Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 6th February 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 6th February 2016.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire has now entered February with improving conditions for fishing in colder weather and settling water levels and 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 6th February)
SALMON & GRILSE: Fishponds 1, Catholes 3, Upper Scone 1, Pitlochrie 2, Burnmouth 1, Stobhall 2, Taymount 2, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 2, Upper Kinnaird 1, Lochlane and Laggan 1.
Total: 16 Largest: Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 18lbs
SEA TROUT: Burnmouth 2.
Total: 2 Largest: Bournemouth 3lbs

Spring salmon were landed mostly at the end of last week with colder weather and fortune favoured those who braved the elements in some cases. The week improved from Thursaday with 16 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was an 18 pounds fish from Meikleour. 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 only odd fish running. The beats around Stanley traditionally lead the way in these conditions in early spring and should be a barometer for the runs. Fishponds got off the mark with a fresh run 12 pounds fish.

The Stanley beats were the most productive with John Tuckwell landing an 11 pounds fish from Pitlochrie pool on Upper Scone fishings.

Further success came in Pitlochrie pool on Stanley fishings with Freddie Sutherland landing an 11 pounds fish in adverse conditions on Friday using a Toby Salmo.

The Catholes produced 3 fish in the week with Danny Fulton landing a superb 17 pounds fish on Saturday. Calum King also accounted for a couple of fish off the beat as well in the Back Dam. Burnmouth opened their account with a 9 pounds fish meanwhile the Linn pool proved productive for Taymount and Stobhall.

On Taymount 84 year old Arthur Muirhead landed a superb 10 pounds fish from the Green bank on the fly and Jim Ferrie landed a good fish from the boat.

Slightly further upstream Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had a couple of fish including an 18 pounds beauty from the Islamouth in the boat. Upper Kinnaird reported a single fish and a fish was registered on the Earn at Lochlane and Laggan.

The Spring Salmon fishing season has now entered February and expectation is very high after previous good springs. Last weeks catches were heartening after the slow start and bad weather. Let us hope this is a sign of an upturn in catches as last February proved.

The Spring Salmon fishing was well and truly underway after all the excitement of opening day’s celebrations. It has been a reasonable start so let us hope the season lives up to every ones expectations over the coming weeks and months. Tight lines!

Fishing Scotland - By Robert White