Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 7th May 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 7th May 2016.

Spring salmon fishing on the Tay in Perthshire has now entered May after another successful April equaling last year’s totals. The river is falling back after weekend rain to lower levels giving excellent conditions for fishing plus warming temperatures is seeing catches improving rapidly. Expectation is high on the river for 2016 with over 1000 fish recorded so far and after successful springs in 2015, 2014 and 2013 plus hopefully settled weather will continue with an improving run in May to give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver”.

Spring salmon were landed throughout last week with better weather and catches have spread with higher river temperatures. It was another productive week with 155 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was 25 pounds from Murthly and Loch Tay at Fish n’Trips. Spring is disappearing but improving runs are coming into the river and better weather is making fishing easier with lower water last week and a bit of fresh water which may have encouraged more fish to run the river as the run strengthens. The spring fish that have been caught so far have been superb quality and of a good size overall.

On the nature front the first Sand Martins, Swifts and Swallows have arrived, Ospreys are being seen, Ducks have their first broods of young and Sand Pipers are on the river banks. Blue bells a coming out in the woods, it is truly magical to be salmon fishing in Perthshire on the banks of the silvery Tay.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 7th May)
SALMON & GRILSE: Stobhall 5, Taymount 3, Cargill 1, Islamouth 12, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 11, Delvine Burnbane 2, Glendelvine 4, Murthly 2 14, Newtyle 13, Dunkeld House 10, Dalmarnock 7, Dalguise 2, Lower Kinnaird 9, Upper Kinnaird 2, Edradynate 1, Findynate 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 5, Keithick Mains 3, Ericht Fishing 18, Portnacraig Pitlochry 30, Loch Faskally 2.
Total: 155 Largest: Murthly 2 & Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 25lbs
SEA TROUT: Stobhall 1, Taymount 1.
Total: 2 Largest: Taymount 5lbs

The majority of the salmon have been caught in the lower river up to recently, which is understandable with the cold conditions but that has changed with warmer water allowing fish to run further giving improving results up the river including odd fish from Loch Tay and Loch Faskally now as fish start to spread in the system. This week has seen the boats come off the lower river below Stanley with summer bank fishing now available. The middle river is now the barometer for the runs as water temperatures rise to the early 50’s.

This past week saw a few fish from the lower river scattered throughout the beats with Islamouth area proving the best beats as fish hesitate at the mouth of the Isla. Stobhall and Taymount amassed 8 fish between them with also a superb 5 pounds Sea Trout from Taymount as the odd early sea trout appears in the river.

Cargill had one for the week caught by Stuart McArthur fly fishing from the bank in the Pot Shot. Islamouth had a good end to the week with 12 fish for the Nick Mariner party while earlier in the week Paul Ness had limited success with higher water levels. Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had a good week as well with 11 fish. Tim Miller started the week off with 3 fish up to 14 pounds on the fly despite adverse conditions with a strong wind and a rising water. David Benn caught in the Castle pool as the water started to ease back.

Tim Miller and Brian Taylor again caught in the Castle on Wednesday. Later in the week Andrew Watkin and Graeme Lightbody caught fish on the fly up to 16 pounds completing and excellent week with the fly performing best.

The middle river is fairing much better with rising river temperatures over recent weeks. Delvine and Burnbane had 2 in the week with

Simon Bedford landing a 14 pounds beauty and

Ted Thwaite catching his first ever fish weighing 12 pounds from Sparrowmuir on the fly.

The Murthly and Glendelvine area continues to fish well with several fish landed including a superb 16 pounds fish caught on the fly from Stenton by Ian Jardine.

Newtyle had another good week with 13 fish landed. Gordon Alexander started the week off with a superb 10 pounds fish from the boat in the Ferry pool and Ronnie Fraser caught a 13 pounds fish on the fly from the Cotter. Other fish were successfully landed by Berwyn Morris, Paul Hughes with his first Scottish springer and Stuart McArther completed a good day on Thursday with 5 caught on the beat.

Later in the week David Porter, Ross James and John Stamp caught fish up to 12 pounds completing another good week for the beat. Dunkeld House had a much better week with 10 fish caught including 5 in one day up to 12 pounds. Later in the week Ben King caught in the Gauge pool on a Salmo and Norman King landed a superb 16 pounds fish from the boat as did Alan Dorrian on Friday.

Dalmarnock had a good week as well with 7 fish. Alan Devainy started the week off with a cracking 13 pounds fish on a Toby. Ross Linden, Ian Jardine, Matthew Gordon, Kirk Lyon, Chris Rae and

Sam Datta all had fish up to 13 pounds towards the end of the week which included 4 caught on Saturday. Dalguise had 2 in the week with Scott Connelly landing a 12 pounds fish on Monday.

The Kinnaird beats had a much better week with 11 fish landed from both beats mostly on fly.

The upper river is starting to see improved sport with fish caught on Edradynate, Fyndynate and the Farleyer beats. 5 fish were reported from the Loch this past week from Fish n’ Trips up to 25 pounds caught by one boat on Saturday.

Successful anglers included Lewis Deeks aged 78 with a couple up to 16 pounds on Thursday which followed a 2 the previous day including a fish estimated at 25 pounds!

The Tummel is also seeing much improved sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club with 30 landed last week and there are now over 500 fish through the Dam resulting in fish being recorded in Loch Faskally. It was a superb week with fish landed every day and some outstanding catches especially at the start of the week with fresh water really bringing the catches on. A lot of the usual suspects caught including Iain McLaren with 4 in a day up to 12 pounds, Ally Gowans with 2, Callum Imray, Steven Watt, Martin Wilson and Brian Joseph.

Steven Watt landed 4 the following day up to 24 pounds with guest anglers Geordie Stewart and Alun Williams weighing in with 2 a piece. Rab Brown and Gordon Nichol also had success with fish up to 14 pounds. Thursday saw Curtis Brunker landing 3 fish on the spinner and locals Dave Stewart and Gordon Nichol caght fish on the fly up to 15 pounds.

The end of the week was a bit slower but still good fish were landed up to 19 pounds which included a 9 pounds fish for John McElroy, similar fish were landed by Craig Robertson, Stephane Bovy, Andrew Khakoo and Paul Carter caught a superb 19 pounds fish from the Sawmill on the fly weighing 19 pounds. It was an exceptional week on the club stretch but fish are now being caught throughout the Tummel with West Haugh and East Haugh fishing well. Loch Faskally are now seeing fish with 2 recorded last week that included fish caught up to 16 pounds by Tony Wood on a Rapala.

The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht with 21 fish being reported last week.

Fish have been reported running the Lyon as well but low water levels have curtailed sport. Water has now appeared so watch this space!

The Spring Salmon fishing season is now in May and expectation remains very high after previous good springs. Last week’s catches were heartening and more fish are running with more water and warmer weather. Let us hope this is a sign of an upturn in catches as last May proved. It has been a reasonable start with 1000 fish recorded 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