Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 19th September 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 19th 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, settled water levels recently due to better weather and a bit of water over the last couple of weeks has given us by and large settled river conditions and catches have been consistently good. We now need a period of heavy rain and a big spate to really kick off sport for the last few weeks of the season. 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 last weekend trigger off further improvements but levels dropped off quickly and sport dropped off as well. We recorded another good catch similar to the previous week and hopefully that will bring even more success this coming week. There was some good cloud cover as well as autumn sunshine 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 25 pounds monster caught at Glendelvine. 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 19th September)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 36, Waulkmill 15, Lower Redgorton 11, Luncarty 2, Upper Redgorton 15, Fishponds 7, Stanley Pitlochrie Benchil 10, Upper Scone 10, Stobhall 26, Taymount 18, Ballathie 11, Cargill 7, Islamouth 5, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1, Kercock 16, Baldarroch 3, Glendelvine 10, Murthly 2 15, Newtyle 3, Dunkeld House 4, Dalmarnock 10, Dalguise 5, Lower Kinnaird 7, Upper Kinnaird 1, Farleyer Lower 2, Lochlane and Laggan 4, Ericht Fishing 6, Loch Faskally 1.
Total: 261 Largest: Glendelvine & Murthly 2 25lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 1, Upper Redgorton 2, Taymount 4, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1, Murthly 2 1, Dunkeld House 2, Lochlane and Laggan 3.
Total: 14 Largest: Murthly 2 9lbs

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 36 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 around 50 caught between them in the week with more fish running and showing. Waulkmill and Lower Redgorton are producing fish on a more regular basis with Colin Jones catching on the fly consistently over the last couple of weeks. Upper Redgorton had a good week with the Robbins party enjoying success. Simon Furnis caught a 20 pounds beauty fly fishing in the Craigs and Hamish Aitken, Gina Jones, Hugh Robbins, Sandra Robbins, Bill Robbins and Jimmy Williamson all caught on the fly this week. On Luncarty Francis Jennings enjoyed a good week with Tim Atkinson catching 2 fish on Saturday on fly and Spinner.

At Stanley Upper Scone and Stanley Fishings had reasonable weeks on the Pitlochrie and Benchil beats. George Mason landed several fish on fly and spinner with Scone while

John Colin, Andrew Shorthouse, Frank Muller,

T Greenfield, David Boothroyd,

Peter Thomas and David Golding all enjoyed sport on Stanley with fly and spinner as well. Taymoount and Stobhall had steady sport all week with the Hart party starting their week off with a bang on Monday with 12 fish. Lower water levels are starting to suit Ballathie and Cargill with improving numbers.

On Cargill Ollie Holt and Neil French enjoyed sport on the fly while Clive Downhill landed a 13 pounds beauty on a floating Devon. Islamouth have a lot of fish holding on their beat but tempting them on the fly is proving difficult. On Upper Islamouth and Meikleour the Enderby party enjoyed their week but conditions were very difficult with low water.

The Middle river is fishing reasonably well with consistent catches with a settled river improving prospects. Kercock had another reasonable week with 17 fish and no shortage of fish on the beat. Steve Ward had his first ever fish and Stuart Tindall caught fish up to 16 pounds. Others including Mrs T. J Wood, Matt Blake, John Ross with 3 nice fish, Keith Lovell had 5 fish on fly, Alan Kaye, David Webster, Roddy Bramwell, all had fish as well.

Jimmy Williamson enjoyed success on Delvine landing an estimated 25 pounds fish on a spinner. Murthly and Glendelvine had a much better week with 25 fish. Newtyle had a quieter week with 3 fish. Dunkeld House were also quiet but 10 year old Angus Morton caught a 6 pounds fish on a flying C and David Jones caught the beats 250 the fish on the season weighing 18 pounds on a Salmo.

Dalmarnock had a good week with 10 fish. Lee Fisher started the week off with a 15 pounds fish from the Stepps pool, Jock Fallon also had success in the same pool, Andy McAlwee and Davie Watt caught fish up to 11 pounds, Malcom Bennett caught 2 fish on the fly and Gavin Mcwilliams landed his first salmon in the Clachantaggert pool.

On Saturday the Datta family got into the act with Sam and Sandy both catching on fly and spinner. John Olson also caught a 9 pounds fish to complete a good week. Dalguise and the Kinnaird beats had better sport with 13 between them.
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 5300. Loch Faskally reported one fish caught by Chris MacLean on a Salmo.

The Upper areas are seeing fish on their beats. Two 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 6 reported.

The Earn were also seeing salmon and Sea Trout run with 4 fish being reported from Lochlane & Laggan. 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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