Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 8th July 2017.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 8th July 2017.

Salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire has seen out June 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 with a summer run now in progress. Expectation and optimism is high on the river with summer arriving as spring has disappeared to give everyone a chance of landing a “Bar of Silver”.

On the nature front the Sand Martins, Swifts and Swallows are all over the skies, Ospreys are being seen, Ducks have broods of young, Sand Pipers are on the river banks and Kingfishers dart past. Many wild flowers are in bloom but a good few are now past their best for another year, it is truly magical to be salmon fishing in Perthshire on the banks of the silvery Tay.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 8th July)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 13, Waulkmill 9, Lower Redgorton 12, Upper Redgorton 5, Fishponds 3, Benchil 2, Stobhall 2, Taymount 8, Ballathie 7, Cargill 1, Islamouth 34, Kercock 2, Delvine Burnbane 1, Glendelvine 1, Murthly 2 9, Newtyle 2, Dunkeld House 3, Dalmarnock 8, Dalguise 3, Farleyer Lower 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 1.
Total: 127 Largest: Murthly 2 25lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 2, Upper Scone 2, Stobhall 1, Delvine Burnbane 1, Murthly 2 3, Dunkeld House 1.
Total: 10 Largest: Lower Redgorton & Murthly 2 & Dunkeld House 3lbs


June was steady 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. Settling river levels after rain recently should hopefully continue to improve catches over the next few weeks with a summer run now in progress. 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 again which has helped to spice things up. It was a much better week with around 130 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was 25 from Murthly 2. Spring is now certainly over for 2017 with hopefully a healthy summer run to build in the coming weeks. 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 more fish from the lower river scattered throughout the beats with a spread in catches but Islamouth continuing to be the most productive beat especially at the start of the week as fish hesitate before the mouth of the Isla. The beats at Stanley and below are seeing better sport and the rise in water levels in recent times may just have spiced things up by encouraging summer salmon and sea trout into the river. The very lower part of the river is now producing more fish with Almondmouth, Waulkmill and lower Redgorton all catching in the week consistently. Summer salmon are certainly entering the river in numbers with Almondmouth producing 13 fish then just upstream Lower Redgorton and Waulkmill fishing well with the fly being successful. Local anglers had good success with Steven Watt, Hugh and Ian Law all catching good summer salmon. Upper Redgorton had fish as well with Carriona and Keith Swaffer enjoying success, Catriona had a 12 pounder from Benchil Green and Keith landed a lovely 11 pounds beauty on the fly from the Fire Shot.

On Benchil beat owner Francis Jennings enjoyed success on the fly with fish up to 16 pounds landed in the week. Ballathie had another good week finishing with 4 on Saturday and achieving their 100th fish of the year with Peter Sproston and Fred Harrison having success with fish into the teens in weight. Cargill had odd fish with John Campbell landing a 12 pounds beauty. Islamouth had a superb week with over 30 fish on the fly which were mostly good summer salmon and very few grilse. This seems to be the same on most beats with the quality of fish being caught exceptional. Long may it continue.

The middle river is fairing reasonably with rising river temperatures over recent weeks and more water should certainly help. Kercock, Delvine, and Glendelvine beats all produced odd fish in the week but this should steadily improve. The Murthly beats fared better with 9 off the No 2 beat including a 25 pounds beauty.

Newtyle had a couple with Cameron Henderson landing a 13 pounder from the Steps. Dunkeld House had a good day last Monday with 3 caught by Russell and John Hendren with fish up to 16 pounds. Dalmarnock had a good week with 8 fish from all over the beat. Further up Dalguise caught 3.

The upper river is seeing steady sport with fish recently caught however there was only odd fish reported from Farleyer last week. A fish was also reported from the Loch at Fish n’ Trips.
The Tummel is continuing to see sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club however nothing was reported last week and there are now well over 3000 fish through the Dam resulting in fish being recorded in Loch Faskally.

The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht however again no fish are being reported.

The Earn has seen a run of salmon and sea trout progress up the river.

The current week has got off to a cracking start maybe signaling the continuation of a healthy summer run. Monday saw over 25 fish caught as a run progressed up the lower river up to 20 pounds with a greater spread of catches.

The 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