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 have now entered 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 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 with around 130 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was a 24 pounds beauty on Lower Redgorton. 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 6th August)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 4, Waulkmill 1, Lower Redgorton 13, Upper Redgorton 5, Fishponds 2, Benchil 2, Upper Scone 7, Pitlochrie 3, Stobhall 21, Taymount 8, Ballathie 8, Cargill 7, Islamouth 9, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 4, Kercock 11, Delvine Burnbane 1, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 10, Newtyle 1, Dalmarnock 1, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 3, Upper Kinnaird 1, Findynate 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 1, Loch Faskally 1.
Total: 129 Largest: Lower Redgorton 24lbs
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 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, Lower Redgorton and Waulkmill catching around 20 fish between them including a 24 pounds fish from Lower Redgorton. This figure would have been a lot higher had it not been another week unsettling conditions putting the river up and down on a daily basis. Upper Redgorton and Fishponds are seeing improving catches with a few fish between them. On Upper Scone George Mason had a good week catching on the Pitlochrie and Benchil beats with fly and spinner landing fish up to 20 pounds. On Stanley Jock Monteith and John Morrison both landed fish from Kirkie on the Pitlochrie beat on the fly.
The middle river has slowed down with rising river temperatures over recent weeks but the recent rain must help in the weeks to come.
The upper river was seeing sport with a fish caught on the Findynate beat 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 with 1 landed last week and there is now over 5500 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 Geoff Byron on the fly from the Pitlochry beat but there has not been a lot of rods fishing recently. Loch Faskally also reported a fish in the week.
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 but no fish were reported.
The Spring Salmon fishing season is over and we are now in Summer as we enter into 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 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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