The conditions last week were again superb on the Tay in Perthshire, Scotland with ideal conditions but milder weather at the end of the week unsettled especially the lower river curtailing catches but improved returns increased from the previous week filling everyone with more optimism for the coming week. The good news for this week is that we have colder settled conditions giving us great prospects with an even colder weather forecast for the latter part of the week, which will maintain early spring sport on this marvelous river especially on the lower river.
The Spring Salmon fishing is never easy but when settled conditions prevail the sport can be magical as proved this past week with some outstanding catches with over 60 spring salmon registered in the Tay system. This was a marked improvement on the previous week and superb for the river. Spring salmon were caught all week up to 25 pounds in weight and throughout the river. The Tay is fishing currently very well and is certainly a good destination to catch your first spring salmon of the season. The river offers a variety of possibilities for all standards of anglers with ghillies only too keen to teach the novices and this mighty river can produce a memorable salmon for the keen fly fisher. Levels have dropped and the pools can be easily covered from bank and boat with modern technology. Why not have a go and sample this magical river. The fishing is supreme and the scenery is not bad either.
Beat catches reported
(week ending 9th March)
SALMON & GRILSE: Luncarty Spring Only 2, Benchil and Catholes 4, Upper Scone 1, Pitlochrie and Catholes 4, Burnmouth 3, Stobhall 5, Taymount 5, Ballathie 2, Cargill 4, Islamouth 1, Lower and Upper Islamouth 4, Upper Islamouth and Meikleour House 1, Meikleour House 1, Kercock 3, Murthly 1 5, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 8, Newtyle 2, Dunkeld House 1, Dalmarnock 1, Upper Kinnaird 1, Farleyer Upper 1.
Total: 61 Largest: Murthly 2 25lbs
Spring salmon have been caught throughout the system this past week encouraging everyone. The Upper reaches have encountered fresh salmon again, as fish have been keen to run with good water levels earlier in the month despite cold temperatures. The Upper river registered 2 spring salmon with Upper Farleyer landing a 15 pounds salmon on Tuesday and Upper Kinnaird catching on Saturday.
On the Middle river 24 spring salmon were caught this last week. When the water starts to warm up the middle river will fair even better. The Murthly beats did very well landing 15 springers including the Glendelvine beat that is opposite the lower Murthly water. On the Lower Murthly beat the Perth and District angling members enjoyed good success largely on the fly with David Brand being one of the successful rods catching his first springer of the season on a Monkey fly from the Garth. The Upper beat and Stenton proved successful for Tony Black’s fishermen with 8 spring salmon landed during the week including an impressive 25 pounds beauty. Drew Wright caught with Tony on Wednesday and also lost one on the same day at Stenton. Down river at Kercock
Martin Wilson caught his first spring salmon ever, an 18 pounds cracker on a Rapala. Two other fish were in the week were caught by Jeff Duke at 12 pounds on a Toby, and John Jones using a Collie dog landed an impressive 18 pounds springer fly fishing the Cottage stream. Dalmarnock, Dunkeld and Newtyle also contributed to the middle river catches.
The Lower River dominated the catches understandably with colder conditions and a dropping water with 35 spring salmon for the week. Islamouth had the odd success during the week and on Ballathie and Cargill a few were grassed with Tobies being the popular bait giving success. Stobhall and Taymount continue to do well landing several during the week.
On Taymount Paul Chisholm landed a 12 pounds beauty from the boat in the Alderns on Monday, Jeff Weighell had a 12 pounds cracker on a Toby from the flats on the top beat and Dominic Handel caught his first ever spring salmon weighing 16 pounds from the Alderns. The beats around Stanley continue to fish well due to the cold conditions. On Catholes Freddie Sutherland got the week off to a flyer with a 12 pounds beauty within minutes of starting and Alan McCaig was also successful from the Black Stones. Later in the week Jason Stratton landed his first springer on Saturday from Erics and Danny Fulton caught a 15 pounds beauty from the Slap. On Pitlochrie Dougie Wangert landed an 11 pounds springer in Horsey in the boat and Dave Downie caught a 12 pounder from the same pool on the Upper Scone fishing’s. Benchil also reported spring salmon with John Lessels on Monday and John Bennett being successful on Wenesday. John Lessels then caught a cracking 9 pounds spring on Luncarty the following day. The colder conditions for this coming week should prove successful for the lower river.
Some video action from the Catholes.
It was certainly another superb spring week to remember with some great springers caught and good conditions but now as we enter March with more settled weather and river levels the spring catches should improve further over the coming weeks assuming the run continues.
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.
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