Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 9th July 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 9th July 2016.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is now at an end as we encounter the start of a summer run in July after another steady June. The river has had fresh water and is hovering around or just above 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 2000 fish recorded so far and after successful springs in 2015, 2014 and 2013 plus hopefully settled weather will continue with an improving run in July to give everyone a chance of landing a Tay “Bar of Silver”.

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 above 100 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was 2o pounds from Islamouth. Spring has now transferred 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 summer run develops. The fish that have been caught so far have been superb quality and of a good size overall and now summer awaits.

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 9th July)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 10, Waulkmill 4, Lower Redgorton 6, Fishponds 3, Benchil 3, Upper Scone 5, Stobhall 3, Taymount 1, Ballathie 8, Cargill 9, Islamouth 28, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Kercock 4, Baldarroch 1, Delvine Burnbane 1, Murthly 1 3, Glendelvine 1, Newtyle 2, Dunkeld House 5, Dalguise 2, Lower Kinnaird 2, Upper Kinnaird 1, Edradynate 1, Keithick Mains 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 3.
Total: 109 Largest: Islamouth 20lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 2, Lower Redgorton 2, Fishponds 1, Pitlochrie 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1.
Total: 7 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 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 of a summer run.

This past week saw a more fish from the lower river scattered throughout the beats encouraging everyone but the Islamouth area again proved the best area as fish hesitate at the mouth of the Isla. The beats at Stanley and below are seeing improving sport as a summer run enters the river. The area just above the tide started to produce fish on a regular basis with Almondmouth, Lower Redgorton and Waulkmill catching 20 fish between them. Fishponds were also producing fish with Mr Dawkins successful with a 12 pounds beauty. Benchil had an excellent week with 8 fish from both banks and a few others lost. On Upper Scone Perth and District anglers enjoyed success with fish caught by Ian Shaw, Peter Backhouse and John Lessels.

On Stanley fishings beat owner Francis Jennings landed a couple on sea liced fish on the fly up to 14 pounds in the Long Shot. Stobhall and Taymount had a quieter week with 4 between them. Ballathie and Cargill had a steady week with 17 fish.

Cargill had a good end to the week with 5 fish on Saturday with Michael Bothwell and Graham Ritchie doing well catching fish up to 15 pounds. Islamouth continues to have excellent fishing with a superb week of 28 fish. Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had a couple of fish with Chris Plank landing an 18 pounds beauty.

The middle river has slowed down with rising river temperatures over recent weeks but the recent rain must help in the weeks to come.

Kercock had a quiet week with 4 fish but this included a father and son combination for Sandy Datta and a lovely fish for

Mark Torrance.

Delvine and Burnbane produced a superb fish for Pete Leo weighing 15 pounds. Baldarroch aslo registered a fish in the week. The Murthly and Glendelvine area continues to catch on a regular basis but in lesser numbers. Newtyle had a quiet week as well with 2 fish.

Dunkeld House had 5 in the week which included some first ever fish for a couple of visitors weighing up to 17 pounds.

Further upstream Dalguise and the Kinnaird beats continue to land odd fish.

The upper river was seeing sport with a fish caught on the Edradynate beat and recent fresh water should improve activities in the weeks to come.

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 is now over 4500 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 caused by the temperature coming up quickly earlier in May and encouraging the fish to run. Recent water saw success for Tony Brown,

David Will and a superb 14 pounds fish for Martin Wilson on the fly from the Pitlochry beat but there has not been a lot of rods fishing recently.

The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht with 1 fish being reported last week from the Keithick Mains.

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 over as we enter into July and expectation of a summer run. Last week’s catches were again heartening and more fish are running with warmer weather and some fresh water. Let us hope this is a sign of an upturn in catches as we go into July. It has been a reasonable start with well over 2000 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