The salmon fishing season on the Tay in Perthshire has now seen Summer although the weather has not been ideal at times but we are now about to enter Autumn and there has been a run in the past few weeks and catches have improved however we are now looking for an increase in runs after another steady August 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 3200 fish recorded so far plus hopefully settled weather will continue with an improving run in September to give everyone a chance of landing a Tay “Bar of Silver”.
Summer salmon and grilse have been 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 120 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was a 20 pounds beauty on Lslamouth. 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 disappears and hopefully an autumn 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 see catching trout to feed their young, Ducks have broods of young, Sand Pipers are on the river banks and Kingfishers dart past. Wild flowers are still visible but some are over again 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 27th August)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 12, Waulkmill 9, Lower Redgorton 4, Upper Redgorton 6, Fishponds 6, Benchil 5, Upper Scone 3, Burnmouth 1, Stobhall 2, Taymount 10, Ballathie 9, Cargill 10, Islamouth 12, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 4, Kercock 7, Delvine Burnbane 2, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 8, Dalmarnock 1, Dalguise 2, Lower Kinnaird 2, Farleyer Upper 1, Farleyer Lower 2, Keithick Mains 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 1, Loch Faskally 1.
Total: 123 Largest: Islamouth 20lbs
SEA TROUT: Upper Redgorton 1, Fishponds 1.
Total: 2 Largest: Upper Redgorton & Fishponds 2lb
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 run.
This past week saw a more fish from the lower river scattered throughout the beats encouraging everyone however the summer run seems to have come to an end and we await an autumn run to develop in earnest. The beats at Stanley and below are seeing steady sport with small run entering 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 continue to produce fish on a regular basis with Almondmouth, Waulkmill and Lower Redgorton catching 25 between them. Upper Redgorton and Fishponds produced 12 between them with Allan Dunnets party enjoying periodic success on Upper.
The middle river has slowed down over recent weeks but the recent rain must help in the weeks to come. Kercock had a reasonable week with 7 fish which included a fish on the fly for Tim. Delvine and Burnbane had two in the week as did Glendelvine. The Murthly beats continue to do well with 8 coming from the number 2 beat. Newtyle and Dunkeld House didn’t have any fish and the beats above only fared a bit better with odd fish. On Dalguise Callum Imray caught a 14 pounds fish from the Bridge pool. There was a couple off lower Kinnaird.
The upper river was seeing sport with a fish caught on the Farleyer beats 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 one fish recorded last week by Martin Wilson and there is now over 5800 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 with 1 fish 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 last week.
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
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