Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 18th February 2017.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 18th February 2017.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is now deep into February with improving conditions for fishing in colder weather and settling water levels however catches have been slow since the start to the season. 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 18th February)
SALMON & GRILSE: Lower Redgorton 1, Pitlochrie 1, Stobhall 2, Taymount 1, Kercock 1, Murthly 1 1, Newtyle 1, Dunkeld House 2, Dalguise 2, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 2.
Total: 14 Largest: Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 28lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 2, Delvine Burnbane 1.
Total: 3 Largest: Lower Redgorton & Delvine Burnbane 1lbs

The second week in February has seen a few salmon landed in milder weather and river conditions have 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 as we enter late February and with increased river levels we should see improvements over the next few weeks. Fourteen 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 recorded in Loch Tay last week at Fish n’ Trips including a whopping 28 pounds beauty caught by Grant Tigwell which was quickly released after being weighed. Graham Milligan had a further fish later in the week weighing 7 pounds. Other fish are being caught in the Loch as well but not being recorded. The rest of the fish came from the lower and middle river.

Lower Redgorton got their season underway with a 16 pounds beauty caught by Mike Bridger casting the fly from the boat in Broxy.

Horsey produced another fly caught fish for James Holder on Saturday on the Pitlochrie beat at Stanley.

Stobhall and Taymount continued to work away in the week. This included an 18 pounds cracker for Mark Nevin fishing in the Linn Pool on Stobhall. Kercock and Murthly both produced a fish in the week as well.

Up in the Dunkeld area Newtyle had a superb 17 pounds fish from the Ferry pool opening their season account. Dunkeld House continued to produce fish with 2 in the week up to an impressive 19 pounds.

Brian Joseph was the successful angler landing the fish in the Gauge pool on a Vision lure. A further 8 pounds fish came from the Grotto pool on the same lure later in the week.

Dalguise got their season up and running with a couple of fish in the week including a 15 pounds fish for Harry McCombie from the Otterstone pool.

A further celebration on the river was the presentation of the Redford Trophy for the largest Opening day fish caught by Robert Harvey at Dunkeld House. The presentation was made by Arnot McWhinnie and George McInnes with co-sponsor Robert Jamieson of Crockarts of Blairgowrie presenting a voucher for the winner.

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