The river Tay in Perthshire Scotland had a reasonable catch last week in settled conditions but is looking for a far stronger run. Currently there is a developing run of autumn salmon and grilse on the river with a higher expectation of further improvement with occasional signs of more fish running. The weather is to be settled this week and there are some 4 metre tides that may trigger off further improvements. The catches have been disappointing recently but catches have increased substantially giving renewed optimism for the coming weeks assuming more fish enter the system.
This past week saw the water level drop and settle after more rain and sport improved and spread more evenly throughout the beats.
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 but will soon disappear back to Africa 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!” That has certainly been the case this year!
Beat catches reported
(week ending 6th September)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 27, Waulkmill 3, Lower Redgorton 12, Luncarty 2, Upper Redgorton 5, Fishponds 9, Benchil 4, Upper Scone 7, Pitlochrie 3, Burnmouth 4, Stobhall 10, Taymount 17, Ballathie 9, Cargill 6, Islamouth 14, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 9, Kercock 8, Glendelvine 7, Murthly 2 8, Newtyle 1, Dunkeld House 5, Dalmarnock 3, Lower Kinnaird 7, Farleyer Upper 3, Farleyer Lower 3, Lochlane and Laggan 2.
Total: 188 Largest: Ballathie 24lbs
SEA TROUT: Upper Redgorton 1, Dalmarnock 2, Lower Kinnaird 1, Lochlane and Laggan 2.
Total: 6 Largest: Dalmarnock 3lbs
Lower Tay.
The autumn fishing is improving on the lower river slowly with fish running the river at last. Sea Trout have been an added bonus this summer but a strengthening run is appearing which hopefully will develop into a good autumn run. The lower beats below Stanley caught fish this past week and Almondmouths catches were reasonable but unpredictable and this was reflected on the river in general. 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 entering the river. They had fish all week and finished with 27 that included 2 days of 8 fish. The Stormont angling club water is also producing a similar catch but this is not registered. Waulkmill and Lower Redgorton also caught fish on most days but in disappointing numbers for the time of year. Fishponds, Luncarty and Upper Redgorton caught fish on most days with great effort.
Fishponds caught mainly on the fly with 3 on Monday and caught fish up to 14 pounds. Upper Redgorton had a steady week with fish up to 15 pounds. HF Electrical had 4 including a 15 pounds fish for John Ferguson and Greggor Nimmos party caught one. On Pitlochrie and Benchil 14 fish were landed in the week with Upper Scone catching 7. Francois Stoven had a good week landing 5 himself up to 18 pounds.
On Stanley Charles Savages party also caught 7 fish with Charles accounting for 3 himself up to 15 pounds on fly, Andrew Cowan caught a couple on fly, Sue Dixon and Michael Watts caught on spinners. Stobhall and Taymount had a consistent week with fish on most days accounting for 27 and mainly on fly up to around 16 or 17 pounds. Ballathie and Cargill continue to do well catching several fish and some good heavy fish up to 24 pounds. The Rawson and Ibbotson party were fishing on both beats during the week and again did well on fly. Cargill reported “Hector Rawson’s party fished Cargill again this week, the river had dropped back from last Saturdays flood and despite hard fishing with some very experienced rods, the first three days proved to be a blank. Thursday did see a lot more fresh fish arrive and David McCloy had a nice 16lber from the bridge stream, surprisingly although the fish was sea liced it carried quite a bit of colour around the gill plates suggesting it may have been lying in the estuary for a while. Friday saw Henry Johnstone land a cracking 13 lber from the Cradle on a flying c and the ghillies had one a piece as well. Saturday was again tough going but Di Ibbotson landed a big coloured cock fish from the Pot Shot on a floating Devon tipping the scales to 20lbs, David Mcloy had another from the bridge stream.
All in all not the most memorable opening September week but plenty of fish around just need water temps to drop dramatically to bring them on the take.” Islamouth had a steady week with the odd good day including 7 on Tuesday. On Upper Islamouth and Meikleour the Moyers and Miller parties had success.
Early in the week Martin Moyers and Paul Yates caught good fish up to 13 pounds. The Miller party then did reasonably well at the end of the week.
Middle Tay.
The catches further upstream have improved, as conditions continue to change and salmon ran freely up the river with improving runs and more water. Kercock finished with 8 for the week. Norman Wood had a good couple of days landing fish up to 10 pounds on fly. Jonathan Forss from Sweden completed a McNab with a 7 pounds salmon. Sid Haughtton, Mike Marsh, Colin Chisholm and Tony Griffiths all caught with
Tony Griffiths landing a superb 18 pounds fish on a Sunray shadow. Murthly 2 had a reasonable week with 8 salmon.
On Newtyle Gordon Cross from Victoria in British Columbia caught his first Atlantic salmon on his first visit to Scotland on his birthday, a grilse from the Boil. Dunkeld House had a reasonable week catching on most days. Allan Burton started the week with a fresh grilse from the Gauge pool.
Lee Fisher, our head bailiff on the river caught 2 fish up to 15 pounds from the Cutty and Jeff Bannister caught an 8 pounds fish on a Toby Salmo form the Ivy tree pool. Dalmarnock had odd fish in the week as did the Kinnaird beats.
Upper Tay.
This area has started to fish again with the recent rain. Fish were caught from the Farleyer beats.
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 just over 4000.
Isla & Ericht.
Salmon are now freely running the Isla and Ericht with rising water levels however nothing was reported last week.
Earn.
This past week Lochlane and Laggan have reported odd fish that is encouraging.
The 2014 salmon season in Scotland, Europe and Iceland has not been one to remember so far. Atlantic salmon stocks are relatively low so the importance of Catch and Release is vital to continue our enjoyment of this superb sport for the future. Currently on the Tay the majority of anglers with odd exceptions are achieving this. We had a superb spring run and catch last season, which may just be down to the majority of anglers returning salmon over the past seasons. This year catches have fallen dramatically so emphasizing the importance of catch and release is absolutely crucial. Retaining hen salmon is a strict no no and any angler doing so should not be allowed on our rivers.
The Tay Ghillies Association have seized the initiative and 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
Thank you to all anglers who have returned their spring salmon to maintain our sport for the future, but this should be extended to the summer and autumn now as catches have dropped to new lows, it is vitally important and is a great contribution by individuals who care for their sport and the river. Well done!
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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