Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 31st March 2018.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 31st March 2018.

The Tay, Perthshire has now seen out March for salmon fishing with higher expectation in recent weeks and we have had a cold weather pattern generally although slightly milder last week at times however winter is still biting with a continuation of colder conditions this coming week. Expectation has gone up on the river for 2018 after a string of successful springs over the last 5 years, fish are starting to be caught in greater numbers plus the fantastic news of a 35 pounds fish being landed on the river recently plus numerous 20 pounds plus fish being caught week in week out has put the Tay again at the centre of everyone’s attention. Hopefully the weather will remain reasonably settled over the coming weeks and give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver” and even possibly a fish of a lifetime.

Beat catches reported

(week ending 31st March)
SALMON & GRILSE: Upper Redgorton 1, Catholes 2, Upper Scone 3, Pitlochrie 1, Burnmouth 2, Stobhall 6, Taymount 5, Ballathie 2, Cargill 2, Islamouth 6, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 3, Kercock 1, Murthly 1 3, Glendelvine 3, Murthly 2 8, Newtyle 2, Dunkeld House 1, Dalmarnock 1, Dalguise 1, Lower Kinnaird 1, Farleyer Upper 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 3, Portnacraig Pitlochry 1.
Total: 59 Largest: Cargill & Dunkeld House 23lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1.
Total: 2 Largest: Lower Redgorton 4lbs

Spring salmon were landed last week in continuing greater numbers in relatively cold weather and river conditions favouring those who braved the elements in most cases. The river had been unsettled especially on the lower beats in previous weeks from melting snow on low ground sending coloured water from the burns and Isla making fishing extremely difficult, however colder nights made the river clear giving good conditions last week. The weather looks more unsettled in the coming week which may upset things. The numbers were heartening with around sixty fresh spring salmon recorded last week making it the best week so far of the current season. It is early yet with only small runs coming into the river and fluctuating weather can make fishing difficult. Some of the fish that have been caught remain truly memorable as typical Tay specimens due to their size and depth. Hopefully there will be a lot more of them to come.

The Lower river had a much better week with clear water all week giving the beats a far better chance from previous weeks. 

Upper Redgorton kept their record going with another fish last week falling to Lesley Canavan weighing 10 pounds. It was Lesley’s first ever salmon and well deserved considering braving the cold conditions on Good Friday. Upper Scone had 3 in the week with fish from both Benchil and the Pitlochrie beats up to 18 pounds. 

There was an 8 pounds fish also caught on the Pitlochrie beat from Horsey on the Stanley rotation caught by Roger Worth on the fly weighing approximately 8 pounds. Catholes produced 2 in the week both caught on the fly. 

Australian Angler Ron Birmingham from Perth capped off a 3 day visit with a 9 pounds fish from the Back Dam casting from the boat. 

On Saturday Richard Nickoll landed a 9 pounds fish from the Slap again on the fly. Burnmouth had a couple for the week then further upstream Taymount and Stobhall had better weeks with 11 between them. On Taymount Mark Cope landed a couple of fish up to 12 pounds and his son, Harry landed his first ever fish weighing 15 pounds. There was another first ever fish for Peter Fielder weighing 16 pounds. Mark Thompson also caught in the week with a fish of 7 pounds. Ballathie and Cargill had a couple of fish apiece. On Ballathie youngster Jenson Westhead landed a 14 pounds fish and Dave and Kyle Hamilton shared a 10 pounds fish in the boat. 

On Cargill Allan Plant had success and Tam Sprout caught a magnificent 23 pounds fish on the fly from the Bridge Stream. 

Islamouth had a better week with 6 fish with Neil Tong having a couple on Saturday up to 15 pounds and Simon Littlejohn also landing a 15 pounds fish. Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had another steady week with 3 which included a lovely fresh fish for Dennis Mortram casting the fly from the boat in the Islamouth. 

Andrew Livingston landed a 16 pounds fish and later in the week John Teven caught a 9 pounds fish on a Salmo again in the same pool.

The Middle river enjoyed good water conditions mostly throughout the week and fish continued to appear. Kercock had a single fish. The area around Murthly continues to fish reasonably well with both Murthly beats and Glendelvine having success. On Glendelvine John Dewar landed a couple of fish up to 10 pounds from the boat and Nicholas Miles landed his first ever fish weighing 17 pounds. On the Murthly beats 11 fish were recorded with The Upper and Stenton combination doing very well to land a fish in every day of the week. 

Newtyle had a couple for their week which included a superb 22 pounds beauty for Ryan McShane on the fly from the Cotter and earlier in the week 

Brandon Bryant caught a 9 pounder on the fly from the same pool. 

Up at Dunkeld House Phil Houghton caught his first ever salmon on Saturday from the boat weighing an impressive 23 pounds. Single fish also came from Dalmarnock, Dalguise and Lower Kinnaird. Ian Willis caught a 12 pounds fish from Clachantaggart on the fly from Dalmarnock and 

Craig Hood caught a superb 16 pounds fish from the tail of the Bridge Stream on Dalguise.

 The Upper area has featured last week as fish moved up the system giving everyone hope of landing one of these memorable fish, however only a single fish was recorded on the Farleyer.  

Loch Tay is also seeing sport with Fish n’ Trips recording 3 last week which included good fish up to 22 pounds for Robert McFarlane and Vasilij Miller landed a 19 pounds fish.

The Tummel was also seeing sport with a one reported last week form the Pitlochry Angling Club stretch at Portnacraig with Jim Fisher landing a 14 pounds fish on the fly. On the Clubs Sawmill Stream stretch Paul Carter landed a 14 pounds fish on the fly on Saturday. Dunfallandy and West Haugh caught a 19 pounds fish with Matt Mitchell being the successful rod landing a 19 pounds fish from the bottom pool on West Haugh. Euan Miller caught a 21 pounds fish further down on East Haugh.

The Tay is certainly the place to come to for the chance of a fish of a lifetime. The sheer size of the river produces very powerful large salmon and the possibility of a 40 pounds fish must be on the cards now. The food source for Atlantic salmon is moving further away from our shores with sea temperatures rising and salmon are spending longer away in the ocean before they are returning making the possibility of much bigger fish finding its way back. The fish that are being caught now is further evidence of that phenomenon.

These are encouraging figures in the past week however the sheer class of the fish caught continues to be outstanding and with hopefully a settled river in the coming week should see improved catches with a settled forecast as well.  

The Spring Salmon fishing is picking up slowly as we enter April and hopefully some warmer weather. It has been a quiet start but let us hope the season lives up to every one’s expectations over the coming weeks and months and when you visit the Tay you catch a fish of a lifetime. Tight lines!

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.

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White