Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 11th June 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 11th June 2016.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is now in June after another successful May. The river has fallen back to summer levels giving excellent conditions for fishing plus warming temperatures are seeing catches maintained. 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 more unsettled weather and catches have continued to spread with higher river temperatures. It was another steady productive week with around 100 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was 17 pounds from Port-na-Craig at Pitlochry. Spring is disappearing with a transition into summer and steady runs are coming into the river plus better weather is making fishing easier with lower water and a bit of 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.

On the nature front the Sand Martins, Swifts and Swallows are all over the skies, Ospreys are being seen, Ducks have broods of young, Sand Pipers are on the river banks and Kingfishers dart past. Blue bells are out in the woods and the Loopins are in full 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 (week ending 11th June)
SALMON & GRILSE: Waulkmill 1, Lower Redgorton 6, Fishponds 1, Stobhall 1, Taymount 5, Ballathie 4, Cargill 8, Islamouth 24, Kercock 2, Delvine Burnbane 2, Murthly 1 3, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 5, Newtyle 3, Dunkeld House 6, Dalmarnock 3, Dalguise 3, Lower Kinnaird 7, Findynate 3, Farleyer Lower 1, Keithick Mains 1, Ericht Fishing 2, Portnacraig Pitlochry 3.
Total: 96 Largest: Portnacraig Pitlochry 17lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 1, Lower Redgorton 1, Stobhall 1, Taymount 1, Murthly 2 4, Keithick Mains 1.
Total: 9 Largest: Lower Redgorton & Stobhall & Murthly 2 & Keithick Mains 3lbs

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. The middle river is now the barometer for the runs as water temperatures rise to around 60F.

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 Waukmill and Fishponds picked up a fish a piece. Taymount and Stobhall continue to pick up odd fish. Ballathie and Cargill amassed 12 between them as lower levels suit the beats.

On Ballathie the Loftus party enjoyed a good week with 4 fish. Cargill had a reasonable result week. They landed 8 salmon up to 15 pounds in weight and lost several more. Greg Stone caught the first grilse of the season and David Sands had a 10 pounds fish on the fly.

The water coloured up on Wednesday after some thunderstorms, but we fishing hard with spinners Paul Goldsmith was rewarded with a great day on Thursday when he landed 5 fresh salmon up to 15 pounds. Islamouth continued their great spell with another excellent week of 24 fish. Laterly Stuart Yeats party enjoyed some superb sport on the fly with 17 fish in 3 days.

The middle river is continuing to fare better with rising river temperatures over recent weeks but the lower water and bright conditions is starting to limit sport this past week. Kercock, Delvine and Burnbane managed a couple of fish a piece in the week.

A Spanish visiting angler enjoyed a good day with his daughter on Burnbane catching a 16 pounds fish on the fly while his daughter landed a 12 pounds fish. The Murthly and Glendelvine beats were a bit quieter this past week but managed 10 between them.

Newtyle had 3 in the week with Frank Donaven landing 2 superb fish up to 14 pounds on the fly.

Dunkeld house had a better week with 6 fish which included 3 fish caught by Ben King up to 13 pounds. Dalmarnock caught 3 in the week as did Dalguise. Derek Strachan and Scott Connelly had success off Dalguise on Saturday. Lower Kinnaird had another reasonable week with 7 fish.

The upper river was seeing steady sport with 4 fish caught on Fyndynate and the Farleyer beats but low water and bright conditions are curtailing activities.

The Tummel is continuing to see limited sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club with 3 landed last week and there are now well over 3300 fish through the Dam resulting in fish being recorded in Loch Faskally. This is a high figure in recent years.

It was a hard week at the Dam but Tuesday saw success for Jim Fisher and Jim Carson in the morning then Saul MacKay caught a 17 pounds fish on the fly in the evening.

The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht with 3 fish being reported last week from the lower Ericht and Keithick Mains on the Isla.

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 but no fish were reported.

The Spring Salmon fishing season is now into June 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