Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 3rd October 2015.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon Fishing Report for W/E 3rd October 2015.

The autumn salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is nearing the end of the season 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. The forecast of heavy rain this week and the prospect of a big spate could really kick off sport for the last 11 days 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 reasonable catch despite difficult conditions and hopefully that will bring even more success this coming week with rain forecast. There was some outstanding autumn sunshine and it was warm making life hard going. Fish were landed daily from all over as river levels fell steadily and the quality of the salmon caught remained outstanding with fish caught in the late teens. Grilse are running in better numbers with more caught and in excellent condition, which is strange for the time of year, but could this be more evidence of the run changing slowly to a spring dominance in the future? 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 3rd October)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 37, Waulkmill 10, Lower Redgorton 15, Luncarty 3, Upper Redgorton 2, Fishponds 2, Stanley Pitlochrie Benchil 9, Upper Scone 6, Stobhall 3, Taymount 11, Ballathie 17, Cargill 11, Islamouth 4, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 9, Kercock 12, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 6, Newtyle 6, Dunkeld House 6, Dalmarnock 7, Dalguise 3, Lower Kinnaird 3, Upper Kinnaird 2, Findynate 2, Farleyer Upper 1, Ericht Fishing 2.
Total: 191 Largest: Almondmouth & Ballathie & Dunkeld House 18lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 1, Lower Redgorton 1, Murthly 2 1.
Total: 3 Largest: Murthly 2 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 37 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 reasonable numbers despite hard conditions with over 30 caught between them in the week with more fish running and showing. Lower Redgorton had a reasonable week with James McKay and Francois Stoven catching a few fish. Waulkmill also worked away with Arnot McWhinnie, Brian Williams, John Stewart and Brian Gordon. On Luncarty Richard Oliver and Kenny Scott caught on the spinner. Sandra Robbins and Roddy McKay caught on fly at Upper Redgorton. At Stanley Upper Scone and Stanley Fishings had to work hard for their fish during the week.

Peter Varney started the week off well with a 13 pounds fish on the fly from the Long Shot at Benchil.

Mick Behan, Ros Downes and Jeremy Foster all caught as well from both beats. David Brown finished the week with a lovely sea liced fish from the Plain Water on a red Devon. Stobhall and Taymount found life hard going despite the later having 6 on Tuesday. Ballathie and Cargill had better weeks with some good teenage fish and Ballathie having 2 days of 5 fish. It was a week of hard fishing at Cargill bringing some success for their anglers. Linda Frost and Ian Muir caught on the fly. Ron Davison had a nice silver 8 pounds fish and Robert King landed a fresh 7 pounds fish from the Sands.

The biggest fish of the week was a 15 pounds fish landed by Ian Jefferson on a Toby. Islamouth had a quiet week and Upper Isalmouth and Meikleour faired a bit better with 9 fish.

The week stared well with Donald Gow catching two small grilse on the fly. This was quickly followed with a 6 pounds fish for Mr. John Campbell from the House Pool.

Malcolm Anderson added to the total with a fifth fish. This fish was from the Tunnel Hole and weighed 12 pounds. Later in the week Eric Marszol and Mr Chalmers caught on spinners up to 6 pounds.

The Middle river is fishing reasonably well with consistent catches with a settled river improving prospects.

Kercock had another reasonable week with 12 fish and no shortage of fish on the beat taking their season total to over 200. Murthly and Glendelvine had a quieter week with 5 fish.

Newtyle had a similar week with 6 fish which include 5 on Tuesday. David Cronshaw caught a 12 pounds fish on the fly from the Boil.

Young Cameron Henderson caught his first ever Salmon, a clean Grilse on a Salmo from the boat.

78 year old Bill Holden was successful with the fly from the Boil.

Jamie Simpson landed fish from the Boil and Fiddlers, both on the fly up to 14 pounds. Dunkeld had a better week with a few fish despite very bright conditions.

Richard Goodwin caught 3 fish on fly up to 12 pounds. Kevin McLeod and Bill Walker caught further fish again on fly up to 18 pounds.

Dalmarnock carried on their good recent run with another successful week. Alan Watson was one of the successful rods during the week. Dalguise and the Kinnaird beats also caught a few fish.

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 5365.

The Upper areas are seeing fish on their beats. Three salmon were reported from the Farleyer and Findynate beats 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 2 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 well 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. Rain is now forecast and fresh water on the way will hopefully encourage more salmon to run the river and catches will sore with lots of resident fish in many beats so let us hope with improving conditions the river will have a great last few days of the season. 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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