Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 4th June 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 4th 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 better weather and catches have spread with higher river temperatures. It was another steady productive week with over 100 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was 17 pounds from Cargill. 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 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 4th June)
SALMON & GRILSE: Waulkmill 2, Lower Redgorton 3, Fishponds 1, Stobhall 3, Taymount 2, Ballathie 4, Cargill 5, Islamouth 24, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Kercock 1, Delvine Burnbane 1, Murthly 1 3, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 14, Newtyle 4, Dunkeld House 1, Dalmarnock 2, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 7, Upper Kinnaird 1, Keithick Mains 2, Ericht Fishing 3, Portnacraig Pitlochry 2, Loch Faskally 2.
Total: 92 Largest: Cargill 17lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 3, Lower Kinnaird 1.
Total: 4 Largest: Lower Redgorton 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 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 Waukmill and Lower Redgorton are seeing a bit of sport with fish being caught especially in the Bleachings last week with the low water suiting. Further up Taymount and Stobhall have had odd fish with Geordie Mainlands party having 2 on Thursday. Cargill and Ballathie fared better with 9 fish in the week. Chris Loftus and Iain Bowlers party enjoyed their week at Ballathie which included 4 fish in the week.

On Cargill Greg Pryce enjoyed success with fish up to 17 pounds on fly and Paul Southworth caught a 10 pounds fish from the Bridge stream on the fly also. Islamouth had another very productive week with 27 from the beat including a great start for the week with 9 on Monday for Ian Muir’s party then at the end of the week John McElroy’s party enjoyed success on each day despite bright conditions.

Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had a couple in the week which included a lovely fish for 93 year old Mr Lankshear in the Castle Stream. A further fish was caught by Julian Kollard from the Tunnel Hole.

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. The Murthly beats are fishing well with 21 fish between them for the week including Glendelvine.

Stephen O’Neill and Phil Black enjoyed success on the fly from Murthly 2 with another good week with 14 fish.

Newtyle had a quieter week with 4 fish but this included Howard Jackson landing an 11 pounds fish from the Cotter and

Mike McDermott landing a couple from the Steps.

Dunkeld House had one in the week caught by Ray Bailey. Dalmarnock managed 2 in the week which included Thomas Kolesinskas landing a 13 pounds fish on the fly. Dalguise caught a single fish as well which was taken by Andy Aitken on a Sun Ray from Calum’s Corner. The Kinnaird beats continued to produce fish with the lower beat ending up with 7 in the week.

The upper river was seeing steady sport with fish caught on Fyndynate, Edradynate and the Farleyer beats in recent weeks but low water and bright conditions curtailed activities last week.

The Tummel is continuing to see limited sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club with 2 landed last week and there are now well over 2800 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

Neil Tong started the week off with an 8 pounds fish on Monday and

Munro Reid caught at the end of the week on the fly from the Port-na-Craig bank on Saturday. Loch Faskally saw a quieter week as well with only 2 fish.

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 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 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