The river Tay in Perthshire Scotland had another reasonable catch in fairly unsettled conditions last week. Currently there has been a run of autumn salmon and grilse over the last few weeks on the river but it has not been strong as we enter the final 5 days of the season. The weather has at last changed to more autumnal conditions and this has triggered off improvements making October the best month of this difficult season so far. The catches have been disappointing and tough to achieve recently but more water has given hope and renewed optimism for the last few days assuming more fish enter the system. Some heavy fish in the 30 pounds range have also been caught. Most beats are reporting reasonable numbers of fish in residence but catching them is proving difficult.
This past week saw the water levels fluctuate due to rain and high winds and sport was had to achieve throughout the river. Saturday was all but written off due to the Tay Decent Canoe event. The fishing can be supreme and the scenery is not bad either. The autumn colours are supreme and you could see a skein of Geese crossing, 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 25th October)
SALMON & GRILSE: Waulkmill 4, Lower Redgorton 24, Luncarty 3, Upper Redgorton 6, Fishponds 11, Upper Scone 6, Pitlochrie 1, Stobhall 15, Taymount 6, Ballathie 11, Cargill 13, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 20, Kercock 15, Newtyle 6, Dunkeld House 6, Dalmarnock 2, Dalguise 3, Lower Aberuthven 2, Lochlane and Laggan 16.
Total: 170 Largest: Dunkeld House 34lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 1, Taymount 1, Lower Aberuthven 4, Lochlane and Laggan 1.
Total: 7 Largest: Lochlane and Laggan 4lbs
Lower Tay.
The autumn fishing has been hard on the lower river with limited fish running but the increase in water levels have continued to see big improvements making October the most productive month so far. Sea Trout have been an added bonus this summer but the autumn salmon run has been disappointing. The lower beats below Stanley caught fish this past week in reasonable numbers including quite a few fresh ones. The river continued at a good height seeing fish run and move throughout the river. The rise has not benefited Almondmouth and the Stormont Angling club as fish ran the Almond in numbers. Waulkmill and Lower Redgorton caught fish throughout the week up to 12 pounds with Toby salmos being the favoured lure to produce success. These included a few sea liced fish. Fresh fish were also reported from Luncarty with Alan Young, Jimmy Chim and Gerrard Kelly all catching. Upper Redgorton and Fishponds continue to have better catches with October being far their most productive month including mostly fresh fish caught.
Fishponds had a very successful week with several salmon landed including a
28 pounds fish for Jason Tumath caught on a floating devon form Shochie Green.
On Friday 2 good fish were landed on fly weighing 23 and 16 pounds. Upper Scone had reasonable success with fish up to 23 pounds for Arnot McWhinnie and Alan McCaigs party. Simon Harrips party on Stanley earlier in the week accounted for a 12 pounds fish form Pitlochrie pool caught by Robbie Heath. Stobhall and Taymount continued to catch throughout the week and October is proving to be their most productive month as well. Ballathie and Cargill are still producing reasonable catches despite favouring lower water levels.
David Godfrey reported from Cargill this it was “another unsettled week of both water and weather along with a lot of leaves in the river made fishing tough, Steve Curnow and Peter Hull fished hard for the first three days of the week and were rewarded with 10 good fish up to 20lbs, the majority caught on Toby lures. Nigel Passmores party had equally tough conditions on Thursday and Friday but still managed some sport with fish up to 15lbs. Saturday we didn't fish due to the Tay Descent Canoe event.” On Meikleour and Upper Islamouth Calum McRoberts reported "A great week for our guests with 20 fish being caught, helped by an exceptionally good Wednesday when we hooked 13 and landed 8! There were many first time successes as well, which is always special. We caught two, 23lb'ers during the week including a personal best for beat owner Sam Mercer Nairne.
The water levels are at a great height for us now and I anticipate the catches remaining good for the final week. The vast majority of our fish were sea-licers or silver and generally coming from spots where we expect resting rather than residents. We still have some availability remaining for the final week if anyone wants to try to catch that elusive Tay salmon."
Middle Tay.
The catches further upstream have improved with the rise in the river levels over recent weeks. Gary Harkin reported from Kercock that they “ had 15 fish for the week with Gary Scholes catching an 8lbs fish on a Willie Gunn, Mark Thomson landed a couple at 16lbs and a superb 20lbs sea licer, Father and son Jim and James Redmond had a superb day landing fish at 15, 7, 5 and 19lbs, Dougie McLean, Gordon Melrose, Brian Watson all caught on fly,
and 11 year old Scott Batchelor caught his first fish ever, a 7lbs bar of silver.” On Newtyle caught some notable fish throughout the week with Sam Datta starting the week off with an 8 pounds fish from the Deans Burn.
Ian Dolan had a cracking little grilse from the Steps. The fly proved successful for Stewart Dingwall landing a couple of fish up to 17 pounds on Wednesday from the Cotter. Brian Mitchell celebrated his birthday with a 12 pounds fish from the Steps.
On the Dunkeld House beat odd fish were caught during the week with David Ritchie landing a memorable 34 pounds fish from the boat on a Tay lure. Dalmarnock reported a couple of fish during the week. Dalguise reported odd fish in the week with Kenny Adams, Gordon MacKenzie and Guntrs Paskevics landing fish up to 16 pounds on spinners.
Earn.
Fish are now running the river with increased flows. Fish were reported in better numbers from Lower Aberuthven and Lochlane and Laggan.
Upper Tay.
This area has closed for the season.
Tummel.
This area has closed for the season.
Isla & Ericht.
This area has closed for the season.
The 2014 salmon season in Scotland, Europe, Canada 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.
Hugh Robins with a good fish from September to win TGA fish of the month.
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!
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