Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 24th February 2018.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 24th February 2018.

The Tay, Perthshire has now seen over a months salmon fishing as February soon disappears this coming week and we have had a cold weather pattern continue settling the river back to good water levels and excellent conditions for fishing although cold. Expectation is high on the river for 2018 after a string of successful springs over the last 5 years plus the fantastic news of a 35 pounds fish being landed on the river recently has put the Tay again at the centre of everyone's attention. Hopefully settled weather over the coming weeks will give everyone a chance of landing a spring "Bar of Silver" and even possibly a fish of a lifetime.
Beat catches reported
(week ending 24th February)
SALMON & GRILSE: Catholes 2, Stobhall 2, Taymount 1, Ballathie 1, Cargill 1, Islamouth 3, Delvine Burnbane 1, Dunkeld House 1, Findynate 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 1.
Total: 14 Largest: Stobhall 25lbs
More Spring salmon were landed last week in cold weather and river conditions favouring those who braved the elements in some cases. The river has settled back nicely with an even colder forecast for the coming week. The numbers are slowly coming up with fourteen fresh spring salmon recorded last week but again it was the size of some of them that continues to stand out. It is early yet with only small runs coming into the river and fluctuating weather can make fishing difficult. Some of the fish that have been caught are truly memorable as typical Tay specimens due to their size and depth. Hopefully there will be a lot more of them to come.

These typical Tay fish continue to grace the river with a superb 25 pounds being the heaviest weight in the past week caught on Stobhall. The lower river tends to dominate the catches early in the season with river temperatures being very low, however fish are being caught further up the system as well.

The Lower river saw a few fish being landed last week with Catholes featuring earlier in the week.

John Lawson caught an 8 pounds fish fly fishing from the boat in the Back Dam on Monday then on Tuesday Charles Savage caught a 6 pounds fish from the Woodside on a Toby casting from the boat.

These fish are comparatively small compared to some of the others being caught in the system but the emergence of some two sea winter fish is important for the river to mix with the other multi sea winter fish currently drawing attention to the river. Stobhall caught the fish of the week, a superb 25 pounds beauty caught by Frank Trzebiatowski from the boat in the Woodside on the top beat. They had a further fish from the Linn pool landed by John Cook on a Salmo. Taymount had one for their week.

Ballathie had a ladies day on Friday with some local girls enjoying the winter sunshine in pursuit of the elusive spring salmon, unfortunately no success catching but a great day all told. The following day the beat had a 10 pounds sea licer caught from the boat.

On Cargill Gavin Mason caught a lovely 18 pounds fish on the fly from the Garden pool on Thursday.

Islamouth had another consistent week with 3 fish up to 18 pounds in weight which included a lovely 17 pounds fish on the fly for Gary Weir

and a similar beauty for Ian Jardin.

The middle river saw a little action with Stephen Grant landing a 15 pounds fish form Sparrowmuir in the boat weighing 15 pounds on Saturday.

Up at Dunkeld House John Clark caught a 15 pounds fish form the boat in the Gauge pool.

The Upper area has featured last week as fish move up the system giving everyone hope of landing one of these memorable fish. On Findynate a fish was caught on Thursday.

Loch Tay saw a fish caught this past week at Fish n Trips landed by Kevin Campbell weighing 13 pounds on Saturday.

Another news worthy subject has seen the Tay Bailiff team planting eggs and ova into the newly rewatered river Garry from the hatchery at Almondbank. After several protracted years of negotiation between various parties with the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board showing a lead, water finally flows in reasonable levels in the river to allow salmon to populate it and help the district thanks to a European river directive.

In the winter the Bailiffs helped by Ghillies (who sponsored another brood stock team equipment) from the river helped to attain the fish required to achieve the maximum number of eggs for stripping to augment natural spawning. The hatchery fish are now being used to kick start the Garry and make things happen quicker than a natural repopulation. Brood stock are also being used to repopulate other areas and help underpopulated areas of the river where there is a maximum impact as has been seen over the last few years. Certainly positive news for the future of the river Tay and district.

The Tay is certainly the place to come to for the chance of a fish of a lifetime. The sheer size of the river produces very powerful large salmon and the possibility of a 40 pounds fish must be on the cards now. The food source for atlantic salmon is moving further away from our shores with seas temperatures rising and salmon are spending longer at sea before they are returning making the possibility of much bigger fish returning. The fish that are being caught now is further evidence of that phenomenon.

These continue to be disappointing total figures however the sheer class of the fish caught continues to be outstanding and with a settled river all be it very cold the coming week should see improved catches with a settled forecast as well.
The Spring Salmon fishing was well and truly underway after all the excitement of opening day's celebrations. It has been a quiet start but let us hope the season lives up to every one's expectations over the coming weeks and months and when you visit the Tay you catch a fish of a lifetime. Tight lines!

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.

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White