Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 29th April 2017.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 29th April 2017.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire has now seen out April with improving conditions for fishing in milder weather and settling lower 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 April to give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver”.
Beat catches reported
(week ending 29th April)
SALMON & GRILSE: Lower Redgorton 1, Benchil 1, Pitlochrie 1, Stobhall 2, Taymount 3, Ballathie 6, Cargill 13, Islamouth 30, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 4, Kercock 3, Delvine Burnbane 1, Murthly 1 3, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 18, Newtyle 6, Dunkeld House 1, Dalmarnock 2, Lower Kinnaird 5, Findynate 1, Farleyer Upper 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 1, Keithick Mains 3, Coupar Grange 10, Portnacraig Pitlochry 5, Loch Faskally 1.
Total: 124 Largest: Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 24lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 1, Upper Redgorton 3, Delvine Burnbane 1.
Total: 5 Largest: Lower Redgorton & Delvine Burnbane 3lbs

April saw improvements with more salmon landed in milder weather and river conditions have improved as the weeks have gone 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 March but we are seeing an improvement with more consistent catches and settling river levels which hopefully will continue over the next few weeks. Around one hundred and tewenty fresh spring salmon were recorded last week and the class of fish being caught continues to be outstanding with 20 odd pounds or so being common and even a superb 24 pounder coming from Meikleour and Upper Islamouth. 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 as the spring run develops further. The water is down to summer levels but fish are still running in good numbers because of the sheer size of the river.

It has been another reasonably productive week on the river with a spring run continuing to develop and progress up the river with most beats getting into the action. On the Lower river, it has been a quiet week below Stanley mainly due to the warmer river temperatures. Ian Jardine had a small fish from Benchil and a fish was recorded from Lower Redgorton.

John Jennings caught a lovely fresh 7 pounds fish from Kirkie on the Pitlochrie beat on the fly. Stobhall had a couple in the week but further upstream the lower water was helping Ballathie and Cargill.

On Ballathie Tay regulars from Yorkshire had an enjoyable week with the Rawson, Sheddon’s and Ibbotson’s all having success.

Cargill had a good week as well with Neil French having great success with the fly landing several fish up to 20 pounds.

The fly seemed to be the way as John Leybourne, Paul Vernon, Angus Brown and Carlos Garza all caught beauties up to 13 pounds. Islamouth is certainly the hot spot on the river currently with an April total of 85 which is way above their average for the month plus all the fish are caught fly fishing. Last week was another exceptional week with 30 fish grassed. Earlier in the week Patrick Gordons party enjoyed success.

Neil Tong from Perth enjoyed a superb 3 days fishing on the beat with 9 fish up to 21 pounds with others caught by Roger Moore, Gordon Fleetwood, John Mcelroy, John Campbell and Mike Davies. Meikleour and Upper Islamouth had 4 for the week with veteran Alan Lankshear getting week off to a flying start with a 12 pounder, other fish were caught by Messer’s Howes and Thomson. The latter had a superb 24 pounder and a further fish was caught by Paul Kelly.

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 again last week as water temperatures start to climb further and sea liced fish are being seen in the observation chamber at Pitlochry dam.

Kercock had 3 for their week with Swedish fly fishers Peter Dahlstrom, Tomas Lundqvist, and Carlos Garza all catching. Delvine Burnbane had one weighing 20 pounds with Willie Cumming being the recipient. Murthly 1 and Glendelvine had 5 between them however Murthly 2 had a great week with 18 fish. Newtyle landed 6 which included a first ever salmon, an 8 pounds fish for Mark Sclater who was part of the Paul Norman party.

Dunkeld House had a fish caught by Ted Swaithe on the fly from the Cathedral stream weighing 10 pounds. Dalmarnock had a couple in the week and Lower Kinnaird had 5.

The upper river is also seeing a bit of action with a couple reported last week from Findynate and Farleyer despite lower water levels.

The Tummel saw some action as well with fish coming off the lower beats but not being reported. At the Dam in Pitlochry fish are starting to ascend the ladder with over 450 being the current latest count and fish are now being caught in Loch Faskally. Last week saw 5 fish landed on the Portnacraig beat below the dam and further fish landed from the Sawmill Stream at the bottom of the town.

Early in the week Bruce Campbell and Richard Hamilton got the club off to a good start with fish on fly and spinner up to 10 pounds. Gordon Nichol then had a 10 pounder on the fly and Ally Gowans caught a 15 pounder. On Friday James Robertson caught a superb 21 ½ pounds beauty, others were caught in the Sawmill by Gordon Nichol and Ally Gowans.

Loch Tay continues to fish reasonably well with fish running through the system with Fish n’ Trips recording a fish last week. Other fish are being caught on the loch but not being reported.

Another example of fish running the system has been fish caught on the Isla at Coupar Grange and Keithick Mains with 13 grassed last week.

The current week has got off to a great start with a good few fish being registered on Monday and Tuesday and Islamouth continuing to be outstanding.

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