Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 12th September 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 12th September 2015.

The autumn salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire has begun and it has been improving steadily after an excellent spring period with varying conditions for fishing, unsettled water levels due to inclement weather for the time of year and hydro influence however the last couple of weeks have been settled and catches have been consistently good. 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 see autumn arrive if we get settled conditions. Recent rains have given the river plenty of fresh water and this has triggered off an improvement in the run combined with settled conditions. The spring period ended some time ago but steady conditions have spread fish throughout the system in the last few months, this may be the catalyst for even better catches which hopefully will continue over the next few weeks as we go deeper into autumn. This past month has been consistent with the river holding a good stock of fish especially in the middle areas and a lot of fish are now drifting back down to the lower river in big numbers. We now are seeing a developing autumn run of salmon and grilse and with the recent spate sport should improve further. 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 Autumn to give everyone a chance of landing a Tay “Bar of Silver”.

Summer and autumn salmon were landed last week in reasonable numbers due to excellent conditions and some good weather. The small spate at the weekend may really trigger off further improvements. We recorded another good catch similar to 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 levels fell steadily and the quality of the salmon caught remained outstanding with fish caught in the late teens and there was a 28 pounds monster caught on the fly at Taymount. Rain on Saturday may have 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 and Swallows are all over the skies, Ospreys are still being seen but are about to depart, 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 12th September)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 46, Waulkmill 10, Lower Redgorton 23, Luncarty 6, Upper Redgorton 7, Fishponds 3, Stanley Pitlochrie Benchil 16, Upper Scone 9, Stobhall 4, Taymount 14, Ballathie 8, Cargill 21, Islamouth 8, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Kercock 17, Glendelvine 4, Murthly 2 5, Newtyle 8, Dunkeld House 3, Dalmarnock 1, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 2, Findynate 1, Farleyer Upper 1, Farleyer Lower 3, Lower Aberuthven 1, Ericht Fishing 3, Ruan Ruarie 2.
Total: 229 Largest: Taymount 28lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 2, Newtyle 1.
Total: 3 Largest: Lower Redgorton & Newtyle 1lbs

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 continuing to spread 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 and older fish drop back towards the Almond, Shochie and Ordie system. This part of the river is holding a lot of fish currently. Almondmouth are catching more fish, as it is a barometer at this time of year of fish running the river. They caught 46 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 43 caught between them in the week with more fish running and showing.

On Upper Redgorton the Sly party enjoyed a reasonable week with Andrew Stephenson catching on the fly. Luncarty has been producing salmon as well with consistent catches. Earlier in the week Dougie and Derek Wangert enjoyed success catching grilse, Eddie Slaven caught on Fly and Devon then on Saturday

Ryan McShane caught 7 pounds salmon on the fly from Lowfield. 25 fish came off the Stanley Beats that was a big improvement. Upper Scone rods had success with the Gallacher brothers, Gary Perks, Bob Shaw, Darren Kaye, Willi Baltzer and his partner

Barbra Wimmer from Austria all catching on fly and spinners. Stanley Fishings had a good week with the fly producing most of the fish.

Paul and Michael Nichols enjoyed a flying visit to Benchil on Wednesday prior to going to the Blair Atholl Horse Trials. They both caught a couple of fish on the fly casting from the boat in the Long and Little Shot.

Malcolm Anderson caught also on the fly from Benchil and landed a cracking 15 pounds fish from the Little Shot on the spinner.

Saturday saw James Annesley catch 2 lovely fresh grilse from the Pitlochrie beat on the fly.

Taymount had another consistent week highlighted by Joe O’Donnell landing a 28 pounds monster on the fly after a 40 minute battle guided by Mike Brown from Upper Eels Brigs. Ballathie and Cargill had a steady week with fish most days. The Sly party caught on Ballathie. Cargill had a better week with 21 salmon.

Peter Hart’s party did well at the beginning of the week landing 15 salmon.

Colin Nesbit enjoyed success with a 15 pounds fish on the fly. Islamouth had a quieter week but reported lots of fish in the beat but had to tempt. The same was the case for Upper Islamouth and Meikleour where only a couple of fish fell to the St Lawrence party.

The Middle river is fishing reasonably well with consistent catches with a settled river improving prospects. Kercock had another reasonable week with 17 fish. Murthly and Glendelvine had a reasonable week with 10 fish. Newtyle had a reasonable week with 8 fish.

Early in the week Ewan Whyte caught his first ever salmon on his first day out on the river weighing 12 pounds. Other fish fell to Alex Souter, Derek Strachan and on Saturday

Gordon MacDermid had a lovely grilse from the Cotter. Dunkeld House had a quiet week but caught 3 on Saturday. Andrew Sutherland caught a lovely grilse on Dalmarnock and odd fish came form Dalguise and the Kinnaird beats.

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 over 5100. All the beats below the dam including East and West Haugh have been producing fish over recent weeks, which has been good news. Dave Wilson continues to catch from the Ruan Ruarie beat on the Garry with a small grilse and a 9 pounds salmon this past week.

The Upper areas are seeing fish on their beats. Four salmon were reported from the Findynate and 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 3 reported.

The Earn were also seeing salmon and Sea Trout run with 1 fish being reported from Lower Aberuthven. Sport has picked up at the bottom of the river as well.

The Salmon fishing season is now going into Autumn 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 with lots of resident fish in many beats 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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