Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 16th September 2017.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 16th September 2017.

Salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is in early September with changeable autumnal conditions for fishing in now slightly colder weather and reasonable water levels from rain at times plus catches are steady with autumn arriving. The temperatures have started to drop making the resident salmon more aggressive, expectation and optimism are still high on the river with summer slowly disappearing and autumn arriving to give everyone a chance of landing a good Tay salmon.

On the nature front as autumn arrives the Sand Martins, Swifts and Swallows are departing, the Ospreys have already gone for warmer climes, Ducks have their broods of young growing up steadily and Kingfishers dart past on the river banks. Recent days have seen the first Geese arriving. Odd wild flowers are still in bloom, it is truly magical to be salmon fishing in Perthshire on the banks of the silvery Tay where a salmon is now a bonus.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 16th September)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 14, Waulkmill 5, Lower Redgorton 8, Luncarty 1, Upper Redgorton 8, Fishponds 6, Benchil 2, Upper Scone 7, Pitlochrie 1, Stobhall 14, Taymount 20, Ballathie 8, Cargill 27, Islamouth 9, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Kercock 3, Murthly 2 4, Newtyle 2, Dalmarnock 3, Dalguise 7, Lower Kinnaird 2, Farleyer Upper 1, Farleyer Lower 1, Keithick Mains 2.
Total: 157 Largest: Murthly 2 25lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 1, Lower Redgorton 2, Stobhall 1, Taymount 3, Newtyle 1, Lower Kinnaird 4.
Total: 12 Largest: Lower Kinnaird 4lbs

July was the rivers best month so far and August was steady with more salmon landed in warmer weather and river conditions have improved as the weeks have gone with plenty of fresh water. Settling river levels after rain recently and water temperatures dropping should hopefully continue to improve catches over the next few weeks with autumn now underway. 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 far better week with nearly 160 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was 25 pounds from Murthly 2. Spring is now a distant memory for 2017 and Summer has disappeared as we move into 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 in the last month of the season.

This past week again saw more fish from the lower river scattered throughout the beats with a spread in catches mainly due to water temperatures dropping and resident fish becoming more aggressive. The beats at Stanley and below are seeing sport and the rise in water levels in recent times may just have spiced things up by encouraging salmon into the river. The very lower part of the river is producing consistent catches with Almondmouth, Waulkmill and Lower Redgorton all catching in the week but in disappointing numbers for the time of year. The beats further up are not fairing any better but improved slightly last week as everyone hopes for some form of autumn run.

The Robbins party enjoyed a hard week at Upper Redgorton and Miceal Bothwell enjoyed success on Fishponds.

Sharon Rice had a cracking 19 pounds fish from Benchil in the Long Shot. Upper Scone finished with 7 in the week with Gary Perk and the Gallaghers catching. Stobhall and Taymount did much better with 34.

Ballathie had 8 however Cargill had a superb week with 27 Salmon up to 23.5 pounds and hooked many more. Most of the fish were coloured but they did catch some sea liced fish as well. Successful anglers included Steve Curnow, Neil French, Alan Muir, Graeme Ritchie and John Brophy. The spinner was the top method but had 9 on the fly as well. Islamouth had 9 and Upper Islamouth and Meikleour finished with 2 which included a small grilse for Duncan McNair.

The middle river continues to be extremely disappointing despite dropping river temperatures and more water not producing good sport however there have been odd exceptions. Odd fish came from Kercock, Murthly, Newtyle, Dalmarnock and Dalguise.

Douglas McLean had a good fish from Kercock and Murthly 2 had the biggest fish of the week weighing 25 pounds. Dalguise had a better week with 7 for the Briggs party including a 14 pounder for Robin. Lower Kinnaird had a couple.

The upper river was seeing steady sport with fish recently caught and reported last week at Farleyer.

The Tummel was continuing to see sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club and there is now nearly 4000 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 with a couple of fish reported from Keithick Mains.

The Earn has seen a run of salmon and sea trout progress up the river with a good few fish caught in the system over recent weeks but by beats that do not report.

The current week has got off to a much better start with over 50 fish recorded already up to an impressive 26 pounds on Monday with water temperatures going down further.

The Salmon fishing season is in its last few weeks now with Autumn here. It had been a difficult season but there have still been quite a few memorable fish caught. Let us hope the last few weeks go out with a bang. Tight lines!

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White