Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 20th February 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 20th February 2016.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire has now into the later part of February 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 20th February)
SALMON & GRILSE: Catholes 5, Upper Scone 2, Pitlochrie 3, Burnmouth 5, Stobhall 6, Taymount 7, Kercock 1, Glendelvine 1, Murthly 2 1, Newtyle 1, Dunkeld House 1, Dalmarnock 1, Upper Kinnaird 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 3.
Total: 38 Largest: Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 23lbs
SEA TROUT: Upper Scone 1, Delvine Burnbane 1.
Total: 2 Largest: Upper Scone 3lbs

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 38 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was a 23 pounds fish from Loch Tay. 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. The Pitlochrie beat produced fish for Upper Scone and Stanley Fishings. David Seaton landed a fish from the Pool in the week from the bank on the Upper Scone days and

John Morrison and

Lee Conway caught in the same place with Tobies off the bank as well.

Sam Datta caught a lovely fresh fish from the boat in the Tarr Tank earlier in the week. Catholes had a good day on Saturday with 5 fish successfully landed including 3 on the fly casting from bank and boat.

Richard Kingston from London caught 2 on fly from the Little Head and the Byers.

Phil Black had a lively fish on the fly from the Woodside while John McDead caught an 8 pounds fish on a Rapala from the boat in the Little Head. Taymount and Stobhall continue to have good success especially in the Linn Pool.

Andrew Spencer enjoyed success with the fly in the pool with fish caught up to 13 pounds. Burnmouth had success in the later part on the week with 5 fish.

Steven Watt landed 3 in a day and John Dewar caught a sea liced 13 pounds fish from the boat.

Further upriver there was a second fish of the season for Kercock.

John Jones caught his first salmon of the season weighing 16 pounds at Glendelvine from the boat. Murthly 2 got off the mark with a fish on Wednesday.

At Newtyle Brandon Bryant caught their first fly caught fish of the year, An 11 pounds bar of silver from the Cotter on an Ice Maiden.

Ian Dorrian caught a cracking 10 pounds spring salmon on the harl at Dunkeld House. Dalmarnock reported their first fish and have lost a couple of others. Upper Kinnaird reported another fish this week taking their total to 5.

Fish have been making their way up to Loch Tay with Fish n trips recording a couple on Saturday up to 23 pounds caught by Donald Brown in blustery conditions.

Stewart Lang also had a cracking 18 pounds fish on Thursday.

The Spring Salmon fishing season is now well 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