Salmon Fishing Scotland Stanley beats, Tay, Perthshire Report and Prospects for W/C 16th March 2020.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Stanley beats, Tay, Perthshire Report and Prospects for W/C 16th March 2020. 

It has been another eventful week at Stanley on the Tay, Perthshire. It has remained a big river and a cold water temperature which is ideal for the beats. We have caught 3 good springers, odd kelts and lost 2 other probable salmon through bad luck.

The week started off with a visit from Paul Devlins party in high water but clear after a 10' flood on Sunday. It wasn't until near the end of the day that Paul hooked a lively salmon casting the fly form the anchored boat. After a monumental fight he got the fish to the net with much cheer.

It was the perfect end to a great day, well done all on a cold wet day.

Happy faces and well done, haste ye back.
On Tuesday the water was rising slowly but undaunted by the conditions Charles Savage went out with optimism. We fly fished the Woodside and Back Dam from the boat prior to the river rising rapidly. He hooked a good fish in the Back Dam but it could not have taken the fly right due to the rising water and it let go after probably less than a minute.

On Wednesday the river had settled back a bit again giving a good opportunity. John Shaw had arrived for 2 days fishing and on the first morning fly fishing off the Pitlochrie pool bank on his own he hooked into a relatively docile fish momentarily, after maybe a couple of minutes it went crazy and he realised he had on a good fish. After a big battle he got the fish in and managed to get a couple of pictures but not wanting to take the fish out the water. You can see by the picture he couldn't get his hand fully round the wrist of the tail showing its size. He measured it at 39 inches and we have estimated it at 25 pounds but possibly it could have been bigger as Tay fish are broad and short. He was certainly excited and well done as that is his biggest salmon on the fly.

On Thursday Darren Kaye caught this lovely 8 pounds springer on the fly from the Woodside on the Catholes. Friday saw a couple of Kelts caught in the Wash House on the Pitlochrie beat but no springer action. On Saturday Kenny Hyslop hooked a good fish in the Back Dam of the Catholes but it got off after 5 minutes and there were no other offers.

Things are looking good for the coming week with still high cold water making ideal conditions for the Stanley beats. That is 9 fish so far and 8 have been on the fly from the anchored boat or off the bank with hopefully more to come this week.

Spring is in the air despite all the current gloom around the Virus problems, get out in the fresh air and catch an elusive spring salmon!

Tackle advice on Stanley beats. 

As to methods, in settled conditions fishing by any method should be slow and deep with large lures to catch the elusive Tay Springer.

Fly Rods.
The Tay is a large river especially when running at a normal level and even in lower levels you are fishing another river within the mighty one so therefore a 15 foot fly rod for a 10 weight line is certainly minimum requirement for much of the season. Do not come under gunned.  In some parts of the river where it is especially wide even longer rods are used. It should be noted however that it is better to cast a shorter controlled line than try to cast out with your capabilities and have the lines end up in a mess and decrease your chances. 

Fly Lines.

In early season when the water is cold you need to cast larger flies and get them

deeper in the water to fish them slowly. There is a tremendous choice on the market nowadays which can be quite confusing to many anglers. Any type of Skagit line that can easily cast a 15 foot sinking leader of various depths is a good choice especially to the less experienced. Rio Game Changers plus a tip of choice attached are currently a great bet as these lines enable you to cast a longer line than normal with ease. For more experienced anglers, there are a vast array of shooting heads of different sinking abilities available as well. 

Spinning Rods.

You should have a minimum of a 10 foot rod for casting baits of 20gm to 60gms. 

Line. 

A main line of 20 pounds in nylon or 30 pounds in braid. You should use a lesser poundage far a cast such as 15 pounds so if you get caught up on the bottom you do not lose a large part of your main line. 

Baits.

Tobies from 18gm upwards. Toby Salmos are very popular in 30gms. Conventional weighted Devon’s are good especially in the Spring. Rapalas and Vision 110’s are very effective. 

The Stanley beats are steeped in history and this year we have reduced the available rods to 4 giving you far more opportunity and value for money. We are fly fishing friendly as well. Look forward to seeing you on the beats. Feel free to contact us direct on robert.salmonfishing@googlemail.com or 07979528134/01738827416. 

Tight lines!

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White