Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Fly Fishing in late April 2016 on Tay, Perthshire.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Fly Fishing in late April 2016 on Tay, Perthshire.

The Tay in Perthshire is currently seeing excellent conditions for salmon fly fishing with lower water conditions. We are now fishing a river within this mighty river and catches are steadily improving week on week. The present weeks catches have now passed 100 recorded.

We have excellent conditions for fly fishing from bank and anchored boat.

Anne Emsens playing a lively spring salmon in the Black Stones on the Catholes at Stanley.

Danny Fulton playing a salmon below Stanley Mills on the Pitlochrie beat.

Success! A lovely fresh run fish pictured prior to release.

Salmon are running hard up the system carrying long tailed sea lice.

A small fly does the trick!

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Summer Salmon Fishing on Tay 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Summer Salmon Fishing on Tay 2016.

We are nearly at the end of April and summer fast approaches. The Stanley area of the river offers some great value fishing during May, June and July.

Stanley Fishings Summer Permit Details 2016.

Benchil/Pitlochrie Beats
Salmon and Sea Trout Permit
2nd May to 2nd July 2016 (9 Weeks)
Cost £250
plus an extension is available from 4th July to 30th July on Catholes/Luncarty Beats (4 Weeks)
Total Cost £50

Benchil/Pitlochrie Beats
Sea Trout Permit
2nd May to 2nd July 2016 (9 weeks)
Fly Fishing with 11’3 Trout Rod Max
Total cost £75

Luncarty/Catholes Beats
Salmon and Sea Trout Permit.
2nd May to 30th July 2016 (13 Weeks)
Total cost £150

Luncarty Beat
Salmon and Sea Trout Permit.
2nd May to 30th July 2016 (13 Weeks)
Total cost £150.00

Luncarty/Catholes Beats
Sea Trout Permit
2nd May to 2nd July 2016 (9 weeks)
Fly Fishing with 11’3 Trout Rod Max
Total cost £75

Catholes Beat
Salmon and Sea Trout Permit
2nd May to 30th July 2016 (13 Weeks)
Total cost £150.00

For further details contact: -
Robert J White Tel: 01738 827416 Mob: 07979528134
Stanley fishings Email: Robert.salmonfishing@googlemail.com
C/O Benchil View
Perth Road
Stanley
Perth PH1 4NQ
Or log on to the beat web sites: Catholes, Pitlochrie, Benchil and Luncarty.


Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 23rd April 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 23rd April 2016.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is well into April with the river falling off to lower levels with excellent conditions for fishing in slightly colder weather last week plus catches are improving. Expectation is high on the river for 2016 after successful springs in 2015, 2014 and 2013 and hopefully settled weather will continue with an improving run in late April to give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver”.

Spring salmon were landed throughout last week with better weather and catches have spread with higher river temperatures. It was another equaling best week of the season so far with 114 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was 18 pounds. It is early yet but improving runs are coming into the river and better weather is making fishing easier with lower water last week which may have encouraged more fish to run the river as the run strengthens. The spring fish that have been caught so far have been superb quality and of a good size overall.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 23rd April)
SALMON & GRILSE: Lower Redgorton 1, Upper Redgorton 1, Fishponds 2, Benchil 1, Catholes 2, Upper Scone 2, Burnmouth 1, Stobhall 4, Taymount 3, Ballathie 4, Cargill 4, Islamouth 12, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Kercock 1, Glendelvine 1, Murthly 2 15, Newtyle 12, Dunkeld House 5, Dalmarnock 2, Dalguise 2, Lower Kinnaird 2, Upper Kinnaird 7, Edradynate 2, Findynate 1, Farleyer Upper 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 3, Keithick Mains 2, Ericht Fishing 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 12, Loch Faskally 6.
Total: 114 Largest: Kercock & Portnacraig Pitlochry 18lbs
SEA TROUT: Keithick Mains 1.
Total: 1 Largest: Keithick Mains 2lbs

The majority of the salmon have been caught in the lower river up to recently, which is understandable with the cold conditions but that has changed with warmer water allowing fish to run further giving improving results up the river including odd fish from Loch Tay and Loch Faskally now as fish start to spread in the system. The middle river is now the barometer for the runs as water temperatures rise to the late 40’s.

This past week saw a few fish from the lower river scattered throughout the beats with Islamouth proving the best beat as fish hesitate at the mouth of the Isla. Lower Redgorton, Upper Regorton and Fishponds all reported fish. John Douglas caught a superb 12 pounds fish from the Little Shot on the fly from Benchil and another one was lost on Saturday in the same pool by Alex Graham. Upper Scone had a couple in the week from the Pitlochrie beat.

Catholes produced a couple as well with Ed Slaven landing a small fish on a Toby from the Black Stones and Bob White catching a 10 pounds fish in the Black Stones on the fly. A few other fish were hooked on the fly as well but lost as fish bolt through the lower river. Burnmouth managed one and 7 fish came off the combination of Stobhall and Taymount.

Ballathie and Cargill managed 4 each with Di Ibbotson showing the way earlier in the week with 2 lovely fish from the boat in the Bridge Stream and Rumbling Stone. Later in the week Nicky Sheddon had a cracking 9 pounds fish and her husband David hooked a good fish in the Cradle which unfortunately fell off near landing. On Cargill Emilio Suarez caught a lovely 7 pounds fish from the Bridge Stream and Steve Curnow had success on the Cradle. Islamouth had a good week with 12 fish caught. Later in the week John McElroy and Gordon Fleetwood’s team had success most days all on fly. Upper Islamouth and Meikleour managed 2 in the week and could do with a bit more water to improve sport. Justin Szymborski was successful with the fly in the Castle pool landing a 9 pounds fish on the fly.

The middle river is fairing much better with rising river temperatures over recent weeks.

Kercock had 1 in the week with Barry Cranstoun landing a superb 18 pounds fish. Glendelvine also had a fish but the Murthly beats fished well again last week with several fish landed. Murthly 2 ended up with 15 in the week and Murthly 1 had a good few as well with Ian Scrutons party doing well with fly and spinner. Paul Dawson had a superb 15 pounds fish on the fly carrying sea lice.

Newtyle had a good week with 12 which included a red letter day of 7 on Tuesday with Ronnie Fraser showing the way with 5 to his own rod up to 13 pounds all caught on the fly. He ended up with 8 fish for his 3 days fishing.

Other successful rods catching fish up to 14 pounds were Glyn Hall,

James Emery, Jon Amos and Andy Donald.

The Dunkeld and Birnam Angling club stretch has been producing fish as well with Billy Davidson catching 3 in a day on Fly.

Dunkled House had another consistent week with 5 fish landed. Paul Mitchell caught a 14 pounds fish early in the week from the boat and Peter Sprouston had success throughout the week with fish up to 14 pounds. Dalmarnock saw a couple of fish caught in the week with Simon Munro catching a 9 pounds fish on the fly from Clachantaggert. Dalguise also had a couple as did the Lower Kinnaird beat. The Upper Kinnaird beat had an excellent week with 7 fish landed.

Included in this catch was Chris Blandford with 2 lovely fish in a day.

The upper river is starting to see improved sport with fish caught on Edradynate, Fyndynate and the Farleyer beats. 3 fish were reported from the Loch this past week from Fish n’ Trips up to 17 pounds caught by one boat on Saturday.

The Tummel is also seeing improved sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club with 12 landed last week and there are now over 200 fish through the Dam resulting in fish being recorded in Loch Faskally.

On the club stretch Steve Watt caught throughout the week on fly and spinner. The fly seemed to be the most successful method with fish landed for Jimmy Ross, Les Dargie, Iain McLaren, Stuart Humphreys,

Jim Fisher and Russell Boyd up to an impressive 18 pounds. Pat Phelan also had a 9 pounds fish on a spinner for good measure. Fish are now being caught throughout the Tummel with West Haugh and East Haugh fishing well. Steve Watt had a memorable day on West Haugh and Dunfallandy with 3 cracking fish up to around 12 pounds on the fly. Loch Faskally are now seeing fish with 6 recorded last week.

The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht with 1 fish recorded in the week. Back on the Isla Keithick Mains recorded 2.

Fish have been reported running the Lyon as well but low water levels have curtailed sport.

The Spring Salmon fishing season is now in April and expectation remains very high after previous good springs. Last weeks catches continued to be heartening after the slow start and bad weather. Let us hope this is a sign of an upturn in catches as last April proved. It has been a reasonable start so let us hope the season lives up to every one’s expectations over the coming weeks and months. Tight lines!

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire prospects w/c 25th April 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire prospects w/c 25th April 2016.

The Salmon fishing season on the mighty Tay in Perthshire, Scotland is now well into April and we have been encountering some lovely settled weather last week despite being cold at times giving excellent conditions for anglers to brave the elements in pursuit of that magical spring salmon with a settling river to hopefully continue to improve catches. Spring salmon are running the river and catches have improved over the last month or so. The weather hopefully will remain settled over the coming week which should help and give the river more settled conditions and benefit the river to give a greater chance of producing some sport and some early "Bars of Silver" if you are prepared to brave the elements.

Currently the river is settling back with excellent conditions (just under 1’ on the Ballathie gauge) to low water for the Tay but you are now fishing a river within the mighty Tay and there is always enough water in this vast system to hopefully encourage more spring salmon to run.

The weather is to remain slightly colder and settled over the next week after settled weather last week. Milder temperatures have given the river some water from snow melt but the river has steadily dropped away to summer levels. This current week continues settled and continuing colder with maybe a chance of the odd frost at night. Colder conditions certainly benefit the river at this time of year slowing the spring salmon run down and giving everyone a chance to catch as they run up the river slowly. Colder weather will settle the river back to good levels and make ideal spring fishing conditions. The water temperature has risen to around 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees Celsius by the end of most days last week but may drop with a colder forecast encouraging fish to run. These are typical temperatures for this time of year. The temperature has risen slightly with no frosts at night and higher day time temperatures, this may encourage more salmon to run resulting in fish being caught well up the system. The lower river around Stanley seems to be the hot spot currently in the colder conditions and this confirms historical results in the past but as the temperature has risen and fish will run further and catches will spread. Hopefully there might be a chance of a fresh fish anywhere in the river. There will no doubt be quite a few kelts about on many beats even now. Should you require guidance on salmon identification at this time of year please see this link for some help.

As to methods, in settled conditions fishing by any method will have to be slow and deep with large lures to catch the elusive Tay Springer. 20 pounds main line with a 15 pounds leader plus favoured lures include Devons, Toby Salmos, Vision 110’s and Rapalas, for spinning and Temple Dogs, Tubes, larger flies and Monkies for fly fishing. The Tay is a large river but modern lines such as Skagits or iflights make tuning over and casting larger flies easier and the fish tend to be near the bank in larger waters. Harling is also a favoured method at this time of year but be warned wrap up well or it will not be a pleasant experience. Harling is also a favoured method at this time of year but be warned wrap up well or it will not be a pleasant experience.

The Tay Ghillies Association are continuing their popular FISH OF THE MONTH AWARD to encourage good catch and release practice on the Tay. Each month the winner will receive 2 personalised crystal Whisky glasses engraved with details of the catch and they will automatically be entered into the fish of the year competition for a Stylish Crystal Engraved Decanter. Full details of this initiative.

Popular hotels to stay in the area are the Tayside Hotel in Stanley, Ballathie House, The Meikleour Arms, The Anglers Inn in Guildtown, Murrayshall Hotel, Scone and the Royal Dunkeld Hotel.

The Tay in Perthshire is a prime spring salmon fishing destination so why not give it a go?

The Tay's policy for April and May is that all spring salmon should be released, i.e. the Tay has adopted a policy of 100% catch and release for spring salmon. Spring salmon are a scarce and precious resource. Please help preserve both them and the long term future of your sport by following the recommendations. It is vital the river system follows these guides to ensure the draconian rules do not get extended in seasons to come.

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. Further information on the policy and good release practice.

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.

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Salmon Fly Fishing.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Salmon Fly Fishing.



Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Spring Salmon Fishing Destination.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Spring Salmon Fishing Destination.

The Tay in Perthshire is a current great spring salmon fishing destination with ideal conditions and good catches being achieved week on week.

Do not be intimidated by the size of the river as there is always enough water for salmon to run. The water is low at the moment but you will find you are fishing another river within the mighty Tay. Come and have a go and learn how to catch these magnificent atlantic salmon or learn more techniques under the expert guidance of the grilles on the river.

Belgium angler Anne Emsens plays a good salmon on the fly in the Catholes at Stanley.

Nearly landed! Alas this one got away at the last gasp but what excitement.

Great scenery in wonderful weather.

Be inspired and come and have a go!!!

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 16th April 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 16th April 2016.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is well into April with the river falling off to give excellent conditions for fishing in slightly colder weather and settling water levels last week plus catches are improving. Expectation is high on the river for 2016 after successful springs in 2015, 2014 and 2013 and hopefully settled weather will continue with an improving run in April to give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver”.

Spring salmon were landed throughout last week with better weather and catches have spread with higher river temperatures. It was the best week of the season so far 116 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was 20 pounds. It is early yet but improving runs are coming into the river and better weather is making fishing easier with milder weather and some fresh water last week may have encouraged more fish to run the river as the run strengthens. The spring fish that have been caught so far have been superb quality and of a good size overall.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 16th April)
SALMON & GRILSE: Lower Redgorton 1, Upper Redgorton 3, Benchil 3, Upper Scone 3, Pitlochrie 1, Burnmouth 7, Stobhall 1, Taymount 7, Ballathie 1, Cargill 4, Islamouth 6, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 3, Kercock 4, Glendelvine 4, Murthly 2 13, Newtyle 5, Dunkeld House 4, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 1, Upper Kinnaird 4, Edradynate 1, Findynate 3, Farleyer Upper 1, Farleyer Lower 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 4, Keithick Mains 4, Coupar Grange 16, Ericht Fishing 2, Portnacraig Pitlochry 8.
Total: 116 Largest: Glendelvine & Murthly 2 & Findynate 20lbs
SEA TROUT: Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 2, Keithick Mains 1.
Total: 3 Largest: Keithick Mains 3lbs

The majority of the salmon have been caught in the lower river, which is understandable with the cold conditions but that is now changing with warmer water allowing fish to run further giving improving results further up the river including odd fish from Loch Tay now as fish start to spread in the system. The beats around Stanley traditionally lead the way in early spring and should be a barometer for the runs but that is now moving to the middle river. This past week saw Lower Redgorton get their first fish on the season on Tuesday. Upper Redgorton had a good day on Saturday with 3 fish landed up to 9 pounds. Allan Green caught 2 from the bank on Fly and spinner. Benchil also landed 3 fish on Saturday with Ed Slaven catching 2 on a Devon from Todd Holes and the Little Shot up to 15 pounds in Weight. David Russell caught a 6 pounds fish on a Toby from the Plain water.

The Upper Scone beat had 3 in the week with Stephen Paterson and Neil Gordon both catching on the fly from Horsey and Pitlochrie pool respectfully. It was lean pickings on Catholes and Pitlochrie last week with only one fish landed by Danny Fulton on the fly in Horsey but there were also several other fish lost on both beats mostly on fly as the fish start to move quicker through the lower beats now. Burnmouth had a good week with 7 fish as did Taymount and Stobhall had one. Ballathie and Cargill caught 5 between them. On Ballathie Jonathan Fildes caught a cracking 10 pounds fish from the boat.

On Cargill fish were landed by James Kirkcaldy, Graham Ritchie and Mike Howells mostly from the boat. Islamouth finished with 6 in the week with Patrick Gordons party having a fish a day at the end of the week. Tony Wells was one of the successful rods with a 7 pounds fish out of the Ash Tree on the fly.

Meikleour and Upper Islamouth had 3 in the week including Dan Heathcote landing his first ever salmon weighing 12 pounds. A further fish was landed in the Castle pool by Eric Marzol.

The middle river is fairing much better with rising river temperatures over recent weeks.

Kercock had a 4 in the week with Jim Lamb and Darren Kaye landing fish up to 12 pounds. The Murthly and Glendelvine beats have been fishing very well with 13 off the Murthly 2 beat alone up to 20 pounds in weight. Newtyle had a better week with 5 fish.

Fish were caught up to 15 pounds with Sandy Datta and Howard Jackson doing well earlier in the week. Later Ken and Nicky O’ Donnel had success with Mike Bowsher also landing a 9 pounds fish on the beat.

Dunkeld House had 4 in the week with a father and son combination accounting for a 17 pounds beauty in the Mouse Trap as well as a 15 pounds fish in the Cathedral stream. Neil Mitchell and John Cranston had further fish during the week. Dalguise had one in the week meanwhile just upstream the Kinnaird beats accounted for 5 between them.

One of the Upper Kinnaird fish was caught by a delighted Clark Harris all the way from California.

The upper river is starting to see improved sport with fish caught on Edradynate, Fyndynate and the Farleyer beats. Up on the Loch Fish n’ Trips had four in the week including a superb 15 pounds fish for Martin Hogg.

The Tummel is also seeing improved sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club with 8 landed last week and there are now 4 fish through the Dam. Fish were caught early in the week by Steven Watt and Willie Johnstone then Jussi Ramo from Finland caught 2, a 6 pounds fish and a 10 pounds beauty both on the fly. The fly was the answer on Friday with Ally Gowans landing 2 up to 17 pounds and a further one fell to Martin Wilson.

Saturday saw Russell Boyd land a superb 15 pounds beauty. Fish are now being caught throughout the Tummel with West Haugh and East Haugh fishing well. Ian Wilson had a fish on East Haugh on Friday on a spinner.

The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht with 2 fish recorded in the week. Back on the Isla Coupar Grange caught 16 in an excellent weeks fishing and Keithick Mains recorded 4.

Fish have been reported running the Lyon as well with Crispin Rodwell and last year’s winner on the Malloch Trophy having a good day recently landing 3 fish up to 16 pounds.

The Spring Salmon fishing season is now in April and expectation remains very high after previous good springs. Last weeks catches continued to be heartening after the slow start and bad weather. Let us hope this is a sign of an upturn in catches as last April proved. It has been a reasonable start so let us hope the season lives up to every one’s expectations over the coming weeks and months. Tight lines!

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire prospects w/c 18th April 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire prospects w/c 18th April 2016.

The Salmon fishing season on the mighty Tay in Perthshire, Scotland is now well into April and we have been encountering some milder weather last week after colder conditions giving excellent conditions for anglers to brave the elements in pursuit of that magical spring salmon with a settling river to hopefully continue to improve catches.

Spring salmon are running the river and catches have improved over the last month. The weather hopefully will remain settled over the coming week which should help and give the river more settled conditions and benefit the river to give a greater chance of producing some sport and some early "Bars of Silver" if you are prepared to brave the elements.

Currently the river is settling back with excellent conditions (just under 2’ on the Ballathie gauge) to hopefully encourage more spring salmon to run.

The weather is to remain slightly colder and settled over the next week after the unsettled weather encountered earlier last week. Milder temperatures have given the river more water from snow melt plus the rain. This current week continues more settled and returning to colder conditions with maybe a chance of the odd frost at night. Colder conditions certainly benefit the river at this time of year slowing the spring salmon run down and giving everyone a chance to catch as they run up the river slowly. Colder weather will settle the river back to good levels and make ideal spring fishing conditions. The water temperature has risen to around 45 degrees Fahrenheit or 7 degrees Celsius but may drop with a colder forecast. These are typical temperatures for this time of year. The temperature has risen slightly with no frosts at night and higher day time temperatures, this may encourage more salmon to run resulting in fish being caught well up the system. The lower river around Stanley seems to be the hot spot currently in the colder conditions and this confirms historical results in the past but as the temperature has risen and fish will run further and catches will spread. Hopefully there might be a chance of a fresh fish anywhere in the river. There will no doubt be quite a few kelts about on many beats even now. Should you require guidance on salmon identification at this time of year please see this link for some help.

As to methods, in settled conditions fishing by any method will have to be slow and deep with large lures to catch the elusive Tay Springer. 20 pounds main line with a 15 pounds leader plus favoured lures include Devons, Toby Salmos, Vision 110’s and Rapalas, for spinning and Temple Dogs, Tubes, larger flies and Monkies for fly fishing. The Tay is a large river but modern lines such as Skagits or iflights make tuning over and casting larger flies easier and the fish tend to be near the bank in larger waters. Harling is also a favoured method at this time of year but be warned wrap up well or it will not be a pleasant experience. Harling is also a favoured method at this time of year but be warned wrap up well or it will not be a pleasant experience.

The Tay Ghillies Association are continuing their popular FISH OF THE MONTH AWARD to encourage good catch and release practice on the Tay. Each month the winner will receive 2 personalised crystal Whisky glasses engraved with details of the catch and they will automatically be entered into the fish of the year competition for a Stylish Crystal Engraved Decanter. Full details of this initiative.

Popular hotels to stay in the area are the Tayside Hotel in Stanley, Ballathie House, The Meikleour Arms, The Anglers Inn in Guildtown, Murrayshall Hotel, Scone and the Royal Dunkeld Hotel.

The Tay in Perthshire is a prime spring salmon fishing destination so why not give it a go?

The Tay's policy for April and May is that all spring salmon should be released, i.e. the Tay has adopted a policy of 100% catch and release for spring salmon. Spring salmon are a scarce and precious resource. Please help preserve both them and the long term future of your sport by following the recommendations. It is vital the river system follows these guides to ensure the draconian rules do not get extended in seasons to come.

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. Further information on the policy and good release practice.

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.

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White