Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 26th September 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 26th 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 a big spate required 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. 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 early twenties. Grilse are running in better numbers with more caught and in excellent condition. On the nature front the Sand Martins, Swallows and Ospreys have gone, Kingfishers dart past, and the first Geese are arriving. It is a magical time of year with all the autumn colours as well. It is true what they say, “ a salmon is a bonus!”

Beat catches reported (week ending 26th September)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 39, Waulkmill 17, Lower Redgorton 39, Luncarty 5, Upper Redgorton 14, Fishponds 11, Stanley Pitlochrie Benchil 5, Upper Scone 5, Stobhall 17, Taymount 23, Ballathie 10, Cargill 7, Islamouth 17, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 5, Kercock 13, Glendelvine 9, Murthly 2 5, Newtyle 13, Dunkeld House 1, Dalmarnock 8, Dalguise 2, Lower Kinnaird 5, Upper Kinnaird 1, Farleyer Upper 4, Farleyer Lower 5, Ericht Fishing 1.
Total: 281 Largest: Stobhall & Ballathie & Kercock 22lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 2, Lower Redgorton 2, Taymount 2, Glendelvine 1, Newtyle 1.
Total: 8 Largest: Waulkmill & Taymount 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 and fish are continuing to spread throughout the river. Bigger and fresh water may have encouraged more to run recently. 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 39 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 over 70 caught between them in the week with more fish running and showing. Lower Redgorton had an excellent week and Neville Johnston enjoyed good sport on Waulkmill. Fishponds and Upper Redgorton had good weeks as well with the Soland party form Switzerland doing well with 14 fish on Upper Redgorton. They caught mostly grilse with Andy Soland landing a 14 pounds fish on a red Devon. Luncarty continues to do well with Richard Oliver, Jim Crossland and Peter Butterfield landing fish. JCB and the Ropper party enjoyed success on Upper Scone.

On Stanley Peter and

Becky Annan landed fish on fly and spinner on Benchil during the week. Rodger Worth also caught on the fly from Lundie before going to the Tweed to catch there as well. Donald Normans party had a good week at Stobhall and Taymount had a good week finishing with 10 on Saturday and Jim Coates doing well with 4 on the fly. Ballathie had a better week with some good fish including one at 22 pounds.

Cargill had fish most days with Dirk Pittaway, Ian Jardine, Donald Bell and Dutch visitor Roy de Voss all having success mostly on fly. Islamouth had a steady week with fish every day and then a superb day on Saturday with 10 all on fly. Neil Tong and Ian Mitchell did well with the lion’s share of the fish up to the high teens in size. Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had a better week with a few fish.

Malcolm Anderson and Donald Gow both caught fish from the beat.

The Middle river is fishing reasonably well with consistent catches with a settled river improving prospects. Kercock had another reasonable week with 13 fish and no shortage of fish on the beat taking their season total to 200. Murthly and Glendelvine had a good week with 14 fish. Newtyle had a better week with 13 fish. Edwin Peacock landed 5 fish up to 12 pounds from the Cotter and 2 grilse from the Boil over 3 days. Joe Killick landed a grilse from St Mary's as did Danish angler Jorn Kristensen and Stephen Ottridge landed a grilse from the Steps. Dunkeld House was quiet with one fish.

Dalmarnock enjoyed further success this past week with 8 fish. Successful anglers included Brian Jones, Reid Haglin and Sandy Datta. Dalguise and the Kinnaird beats caught fish as well.

The Tummel is continuing to produce odd fish as fish make their way up to Pitlochry dam and through it with the counter is now showing over 5350. Paul Carter and Bob Crowther both caught fish on the fly from the Sawmill stream.

The Upper areas are seeing fish on their beats. Nine salmon were reported from the Farleyer beats including one at 20 pounds 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 but need bigger water now with 1 reported.

The Earn were also seeing salmon and Sea Trout run however no fish were recorded this week. 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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