Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 11th February 2017.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 11th February 2017.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is now into February with improving conditions for fishing in colder weather and settling water levels plus catches improved last week after a slow start to the season so far. Expectation is high on the river for 2017 after 4 successful springs and hopefully settled weather will continue with an improving run in February to give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver”.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 11th February)
SALMON & GRILSE: Upper Redgorton 1, Catholes 1, Pitlochrie 2, Burnmouth 1, Stobhall 4, Taymount 4, Ballathie 3, Cargill 1, Islamouth 3, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Dunkeld House 1, Lower Kinnaird 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 2.
Total: 26 Largest: Cargill 23lbs
SEA TROUT: Upper Redgorton 1, Catholes 1, Stobhall 1, Delvine Burnbane 1, Newtyle 1.
Total: 5 Largest: Catholes & Stobhall & Delvine Burnbane 2lbs

The first week in February has seen more salmon landed at last in colder weather and river conditions improved as the week went on favouring those who braved the elements in some cases. It is early yet but considering the conditions the results so far have been disappointing however as we enter February and with increased river levels the catches have improved and should improve further over the next few weeks. Twenty six fresh spring salmon were recorded last week and the class of fish being caught was good with 20 pounds or so being common. It is early yet with only small runs coming into the river and fluctuating weather can make fishing difficult. Some of the fish that have been caught are memorable as typical Tay specimens due to their size and depth. Hopefully there will be a lot more of them to come. There seems to be fish already running hard up the river after unseasonably mild weather.

Two salmon were caught at Pitlochry Dam last week with Steven Watt being the successful angler landing both fish. He caught his fish on Fly and Spinner with the heaviest fish estimated at 16 pounds. The rest of the fish came from the lower and middle river.

Upper Redgorton got their season underway with Iain Bain landing a 7 pounds fresh fish on the fly.

Catholes produced its first fish for Berwyn Morris weighing 15 pounds and that was Berwyn’s second fish in two days as the previous day fishing Islamouth, he landed a 12 pounds springer from the Green bank. Not bad for an early trip to the Tay. Saturday saw 2 fish coming from the Pitlochrie beat at Stanley both caught on the fly from Horsey.

The fish weighed up to 12 pounds and were landed by Andy Burton and John McElroy. Burnmouth also had success on Saturday catching their first fish of the season, an 18 pounds beauty landed by Jason Stratton. Stobhall and Taymount had a reasonable with 4 fish each.

On Stobhall Mark Emmerson had a 13 pounds fish from the Linn pool earlier in the week then 3 were landed on Friday with George Patterson catching one of the fish weighing 12 pounds.

Taymount had good success as well in the pool with fish up to 17 pounds for Ross Coker and David Croshaw.

Ballathie had a good week with 3 fish up to 22 pounds which was caught by William Kennedy.

Ian McMaster also had a fish from the beat in the boat weighing 10 pounds.

Cargill also saw a big fish with Miceal Bothwell landing a fish at 23 pounds.

Islamouth ended up with 3 in the week and Upper Islamouth and Meikleour landed 2 fish up to 15 pounds from the Castle pool.

Dunkeld House had a notable fish weighing 21 pounds for Brian Joseph in the Rock Pool.

Monday saw a further 4 notable fish recorded of supreme quality. This has included a 28 pounds monster from Loch Tay on Fish n’ Trips. Hopefully this is a sign of an early run starting.

The Spring Salmon fishing was well and truly underway after all the excitement of opening day’s celebrations. It has been a quiet start but has started to show signs of picking up so let us hope the season lives up to everyone’s expectations over the coming weeks and months. Tight lines!

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White