Good catches continue as water levels ease in superb Easter weather.
The river Tay in Perthshire Scotland continued to catch spring salmon last week as water levels eased further and in superb spring weather. Catches were maintained as the river dropped steadily and the weather improved. A strong run of spring salmon continued on the river and there was the continued sign of some more bigger multi sea winter fish with more mid twenty pounds salmon landed. There were again good catches from around Stanley upwards but there were continued signs of fish spreading up river as catches improved in the middle and Upper River giving renewed optimism for the coming week. The catches were heartening and also better than last year for the time so hopefully it is a sign of another great spring for the river as the weather relents.
This past week saw water levels ease most of the week due to better weather and improved conditions and over 120 spring salmon were registered from the river with others caught as well but not registered.
Beat catches reported
(week ending 19th April)
SALMON & GRILSE: Upper Redgorton 1, Fishponds 2, Catholes Stanley 1, Upper Scone 1, Pitlochrie 1, Stobhall 6, Taymount 7, Ballathie 4, Cargill 3, Islamouth 14, Upper Islamouth and Meikleour 9, Kercock 3, Murthly 1 11, Glendelvine 6, Murthly 2 15, Newtyle 2, Dunkeld House 5, Dalguise 3, Lower Kinnaird 3, Upper Kinnaird 2, Findynate 1, Farleyer Upper 4, Coupar Grange 5, Portnacraig Pitlochry 13.
Total: 122 Largest: Murthly 1 30lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 5, Dalguise 1.
Total: 6 Largest: Dalguise 5lbs
Lower Tay.
The lower river from Islamouth to just above Stanley again fished well all week. All these beats are registering a higher catch than last year, which is very encouraging for the river. The Stanley beats seem to be struggling now with higher water temperatures as fish can run a longer distance to get above the Catholes Weir. The Catholes beat produced a lovely 7 pounds sea liced salmon for Kimmo Koskela visiting from Finland, caught fly fishing from the boat in the Catholes Stream. There were some other salmon caught at Stanley and below last week, which was encouraging as most of the beats in that area has had a very lean spring due to excessive high water and some unwelcome visitors. Sea Trout started to appear as well with Lower Redgorton catching 5 in one day.
Rob Jones caught a lovely fresh 11 pounds salmon on Upper Redgorton on his first trip to the Tay. On the same area of the river
Fishponds also had success with Ian Beveridge catching a superb 17 pounds springer. Stobhall and Taymount continued their good season so far with fish on most days. On Taymount Ken Lister enjoyed a good week with 3 fish and
David Jarvis caught a cracking 18.5 pounds spring salmon on the fly from the boat after a titanic struggle. Ballathie and Cargill also caught on most days as fish run freely up river.
On Cargill Adrian Jackson jnr caught his first ever salmon weighing 16 pounds from the boat. Islamouth and Meikleour had good weeks with several salmon successfully landed.
The Meikleour fishing’s had some great sport during the week with fish up to 19 pounds.
Middle Tay.
The catches further upstream have continued to improve this past week as conditions have eased and the water temperature has climbed up a bit. Over the weeks to come this will inevitably improve further as the salmon run freely up the river with water levels easing. Kercock are now having better success with more fish being seen and the water dropping.
Jamie Newell caught his first ever salmon then proceeded to catch his second last Wednesday and
Jackie Taylor caught a 15 pounds fish. The Murthly and Glendelvine beats had superb weeks catching several salmon including fish of 25 and 30 pounds in weight. Hopefully this will continue over the coming weeks and better last years good catches. Further up river on Newtyle,
Belgium angler Leen Verhoeven caught her first Scottish salmon under the proud eyes of her father as they enjoyed a weeks fishing on the Tay on different beats and Elliot Bryant was successful with the fly landing a 12 pounds fish on a Tummel Monkey from the Steps pool. The Dunkeld house beat had a good week with fish on most days and some cracking fish up to 20 pounds in weight. Successful anglers included Richard Hutchinson with an 18 pounds fish from the Cathedral Stream, Gerald Ferguson with a 20 pounds fish from the boat in the Ivy Tree and
Jimmy Lapsey with a 17 pounder from the Rock pool caught on a Vision. Dalguise reported odd fish with Kenny Tragham catching a 7 pounds fish from the boat in the Bridge Stream, and then 2 fish were caught on Saturday, one by Robert McFarlane on the fly from the Island Run and the other landed by Andy Kerr on a Toby in the Otterstone. A 5 pounds early sea trout was also reported from the beat caught on the fly. The Kinnaird beats have also been producing fish on a regular basis with the fly being successful on the lower beat and
Calvin Laidlaw amongst anglers landing good fish from the Upper beat.
Upper Tay.
This area is starting to see fish with Farleyer beats and Findynate catching last week.
Tummel.
It has just been a matter of time before the Tummel featured in the catches and that is certainly the case now with a few fish appearing at the Pitlochry Dam and 13 fish were caught last week. Successful anglers included Richard Bond and Ian Mclaren catching fish up to 16 pounds on Monday both on the fly, visiting angler
Andy Mantle caught a superb 20 pounds fish on the fly, Dave Stewart and Steven Watt were both successful with the fly on Wednesday and then local angler Calum McRoberts had a red letter day on Friday catching 5 fish including a superb 24 pounds beauty all on Visions. Visiting anglers Thomas Andrew and Dean McGowan caught a fish each on the fly on Saturday completed the week. The beats below have been catching as well but they do not register their fish on fishpal unfortunately to see the true picture.
Isla.
Salmon are now freely running the Isla with rising water temperatures and nosing up into the Ericht. Coupar Grange had 5 fish for their week.
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 has been excellent so far despite the big water levels with some notable catches, let us hope this is a taste of what is to come and the weather continues to settles down further to maintain it all.
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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