The river Tay in Perthshire Scotland continued to catch spring salmon last week as water levels eased even further. Catches were maintained but disappointing as the river dropped steadily and the weather continued to improve but it was another quieter week for the time of year with Saturday showing an improvement. A reasonable 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. The catches on the lower river have eased as temperatures rise but there were continued signs of fish spreading up river as catches were maintained in the middle and Upper River giving renewed optimism for the coming week.
This past week saw water levels drop below 2’ most of the week due to better weather and improved conditions with spring salmon being registered from the river with others caught as well but not registered. Sea trout continued to appear as well in better numbers that was very encouraging. The fishing is supreme and the scenery is not bad either. Currently the Blue bells are out along the river with also numerous other wild flowers. Ospreys visit the river on a daily basis and you could see an Otter or a Kingfisher darting past while you are in mid cast! It is true what they say, “ a salmon is a bonus!”
Beat catches reported
(week ending 24th May)
SALMON & GRILSE: Fishponds 1, Stobhall 5, Taymount 6, Ballathie 1, Cargill 3, Islamouth 17, Upper Islamouth and Meikleour 7, Kercock 2, Murthly 1 1, Glendelvine 1, Murthly 2 5, Newtyle 3, Dunkeld House 4, Dalmarnock 2, Lower Kinnaird 3, Farleyer Upper 5, Farleyer Lower 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 4, Loch Faskally 5, Ruan Ruarie 2.
Total: 78 Largest: Murthly 2 & Farleyer Lower 25lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 11, Fishponds 2, Benchil 2, Catholes Stanley 1, Stobhall 1, Taymount 2, Newtyle 1.
Total: 20 Largest: Lower Redgorton & Newtyle 4lbs
Lower Tay.
The summer fishing is well underway on the lower river for the coming weeks as most of the boats are off the river below Stanley for May and June but reasonably priced bank fishing is still available. Sea Trout have been an added bonus with more caught this past week on the lower river yet again. Salmon catches below Stanley have been limited but sea trout continue to be caught in reasonable numbers especially on Lower Redgorton.
Fishponds caught a 10 pounds sea liced fish on Saturday. Just above Stanley Stobhall and Taymount worked away with 11 salmon between them. Stobhall averaged nearly a fish a day and on
Taymount Vince Sibley caught 7 and 9 pounds fish plus a sea trout in one day. Cargill and Ballathie continue to find it hard going but falling water levels should help them this coming week.
On Cargill G Campbell and Justin Symborski both had success during the week. Islamouth had a much better week as water levels dropped with 17 for Angus Johnsons party which included 7 landed on Saturday.
The Meikleour beats also figured fairly well with reasonable catches.
Middle Tay.
The catches further upstream have been steady this past week but disappointing compared to last year as conditions have eased and the water temperature has climbed up a bit. Over the weeks to come this will hopefully improve as the salmon run freely up the river with water levels easing. Kercock had 2 for their week and the Murthly and Glendelvine beats accounted for 7 including a fish of 25 pounds from Murthly 2.
Newtyle caught 3 in the week with Peter Noble landing a superb 14 pounds fish on Wednesday, Peter Bowling caught his first ever fish on the fly at the Dean’s Burn and Craig Carter caught his first ever salmon weighing 8 pounds from the Ferry Pool. Just upstream from there on the Dunkeld and Birnam angling club water odd fish have been caught, Billy Davidson landing a 12 pounds fish and loosing another good fish in the high teens covered in sea lice!
On Dunkeld House some good fish were landed with John Cranston catching a fresh 14 pounds beauty in the Rock Pool on a Toby and Andrew Smiths landing a lively 10 pounds fish on the fly in the Cathedral Stream.
Dalmarnock had a better week now under the guidance of Callum McRoberts. Fish were landed up to 15 pounds with
Billy Matthews from the borders catching an 8 pounds fish on the fly from the Inch Stream on Saturday. Lower Kinnaird had 3 for the week.
Upper Tay.
This area is fishing steadily and seeing fish with Farleyer beats picking up 6 fish including a fish of 25 pounds last week.
Tummel.
It has been much quieter on the Tummel this past week with odd catches but fish have been running through Pitlochry Dam with the count up to around 900. 4 fish were caught last week on Portnacraig including a superb 21 pounds fish for Gordon Nichol on the fly, Lee Thompson with an 8 pounds fish on a Flying C, Alan Atkins with a 6 pounds fish again on Flying C and
Brian Holmes landed a fine 16 pounds fish on his third days fishing on the beat which was well worth waiting for! Loch Faskally have continued to catch with 5 fish last week now that salmon are running freely through the dam. Even further up the system, the Pitlochry Angling club Ruan Ruarie stretch accounted for 2 fish including a 12 pounds fish for Barry Ward on Saturday. The beats below have been catching as well but they do not register their fish on fishpal unfortunately to see the true picture.
Isla & Ericht.
Salmon are now freely running the Isla with rising water temperatures and nosing up into the Ericht however nothing was reported last 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 good so far despite the big water levels early in the season with some notable catches, let us hope this is a taste of what is to come for the Summer and Autumn as the weather remains reasonable 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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