Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is now about to enter June after another successful May. The river has fallen back to summer levels giving excellent conditions for fishing plus warming temperatures are seeing catches improving rapidly. Expectation is high on the river for 2016 with now over 1500 fish recorded so far and after successful springs in 2015, 2014 and 2013 plus hopefully settled weather will continue with an improving run in June to give everyone a chance of landing a late 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 productive week especially towards the end with over 100 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was 23 pounds from Lower Redgorton. Spring is disappearing but improving runs are coming into the river and better weather is making fishing easier with lower water last week and a bit of fresh water last weekend 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.
On the nature front the Sand Martins, Swifts and Swallows are all over the skies, Ospreys are being seen, Ducks have their first broods of young and Sand Pipers are on the river banks. Blue bells a coming out in the woods and the Loopins are starting to bloom as well as all the other wild flowers, it is truly magical to be salmon fishing in Perthshire on the banks of the silvery Tay.
Beat catches reported
The majority of the salmon were caught in the lower river in early spring, 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 fish from Loch Tay, Loch Faskally and beyond now as fish start to spread in the system. Recently the boats come off the lower river below Stanley with summer bank fishing now available. The middle river is now the barometer for the runs as water temperatures rise to the mid 50’s.
This past week saw a few fish from the lower river scattered throughout the beats with Islamouth area again proving the best beat as fish hesitate at the mouth of the Isla. The beats at Stanley and below are seeing limited sport but the small spate last weekend may just spice things up by encouraging Sea Trout into the river. The very lower part of the river saw some sport at the end of the week with fish caught at Waulkmill and Lower Redgorton including a superb 23 pounds fish caught by John Hogg in the Bleachings. This was one of 3 fish caught by him on the fly and others lost. Further fish were also caught form the Stormont Angling club water. Stobhall had 2 in the week but fish seem to be travelling fast through the lower areas up to Islamouth. Ballathie and Cargill had fish in the week and should see even better sport with the lower water levels prevailing now and suiting the beats. On Ballathie Fred Harrison caught in the Pot Shot. Friday saw fish caught on the fly from the Bridge Stream by Garry McErlain and Bob White and on
The middle river is fairing much better with rising river temperatures over recent weeks. The Murthly beats are fishing extremely well with 24 fish between them for the week. Glendelvine had a better end to the week with 3 on Saturday. It was the same for Newtyle with 4 fish on the same day as there appeared to be a healthy run going up the river.
The upper river is seeing steady sport with fish caught on Fyndynate, Edradynate and the Farleyer beats.
The Tummel is continuing to see sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club with 5 landed last week and there are now well over 2000 fish through the Dam resulting in fish being recorded in Loch Faskally. It was a better week at the Dam with fish caught towards the end of the week.
The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht with 7 fish being reported last week from the lower Ericht.
Fish have been reported running the Lyon as well but low water levels have curtailed sport. No news from that part of the river last week.
Fish have also been running the Earn with Lochlane and Laggan recording 1 fish.
The Spring Salmon fishing season is now at the end of May and expectation remains very high after previous good springs. Last week’s catches were again heartening and more fish are running with warmer weather. Let us hope this is a sign of an upturn in catches as we go into June. It has been a reasonable start with well over 1500 fish recorded 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
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