Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 10th June 2017.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 10th June 2017.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire has seen out May with improving conditions for fishing in milder weather and settling lower water levels until recently as more water has arrived 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. Lupins are blooming 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 10th June)
SALMON & GRILSE: Lower Redgorton 1, Upper Redgorton 1, Fishponds 1, Benchil 2, Stobhall 3, Taymount 8, Ballathie 6, Cargill 1, Islamouth 16, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 5, Kercock 3, Murthly 1 2, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 5, Newtyle 1, Dunkeld House 1, Dalmarnock 3, Lower Kinnaird 8, Upper Kinnaird 1, Farleyer Lower 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 3, Loch Faskally 3.
Total: 77 Largest: Ballathie 17lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 8, Benchil 3, Stobhall 1, Taymount 4, Ballathie 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 6, Delvine Burnbane 1, Dunkeld House 1, Lower Kinnaird 3, Upper Kinnaird 2.
Total: 30 Largest: Lower Redgorton & Benchil & Dunkeld House 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 over the last couple of months and settling river levels after rain last week should hopefully continue better catches over the next few weeks. The lack of rain had 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 was forecast at long last which can only help and spice things up. It was a better week with around 80 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was 17 pounds from Ballathie. 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 rise in water levels last weekend may just spiced things up by encouraging Sea Trout into the river. The very lower part of the river had odd fish with Fishponds and the Redgorton beats all catching single fish as well as sea trout. Benchil had a couple in the week with Alan Robertson landing a 13 pounds fish from the Long Shot on the fly. Latter in the week Danny Fulton caught a small salmon and 3 sea trout up to 4 pounds again in the Long Shot and on the fly. Stobhall had 3 in the week meanwhile Ballathie fared better with 6 up to 17 pounds for the Chris Loftus and Ian Bowler parties.

Cargill had frustrating week losing several fish however Angus Johnstone did secure the beats first grilse. Islamouth continued to do well until the river unsettled.

It was a frustrating early part of the week for Ian Muir’s party as they started with a superb day of 10 on Monday. The extra water in the week certainly benefited Upper Islamouth and Meikleour with a good few salmon and sea trout landed in the week.

Successful rods included Dr Garratt catching on the fly and Chris Barbour landing 3 fish up to 14 pounds in an evening.

The middle river is fairing much better with rising river temperatures over recent weeks and more water should certainly help. Kercock had 3 in the week and the Murthly and Glendelvine beats caught as well. Newtyle and Dunkeld House had a fish each while Dalmarnock and the Kinnaird beats did better.

This included a lovely fish caught by Andrew Armitage on the fly.

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

The Tummel is continuing to see sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club with 3 landed last week and there are now over 3000 fish through the Dam resulting in fish being recorded in Loch Faskally.

It was a slow week at the Dam with fish caught by Martin Wilson, Laurent Memeteau and Gavin Hutchison up to 14 pounds. Further up country at the clubs Ruan Ruarie beat Kennylee Murray enjoyed success with 2 fish the previous Saturday up to 9 pounds. Loch Faskally caught as well with 2 fish reported. Gary Bell and Simon Cooper caught on fish up to 9 pounds trolling.

The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht however nothing was reported.

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