Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 5th March 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 5th March 2016.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is now in March with excellent 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 5th March)
SALMON & GRILSE: Catholes 5, Pitlochrie 2, Burnmouth 6, Stobhall 3, Taymount 7, Cargill 2, Islamouth 1, Delvine Burnbane 2, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 3, Newtyle 2, Dunkeld House 2, Upper Kinnaird 2, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 5.
Total: 44 Largest: Burnmouth 21lbs
SEA TROUT: Delvine Burnbane 1.
Total: 1 Largest: Delvine Burnbane 2lbs

Spring salmon were landed throughout last week with colder weather and fortune favoured those who braved the elements in some cases. The week again produced a consistent catch with 44 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was a 21 pounds fish from Burnmouth. 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 beats around Stanley dominated the catches again with Pitlochrie to Taymount and Stobhall landing the loins share in the week.

The week got off to a good start with John Bennett landing a lovely 11 pounds beauty on the fly from Horsey and the David Ecclestone caught a 15 pounds fish from Cawn Pore later in the week also on the fly from the Pitlochrie beat. Catholes produced a superb day on Thursday for the Walker party with fish landed up to 20 pounds. More fish surrendered to the fly with Steve Fairbourn and David Ecclestone land good fish from the Woodside and Catholes stream respectively.

A superb 20 pounds fish came from the boat in the Back Dam for Ken Towner then Phil Walker landed a 14 pounds fish from Erics.

Burnmouth had a good week with 6 fish landed up to 21 pounds. Jordan Paterson had a day to remember landing 3 fish from the boat early in the week up to 20 pounds. Later in the week the 21 pounds fish fell to Jason Stratton harling in the boat on Saturday. Stobhall and Taymount managed 10 fish between them with the Linn pool continuing to produce good sport.

Cargill had a good day on Saturday with two lovely springers being landed by Brian Morrison and Lewis McKee. Further upstream Islamouth managed one in the week.

Salmon are being caught in the middle river as some fish run up slowly but this should improve in temperatures rise a bit. Delvine and Burnbane caught a couple of fish in the week as did Glendelvine. Murthly is also producing fish with the No 2 beat landing 3 in the week.

At Newtyle a delighted Andrew Thomas caught a 15 pounds springer on his first visit to the river.

A further 15 pounds fish was also landed from the beat by Gavin Perry. Dunkeld House is also producing odd fish with an 18 pounder and a 14 caught in the week. Upper Kinnaird caught a couple in the week and even

further up the system Fish n’ Trips produced 2 from the Loch including a 20 pounder and an 18 pounds beauty for David Duffy.

The current week has got off to a steady start with 9 fish landed on Monday with Burnmouth producing 3 and the largest one falling to Sam Robinson in Pitlochrie pool weighing 16 pounds.

The Spring Salmon fishing season is now in March 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 March 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