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 20th May)
SALMON & GRILSE: Waulkmill 4, Lower Redgorton 2, Upper Redgorton 1, Benchil 2, Stobhall 1, Ballathie 10, Cargill 8, Islamouth 29, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Kercock 2, Delvine Burnbane 1, Murthly 1 5, Glendelvine 8, Murthly 2 10, Newtyle 2, Dunkeld House 3, Dalguise 2, Lower Kinnaird 2, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 1, Keithick Mains 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 7.
Total: 103 Largest: Cargill 23lbs
SEA TROUT: Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1.
Total: 1 Largest: Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 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. The lack of rain has dropped the river to summer levels however salmon are still running due to the Tay’s sheer size as you fish another river within it. Rain is forecast at long last which can only help and spice things up. Over 100 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 23 pounder coming from Cargill. 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.
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. Lower Redgorton and Waulkmill had fish from the Bleachings which fishes very well in low water condition. Alun Williams had a lovely fresh fish on the fly on Saturday night from said pool. Mike Hay accounted for the fish from Upper Redgorton caught on the fly from the Craigs. Just upstream Danny Fulton had a couple from Benchil on the fly from the Long and Little Shots on different days. Stobhall had a single fish in the week but just a bit further upriver the Ballathie area proved consistent throughout the week with some good fish landed.
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 continue to climb further and sea liced fish are being seen in the observation chamber at Pitlochry dam. The lower water levels and bright days have not been helping sport with limited sport on Kercock and Delvine Burnbane, however the Murthly area has picked up with both Murthly beats and Glendelvine doing well last week.
The upper river has been seeing a bit of action but nothing was reported last week probably due to the 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 ascending the ladder in good numbers with over 1750 being the current latest count and fish are now being caught in Loch Faskally. Last week saw 7 fish landed on the Portnacraig beat below the dam and further fish landed from the Sawmill Stream at the bottom of the town which was disappointing but probably due to very low water levels.
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 Keithick Mains last week.
The current week has got off to a steady start with fish being registered on Monday throughout the whole river up to 15 pounds.
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
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