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

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

Salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is in early August with excellent summer conditions for fishing in warm weather and settling lower water levels plus catches are improving after a slow start to the season with a summer run now in progress. Expectation and optimism are 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 29th July)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 8, Waulkmill 6, Lower Redgorton 3, Luncarty 1, Upper Redgorton 3, Fishponds 2, Benchil 2, Upper Scone 1, Pitlochrie 1, Stobhall 5, Taymount 10, Ballathie 2, Cargill 7, Islamouth 4, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Kercock 5, Glendelvine 6, Murthly 2 7, Newtyle 3, Dalmarnock 1, Dalguise 2, Lower Kinnaird 4, Edradynate AA 1, Findynate 1, Farleyer Upper 1.
Total: 88 Largest: Dalguise 22lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 1, Lower Redgorton 1, Stobhall 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1, Dalmarnock 1, Farleyer Lower 1.
Total: 6 Largest: Dalmarnock 6lbs

July was steady with more salmon landed in warmer 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 well 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. Recent rain has helped to spice things up. It was a consistent week with around 90 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was 22 pounds from Dalguise. Spring is now distant memory for 2017 with hopefully a healthy summer run continuing to build in the coming weeks as we move nearer to Autumn. Some of the fish that have been caught are memorable as typical Tay specimens due to their size and depth with only a few grilse caught so far. Hopefully there will be a lot more of them to come as the run develops further.

This past week saw more fish from the lower river scattered throughout the beats with a spread in catches throughout. 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 but in low numbers but hopefully that will change in the weeks to come. Upper Redgorton, Luncarty and Fishponds were in a similar vein with odd fish caught throughout the week. Gary Waugh had the fish from Luncarty on a Toby. Three came from Benchil including a 19 pounds cracker from the Long Shot on the fly.

Australian visitor Michael Aubrey caught a 16 pounds beauty on the Pitlochrie beat in the Corner pool on a Vision. Further upstream Stobhall had 5 with Ballathie and Cargill accounting for 9 between them.

On Cargill good fish were caught by Grace Gluckenstein, Martin Wilson, Craig Thomas and

grilse were caught by Ryan Evans and Scott Higgins. Islamouth had a quiet week with 4 and Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had 2.

Chris Barbour caught a 9 pounds fish from the Tunnel Stream and Steven Williams caught a grilse on the fly from the Castle Stream.

The middle river is disappointing with rising river temperatures over recent weeks and more water not producing good sport however there have been exceptions. Kercock had 5 with a grilse for Robert McFarlane on fly and spinner up to 9 pounds. Glendelvine and the Murthly beats had 13 between them which was steady sport.

Newtyle caught 3 in the week, Dalmarnock 1 and Dalguise had 2 up to 22 pounds with Craig Hood being the successful angler. Lower Kinnaird managed 4 in the week.

The upper river was seeing steady sport with fish recently caught on Edradynate, Findynate and Farleyer last week.

The Tummel was continuing to see sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club 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 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