The river Tay in Perthshire Scotland had a reasonable catch last week in settled conditions until late in the week when rain brought the river up a bit to improve sport but is looking for a far stronger run. Currently there has been a run of autumn salmon and grilse over the last few weeks on the river but there is a higher expectation of further improvement in the weeks to come with more fish running hopefully. The weather has a last changed and this could trigger off further improvements. The catches have been disappointing and tough to achieve recently but more water will give hope and renewed optimism for the coming weeks assuming more fish enter the system. Most beats are reporting reasonable numbers of fish in residence but catching them is proving difficult.
This past week saw the water level drop further to summer level lows but rain has started to increase flows and sport improved throughout the beats. The fishing can be supreme and the scenery is not bad either. The Ospreys have now gone back to Africa but 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 4th October)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 31, Waulkmill 14, Lower Redgorton 12, Upper Redgorton 4, Fishponds 4, Benchil 1, Pitlochrie 2, Stobhall 10, Taymount 9, Ballathie 13, Cargill 26, Islamouth 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 4, Kercock 11, Murthly 2 9, Newtyle 2, Dunkeld House 5, Dalmarnock 2, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 3, Upper Kinnaird 2, Farleyer Upper 2, Farleyer Lower 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 2.
Total: 171 Largest: Cargill 28lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 1.
Total: 1 Largest: Waulkmill 3lbs
Lower Tay.
The autumn fishing has been hard on the lower river with limited fish running the river with extreme low river levels for the time of year. Sea Trout have been an added bonus this summer but a strengthening autumn run is hoped for in remaining weeks of the season to come. 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 31, which is extremely disappointing for the time of year. The Stormont angling club water is also producing a similar catch but this is not registered. Waulkmill and Lower Redgorton caught fish on most days but in disappointing numbers for the time of year.
Upper Redgorton and Fishponds caught fish on most days with great effort. At Stanley the Foster party enjoyed a good week despite not catching many fish on Benchil and Pitlochrie.
Trevor McCann caught a sea liced grilse on the fly in the Woodside and Peter Varney caught a 10 pounds fish in Horsey on a Toby on the Pitlochrie beat.
Mick Beham landed a 10 pounds fish from the Long Shot on a Devon on Benchil at the 11th hour on Saturday. Taymount and Stobhall had fish throughout the week in trying conditions. Ballathie and Cargill did well as the low water suits the beats and several good fish were landed every day.
Cargill had a “better week, David and Linda frost had some success at the beginning of the week with a nice fresh grilse, and other offers. When we got a rise in water on Thursday the fish really turned on, on the lower beat with Jim Davison’s party landing 16 salmon and losing at least another 10. Most of these were coloured in the teens of pounds with Harold Jefferson landing and returning a 22lb hen from the Cradle, although we did get three lovely sea licers also.
Saturday was a good day again and it saw Jimmy Davison land a nice 12lber from moons point and the highlight of the week was Peter Montgomery’s 28.5lb cock fish from the Pot Shot. 26 fish for the week, which is an improvement, but still down on our average for the season.” Islamouth had odd fish in the week but excessive low water does not suit the beat, catches should now improve there following a rise in water.
Meikleour and Upper Islamouth caught fish at the end of the week with John Campbell and Mike Brown being successful anglers landing fish up to 13 pounds. Calum McRoberts reported “with the low water it was all quiet until the wee lift on Thursday and with this came the fish. For the remainder of the week we were seeing as many fish as we had all season, with fish showing in all our pools. The Campbell party finished their week with fish on all days following the water rise up to 13lbs. As well as coloured fish, silver fish were in evidence as well.”
Middle Tay.
The catches further upstream have improved but have not been easy to achieve due to low water levels, as water levels increase this should change for the better. Kercock had a much better week with 11 fish landed. The successful anglers included Dougie McLean, Roy McKercher, Sandy and Sam Datta and Jim Lamb landing fish up to 18 pounds. This was a little report from Sandy Datta. ‘We would like to let you know about the great day we had on Kercock on Saturday. We ended up with three fish for the day. My wife caught an 18 pounder on a Western Clown Vision110. However she was not too pleased when I commented on the fish being caught on a clown that was fished by a clown!
Thanks to head ghillie Gary Harkin for a great day.” Murthly 2 had a better week with 9 fish.
Newtyle had odd fish as well with John Bell landing a 15 pounds fish on the fly from the Steps.
Dunkeld House also had a better week with a few fish. Dalmarnock and the Kinnaird beat caught fish as well. Stephen Bett caught a 14 pounds fish from Dalguise on a Toby.
Upper Tay.
This area has been quiet again and needs more rain however Farleyer caught fish in the week.
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 4400. Kevin Smith caught a couple of fish on the Port-na-craig beat on fly and spinner weighing 7 and 8 pounds.
Isla & Ericht.
Salmon have been running the Isla and Ericht in recent weeks but more water would improve matters. Nothing was reported last week.
Earn.
Nothing was reported last week.
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.
Tim Greenfield being presented with the August award for a 23 pounds fish caught on the fly from Islamouth.
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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