The river Tay opened on the 15th January undeterred by the dreich conditions, however the unsettled conditions continued over the 2 weeks making spring fishing impossible on several days. Around 30 spring salmon were landed on the river in those first few days making it a good start to the 2014 season. The catches have been limited since then giving the river a disappointing January as a whole. If the river had good conditions there would have been a reasonable total as the first few days indicated. Let us hope the weather settles in February and we can see the full potential of the Tay as last year proved.
This past week we continued to see extreme weather and very unsettled water levels making spring salmon near impossible on most days. The Jet stream continues to pull large wet weather systems over us. Colder and more settled weather are now required if we are to try and achieve the heights of last spring. The spring period from January to May 2013 was the big talking point with well over 2000 salmon landed, showing a staggering 82.5 % increase on 2012 and a 98% increase on the 5 year average. Expectation is high on the river for 2014 but we need settled weather to come in to give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver”.
Spring salmon were landed last week despite the horrible weather. Dunkeld House continued their good start to the season against all the odds. John Cranston braved the elements last Tuesday and successfully landed a 12 pounds spring salmon from the boat in the Chestnut pool on a 60 gram Toby harled from the boat with the beat gauge showing over 6 feet. John, who is a Dunkeld regular realized how lucky he was as normally you would never be able to harl a 60 gram Toby from the boat as it would just sink to the bottom of the river! Well done all concerned.
Dalmarnock caught their second spring fish of the season last week as high water encourages salmon to run up the river unimpeded. Ghillie Gordon Pollock accounted for a cracking 11 pounds springer from the boat harling. There was another spring salmon registered on Saturday from Upper Islamouth and meikleour weighing 12 pounds completing a disappointing week for the river.
The Tay Ghillies Association has launched a 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.
• Catch a good Tay Salmon
• Weigh it carefully and photograph it with as little handling as possible.
• Verify with Ghillie
• Safely return the fish with a minimum of handling
• TGA Committee decision is final
Send entries with a photo and verification details to:-
Mike Hay, Sec of Tay Ghillies Assoc.
Mobile: 07762 464407
Email: tayhayurg@gmail.com
The Spring Salmon fishing was well and truly underway after all the excitement of opening day’s celebrations. All in all it was a truly memorable opening so let us hope the season lives up to every ones expectations. The past 2 weeks have not been ones to remember for most but things can only improve, hopefully!
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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