Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 13th August 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 13th August 2016.

The salmon fishing season on the Tay in Perthshire is now in Summer although the weather has not been ideal at times but a run is developing and catches are improving as we are now in mid-August after another steady July despite some unsettled conditions at times. 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 2500 fish recorded so far plus hopefully settled weather will continue with an improving run in August to give everyone a chance of landing a Tay “Bar of Silver”.

Summer salmon and now improving grilse numbers were running and landed throughout last week with more unsettled weather and catches have continued to spread with higher river temperatures. It was a steady week despite more turbulent conditions at times with around 180 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was a 25 pounds beauty on Cargill. 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 with Autumn not far away.

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 13th August)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 27, Waulkmill 8, Lower Redgorton 5, Luncarty 3, Upper Redgorton 7, Fishponds 6, Benchil 4, Upper Scone 5, Pitlochrie 8, Burnmouth 1, Stobhall 4, Taymount 19, Ballathie 4, Cargill 10, Islamouth 15, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 14, Kercock 6, Murthly 2 16, Newtyle 2, Dunkeld House 1, Dalmarnock 2, Dalguise 2, Lower Kinnaird 1, Upper Kinnaird 4, Edradynate 1, Findynate 1, Farleyer Lower 3, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 1, Lochlane and Laggan 1.
Total: 181 Largest: Cargill 25lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 1, Taymount 1.
Total: 2 Largest: Taymount 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 spread in the system. The lower river is now the barometer for the runs as they enter the river with water temperatures around 60F, plus fish are now starting to be caught in greater numbers in the lower river with the developing summer run.

This past week saw a more fish from the lower river scattered throughout the beats encouraging everyone as a summer run starts to develop in earnest. The beats at Stanley and below are seeing improving sport as the summer run enters the river and now earlier run fish have started to drop back towards their final destinations of Almond, Shochie and Ordie which can only help sport in this area. The beats just above the tide have started to produce fish on a regular basis with Almondmouth now starting to show good daily catches and amassing 26 last week. Waulkmill and Lower Redgorton caught 13 between them. Luncarty saw improving sport with Peter French and David Berrie both contributing. Fishponds and Upper Redgorton continued their recent good spell with 13 fish.

Fishponds enjoyed success with an American party faring well and Miceal Bothwell catching a superb 16 pounds beauty. Upper Scone had regular success with the Gallacher brothers catching on Benchil and Pitlochrie. The fly proved to be the successful method on Stanley with 12 fish grassed in the week from bank and anchored boat.

American angler from Washington DC George Clarke had not caught a Tay salmon proceeded to lay that ghost to rest by catching 5 grilse in Horsey on the Pitlochrie beat wading from the bank. Neil Barcock from Cumbria had a good few days landing a couple from Benchil and Pitlochrie up to 11 pounds. Dennis Mortram caught a lovely grilse casting from the boat in the Long Shot and David Berrie had an 11 pounds fish from the Plain water on Benchil. Taymount and Stobhall had over 20 in the week with Jim Ferrie, Simon Furniss and Martin Deacon enjoying success on the last 3 days of the week using various methods due to the adverse conditions.

Ballathie and Cargill had around 15 in the week with young Dyllan Dunbar landing a superb 25 pounds fish on Cargill. Gary Leas Buckley party enjoyed success on the fly catching fish up to 18 pounds from bank and boat. Islamouth had 14 in the week and are fast approaching 400 for the season so far. Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had a far better week at last with 14 fish. The week got off to a flyer with Robert Dale landing a 20 pounds fish from the Boxwood. Simon Littlejohn caught on the fly from the Castle pool.

There was a first fish also for a nine year old Aaron Goodman which was a great result as Dad and Grandad were watching on. Superb stuff!

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 steady week with 6 fish which included success for Tony Griffiths with 2 fish on the fly up to 15 pounds. The Murthly beats have been catching as well with the upper beat and Stenton being a consistent productive area for Tony Blacks guests. Newtyle, Dunkeld House, Dalmarnock, Dalguise and the Kinnaird beats continue to catch but in lesser numbers in recent weeks.

The upper river was seeing sport with a fish caught on the Edradynate, Findynate and the Farleyer beats and recent fresh water should improve activities in the weeks to come. A fish was also recorded on the Loch for Fish n’ Trips.

The Tummel is continuing to see limited sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club but unfortunately nothing was recorded last week and there is now over 5650 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.

The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht however no fish were reported last week.

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 with Lochlane and Laggan recording a fish.

The Spring Salmon fishing season is over and we are now in Summer as we progress through August and expectation of a developing 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 deep into August. It has been a reasonable start with well over 2500 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