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 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 below 100 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was 22 pounds from Ballathie. 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 spring 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 2nd July)
SALMON & GRILSE: Lower Redgorton 2, Upper Redgorton 2, Benchil 2, Stobhall 4, Taymount 7, Ballathie 10, Cargill 19, Islamouth 16, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Kercock 3, Murthly 1 5, Glendelvine 3, Newtyle 1, Dalmarnock 2, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 1, Upper Kinnaird 1, Findynate 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 1, Keithick Mains 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 1, Loch Faskally 1.
Total: 86 Largest: Ballathie 22lbs
SEA TROUT: Stobhall 1, Ballathie 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1, Keithick Mains 1.
Total: 4 Largest: Ballathie 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 few fish from the lower river scattered throughout the beats with Islamouth and Ballathie area again proving the best area as fish hesitate at the mouth of the Isla. The beats at Stanley and below are seeing improving sport with Lower Redgorton recording a couple of fish including a 21 pounds beauty. Upper Redgorton also landed a couple in the week with Catriona Dunnet enjoying success. Just above Benchil saw a couple of fish landed with George McKinlay landing an 8 pounds fish from the Plain Water and then Scott Connelly catching a 7 pounds fish from the Skellie and losing a couple of others as well on Saturday. Taymount and Stobhall had 11 between them as sport starts to pick up. Ballathie and Cargill are enjoying good sport now with lower water levels and fish starting to run in numbers amassing 29 fish between them in the week. On Ballathie Fred Harrison and Peter Sproston enjoyed a good week with fish on fly and spinner up to 22 pounds in weight.
The middle river is continuing to fare better with rising river temperatures over recent weeks and the rain has helped this past week. Kercock had a quieter week with 3 fish. The Murthly and Glendelvine area continues to catch on a regular basis.
The upper river was seeing steady sport with fish caught on the Findynate beat and recent fresh water improved activities in recent weeks. A fish was also reported up on the Loch at Fish n’ Trips.
The Tummel is continuing to see limited sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club with 1 landed last week and there is now over 4300 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 Dean Pepper catch the only fish of the week 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
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