Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 26th March 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 26th March 2016.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire is now approaching April with a spate running off to give excellent conditions for fishing in slightly colder weather and settling water levels plus 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”.

Spring salmon were landed throughout last week with much milder weather and catches have spread with higher river temperatures. The week produced another good week with 75 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was an 18 pounds fish from Farleyer. It is early yet with only small runs coming into the river and very cold weather is not making fishing easy but continued milder weather in the coming week may encourage more fish to run the river. The spring fish that have been caught so far have been superb quality and of a good size.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 26th March)
SALMON & GRILSE: Fishponds 1, Benchil 1, Catholes 6, Pitlochrie 4, Burnmouth 8, Taymount 4, Ballathie 2, Cargill 3, Islamouth 12, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 5, Kercock 1, Glendelvine 1, Murthly 2 3, Newtyle 3, Dalmarnock 2, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 3, Farleyer Upper 1, Farleyer Lower 4, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 5, Coupar Grange 4, Portnacraig Pitlochry 1.
Total: 75 Largest: Farleyer Upper 18lbs
SEA TROUT: Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1, Upper Kinnaird 6.
Total: 7 Largest: Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 3lbs

The majority of the salmon continue to be caught in the lower river, which is understandable with the cold conditions and a few fish have been running giving improving results further up the river including odd fish from Loch Tay now as fish start to spread in the system. The beats around Stanley traditionally lead the way in these conditions in early spring and should be a barometer for the runs.

Fishponds was the lowest beat to catch. Richard Jaeger caught a superb 8 pounds fish on the fly from Lodge End. Just above Benchil produced a 9 pounds fish for Chris Rae’s party on Saturday from the Long shot.

The Pitlochrie beat produced throughout the week with Hamish Murray having an outstanding day last Monday with 3 fish in the day up to 12 pounds all caught casting a Devon from bank and boat.

Later in the week Tim Greenfield had a superb 14 pounds fish casting the fly from the bank in Cawn Pore.

Catholes produced fish on most days in the week with Gerry Rattray catching on the fly from the Woodside casting from the boat on Monday. James Barclay also had a good fish casting the fly from the bank in Erics on the same day. Tuesday saw Paul Clayworth land a good 9 pounds fish casting a Devon from the boat in the Black Stones.

Billy Graham had a good day on the beat on Wednesday landing 2 fish up to 13 pounds from the Slap and Erics on Tobies. Later in the week Tim Greenfield caught a cracking 11 pounds fish casting the fly form the boat in the Woodside at the top of the Catholes. Burnmouth had a good week with several fish landed. They had a great start to the week with 4 on Monday up to 17 pounds. Taymount had a reasonable week with 4 fish including a 7 pounds fish for Graham Leslie. Ballathie and Cargill produced fish as well in the week.

On Ballathie Simon Rutherford caught a lovley 8 pounds fish on Saturday against the odds with the river rising rapidly.

Cargill had 3 in the week with David Golding landing a 6 pounds fish from the boat. Robbie Graham caught from the Pot shot and Micheal Martin had a lovely sea liced 8lber on the fly.

Islamouth had an excellent week with fish most days up to 16 pounds.

Earlier in the week Ian kettles landed a good fish on the fly then Andy Hindhaugh, Ian Michell and Charlie Martin all caught mostly at the junction of the Isla on fly towards the end of the week.
Meikleour and Upper Islamouth had a better week with 7 fish up to 16 pounds. Fish were landed by Craig Hood and Alan Cockburn.

The middle river is fairing much better with rising river temperatures. Kercock caught a fish on Monday and Glendelvine managed one on Thursday. The Murthly beats keep producing most days. Newtyle had 3 in the week with David Gardiner landing a 9 pounds fish from the Lairds Bank and Roberto Fraga catching a 10 pounds fish from the Cotter on the fly. Dalmarnock managed 2 at the end of the week with Will Park catching a 14 pounds fish from Sowerby and Archie Brydon landing a good fish fro the Bank Pool on a Salmo. On Dalguise a fish was caught by Graham McIntyre on a Toby from the Bridge pool. The Kinnaird beats had fish in the week as well.

The upper river is starting to see improved sport with the Farleyer beats catching 5 in the week up to 18 pounds. Up on the Loch Fish n’ Trips had a reasonable week with 5 fish. Owner Grant Tigwell had several in the week up to 16 pounds. The Tummel is also seeing improved sport with Gordon Hanslip landing a 10 pounds fish on a Spinner from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club.

The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river with Coupar Grange reporting 4 in the week.

The Spring Salmon fishing season is now entering April and expectation remains very high after previous good springs. Last weeks catches continued to be heartening after the slow start and bad weather. Let us hope this is a sign of an upturn in catches as last April proved. It has been a reasonable start so let us hope the season lives up to every one’s expectations over the coming weeks and months. Tight lines!

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White