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 in 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 from a reasonable spate last week after some heavy rain giving reasonable conditions 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 180 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was a superb 28 pounds monster on Kercock. 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 seen catching trout to feed their young however it will not be long before they all disappear off south for the winter, Ducks have broods of mature young, Sand Pipers are on the river banks and Kingfishers dart past. Wild flowers are still visible but most are over again for another year, it is truly magical to be salmon fishing in Perthshire on the banks of the silvery Tay. A salmon can be a bonus!!
Beat catches reported (week ending 17th September)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 27, Waulkmill 10, Lower Redgorton 9, Upper Redgorton 6, Fishponds 7, Benchil 1, Catholes 1, Upper Scone 12, Pitlochrie 1, Stobhall 4, Taymount 7, Ballathie 9, Cargill 14, Islamouth 10, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 10, Kercock 7, Delvine Burnbane 1, Murthly 2 13, Newtyle 6, Dunkeld House 1, Dalmarnock 3, Dalguise 5, Lower Kinnaird 2, Upper Kinnaird 1, Edradynate 2, Findynate 4, Farleyer Upper 2, Lochlane and Laggan 2, Ericht Fishing 2.
Total: 179 Largest: Kercock 28lbs
SEA TROUT: Taymount 1, Lochlane and Laggan 2.
Total: 3 Largest: Lochlane and Laggan 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 run but a big spate would encourage more salmon to run and shake the residents up.
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 runs 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 46 between them in a better week. Generally, all the beats have quietened off this past week and a spate is required to liven things up. On Lower Redgorton Ian Muir and Colin Jones enjoyed success on the fly. Upper Redgorton finished with 6 in the week for the Robbins party and Fishponds had 7. Upper Scone had a good week with 12 with Gary Perks and The Gallachers having fish most days. Stanley had a quiet week however Johnathan Newell caught a small grilse in Horsey on the fly from the Pitlochrie beat. Stobhall and Taymount had 11 between them with Nigel Gibbs party enjoying a week at Taymount. Cargill and Ballathie fared better with 23 fish in the week. Cargill had a good week with some good heavy fish caught up to 20 pounds or so. Steven Curnow enjoyed success throughout the week with fish to 20 pounds,
The middle river has slowed down over recent weeks and are praying for rain to liven things up in the weeks to come.
The upper river was seeing sport with odd fish caught and recent fresh water has improved activities with fish recorded on Edradynate, Findaynate and Farleyer beats.
The Tummel is continuing to see limited sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club and there is now over 6200 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 and 2 fish were reported last week from the lower Ericht.
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 2 fish reported last week from Lochlane and Laggan.
The Spring and Summer Salmon fishing seasons are over and we are now in Autumn as we progress through September with the expectation of a developing late run. Last week’s catches were more encouraging. Let us hope there is a sign of an upturn in catches as we go deep into September. It has been a reasonable start with well over 3200 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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