Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 10th February 2018.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 10th February 2018.

The fourth week of the salmon fishing season on the Tay, Perthshire has seen 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 this past week 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 10th February)
SALMON & GRILSE: Burnmouth 1, Stobhall 1, Taymount 1, Islamouth 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Delvine Burnbane 1, Glendelvine 1, Upper Kinnaird 1.
Total: 9 Largest: Glendelvine 35lbs
SEA TROUT: Lochlane and Laggan 1.
Total: 1 Largest: Lochlane and Laggan 2lbs

Odd Spring salmon were landed last week in cold weather and river conditions favouring those who braved the elements in some cases. The river has settling back nicely for the coming week with a colder forecast continuing. Nine fresh spring salmon were recorded last week but it was the size of some of them that really stood 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.

A typical Tay fish was caught on Glendelvine earlier in the week weighing an impressive 35 pounds setting the bench mark. It was landed by Jim Shaw from the boat on a harled fly and must have made his season already.

This was not the only outstanding fish caught on the river in the past week. Again, earlier in the week there was an estimated 23 pounds fish caught at Burnmouth and on Thursday a superb 24 pounds fish was landed at Meikleour and Upper Islamouth by Graham McIntyre from the Castle pool. 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.

Further outstanding fish were caught in the week with Delvine Burnbane getting off the mark after Jim McDonald landed a 16 pounds beauty from the boat. Tuesday saw Stobhall and Taymount catch with Rodger Clarke landing Taymount's first of the season. A fish was also recorded at Kinnaird as they continued their good start to the season.

Meikleour and Upper Islamouth had a 16 pounds fish on Friday caught by Derek Tuten casting from the boat in the Castle pool plus there was another fish caught from Islamouth just downstream.
These were disappointing total figures however the sheer class of the fish caught has been outstanding but with a settling river the coming week should see improved catches with a good 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