Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 27th February 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 27th February 2016.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is now about to enter March with improving conditions for fishing in colder weather and settling water levels plus catches are improving. Expectation is high on the river for 2016 after successful springs in 2015, 2014 and 2013 and hopefully settled weather will continue with an improving run in February to give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver”.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 27th February)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 1, Benchil 2, Catholes 3, Upper Scone 1, Pitlochrie 3, Burnmouth 4, Stobhall 6, Taymount 8, Ballathie 2, Cargill 1, Islamouth 3, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1, Kercock 1, Delvine Burnbane 1, Murthly 2 4, Newtyle 2, Dunkeld House 5, Dalmarnock 2, Portnacraig Pitlochry 3.
Total: 53 Largest: Islamouth 25lbs
SEA TROUT: Burnmouth 2, Delvine Burnbane 1, Dunkeld House 1.
Total: 4 Largest: Burnmouth & Delvine Burnbane & Dunkeld House 2lbs

Spring salmon were landed throughout last week with colder weather and fortune favoured those who braved the elements in some cases. The week was again a marked improvement with 53 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was a 25 pounds fish from Islamouth. It is early yet with only small runs coming into the river and very cold weather is not making fishing easy. The spring fish that have been caught so far have been superb quality and of a good size.

The majority of the salmon have been caught in the lower river, which is understandable with the cold conditions and a few fish have been running giving improving results further up the river including odd fish from Loch Tay now. The beats around Stanley traditionally lead the way in these conditions in early spring and should be a barometer for the runs. Almondmouth got off the mark on Saturday with a superb 19 pounds fish being landed by Tay Chairman, Bill Jack ably supported by Peter Kaye.

Benchil produced fish last week just below Stanley with Brian Brown catching a good fish from the boat in the Long Shot for Upper Scone. On the opposite day Lee Conway caught a lovely 8 pounds fish from Aitken Head on the fly and Bob Hunter, helped by George McKinlay caught a 7 pounds fish from Todd Holes.

On Pitlochrie at Stanley Danny Fulton caught a superb 17 pounds fish from Horsey on the fly, Ed Slaven caught a 13 pounds beauty from Pitlochrie pool on a Toby then later in the week

Peter Fine caught a 13 pounds fish casting a monkey from the boat in the Tarr Tank in front of Stanley Mills. Catholes was also doing well with 3 fish in the week. Ian Jardine caught a 10 pounds fish on a Toby from the Byers and Peter Fine got a 10 pounds beauty casting from the boat in the Little Head. Earlier in the week John Shaw caught a cracker casting the fly from the boat also in the Little Head. Burnmouth caught 4 in the week with Steven Watt and Jason Stratton catching fish from the boat up to 15 pounds.

Taymount and Stobhall continue to do well with 14 fish between them which included a lovely fresh fish for Findlay Boyd from the Linn Pool. Ballathie and Cargill kicked their seasons off their first fish of the season as fish started to nose up the river slowly. On Cargill Kevin Knights from Newmarket caught a 12 pounds fish from the Pot Shot on a Toby Salmo.

Islamouth also got into the action this past week with 3 fish which included a superb 25 pounds beauty caught by John Mcelroy from the boat with Ally Scott.

Further upstream Mike Wojtowicz caught a lovely fresh 6 pounds fish from the boat on Saturday.

Spring salmon have been running further up the system and spreading slowly. Kercock landed one fishing in the week.

Delvine and Burnbane had a lovely 16 pounds fish caught from the boat by Brian Joseph on a Tomic Lure. Murthly had a reasonable week with 4 fish from the Number 2 beat.

Newtyle had a couple of fish in the week with Steven Cope catching both of them from the Cotter and Ferry pools respectfully.

Dunkeld House had a good week with 5 fish which included three cracking fish for Robbie Ross weighing up to an impressive 20 pounds.

Later in the week Paul Carrigan caught a superb 21 pounds fish from the boat in the Gauge Pool.

On Dalmarnock the Grant brothers had a great day on the beat with a fish a piece, Steven caught a 14 pounds fish from the Fernie Haugh pool and Robert also caught in the same pool weighing 12 pounds. Much further up the system, Pitlochry Angling Club reported their first success of the year with 4 fish being landed. Les Dargie got things underway with a fresh 8 pounds fish from the Sawmill stream below the town then Saul MacKay caught 2 fish on Friday on the fly from the Port-na-Craig bank. George Renwick also had success landing an 11 pounds beauty from the Green bank on the fly.

The Spring Salmon fishing season is now through February and expectation remains very high after previous good springs. Last weeks catches continued to be heartening after the slow start and bad weather. Let us hope this is a sign of an upturn in catches as last February proved. It has been a reasonable start so let us hope the season lives up to every one’s expectations over the coming weeks and months. Tight lines!

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White