ever fish from the glide pool on a Toby. Dalguise had a better with 4 fish with John Hart and Chris Johnston both catching grilse from the Bridge Pool. The Kinnaird beats are working away quietly with odd fish caught. The upper beat saw a distinguished family try salmon fishing enthusiastically for the first time and good time was enjoyed by all taking part.

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 3700 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 livelier week on the Pitlochry Angling club stretch with more water despite fish escaping through the dam in numbers. Grilse were running with Gary Waugh, James Holder and

Michael Kelly all picking up small fish on fly and spinner. Michael Kelly and

Danny Docherty picked up bigger fish up to 8 pounds as well.

The Upper areas are seeing fish on their beats. Seven salmon were reported from the Farleyer and Findynate 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 20 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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