Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire prospects w/c 21st March 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire prospects w/c 21st March 2016.

The Salmon fishing season on the mighty Tay in Perthshire, Scotland is now in mid March and we have been encountering some milder weather last week after colder conditions making life fairly challenging with limited opportunities for anglers to brave the elements in pursuit of that magical spring salmon however that has changed and we have good water levels and better opportunities plus continuing improving catches. Spring salmon are running the river and catches have improved over the last month. The weather hopefully will remain settled over the coming week which should help and give the river more settled conditions and benefit the river to give a greater chance of producing some sport and some early "Bars of Silver" if you are prepared to brave the elements.

Currently the river is falling away slowly after colder weather last week (just under 3’ on the Ballathie gauge).

The weather was milder over last week with some sun however that will change this coming week with a break down in the high pressure. Milder temperatures have given the river more water from snow melt. 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. Colder weather has settled the river back to good levels and made ideal spring fishing conditions. The water temperature has risen to around 43 degrees Fahrenheit or 6 degrees Celsius but may drop with a colder forecast. These are typical temperatures for this time of year. The temperature has risen slightly with no frosts at night and higher day time temperatures, this may encourage more salmon to run resulting in fish being caught well up the system. The lower river around Stanley seems to be the hot spot currently in the colder conditions and this confirms historical results in the past but as the temperature has risen and fish will run further and catches will spread. 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 at this time of year please see this link for some help.

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. 20 pounds main line with a 15 pounds leader plus favoured lures include Devons, Toby Salmos, Vision 110’s and Rapalas, for spinning and Temple Dogs, Tubes, larger flies and Monkies for fly fishing. The Tay is a large river but modern lines such as Skagits or iflights make tuning over and casting larger flies easier and the fish tend to be near the bank in larger waters. 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. 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.
The Tay Ghillies Association are continuing their popular FISH OF THE MONTH AWARD to encourage good catch and release practice on the Tay. Each month the winner will receive 2 personalised crystal Whisky glasses engraved with details of the catch and they will automatically be entered into the fish of the year competition for a Stylish Crystal Engraved Decanter. Full details of this initiative.

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

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

Finally, you are reminded that the Tay's policy for January – 1st April 2016 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 Fly Fishing for Spring Salmon on Tay, Perthshire 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Fly Fishing for Spring Salmon on Tay, Perthshire 2016.

The Tay in Perthshire has now registered 65 spring salmon for the week making it the best week of the season so far and there is still a day to go.

Top fashion designer from London, John Rocha plays his first ever salmon on the fly from the Tay in the Wash House at Stanley on the Pitlochrie beat.

Success and smiles all round, a superb spring salmon landed, photographed then released back to the river. Well done!

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Salmon Fly Fishing March 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Salmon Fly Fishing March 2016.

Spring salmon fly fishing from bank and boat on the Catholes beat of the Tay at Stanley, Perthshire.

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Salmon Fishing on Tay, Perthshire March 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Salmon Fishing on Tay, Perthshire March 2016.

We are half way through the spring salmon fishing week and catches are improving fast with also a spread of success. We are certainly heading for the best week of the season so far with excellent conditions.

Ian Kettles playing a good fish in Pitlochrie pool at Stanley.

A superb 17 pounds beauty.

John Milligan plays a lively fish on the fly in the Wash House at Stanley on the Pitlochrie beat.

Success! a cracking 10 pounds beauty.

James Holder plays a good fish in the Little Head on the Catholes.

A 14 pounds beauty prior to release.

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Redford Trophy for largest Opening Day Salmon on Tay, Perthshire 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Redford Trophy for largest Opening Day Salmon on Tay, Perthshire 2016.

ARNOT MCWHINNIE PRESENTED THE REDFORD MEMORIAL TROPHY FOR THE HEAVIEST SALMON TO BE CAUGHT FROM THE RIVER TAY ON THE OPENING DAY OF THE SEASON 2016.

This was his speech at the Ceremony this past Saturday lunch time on the banks of the river at Taymount.

"FIRST OF ALL, FOR THOSE WHO WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF THIS SPLENDID SILVER CUP, IT WAS NAMED AFTER THE LATE IAN REDFORD, A POPULAR MINE HOST ON THE NEWTYLE BEATS AT BIRNAM WHO TRAGICALLY DIED FAR TOO YOUNG IN 1985.

AS A MEMORIAL TO HIM, GEORGE MCINNES WHO IS HERE TODAY AND I DECIDED TO PUT UP A TROPHY SO HE WOULD BE REMEMBERED EVERY YEAR IN THE FUTURE.

THE TROPHY WAS DULY BOUGHT WITH SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM IAN'S MANY FRIENDS, AND ENGRAVED.

IN 1986 IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE FIRST-EVER WINNER AND SINCE THEN HAS BECOME A MAJOR EVENT IN THE LIFE OF THE RIVER.

I CAN'T GO ON WITHOUT MENTIONING DUNCAN GLASS WHO ALAS DIED LAST MONTH, AND WHO HELPED THE TAY GHILLIES ASSOCIATION GET SO MUCH FUNDING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RIVER AND ITS FUTURE.

DUNCAN WON THE REDFORD IN 1987 WITH A 25 POUNDER, FOLLOWED TWO YEARS LATER BY HIS WIFE JANE WHO LANDED A 19 ½ POUNDER, THE ONLY WOMAN UNTIL NOW TO HAVE HAD HER NAME ENGRAVED ON THE CUP.

THIS YEAR. ALL THESE DECADES LATER, WHILE FISHING THE LINN POOL AT TAYMOUNT. GAIL O'DEA LANDED A BEAUTIFUL 14 POUNDER UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF HER HUSBAND COHN THE GHEAD GHILLIE ON THE BEAT.

GAIL, WHO IS A NURSE, HAD A REAL SCRAP WITH THE SALMON WHICH CONSTANTLY THREATENED TO RUN OUT OF THE POOL. BUT ENCOURAGED BY COHN, SHE PUT GREAT PRESSURE ON IT AND PREVENTED IT FROM DOING SO.

NOW COMES TO THE NEXT BIG MOMENT. GAIL, AS THE REDFORD'S 2016 WINNER, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS COMMEMORATION OF YOUR GREAT DAY.

NOT ONLY HAS YOUR NAME ENGRAVED ON IT FOR POSTERITY, BUT YOU ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE A £250 TACKLE VOUCHER FROM ROBERT JAMIESON OF JAMES CROCKART & SON, THE FAMOUS TACKLE AND GUN SHOP IN BLAIRGOWRIE WHO HAS BEEN A LOYAL AND GENEROUS SUPPORTER FOR THIS EVENT FOR DECADES.

YOU ARE ALS0 ABOUT TO RECEIVE TWO LOVELY ENGRAVED GLASSES WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED BY GEORGE MCINNES, A FOUNDING MEMBER OF OF THE TAY GHILLIES ASSOCIATION."

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 12th March 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 12th March 2016.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is now in March with excellent conditions for fishing in colder weather and settling water levels plus catches are improving. Expectation is high on the river for 2016 after successful springs in 2015, 2014 and 2013 and hopefully settled weather will continue with an improving run in February to give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver”.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 12th March)
SALMON & GRILSE: Waulkmill 1, Benchil 1, Catholes 4, Upper Scone 5, Pitlochrie 3, Burnmouth 6, Stobhall 2, Taymount 3, Ballathie 5, Cargill 4, Islamouth 5, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 4, Delvine Burnbane 1, Glendelvine 1, Murthly 2 8, Dunkeld House 4, Lower Kinnaird 1, Edradynate 1, Farleyer Upper 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 2, Portnacraig Pitlochry 1.
Total: 63 Largest: Murthly 2 22lbs

Spring salmon were landed throughout last week with colder weather and fortune favoured those who braved the elements in some cases. The week produced the best catch of the season so far with 63 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was a 22 pounds fish from Murthly 2. It is early yet with only small runs coming into the river and very cold weather is not making fishing easy but milder weather in the coming week may encourage more fish to run the river. The spring fish that have been caught so far have been superb quality and of a good size.

The majority of the salmon have been caught in the lower river, which is understandable with the cold conditions and a few fish have been running giving improving results further up the river including odd fish from Loch Tay now. The beats around Stanley traditionally lead the way in these conditions in early spring and should be a barometer for the runs. Waulkmill produced their first fish of the season on Saturday.

Benchil caught a couple of fish in the week with Upper Scone landing a 14 pounds fish on Friday then Danny Fulton caught a 10 pounds fish from Aitken Head on Saturday on the fly from the bank. The Pitlochrie beat fished well throughout the week with Upper Scone landing 3 fish on Thursday for a French party from the boat.

Sam Robinson caught a superb 16 pounds springer from Pitlochrie pool earlier in the week from the boat and

Mark Tyndall caught a lovely fish casting the fly from the boat in the Wash House.

Charlie Martin also landed a small springer casting a Devon in the Wash House from the boat. Catholes also produced fish throughout the week with Danny Fulton landing a cracker on the fly from the Slap.

Johnson Stewart also had a good fish from the Slap on a Devon weighing 15 pounds. Taymount and Stobhall had quieter weeks with falling river heights not suiting the Linn pool. The Robbins party did enjoy success on Taymount with Gina Jones catching her first ever springer weighing 7 pounds from the Majors cast. Ballathie and Cargill had much better weeks with a few fish landed. Ballathie landed 4 in the week with George McInnes and Gary McErlain doing well earlier in the week. Cargill enjoyed success on Saturday with 3 fish.

Steve Curnow caught a couple of fish from the boat on a Toby and David Harrington caught also on a Toby Salmo. Islamouth are starting to enjoy better success with 5 fish landed in the week.

Upper Islamouth and Meikleour caught a couple of fish on Saturday with Chris Plank and Mark McGillvray landing fish from the boat up to 13 pounds.

The middle river has been enjoying more success this past week as fish start to spread in the system. Delvine and Burnmouth caught an 8 pounds fish on Saturday with Jim Lapsey landing the fish on a Vison 110. Glendelvine had a fish in the week. Murthly 2 had an excellent week with 8 fish weighing up to 22 pounds.

Dunkeld House had a reasonable week with a few fish, Duncan Goodwin caught a fish on his first ever days’ salmon fishing weighing 7 pounds then promptly caught another the same weight. Not a bad start.

Lower Kinnaird had their first salmon which was caught on the fly and further fish came from Edradynate and Upper Farleyer. A couple of fish were reported from Loch Tay on Saturday up to 20 pounds from Fish n’ Trips.

On the Tummel Martin Wilson caught a superb 13 pounds fish from the Green Bank on the Port-na-Craig bank on the fly.

The Spring Salmon fishing season is now in March and expectation remains very high after previous good springs. Last weeks catches continued to be heartening after the slow start and bad weather. Let us hope this is a sign of an upturn in catches as last March proved. It has been a reasonable start so 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 prospects w/c 14th March 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire prospects w/c 14th March 2016.

The Salmon fishing season on the mighty Tay in Perthshire, Scotland has entered March and we have been encountering some colder winter weather after milder conditions with heavy rain earlier in the season which put the river up making life fairly difficult with limited opportunities for anglers to brave the elements in pursuit of that magical spring salmon however that has changed and we have good water levels and better opportunities plus improving catches. Spring salmon have started to run the river and catches have improved over the last month. The weather hopefully will remain settled over the coming week which should help and give the river more settled conditions and benefit the river to give a greater chance of producing some sport and some early "Bars of Silver" if you are prepared to brave the elements.

Currently the river is falling away slowly after colder weather last week (just over 5’ on the Ballathie gauge).

The weather is to be milder over next week with some more sun as well hopefully! Milder temperatures have given the river more water from snow melt. 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. Colder weather has settled the river back to a good levels and made ideal spring fishing conditions. The water temperature was around 40 degrees Fahrenheit or 4.5 degrees Celsius and should remain at that level in the coming days. These are typical temperatures for this time of year. The temperature may rise slightly with no frosts at night and higher day time forecast for the week ahead, this may encourage more salmon to run resulting in fish being caught well up the system. The lower river around Stanley seems to be the hot spot currently in the colder conditions and this confirms historical results in the past. 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 at this time of year please see this link for some help.

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. 20 pounds main line with a 15 pounds leader plus favoured lures include Devons, Toby Salmos, Vision 110’s and Rapalas, for spinning and Temple Dogs, Tubes, larger flies and Monkies for fly fishing. The Tay is a large river but modern lines such as Skagits or iflights make tuning over and casting larger flies easier and the fish tend to be near the bank in larger waters. 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. 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.

The Tay Ghillies Association are continuing their popular FISH OF THE MONTH AWARD to encourage good catch and release practice on the Tay. Each month the winner will receive 2 personalised crystal Whisky glasses engraved with details of the catch and they will automatically be entered into the fish of the year competition for a Stylish Crystal Engraved Decanter. Full details of this initiative.

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

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

Finally, you are reminded that the Tay's policy for January – 1st April 2016 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