Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 4th March 2017.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 4th March 2017.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is now into March 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 March to give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver”.
Beat catches reported
(week ending 4th March)
SALMON & GRILSE: Catholes 3, Upper Scone 1, Burnmouth 1, Stobhall 2, Islamouth 5, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Murthly 2 2, Dunkeld House 3, Dalguise 1, Upper Kinnaird 1, Findynate 3.
Total: 24 Largest: Dalguise 25lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 1, Stobhall 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1.
Total: 3 Largest: Stobhall 2lbs

The last few days 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. Twenty four 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. Four fish came from the Upper river with Upper Kinnaird and Findynate recording fish between them. The rest of the fish came from the lower and middle river.

Catholes was a productive beat last week with 3 fish.

Jonathan Dent had a day to remember on Catholes on Wednesday with 2 fish weighing up to 11 pounds. Firstly he caught on the fly casting from the boat in the Back Dam and then later in the morning he caught a 10 pounds beauty on a Toby in the Little Head. Thursday saw Dougie Wangert land an 11 pounds beauty on the cast fly as well from the boat in the Back Dam.

Upper Scone had a 10 pounds beauty falling to Martin John in Pitlochrie pool under the guidance of Davie Seaton. Burnmouth had a single fish in the week and Stobhall managed a couple. Islamouth had a good end to the week with 5 fish in two days.

Friday saw 4 fish landed with Stuart McArthur catching 2 beauties up to 15 pounds.

Danny Fulton and

Brian Stobie got in on the act with fish up to 20 odd pounds.

Gordon Fleetwood from Inverness caught on Saturday casting a Toby from the boat.

Meikelour and Upper Isalmouth had 2 in the week which included Simon Littlejohn landing a superb 10 pounds bar of silver from the Castle pool. Murthly 2 had a couple of good fish in the week.

Dunkeld House had 3 in the week with successful anglers Robbie Ross and Antanus Ciparis landing his first ever salmon weighing 9 pounds from the Chestnut Tree pool.

The current week is looking far more promising with all ready over 30 fish grassed including a first ever fly caught fish for Mark Hickson on the Pitlochrie beat casting from the anchored boat in the Wash house weighing 13 pounds.

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