Salmon Fishing Scotland Prospects for Tay, Perthshire w/c 29th January 2018.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Prospects for Tay, Perthshire w/c 29th January 2018.

The Salmon fishing season is well and truly underway now on the mighty Tay in Perthshire, Scotland as we enter the third week. We have been encountering some varied conditions with very cold wintery weather and then milder days over the last week and prior to the Opening. This has settled the river back to normal levels and at times set it sky high with snow melt and heavy rain. We have had some settled conditions over last week and a massive spate as well making the river unfishable for a couple of days which looks like continuing in the coming week. Currently there is another storm running off, but colder weather is at the back of it to hopefully give us more settled water and a chance of good fishing. On the opening weeks several anglers braved the elements in pursuit of that magical spring salmon. The cold weather hopefully will give a greater chance of producing some sport and some early "Bars of Silver" if you are prepared to brave the elements as any fish progress slowly through the system.

Currently the river is running very high from melt for the time of year (around 10' on the Ballathie gauge).
The weather is to remain reasonably settled over the next few days turning colder again. Colder conditions certainly benefit the river at this time of year slowing the spring salmon run down and giving everyone a chance to catch as they run up the river slowly. The milder weather forecast has given us more water and would have encouraged salmon to run the river. Colder weather will settle the river back to a good level and make ideal spring fishing conditions. The water temperature was cold at 38 degrees Fahrenheit or 3 degrees Celsius but mat rise slightly if we get some milder days. These are typical temperatures for this time of year. Hopefully there might be a chance of a fresh fish anywhere in the river. There will no doubt be quite a few kelts about on many beats and possibly some later run fish, which have yet to spawn. Should you require guidance on salmon identification in early season please see this link for some help.

As to methods, in settled conditions fishing by any method should be slow and deep with large lures to catch the elusive Tay Springer. Harling is also a favoured method in early season but be warned wrap up well or it will not be a pleasant experience.

Tackle recommendations for fishing the Tay throughout the season.

Fly Rods.
The Tay is a large river especially when running at a normal level and even in lower levels you are fishing another river within the mighty one so therefore a 15 foot fly rod for a 10 weight line is certainly minimum requirement for much of the season. Do not come under gunned. In some parts of the river where it is especially wide even longer rods are used. It should be noted however that it is better to cast a shorter controlled line than try to cast out with your capabilities and have the lines end up in a mess and decrease your chances.

Fly Lines.
In early season when the water is cold you need to cast larger flies and get them deeper in the water to fish them slowly. There is a tremendous choice on the market nowadays which can be quite confusing to many anglers. Any type of Skagit line that can easily cast a 15 foot sinking leader of various depths is a good choice especially to the less experienced. Iflights and a tip of choice attached are another good bet as these lines enable you to cast a longer line than normal with ease. For more experienced anglers, there are a vast array of shooting heads of different sinking abilities available as well. These tactics can be used in late season as well when the water starts to cool down.
Once the water temperature starts to climb by April then tactics change to mainly floating lines and sink tips with much smaller conventional flies. Again, the choice of lines is incredible from longer belly Spey lines to shooting heads. If you go to shooting heads, then it is important to choose a good shooting backing as line management can be a big issue casting longer lines on a river such as the Tay.

Spinning Rods.
Rods.
You should have a minimum of a 10 foot rod for casting baits of 20gm to 60gms.
Line.
A main line of 20 pounds in nylon or 30 pounds in braid. You should use a lesser poundage far a cast such as 15 pounds so if you get caught up on the bottom you do not lose a large part of your main line.
Baits.
Tobies from 18gm upwards. Toby Salmos are very popular in 30gms. Conventional weighted Devon's are good especially in the Spring. Rapalas and Vision 110's are very effective and of course Kynochs are popular for harling.

What flies should I take?
In early season bigger flies such as Tube Flies, Temple Dogs and Monkey type flies up to 2 inches in body length and larger conventional patterns in 4's and 6's in lower water are required. A point of note is that a lighter Tube such as an aluminium or plastic body is far easier to cast than brass. Current line technology enables you to get these lighter flies to the correct depths. Ask your ghillie for tip advice on the day.
As river temperatures rise to a more conventional approach then a size range in your box should be from 6 in higher water to 12 in lower water and even smaller on exceptionally low conditions. Cascade type patterns seem to be the most popular and recently feeler flies have come to the fore. It is always worth a go with a Sun Ray type fly with a long wing whether casting normally in colder conditions to stripping it fast in warmer water.

Finally, you are reminded that the Tay's policy for January - 1st April 2018 is that all spring salmon must be released, i.e. the Tay has a policy of 100% mandatory release of all salmon caught under the new Scottish Government Statutory Conservation Regulation. Spring salmon are a scarce and precious resource. Please preserve both them and the long term future of your sport by following the release of salmon as it is a now legal requirement during this period even if a fish has died. The Board's bailiff team will be enforcing this new legislation.

When releasing salmon please try to keep the fish in the water as much as possible to give them every chance to recover prior to release. Releasing fish from boats in the river is not recommended. Further information on the policy and good release practice.

If you have any news or pictures of catches or experiences on the Tay and you would like to share them please email me on robert.salmonfishing@googlemail.com to be included in the reports.
Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 27th January 2018.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 27th January 2018.

The river Tay opened on the 15th January undeterred in slightly milder conditions for a couple of days before returning to cold frosty conditions again, scores of anglers flocked to the banks of the river to mark the opening of the salmon season with great publicity in the press and on television. The various issues and activities appeared on Television, Radio and Press giving the river extremely high exposure that was invaluable. It has been a reasonably quiet start to the season with good water by and large but cold.

The second week has seen a similar weather pattern continue however there has been a big river from rain and snow melt settling to higher water levels and good conditions for fishing by the end of the week. Expectation is high on the river for 2018 after a string of successful springs over the last 5 years and hopefully settled weather over the coming weeks will give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver”.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 27th January)
SALMON & GRILSE: Catholes 1, Upper Scone 1, Glendelvine 1, Dunkeld House 1.
Total: 4 Largest: Glendelvine 15lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 3, Delvine Burnbane 1.
Total: 4 Largest: Delvine Burnbane 2lbs

Odd Spring salmon were landed last week in mixed weather and river conditions favouring those who braved the elements in some cases. The river is settling back nicely for the coming week with a colder forecast returning. Four fresh spring salmon were recorded last week. It is early yet with only small runs coming into the river and fluctuating weather can make fishing difficult. 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. A lovely fresh sea liced 14 pounds fish was caught on the Slap on the Catholes at Stanley earlier in the week in challenging conditions by James Carson fishing with a Rapala. A big spate then arrived curtailing fishing for a couple of days but then Dunkeld House got off the mark with a 14 pounds fish from the boat. Saturday saw even better conditions however only a couple came off the river.

Glendelvine had a 15 pounds cracker landed by Mike Fertaz and Jim McCaig landed a 12 pounds fish from Pitlochrie pool at Stanley with Upper Scone. These were disappointing figures but with a settling river the coming week should see improved catches.

The Spring Salmon fishing was well and truly underway after all the excitement of opening day’s celebrations. It has been a quiet start but let us hope the season lives up to every one’s expectations over the coming weeks and months. Tight lines!

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report for Opening week 2018.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report for Opening week 2018.

The river Tay opened on the 15th January in slightly milder conditions for this winter after a warmer Sunday putting river levels on the rise, scores of anglers flocked to the banks of the river to mark the opening of the salmon season with great publicity in the press and on television. The various issues and activities appeared on Television, Radio and Press giving the river extremely high exposure that was invaluable with the major announcement of asking anglers to only take occasional fish when applicable in the season with an increasing emphasis on conservation. It has been a reasonably quiet start to the season so far.

There were opening day events throughout the Tay district with the larger ceremonies taking place at Meikleour and Kenmore. At Meikleour the Tay Board official opening took place with Perth and Kinross Provist Dennis Malloy and Claire Mercer-Nairn formally opening the river with the symbolic first cast in front of an enthusiastic crowd made by UK and international fishing guide Marina Gibson after introductions from Tay interim chairman Iain McLaren who raised all the issues and welcomed the new season on the mighty river. The ceremony at the Meikleour on Monday morning marked the official start of the 2018 season. It was organised by the Tay board in conjunction with the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce. A good crowd witnessed the event with television coverage by the BBC and STV news plus double page articles in the national press. Anglers attending the event raised over £1140 for Angling for Youth Development.

This was the article in the local Courier newspaper written by Jamie Buchan.
Fisheries bosses have announced tighter conservation laws at the start of the 2018 salmon season.
The traditional toast of “tight lines” was made by anglers at colourful ceremonies up and down the River Tay.
But Monday’s celebrations were marred by new figures suggesting the Tay’s worst salmon season since records began.
The river has experienced a marked declined in amounts of grilse, young salmon that has returned to fresh water after a single winter at sea.

Grilse are a traditional mainstay of fishing from July onwards. The river’s salmon catch between July and October was 3,196 compared to an annual average for this period over the previous 10 years of 6,502.
The Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board is taking action to address the plummeting numbers and has asked anglers not to keep any fresh-run fish caught in the summer months.

Interim chairman Iain McLaren said: “There is little doubt that we are experiencing a period of major changes in the Tay’s salmon runs. It is the board’s responsibility to act whenever necessary to protect and conserve our valuable wild salmon stocks.
“Accordingly, after due consideration and in line with the precautionary principle, we are introducing new restrictions or limits on the number of fish that anglers may kill in the summer and early autumn.”
He said: “Previously, we advised anglers not to keep any fish at all in the spring and no more than one fresh-run male grilse per day after June 1.

“As that could add up to a significant number over the season, we are asking anglers now to keep no more than the very occasional fresh-run fish during this period — unless of course, there happens to be a sudden recovery in grilse numbers this year.”
On the plus side, early running spring salmon are getting bigger. The mean weight of fish caught between January and March last year was 12.8lb.

That’s nearly 3lb heavier than the average weight at the turn of the millennium and suggests that the majority of salmon entering the river in the first three months of the year have spent three winters at sea, when previously two winters was the norm.
Comparable average weights to those recorded early last year have not been seen this consistently since the 1960s.
The new season was launched in traditional style at Meikleour boathouse, by Kinclaven Bridge.
The blessing of the boat and the river with a quaich of Glenturret whisky was performed by Perth and Kinross Provost Dennis Melloy.

Renowned UK and international fishing guide Marina Gibson had the honour of taking the first cast.

In a second opening ceremony, further upriver also in cold conditions, a large crowd of anglers and local residents gathered at the Kenmore Hotel in Perthshire before a pipe band led them to the water’s edge where they waited for the season to be officially opened. Scott McKenzie, poured a dram into the river before the fishing got under way.
The pouring of whisky is a symbolic gesture to keep the salmon “in good health”.

Farlows from London had come up to fish the first couple of days at Stanley and organised a good opening day ceremony with retired fishing director Brian Fratel fronting the celebrations. Joe Hardy, owner of the Tayside Hotel in the village blessed the water with whisky.

The Opening week saw odd spring salmon registered in the best conditions for years on the river after the rise on the opening day in cold weather and fish were spread throughout the river. Hopefully with more settled conditions over the week to come a good few more spring salmon will enter the river and be landed to get our season off to a flying start.

The opening day saw only a single fish registered from Loch Tay with the main river by and large unsettled due to a quick rise in river levels Fish n’ Trips recorded a superb fish from opening day weighing 21 pounds caught by Stephen Little.

As the week went on other fish were caught. On Stobhall Jock Miller caught a very fresh 19 pounds fish on the second day from Linn Head in the boat with Bob Campbell.

Cargill also had an older fish on the same day in the Garden Pool landed by Stewart Scott weighing 12 pounds. Ballathie got off the mark with a fish of 14 pounds caught by Martin McKenzie on a Vision from the boat. Then on Friday George McInnes braved the heavy snow and landed a superb 17 pounds beauty.

John Dewar landed a cracking 16 pounds fish from the boat at Glendelvine later in the week.

The Spring Salmon fishing was well and truly underway after all the excitement of opening day’s celebrations. It has been a slow start so let us hope the season lives up to everyones expectations over the coming weeks and months. Tight lines!


Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Prospects for Tay, Perthshire w/c 22nd January 2018.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Prospects for Tay, Perthshire w/c 22nd January 2018.

The Salmon fishing season is well and truly started now on the mighty Tay in Perthshire, Scotland and we have been encountering some very cold conditions and winter weather over the last week and prior to the Opening day. This has settled the river back to normal levels. We have had good settled conditions over the last week and that looks like continuing overall but there is a milder spell coming next week for a few days. On the opening week several anglers braved the elements in pursuit of that magical spring salmon. The cold weather hopefully will give a greater chance of producing some sport and some early "Bars of Silver" if you are prepared to brave the elements as any fish progress slowly through the system.

Currently the river is running at a good height for the time of year (just under 3’ on the Ballathie gauge).

The weather is to remain reasonably settled over the next few days but then turn a bit milder towards the middle of the week. Colder conditions certainly benefit the river at this time of year slowing the spring salmon run down and giving everyone a chance to catch as they run up the river slowly. The milder weather forecast may give us more water and would have encouraged salmon to run the river. Colder weather will settle the river back to a good level and make ideal spring fishing conditions. The water temperature was cold at 36 degrees Fahrenheit or 2 degrees Celsius but mat rise slightly if we get some milder days. These are typical temperatures for this time of year. Hopefully there might be a chance of a fresh fish anywhere in the river. There will no doubt be quite a few kelts about on many beats and possibly some later run fish, which have yet to spawn. Should you require guidance on salmon identification in early season please see this link for some help.

As to methods, in settled conditions fishing by any method should be slow and deep with large lures to catch the elusive Tay Springer. Harling is also a favoured method in early season but be warned wrap up well or it will not be a pleasant experience.

Tackle recommendations for fishing the Tay throughout the season.

Fly Rods.
The Tay is a large river especially when running at a normal level and even in lower levels you are fishing another river within the mighty one so therefore a 15 foot fly rod for a 10 weight line is certainly minimum requirement for much of the season. Do not come under gunned. In some parts of the river where it is especially wide even longer rods are used. It should be noted however that it is better to cast a shorter controlled line than try to cast out with your capabilities and have the lines end up in a mess and decrease your chances.

Fly Lines.
In early season when the water is cold you need to cast larger flies and get them deeper in the water to fish them slowly. There is a tremendous choice on the market nowadays which can be quite confusing to many anglers. Any type of Skagit line that can easily cast a 15 foot sinking leader of various depths is a good choice especially to the less experienced. Iflights and a tip of choice attached are another good bet as these lines enable you to cast a longer line than normal with ease. For more experienced anglers, there are a vast array of shooting heads of different sinking abilities available as well. These tactics can be used in late season as well when the water starts to cool down.
Once the water temperature starts to climb by April then tactics change to mainly floating lines and sink tips with much smaller conventional flies. Again, the choice of lines is incredible from longer belly Spey lines to shooting heads. If you go to shooting heads, then it is important to choose a good shooting backing as line management can be a big issue casting longer lines on a river such as the Tay.

Spinning Rods.
Rods.
You should have a minimum of a 10 foot rod for casting baits of 20gm to 60gms.
Line.
A main line of 20 pounds in nylon or 30 pounds in braid. You should use a lesser poundage far a cast such as 15 pounds so if you get caught up on the bottom you do not lose a large part of your main line.
Baits.
Tobies from 18gm upwards. Toby Salmos are very popular in 30gms. Conventional weighted Devon’s are good especially in the Spring. Rapalas and Vision 110’s are very effective and of course Kynochs are popular for harling.

What flies should I take?
In early season bigger flies such as Tube Flies, Temple Dogs and Monkey type flies up to 2 inches in body length and larger conventional patterns in 4’s and 6’s in lower water are required. A point of note is that a lighter Tube such as an aluminium or plastic body is far easier to cast than brass. Current line technology enables you to get these lighter flies to the correct depths. Ask your ghillie for tip advice on the day.
As river temperatures rise to a more conventional approach then a size range in your box should be from 6 in higher water to 12 in lower water and even smaller on exceptionally low conditions. Cascade type patterns seem to be the most popular and recently feeler flies have come to the fore. It is always worth a go with a Sun Ray type fly with a long wing whether casting normally in colder conditions to stripping it fast in warmer water.

Finally, you are reminded that the Tay's policy for January – 1st April 2018 is that all spring salmon must be released, i.e. the Tay has a policy of 100% mandatory release of all salmon caught under the new Scottish Government Statutory Conservation Regulation. Spring salmon are a scarce and precious resource. Please preserve both them and the long term future of your sport by following the release of salmon as it is a now legal requirement during this period even if a fish has died. The Board's bailiff team will be enforcing this new legislation.

When releasing salmon please try to keep the fish in the water as much as possible to give them every chance to recover prior to release. Releasing fish from boats in the river is not recommended. Further information on the policy and good release practice.

If you have any news or pictures of catches or experiences on the Tay and you would like to share them please email me on robert.salmonfishing@googlemail.com to be included in the reports.

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Prospects for the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland Opening Day 2018.

Prospects for the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland Opening Day 2018.

There are now only a few days until the river Tay opens its salmon fishing season for 2018 on Monday next week. The excitement is building slowly with anticipated large crowds expected at Meikleour and Kenmore for the public opening day events.

The salmon fishing season on the River Tay will be opened at the Meikleour Fishings Boathouse on Monday 15 January. A ceremony, organised by the beat in conjunction with the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce and supported by the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board (TDSFB) and the Tay Foundation, will mark the start of the 2018 season with guest of honour Marina Gibson performing the symbolic first cast.

The riverside reception by the Meikleour Fishings is open to all from 9 am and the formal opening of the river, accompanied by music and pipers, takes place at 9.30 am. All anglers are welcome to fish Upper Islamouth for a £10 donation to Angling for Youth Development.

Expect a major announcement at this event to benefit the river for years to come.

“It is great to make the first cast of the salmon fishing season on the Tay.

“Scotland is recognised across the world as the destination for salmon and freshwater fishing. Game and coarse angling is worth more than £100 million to the Scottish economy, and supports almost 3,000 jobs, which shows the importance of maintaining and enhancing the quality of our rivers and fish stocks.

Some clips from last years opening ceremony.
William Jack, former chairman of the TDSFB, commented last year: “Salmon angling on the Tay is not just a pastime enjoyed by many from all walks of life but is also a significant contributor to the local economy in this area creating many jobs for ghillies and in the hospitality sector.

Dr David Summers, Director of the TDSFB, added: “There is particular interest in the Tay this year as our ‘spring’ catches have been tending to increase in the last 5 years following a period of decline. The number of larger salmon returning to the river also seems to be on a rising trend.”

Anglers enjoying their first casts last season.

At Kenmore a traditional opening of the salmon season on the River Tay will also be held with a parade of fishermen to the river bank with the Vale of Atholl Junior Pipe Band, the 1st cast of the season will be made to mark the opening of the River Tay and a speaker will wish the anglers 'tight lines' for the season.

Currently the river is running around 3 feet on the Ballathie gauge with a colder weather forecast. Colder and more settled weather is now with us giving the river a great chance of producing some good sport and some early "Bars of Silver" on the opening day and beyond.

A superb Tay bar of silver.

On the first day of the season anglers will be competing for the Redford Trophy, for the heaviest salmon caught and safely released from the River Tay on opening day was first fished for in 1986. It was named after the late Ian Redford of Errol, the then co-owner of the Newtyle beat who tragically died the year before.

The angler who lands the biggest salmon on the day will not only be presented with the Trophy but will receive a £250 tackle voucher courtesy of James Crockart & Sons, the famous Blairgowrie tackle and gun shop.

Anglers who land a witnessed opening day springer should contact Crockarts at 01250 872056 by no later than 5 p.m.

The weather is to be cold and settled as the week goes on. The water temperature is typical for the time year just around 38 degrees Fahrenheit or 3 degrees Celcius, this could change by the end of this week with colder weather forecast. The temperature may come back further with the colder forecast during the week ahead but any salmon that are running may be spread throughout the system after some slightly milder conditions prior to the opening day giving everyone a good chance for the coming week. Hopefully there might be a chance of a fresh fish anywhere in the river. There will no doubt be quite a few kelts about on many beats and possibly some later run fish, which have yet to spawn. Spring salmon identification help for those not sure about the different types of fish in the river at this time of year.

As to methods, in settled conditions fishing by any method will have to be slow and deep with large lures to catch the elusive Tay Springer. Harling is also a favoured method at this time of year but be warned wrap up well or it will not be a pleasant experience.

Finally you are reminded that the Tay's policy for January – 1st April 2018 is that all spring salmon must be released, i.e. the Tay has a policy of 100% mandatory release of all salmon caught under the new Scottish Government Statutory Conservation Regulation. Spring salmon are a scarce and precious resource. Please preserve both them and the long term future of your sport by following the release of salmon as it is a now legal requirement during this period even if a fish has died. The Board's bailiff team will be enforcing this new legislation.

When releasing salmon please try to keep the fish in the water as much as possible to give them every chance to recover prior to release. Releasing fish from boats in the river is not recommended. Further information on the policy and good release practice.


Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Why is the Tay a great place to catch a spring salmon?

Salmon Fishing Scotland Why is the Tay a great place to catch a spring salmon?

The Tay is a superb destination to catch spring salmon as it has the strongest run of any river in Scotland plus the quality of salmon caught surpasses other rivers through its shear volume. The Tay produces larger salmon which has been evident over the last few springs. Fish in the upper teens, twenties and even the odd thirty pounds spring salmon are landed.

The spring period from January to May continues to be a positive part of the season, in 2017 the spring catches interestingly outscored the autumn yet again. The catch is becoming a more prominent part of the fishing season. This confirms the trend starting on the Tay 5 years ago with much better spring fishing. We are continuing to see the start of a change in the cycles as in the past and it would have been unthinkable in recent years that there would be more spring salmon caught than autumn fish. Further evidence of this phenomenon was a strong June ending the 2017 spring run. There is no reason that 2018 cannot be on the same lines, expectation and anticipation continues to be high.

Early in the season in cold water largely determines the catches with the beats around Stanley performing best such as Fishponds, Upper Redgorton, Upper Scone, Benchil, Pitlochrie, Catholes, Burnmouth, Taymount and Stobhall then as the water warms up the emphasis changes to the middle river in the Dunkeld area, Murthly, Kercock, Meikleour, Islamouth, Cargill and Ballathie as the fish have more energy to travel further without stopping and the fish spread. Also at this time the Tummel starts to see action with fish travelling up to Pitlochry Dam. The Tay always has enough water as it is the largest river by volume in the country and salmon run it every day of the year.

The river offers boat and bank fishing on most beats and there are daily rods available throughout the river. Famous early pools spring to mind such as Aitken Head, Horsey, Wash House, Pitlochrie pool, Back Dam, Little Head, Slap, Burnmouth pool and Linn pool on the lower river in the Stanley area. The middle river offers the Ash Tree, Rock pool, Cathedral Stream, Ferry pool, Cotter, Tronach, Garth, Boat pool, Cottage pool, Islamouth, Castle and the Long Head, all iconic names associated with the Tay. Whether you prefer to fly or spin on every beat they can accommodate your demands and the ghillies are there to help and guide you. It is a large river but in early season you do not have to cast a long way as the fish creep up the edges and tend to be in quieter water.

Popular hotels to stay in the area are the Tayside Hotel in Stanley, Ballathie House, The Meikleour Arms, Murrayshall Hotel, Scone and the Royal Dunkeld Hotel.

As to methods, in settled conditions fishing by any method should be slow and deep with large lures to catch the elusive Tay Springer. Harling is also a favoured method in early season but be warned wrap up well or it will not be a pleasant experience.

Tackle recommendations for fishing the Tay throughout the season.

Fly Rods.
The Tay is a large river especially when running at a normal level and even in lower levels you are fishing another river within the mighty one so therefore a 15 foot fly rod for a 10 weight line is certainly minimum requirement for much of the season. Do not come under gunned. In some parts of the river where it is especially wide even longer rods are used. It should be noted however that it is better to cast a shorter controlled line than try to cast out with your capabilities and have the lines end up in a mess and decrease your chances.

Fly Lines.
In early season when the water is cold you need to cast larger flies and get them deeper in the water to fish them slowly. There is a tremendous choice on the market nowadays which can be quite confusing to many anglers. Any type of Skagit line that can easily cast a 15 foot sinking leader of various depths is a good choice especially to the less experienced. Iflights and a tip of choice attached are another good bet as these lines enable you to cast a longer line than normal with ease. For more experienced anglers, there are a vast array of shooting heads of different sinking abilities available as well. These tactics can be used in late season as well when the water starts to cool down.
Once the water temperature starts to climb by April then tactics change to mainly floating lines and sink tips with much smaller conventional flies. Again, the choice of lines is incredible from longer belly Spey lines to shooting heads. If you go to shooting heads, then it is important to choose a good shooting backing as line management can be a big issue casting longer lines on a river such as the Tay.

Spinning Rods.

Rods.
You should have a minimum of a 10 foot rod for casting baits of 20gm to 60gms.

Line.
A main line of 20 pounds in nylon or 30 pounds in braid. You should use a lesser poundage far a cast such as 15 pounds so if you get caught up on the bottom you do not lose a large part of your main line.

Baits.
Tobies from 18gm upwards. Toby Salmos are very popular in 30gms. Conventional weighted Devon’s are good especially in the Spring. Rapalas and Vision 110’s are very effective and of course Kynochs are popular for harling.

What flies should I take?
In early season bigger flies such as Tube Flies, Temple Dogs and Monkey type flies up to 2 inches in body length and larger conventional patterns in 4’s and 6’s in lower water are required. A point of note is that a lighter Tube such as an aluminum or plastic body is far easier to cast than brass. Current line technology enables you to get these lighter flies to the correct depths. Ask your ghillie for tip advice on the day.
As river temperatures rise to a more conventional approach then a size range in your box should be from 6 in higher water to 12 in lower water and even smaller on exceptionally low conditions. Cascade type patterns seem to be the most popular and recently feeler flies have come to the fore. It is always worth a go with a Sun Ray type fly with a long wing whether casting normally in colder conditions to stripping it fast in warmer water.

The Tay in Perthshire is a prime spring salmon fishing destination so why not give it a go?



Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White