Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 9th April 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 9th April 2016.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire has now entered April with a spate running 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 February to give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver”.

Spring salmon were landed throughout last week with much milder weather and catches have spread with higher river temperatures. The week equaled the previous best week of the season so far last week with another 81 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was a 22 pounds fish from Loch Tay with Fish n’ Trips. It is early yet with only relatively small runs coming into the river and mixed weather is not making fishing easy but 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 9th April)
SALMON & GRILSE: Fishponds 2, Benchil 1, Catholes 1, Upper Scone 2, Pitlochrie 4, Burnmouth 5, Stobhall 5, Taymount 4, Cargill 2, Islamouth 4, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 5, Kercock 2, Delvine Burnbane 2, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 3, Newtyle 3, Dunkeld House 5, Dalmarnock 2, Lower Kinnaird 2, Upper Kinnaird 2, Edradynate 1, Findynate 4, Farleyer Upper 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 6, Ericht Fishing 4, Portnacraig Pitlochry 7.
Total: 81 Largest: Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 22lbs
SEA TROUT: Dalmarnock 1, Lochlane and Laggan 1.
Total: 2 Largest: Dalmarnock 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 Fishponds land a couple of fish with John Horlock landing a couple on the fly. Benchil also produced 2 fish in the week for the Stanley and Upper Scone rods. Danny Fulton had a 13 pounds fish from Aitken Head on the fly while the Scone fish came from Todd Holes on a Devon fished from the bank. The Pitlochrie beat has been doing very well with fly fishers having excellent sport throughout the week. Early in the week Danny Fulton landed a couple, Danny Lennon also had success in the pool on Wednesday then Dougie Wangert caught a 7 pounds fish on Friday with a Toby off the bank. Upper Scone also caught in Horsey on the fly on Tuesday.

Roger Worth had a 2 day visit and caught a 10 pounds beauty on the Slap on the Catholes. Burnmouth had another productive week with 5 fish. Taymount and Stobhall had 9 fish between them in the week.

Cargill produced 2 in the week including Paul Harris catching a 12 pounds fish on a Toby from the Maggot pool. Islamouth continues to catch week in week out with 4 this past week.

Meikleour and Upper Islamouth had another consistent week with 5 fish landed. Fish were caught by Benjamin Wagner, Mike Wojtowicz and James Caulfield from the popular Castle pool, Boxwood Bush pool and Islamouth.

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

Kercock had a couple with Jim McEwan and Jim Redmond catching fish up to 14 pounds. Delvine and Burnbane had a couple in the week as did Glendelvine. The Murthly beats continue to produce on a regular basis. Newtyle landed 3 fish in the week with Steven Cope and Rob Eyton Jones catching fish up to 10 pounds. Dunkeld House saw 5 fish during the week weighing up to 18 pounds.

Fish were caught by Simon Furniss, Derek Keith, Jim McDonald and Sasha Kennington caught her first ever salmon weighing 9 pounds on a Willie Gunn fly in the Cathedral Stream.

Dalmarnock had a couple in the week including a 13 pounds fish on the fly for Ian Willis. The Kinnaird beats caught 4 in the week.

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 six in the week including a superb 22 pounds fish. Successful rods included Robert McFarlane, Martin, David Clarke and Ronnie McCloud with the 22 pounds fish.

The Tummel is also seeing improved sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club with 7 landed last week and there are now 3 fish through the Dam.

4 fish were caught on Saturday with John McElroy landing a couple on Visions, Neil Tong had one on a Devon and Ally Gowans caught a 14 pounds fish on the fly.

Earlier in the week Gordon Hanslip had a superb 16 pounds fish and Tony Brown caught an 11 pounds fish on the fly. Dave Stewart was also successful in the week. Fish are now being caught throughout the Tummel with Steve Watt catching on West Haugh and reports of fish from East Haugh as well.

The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht with 4 fish recorded in the week.

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