Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 3rd June 2017.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 3rd June 2017.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is about to see out May 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 late May and June to give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver”.
On the nature front the Sand Martins, Swifts and Swallows are all over the skies, Ospreys are being seen, Ducks have their first broods of young and Sand Pipers are on the river banks. Blue bells a coming out in the woods and the Loopins are starting to bloom as well as all the other wild flowers, it is truly magical to be salmon fishing in Perthshire on the banks of the silvery Tay.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 3rd June)
SALMON & GRILSE: Lower Redgorton 2, Fishponds 2, Stobhall 5, Taymount 2, Ballathie 5, Cargill 4, Islamouth 12, Kercock 5, Murthly 1 1, Glendelvine 1, Murthly 2 6, Dunkeld House 1, Dalmarnock 2, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 4, Upper Kinnaird 1, Findynate 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 2, Loch Faskally 2.
Total: 59 Largest: Lower Redgorton & Lower Kinnaird 20lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 2, Fishponds 1, Benchil 1, Cargill 3, Glendelvine 1, Lower Kinnaird 1, Lochlane and Laggan 1.
Total: 10 Largest: Lower Kinnaird & Lochlane and Laggan 4lbs


May 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. It was a slower week with around 60 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was 20 pounds from Lower Kinnaird and Lower Redgorton. 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 run develops further.

This past week saw a few fish from the lower river scattered throughout the beats with Islamouth area again proving the best beat as fish hesitate at the mouth of the Isla. The beats at Stanley and below are seeing limited sport but the small spate last weekend may just spice things up by encouraging Sea Trout into the river.

The very lower part of the river had odd fish with Fishponds securing a 10 pounds fish from the Craigs on the fly for Will Shaw. Down at Lower Redgorton 2 were recorded on Friday including a superb 20 pounds beauty and another fresh fish falling to Alun Williams on the fly just out for an evening cast! Great stuff. Stobhall had another consistent week with fish on most days. Just further upstream Ballathie and Cargill continued to pick away. Ballathie had 5 in the week with Freddie Harrison enjoying his week with a couple of fish.

Gregor Leslie also had success which was great to see as he is the Grandson of former beat legend Colin Leslie. Islamouth had a quieter week with 12 fish but there was no fishing on the beat on Friday as the party were paying respects to a colleague who recently passed away. The owners made amends on Saturday by catching 5.

Earlier in the week John Coughlan caught the beats 100th fish of the month weighing 13 pounds on the fly from the Little Head. The figures achieved on the beat have been outstanding this year so far considering the rest of the rivers attainments and most the fish landed have been on the fly. It is certainly the jewel in the Tay’s crown.

The middle river is fairing much better with rising river temperatures over recent weeks. The Murthly and Glendelvine beats continue to fish reasonably well with Murthly 2 having 6 for the week.

Kercock had a better week with 5 fish which included a lovely fish for Brian Ogden on the fly from the Cottage stream.

Sam and Sandy Datta also enjoyed success with a couple of fish on Saturday.

The highlight of Newtyles week was hosting a Ladies fishing few days but unfortunately no one was lucky. Dunkeld House had a fish as did Dalguise. Dalmarnock had 2 in the week which included an early grilse falling to Robert Parret and earlier in the week Kevin Magrandle landed an 8 pounds fish on the fly from the Inch Stream. The Kinnaird beats landed 5 between them.

The upper river is seeing steady sport with fish recently caught however there was only 1 fish reported from Findynate last week.

The Tummel is continuing to see sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club with 2 landed last week and there are now over 2800 fish through the Dam resulting in fish being recorded in Loch Faskally.

It was a slow week at the Dam with fish caught by Tony Brown and Jim Fisher. Loch Faskally caught as well with 2 fish reported. Malcolm Fleming and Phil Imrie caught on Tobies.

The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht.

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