Salmon Fishing Scotland Superb Spring Fishing on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland April 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Superb Spring Fishing on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland April 2013.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire, Scotland is at it's best currently especially for the lower river with low cold water.

This was Kenny Thom with his first Tay springer caught in the Horsey pool on the Pitlochrie beat at Stanley.


Richard Kingston with a fine 11 pounds springer from the small pot at the outside of the Wash House caught wading and fly fishing from the bank.


This was an 18 pounds cracker from the tail of Horsey caught by James McKay on a Rapala on the Pitlochrie beat.


Great to see youngsters having success on the river. This was Charlie Robbins with his third spring salmon in as many days from Upper Redgorton.


Sue Glasspool with a cracking sea liced spring salmon caught fly fishing from the boat in the Hatton pool on the Lower Redgorton beat.


Not to be out done, this was Jim Glasspool with a superb fish also caught fly fishing from the boat in the Hatton.


A Dipper surveying the scenery on the river at Stanley.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Salmon Fly fishing on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland April 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Salmon Fly fishing on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland April 2013.

The Tay in Perthshire, Scotland is having another superb week with good catches especially for anglers fly fishing in the cold low water.

Richard Kingston from London got off to a flyer today hooking a salmon on his first cast fly fishing from the boat in the Black Stones on the Catholes at Stanley.


A superb 7 pounds spring salmon.


Not long after that he was playing another one.


This time it was a 6 pounds long tailed sea liced salmon from the same pool. Certainly a morning to remember.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Fishing on the lower Tay April 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Spring Fishing on the lower Tay April 2013.

The incredible spring salmon fishing continues on the Tay. The lower river is certainly benefiting from the low cold water and this was proved today at Luncarty where 5 spring salmon were landed. This is an unbelievable day for the beat as it is not renown for spring fishing.

John Lessels with a 12 pounds cracker caught on a spinner.


Bob Hunter with a 15 pounds beauty from the Stormontfield bank on a spinner.


Bob carefully releases his prize catch.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland Large Spring Salmon on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland April 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Large Spring Salmon on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland April 2013.

The Tay in Perthshire, Scotland has been having an excellent spring with increases in catches especially in the lower reaches but there has been something missing. That was until yesterday, the emergence of large multi sea winter salmon has been slow but a 35 pounds beauty from Dalguise has changed that. This account has come courtesy of Dalguise Fishings.


Regular Dalguise angler Angus Carruthers from Largs on his first fishing trip of season hooked and successfully landed a magnificent 35 pounds Cock Spring Salmon. This monster was caught on a 2.5 inch Yellow Belly Devon hooked in the Tail of Bridge pool.

It was an epic battle, starting with a huge run right across the pool followed by a leap, at which point Gus realised he was into a belter! The fish fought up and down the pool then decided to run upstream to the bridge, emptying Gus’s multiplier of line and snagging itself around a rock. We managed to free the fish but the line had been almost shredded to destruction!

Several expert attempts to net the fish followed before he was duly landed, measured and photographed and released back into the river. The fish was beautifully conditioned and measured 48 inches and a girth to match.

The fish being released.

Gus’s previous Personal Best was 32lb, and to date his fish is the largest recorded Salmon (Fishpal) so far this year in the whole of the UK. Gus commented, this is “what Tay Spring Salmon fishing is all about”. I know that historically the third week in March is normally when the big Tay Springers make an appearance and I’m glad this one showed up on my doorstep.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland river Tay, Perthshire, Scotland Report for week ending 30th March 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland river Tay, Perthshire, Scotland Report for week ending 30th March 2013.

The conditions last week were again superb on the Tay in Perthshire, Scotland with cold weather and low water all week producing excellent catches which filled everyone with more optimism for the coming weeks. The good news for this week is that we have similar conditions giving us great prospects, which will maintain early spring sport on this marvelous river especially on the lower and middle river.
The Spring Salmon fishing is never easy but when settled conditions prevail the sport can be magical as proved this past week despite arctic temperatures with some outstanding catches and 150 spring salmon registered in the Tay system. This was a continual improvement on the previous week giving us the best week of the season and superb for the river. Last March the river produced 250 spring salmon but this year that has increased to 350 mostly due to the cold conditions. That is nearly a 30% increase! Spring salmon were caught all week up to 22 pounds in weight and throughout the river. The Tay is fishing currently very well and is certainly a good destination to catch your first spring salmon of the season. The river offers a variety of possibilities for all standards of anglers with ghillies only too keen to teach the novices and this mighty river can produce a memorable salmon for the keen fly fisher. Levels have dropped and the pools can be easily covered from bank and boat with modern technology. Why not have a go and sample this magical river. The fishing is supreme and the scenery is not bad either.

The Tay Board held it’s first public meeting at Birnam near Dunkeld and were encouraged by the large turn out. Chairman Bill Jack and David Summers gave presentations that were well received and I am sure a positive outcome can come from these meetings to progress the river for the future.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 30th March)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 2, Lower Redgorton 2, Luncarty Spring Only 6, Upper Redgorton 5, Fishponds 5, Benchil and Catholes 7, Upper Scone 3, Pitlochrie and Catholes 19, Burnmouth 6, Stobhall 16, Taymount 15, Ballathie 14, Cargill 2, Islamouth 15, Lower and Upper Islamouth 3, Upper Islamouth and Meikleour House 1, Kercock 4, Glendelvine 6, Murthly 2 3, Newtyle 1, Dunkeld House 3, Lower Kinnaird 1, Farleyer Upper 1, Coupar Grange 8, Portnacraig Pitlochry 2.
Total: 150 Largest: Stobhall 22lbs
SEA TROUT: Coupar Grange 1.
Total: 1 Largest: Coupar Grange 5lbs

Spring salmon have been caught throughout the system this past week encouraging everyone and there has also been the emergence of some larger multi sea winter spring salmon up to 22 pounds, which is superb news. The Upper reaches have encountered fresh salmon again, as fish have been keen to run with good water levels earlier in the month despite cold temperatures. The Upper river registered 3 spring salmon with Portnacraig registering two fish and the other coming from Upper Farleyer. Barry and Terry Newport caught two liced fish of 12 pounds and 9 pounds respectively. Both were caught on Flying C.

On the Middle river 19 spring salmon were caught this last week. When the water starts to warm up the middle river will fair even better. Alan Grant landed a 16 pounds cracker on the Ash Tree pool at Kinnaird fly fishing.

At Dunkeld House Dave Mellor enjoyed success as did Brian Joseph with a 10 pounds beauty from the Gauge pool on the Toby salmo.

At Newtyle Joe McNabb caught his first ever salmon from the Deans Burn weighing 10 pounds fly fishing from the bank. Murthly and Glendelvine continue to work away catching on a regular basis.

At Kercock 9 year old Jamie Milne caught a lovely 9 pounds springer with his dad Kenny and this was the first fish for the local Perth boy.

Jim McEwan also had a 12 pounds beauty from the beat.
The Lower River dominated the catches understandably with colder conditions and a dropping water with 120 spring salmon for the week.

Islamouth had better catches this week with regulars capitalising at the end of the week. John McElroy, Neil Tong and Charlie Martin being successful using various methods. Ballathie had an outstanding week with Rayan Bunyan contributing with a 9 pounds beauty in a day of 5 spring salmon landed. Scott Rutherford took 6 rods to Cargill on Friday where they had a fantastic day. Robert Lessels from East Kilbride managed an 11 pounds fresh fish. Two others were lost; one of them would have been about 12 to 15 pounds easily which caused great excitement. Thanks Scott for your report. Stobhall and Taymount had superb weeks with several spring salmon landed. On Taymount Steve Marshall caught his first ever salmon weighing 10 pounds. Bob Hughs landed 2 on a salmo on Thursday up to 13 pounds. On Saturday 5 were landed on the beat with Dougal Hamilton enjoying some great sport with Dan Crawford. The beat passed 50 for the season. Further down stream the Stanley beats enjoyed further success due to the cold conditions and are having their best catches in 20 years. The Catholes is producing spring salmon every day with 2 days this past week with 5 salmon landed and mostly fly fishing from bank or boat. Billy Davidson from Bankfoot enjoyed a superb day on Monday landing 3 springers on the fly up to 14 pounds. On Friday John Shaw caught the Pitlochrie/Catholes 50th fish of the season, a superb 19 pounds cracker from the Catholes stream. Several salmon came from the Catholes stream on the fly during the week with Jason Stratton landing 2 on Saturday afternoon on consecutive casts. On the Pitlochrie beat Stuart Howie caught a cracking salmon on Tuesday with Steven Watt landing one as well fly fishing from the bank, them last turn of the boat Arnot McWhinnie caught his first of the season on a Kynoch weighing 14 pounds. Euan Clark was again amongst the salmon landing a kelt and a fresh salmon from the boat at the same time! John Morrison kicked his season off with 2 in a day up to 8 pounds fly fishing from the bank and Sandy Watson enjoyed success on Saturday.

Benchil has been fishing well in the low water with John Bennett, Alan Young and Dave Barwick landing good salmon on the fly. Fishponds and Upper Redgorton have also done well last week as did Luncarty. Fishponds had 4 salmon on Saturday up to 18 pounds and on Upper Redgorton Sandy Harrison enjoyed a 13 pounds beauty on the fly amongst others caught in the week. John Lessels had a great day at Luncarty on Tuesday landing 3, then Alan Greene and Michael Kirkpatrick had success on Saturday. The continued colder conditions for this coming week should prove successful for the lower river again.

The Isla registered 8 salmon from Coupar Grange.

It was certainly another superb spring week to remember with some great stories, very cold weather and springers caught with good conditions but now as we enter with more settled weather (hopefully!) and river levels the spring catches should improve further over the coming weeks assuming the run continues.

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.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland Catching Spring Salmon on the Tay April 2013.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Catching Spring Salmon on the Tay April 2013.

There has been another superb start to the week with over 30 spring salmon caught on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland plus the bonus of a multi sea winter 35 pounds springer from Dalguise.

This was a tremendous story for a Monday morning. Alex Palmer had never caught a salmon until today. He didn't land one salmon but three on his first morning under the guidance of Davie Seaton on Upper Scone. Fantastic result, well done on both counts.


John Lessels with a superb 16 pounds beauty caught in the Long Shot on a Toby on the Benchil beat just below Stanley.


Stuart Waddell with a lovely 10 pounds beauty caught fly fishing in the Catholes stream at Stanley.


A delighted Charle Robbins with a superb spring salmon caught from the boat on Upper Redgorton.


Alan McCaig with a fly caught springer from the Catholes Black Stones pool casting from the boat along with friend Arnot McWhinnie. Arnot wrote the previous post about the Marlin being caught on the Tay. Unfortunately it was an April fool!!!

Pictures of the awesome 35 pounds Dalguise fish to come.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland Marlin on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Marlin on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland.

Marlin caught on the Tay, Perthshire, Scotland.


This incredible photograph of only the third marlin ever recorded in the UK is made even more amazing by the fact it was landed by an angler on the River Tay near Stanley.
The fish was caught on Thursday morning and verified by an expert from the UK Marine Fish Recording Scheme managed by the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth.
At the request of Aquarium officials the marlin which weighed 119 lbs was driven to Plymouth the next day by its excited captor, farmer Alan McCaig of Bridge of Alan.
Experts declared that it was an Atlantic black marlin which somehow had strayed from its normal habitat in the more temperate waters of the Atlantic.
The first UK marlin recorded in the British Isles was a monster compared to Mr McCaig’s fish. It was 3.7 metres long and found dead on a beach on St Agnes in the Isles of Scilly in March 1982.
In 1983 a 1.8 metre long specimen, a bit smaller than the Tay marlin was found alive, but dying in Morecambe Bay in August 1983.
The amazing Tay fish was caught by rod and line from a boat trailing a bait called a Rapala in the Hell’s Hole pool of the Catholes beat near Stanley.
Head ghillie Bob White saw something furiously chasing the blue and silver bait as it came to the surface in fast water and thought at first it was a young seal.
Seconds later the bait was seized and to their amazement it jumped clear of the water.
Mr McCaig who has caught marline off Venezuela immediately identified the fish.
Said Mr McCaig: “It was almost certainly exhausted by the freezing water which was only 38 deg.C , and we got it to the side of the boat after a short 20 minute fight.
“We had to go ashore and landed it on a shingle bank.”
Said ghillie White: “We were both absolutely amazed. Alien fish have been landed by salmon anglers in Scotland namely humpback salmon which come from the Pacific, but nothing like this has ever been seen before.
“We have had exceptionally good spring salmon fishing this season and the marlin must have been following them into the river.”

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