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 early 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 80 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was a 20 pounds beauty on Upper Kinnaird. 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 3rd September)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 9, Waulkmill 8, Lower Redgorton 4, Upper Redgorton 2, Fishponds 3, Benchil 4, Upper Scone 3, Stobhall 5, Taymount 8, Ballathie 7, Cargill 5, Islamouth 6, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Kercock 4, Glendelvine 1, Murthly 2 1, Newtyle 1, Lower Kinnaird 5, Upper Kinnaird 1, Farleyer Upper 1.
Total: 80 Largest: Upper Kinnaird 20lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2.
Total: 3 Largest: Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 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 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 21 between them. Generally all the beats have quietened off this past week and a spate is required to liven things up.
The middle river has slowed down over recent weeks and are praying for rain to liven things up in the weeks to come. Kercock had a quiet week with 4 fish. The beats above struggled with just odd fish. The Kinnaird beats caught 6 between them including a 20 pounds fish off the Upper beat.
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 and there is now over 5900 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. An interesting graph has been compiled showing the count against temperature.
The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht however 0 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 last week.
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 disappointing. 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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