The river Tay in Perthshire Scotland continued to catch salmon but still in disappointing numbers due to hot weather and low water last week making life difficult. Currently there is a weak run of summer salmon and odd grilse on the river but expectation is high with a pending improving summer run with signs of more grilse running last week. Rain at the weekend has freshened the river up and the weather is to be reasonably settled and cooler with a chance of some rain this week that may just trigger off some much needed improvements. The catches have been disappointing but could suddenly improve at any minute giving renewed optimism for the coming week assuming more fish enter the system.
This past week saw water levels continue at summer height most of the week due to warm settled weather making catches suffer. The fishing can be supreme and the scenery is not bad either. Currently there are numerous wild flowers blooming on the river banks. 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 2nd August)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 4, Stobhall 1, Taymount 3, Ballathie 6, Cargill 10, Islamouth 3, Kercock 3, Murthly 2 1, Newtyle 2, Dunkeld House 1, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 1.
Total: 36 Largest: Taymount 21lbs
SEA TROUT: Stobhall 2.
Lower Tay.
The summer fishing is well underway on the lower river as most of the boats are now back on the river below Stanley for rest of the season with an expected summer run over the next few weeks. Sea Trout have been an added bonus this summer but we are looking for a strengthening run now to go into the autumn on the river as a whole. The lower beats continued to struggle however Almondmouth landed 4 fish in the week with 3 in one day. This beat is seen as a barometer for the river as it is the first beat at the head of the tide therefore improving catches there would hearten everyone and mean more fish are at last running up the river. Stobhall had one during the week and
Taymount managed three including a superb 21 pounds fish from Findford Head caught by Tom Pook. A party from Canada then fished the second half of the week and Nigel Malloch caught a 13 pounds salmon and Malcolm Porteous lands a fresh 9 pounds fish. Conditions have been ideal for Ballathie and Cargill with the low water as they have deep pools and fish tend to settle there in these conditions. They landed fish on most days and it has certainly been the most productive part of the river currently.
Cargill had a much better day on Saturday prior to rising water landing 6 fish. Mark Chritchley, Andy Graham, Trevor Malloch, and Vincent Kingstree all had success landing good fish up to 15 pounds. Islamouth are finding it tough in very low water but Angus Johnston’s party did land three fish in the latter part of the week. More water here will bring much more success.
Middle Tay.
The catches further upstream were again harder earned this past week, as conditions were more settled with lower river levels. Over the weeks to come this will hopefully improve as the salmon run freely up the river with improving runs and more water. Odd fish were caught during the week. Kercock had a couple of fish and one was caught on Murthly 2. Newtyle also reported 2 fish and on
Dunkeld House Shaun Earle caught his first ever salmon on his first venture into the sport weighing 14 pounds from the Ivy Tree on a silver and copper Toby on a very wet day. Dalguise managed a 16 pounds salmon from the Bridge pool landed by Kenny Tragham on the worm. A fish was also reported from Lower Kinnaird.
Upper Tay.
This area has fished steadily in recent weeks but lack of water has curtailed sport.
Tummel.
It has been a very quiet week on the Tummel again with odd catches but fish have been running through Pitlochry Dam with the count around 3500. This was an interesting bit of information from the Pitlochry Angling web site about the numbers of salmon ascending the ladder at the dam. “Salmon started getting up the ladder in early April at a water temperature of about 6C. During April although some salmon got up the ladder, numbers mainly built up downstream of the dam. In early May, the water became warm enough to allow the waiting salmon to clear quickly producing the clear pulse in the counts seen in the plot below. There was then a short lull before the count built up quickly through May as the main run of salmon arrived, and into June and July. We are currently waiting for the main run of grilse to arrive.”
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. A bit more water would help this system now.
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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