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

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

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is now into March with improving conditions for fishing in milder weather and settling water levels plus catches are improving after a slow 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 March to give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver”.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 18th March)
SALMON & GRILSE: Lower Redgorton 2, Upper Scone 1, Burnmouth 2, Stobhall 1, Taymount 7, Ballathie 1, Cargill 8, Islamouth 8, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Kercock 2, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 2, Newtyle 1, Dunkeld House 3, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 1, Edradynate AA 1, Findynate 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 3, Coupar Grange 9, Portnacraig Pitlochry 2.
Total: 60 Largest: Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 31lbs

The first 2 weeks in March have 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 saw out February but early March has seen an improvement and with increased river levels we should see that get better over the next few weeks.

Sixty fresh spring salmon were recorded last week and the class of fish being caught was good with 20 odd pounds or so being common and even a superb 31 pounder coming from Meikleour and Upper Islamouth. 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.

It has been another more productive week on the river with at last a spring run starting to develop and progress up the river with most beats getting into the action.

On the Lower river Lower Redgorton had a couple of fish in the week which included a 9 pounder caught on the fly in the Hatton for Eric Underwood. Upper Scone had a 9 pounder as well from Pitlochrie pool for Rory Kennedy caught in the boat. At Stanley Tom Charles’s party enjoyed 3 days fly fishing but unfortunately were not in luck. Burnmouth had 2 in one day with Ed Slaven and John Dewar being successful catching fish up to 15 pounds from the boat. Stobhall had one in the week. Further upstream Ballathie accounted for one as well but Cargill saw more success with 8. Neil French was successful on fly catching a few fish in the week up to 15 pounds.

A delighted Steve Todd caught his first ever springer on the fly weighing 10 pounds.

Charlie Adaire had a good few days catching fish up to 23 pounds. Islamouth had yet another consistent week with 8.

The Coates family enjoyed a 3 day visit to the beat landing several salmon. Jim caught 3 on the fly up to 15 pounds and father Geoff pipped his son with one at 15.5 pounds. Just a little further up river Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had a couple but caught a memorable 31 pounds beauty which fell to the boat and was landed by John Moses.

The middle river is producing more fish now as the run progresses up river. Larger fish are being caught on a regular basis as these bigger fish have more energy in their tank enabling them to travel further before a rest. This is certainly evident last week as water temperatures start to climb a little.

Kercock had 2 in the week with Jimmy Harkin landing a 21 pounds fish from the beat.

Glendelvine had a couple as well with John Bennett catching a lovely fish on the fly. Murthly 2 also had 2 fish and Newtyle had one caught by Jon Amos weighing 8 pounds from the Ferry pool. Dunkeld House had 3 vin one day caught by Gordon Pollock on a quick visit to his former beat weighing up to 23 pounds. Dalguise and Lower Kinnaird also registered fish in the week.

The upper river is also seeing a bit of action with Edradynate and Findynate being successful.

The Tummel saw some action as well with 2 fish coming off the Port-na-Craig beat at the Dam. Paul Keely caught a 9 pounds fish on a spinner and then Martin Timmins caught a superb 22 pounds beauty down on the Sawmill ably supported by Innes Smith.

Loch Tay continues to fish reasonably well with fish running through the system. Fish n’ Trips had three fish last week which included fish up to 15 pounds and John Butler had a fish weighing 9 pounds. There have been other fish caught in the loch but not reported.

Another example of fish running the system has been fish caught on the Isla at Coupar Grange with 9 grassed last week.

The Spring Salmon fishing season has had a quiet start but has started to show signs of picking up with improving catches and some outstanding fish landed so far 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