Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 8th October 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 8th October 2016.

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 weak run in the past few weeks and catches have improved however we are now looking for an increase in runs after another steady September despite some unsettled conditions at times. The river has had settled water from a reasonable spate last week after some heavy rain giving excellent autumnal conditions for fishing plus cooling temperatures are seeing catches maintained despite the lack of fresh fish. Expectation is high for the last few days plus hopefully settled weather will continue with an improving run in early October to give everyone a chance of landing a Tay Salmon.

A few autumn salmon have been running and landed throughout last week with excellent conditions for autumn fishing and catches have continued to spread with more water and dropping temperatures making the resident salmon more aggressive. It was another steady week with excellent conditions with 250 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was in the early thirties on Islamouth. Spring transferred into summer and steady runs came into the river plus better weather was making fishing easier with lower water however plenty fresh water may have encouraged more fish to run the river with summer disappearing and hopefully an autumn run develops in earnest as temperature start to drop. The fish that have been caught so far have been superb quality and of a good size overall, Autumn is upon us and traditionally large fish are caught which was in evidence last week.

On the nature front the Sand Martins, Swifts and Swallows have been all over the skies but departing south one by one, Ospreys have gone off south for the winter, Ducks have broods of mature young, Sand Pipers are on the river banks and Dippers and Kingfishers dart past. We are now seeing the arrival of large skeins of Geese as the temperatures start to drop. The splendid autumn colours are here again for another year with turning leaves due to the colder nights, 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 8th October)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 18, Waulkmill 7, Lower Redgorton 13, Luncarty 2, Upper Redgorton 10, Fishponds 6, Benchil 1, Catholes 1, Upper Scone 11, Pitlochrie 2, Burnmouth 1, Stobhall 31, Taymount 35, Ballathie 5, Cargill 27, Islamouth 16, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 10, Kercock 10, Delvine Burnbane 1, Murthly 1 6, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 4, Newtyle 5, Dunkeld House 2, Dalmarnock 3, Lower Kinnaird 4, Upper Kinnaird 1, Findynate 1, Farleyer Upper 5, Farleyer Lower 3, Upper Aberuthven 2, Keithick Mains 1, Ericht Fishing 3, Ruan Ruarie 1.
Total: 250 Largest: Islamouth 32lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 1, Lower Redgorton 1, Taymount 1.
Total: 3 Largest: Waulkmill & Taymount 2lbs

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 falling to around the low 50’s F, plus fish are now starting to be caught in greater numbers in the lower river with the developing run and the spate should 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 dropped 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 38 between them in a better week.

Some big fish are being caught throughout the river now and that was the case on Lower Redgorton with James McKay catching a 25 pounds whopper. A further 24 pounder came from the beat as well in the week. Luncarty had 2 in the week with Peter Varney and John Norcliffe both catching.

Fishponds had 6 in the week which included a 24 pounds beast and lady anglers having success. Upper Redgorton had 10 for a Swiss party. Upper Scone had a reasonable week with 11 fish largely caught from the boat.

At Stanley Peter Varney and David Brown both caught in the week and Mick Beham caught on the 11th hour on Benchil with a floating devon.

On Catholes John Crossland caught a 12 pounds fish on Toby from the Catholes Stream. Stobhall and Taymount had very good weeks with over 60 fish between them. On Stobhall Ray Baileys party enjoyed a good week with fish shared out throughout the party. Ballathie had 5 in the week but Cargill had another consistent week with 27 and the fly proved to be the most successful method with fish landed up to 25 pounds.

Islamouth had a good week with 16 fish for Alan Parker’s party and an absolute whopper for lady angler Iona Hoare weighing 32 pounds caught on the fly from Donnits on a Cascade, for good note her husband, Paddy also was not to be outdone landing a 20 pounder as well. Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had 10 for the week. Success was achieved by Paul Moodie, Willie Colquhoun landed an 18 pounds colourful fish, Tony Taylor and Claire Fuller both caught and a French party enjoyed success with the fly under Ian Gordon’s guidance.

The middle river has slowed down over recent weeks and are praying for rain and a late run to liven things up in the weeks to come.

Kercock had 10 fish which included a massive 26 pounds fish on the fly for Douglas Galbraith. Fish were caught form the Murthly area with Ian Scrutons party enjoying success with Donald Tritton. Newtyle had 5 and Dunkled had 2 with Dalmarnock and the Kinnaird beats contributing odd fish.

The upper river was seeing sport with odd fish caught and recent fresh water has improved activities with fish recorded on Findynate 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 6350 fish through the Dam resulting in fish being recorded in Loch Faskally and fish are running the Garry. A fish was reported from Ruan Ruarie. 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 4 fish were reported last week from the Keithick Mains and the Lower Ericht.

Fish have been reported running the Lyon however there was no news from that part of the river last week.

Fish have also been running the Earn with Upper Aberuthven reporting 2. Other fish are being caught now throughout the river but they are not registered on Fishpal.

The Spring and Summer Salmon fishing seasons are over and we are now in Autumn as we see September disappear for the last few days of the season in October 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 into the last 2 weeks. Tight lines!

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White