Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 2nd April 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 2nd 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 produced the best week of the season so far with 81 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was a 26 pounds fish from Islamouth. 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 at the start of the present week may encourage 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.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 2nd April)
SALMON & GRILSE: Upper Redgorton 2, Benchil 2, Catholes 3, Upper Scone 2, Pitlochrie 5, Burnmouth 8, Stobhall 5, Taymount 2, Cargill 2, Islamouth 15, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 5, Delvine Burnbane 2, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 2, Newtyle 2, Dunkeld House 5, Dalmarnock 2, Lower Kinnaird 1, Upper Kinnaird 2, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 2, Ericht Fishing 2, Portnacraig Pitlochry 8.
Total: 81 Largest: Islamouth 26lbs
SEA TROUT: Burnmouth 1, Lochlane and Laggan 1.
Total: 2 Largest: Lochlane and Laggan 3lbs

The majority of the salmon continue to be caught in the lower river, which is understandable with the cold conditions and a few fish have been running 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 these conditions in early spring and should be a barometer for the runs.

This past week saw Upper Redgorton get their season up and running with a couple of fish including a 13 pounds fish for Shaun Moynan caught from the boat on a Tomic. Benchil produced a couple of fish as well with John Douglas landing a 15 pounds fish from the Little Shot on a Devon. John Lawson also caught in the Little Shot earlier in the week on a Salmo. The Pitlochrie beat has been producing on a regular basis with the fly being the most productive method. Danny Lennon landed a brace in Horsey and Danny Fulton caught one earlier in the week. Roger Worth caught 2 in the week casting the fly from an anchored boat in the Wash House up to 14 pounds.

Further fish came from the beat on Saturday for Upper Scone rods with John Dewar landing a lovely 9 pounds fish from Pitlochrie pool.

Catholes had a reasonable week as well with Sarah Hinchliffe landing a 6 pounds fish from the Black Stones bank.

Roger Worth again had a 16 pounds beauty on the fly in the Slap and Nick Barras landed a 16 pounds fish from the Catholes Stream on a Monkey. Burnmouth had a good week with 8 fish mostly caught harling from the boats. Stobhall and Taymount caught 7 between them throughout the week.

Cargill landed a couple up to 8 pounds with Nick Barras and Trevor Bowmer catching. Islamouth had an excellent week with 15 fish caught up to an impressive 26 pounds.

Local anglers Jim and Alan Ferrie and Simon Furniss all caught on fly and spinner.

John Furniss had the fish of the week, a superb 26 pounds beauty caught casting the fly from the boat. Meikleour and Upper Islamouth had a better week with 5 fish.

This included a 15 pounds fish for Scott Connelly in the Boxwood and a first ever for Kevin O’Hara.

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

Delvine and Burnbane had a couple in the week with Jim Lapsey and Willie Cummins catching fish up to 18 pounds. Glendelvine, Murthly and Newtyle caught caught 2 each.

On Newtyle Jouni Rauha caught a 7 pounds fish on the fly from the Steps and Ivan Verhoeven caught his first ever Scottish salmon weighing 13 pounds fishing from the boat in the Plain Tree.

Dunkeld House accounted for 5 fish in the week. Colin Ince landed 2 in a day from the boat up to 14 pounds and

Richard Hutchison caught a lovely fish from the Ferry pool on a Salmo.

Dalmarnock had 2 in the week with an Italian visitor landing his first ever salmon weighing an impressive 18 pounds. Further upstream Lower Kinnaird and Upper Kinnaird had success in the week.

The upper river is starting to see improved sport but had a leaner week. Up on the Loch Fish n’ Trips had a couple in the week with owner Grant Tigwell landing a 9 pounds fish.

The Tummel is also seeing improved sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club. Early in the week Ian McLaren had a superb 21 pounds fish on the fly from the Green Bank then on Saturday Neil Tong had an 8 pounds fish and Kevin Skinner had a 10 pounds fish both on the spinner.

Dave Stewart wen out in the evening and caught a superb 16 pounds fish from the town bank.

The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht will a couple of 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