Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is now nearing an end as we encounter the start of a summer run in June after another successful May. The river hovering around summer levels despite some heavy localized rain giving reasonable conditions at times 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 and now odd grilse 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 150 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was 25 pounds from Murthly. 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. Many wild flowers are in bloom but a good few are now past their best for another year, it is truly magical to be salmon fishing in Perthshire on the banks of the silvery Tay.
Beat catches reported (week ending 18th June)
SALMON & GRILSE: Waulkmill 1, Lower Redgorton 3, Benchil 1, Upper Scone 1, Stobhall 9, Taymount 6, Ballathie 5, Cargill 18, Islamouth 33, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Kercock 5, Baldarroch 2, Delvine Burnbane 1, Murthly 1 3, Murthly 2 20, Newtyle 1, Dunkeld House 2, Dalmarnock 2, Dalguise 4, Lower Kinnaird 7, Upper Kinnaird 3, Farleyer Upper 1, Ericht Fishing 5, Portnacraig Pitlochry 4, Loch Faskally 2, Ruan Ruarie 2.
Total: 143 Largest: Murthly 2 25lbs
SEA TROUT: Benchil 3, Stobhall 1, Taymount 3, Ballathie 1, Delvine Burnbane 2, Newtyle 2, Dalmarnock 1.
Total: 13 Largest: Benchil & Ballathie & Dalmarnock 4lbs
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, however more fish are now starting to be caught in the lower river with the start to a summer run.
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 Lower Redgorton picked up a fish. Fish were also caught at Benchil and Upper Scone and the odd sea trout made an appearance. Taymount and Stobhall continue to pick up fish with a far more successful weeks fishing. Ballathie and Cargill are consistently catching now with the lower water conditions suiting the beats with over 20 fish coming from the area in the week. Cargill saw great sport in the week catching 18 fish up to 21 pounds.
The middle river is continuing to fare better with rising river temperatures over recent weeks and the rain has helped this past week. Kercock saw a better week with 5 fish and Grant Conway was one of the successful anglers with a 15 pounds fish from the Cottage pool. Baldarroch had a couple in the week and Delvine Burnbane had one caught by Willie Cumming. The Murthly beats continue to do well especially the top beat and Stenton with some good fish up to 25 pounds.
The upper river was seeing steady sport with 1 fish caught on the Farleyer beats but low water and bright conditions are curtailing activities in recent weeks.
The Tummel is continuing to see limited sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club with 4 landed last week and there are now well over 4000 fish through the Dam resulting in fish being recorded in Loch Faskally and fish are running the Garry. This is a high figure in recent years. Recent water saw Saul Mackay take advantage with two fish landed at 9 and 10 pounds from the Dam and another two lost - all on the fly on Pitlochry bank. Iain McLaren followed up with a fresh fish of 10 pounds on the fly and lost another at the net - again on Pitlochry bank. The first fish of the season were caught at Ruan Ruarie - Steve Watt doing well landing two fish on the fly - one at 7 and the other at 14 pounds. Loch Faskally recorded a couple.
The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht with 5 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 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
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