Tay Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 23rd June 2018.

Tay Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 23rd June 2018.

The Tay, Perthshire is now well into June for salmon fishing with disappointing results in recent weeks however that changed last week with a much improved catch after fresh water. Expectation is still optimistic on the river for 2018 after a string of better weeks earlier, however May was poor but fish are starting to be caught this month after a bit of fresh water from thundery rain. The most positive news has been the multi sea winter fish being landed on the river week in week out especially in the spring which has put the Tay again at the centre of everyone’s attention and yet again more of these fish appeared in last week’s catch as well. Hopefully the weather will remain reasonably settled over the coming weeks and give everyone a chance of landing a “Bar of Silver” and even possibly a fish of a lifetime.

Beat catches reported

(week ending 23rd June)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 4, Waulkmill 1, Lower Redgorton 2, Upper Redgorton 1, Stobhall 2, Taymount 7, Cargill 3, Islamouth 21, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 6, Kercock 10, Murthly 1 6, Glendelvine 3, Murthly 2 1, Dunkeld House 7, Dalmarnock 5, Dalguise 3, Lower Kinnaird 1, Farleyer Upper 1, Lochlane and Laggan 1, Loch Faskally 2, Ruan Ruarie 1.
Total: 88 Largest: Dalmarnock 23lbs
SEA TROUT: Waulkmill 4, Lower Redgorton 5, Stobhall 3, Taymount 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1, Murthly 1 1, Murthly 2 2, Newtyle 2, Edradynate 1, Lochlane and Laggan 4.
Total: 24 Largest: Lower Redgorton 4lbs

Salmon were landed last week in better river conditions after fresher water appeared from heavy showers at the start and in mid-week sparking off the start hopefully of a good summer run. The river has been settled and at lower levels now due to the lack of rain however the rain at the end of the week has given some fresh water and an increase in levels although that is now dropping away quickly with a far warmer forecast. The numbers were very encouraging with around 90 fresh salmon recorded last week making it vast improvement on poor weeks prior in the last month or so. The spring run is probably over now, and frustratingly only small runs were coming into the river, it seems that last week signaled the start of a summer run which hopefully will build, and last but fluctuating weather can make fishing difficult however as the fish travel slowly upriver most beats are catching. 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 as we enter the summer period. 

The Lower river saw its share of catches last week with fresh water and signs of a summer run getting underway. Almondmouth continued the see the odd fish with 4 recorded and only lightly fished. Lower Redgorton also had a couple of fish and Upper recorded one. Taymount and Stobhall featured more in the catches with 9 fish although Taymount had the lions share with 7.

Jim Fisher form Pitlochry enjoyed success with a couple of fish on fly including a grilse. 

Just upstream Cargill had 3 fish at the end of the week up to 18 pounds for Hilary and Steven Drury. Islamouth had a much better week as well with over 20 up to 19 pounds. Early in the week Stuart Yeats party did well. 

The last three days saw Simon Furniss, 

Jim Ferrie, Nick Howell and Martin Deacon all catch. 

Upper Islamouth and Meiklour got back onto the score sheet with 6 which included 2 for Norman Deakin up to 13 pounds and a fish of the same weight for 

Andy Olie.    

The Middle river enjoyed excellent fishing following the increase in river levels. Kercock continued its recent success with 10 fish in the week including 5 on Thursday. Salmon were landed throughout the week on fly and spinner. 

Tony Griffiths caught 2 on fly. 

Donald Cameron had a great day as well with several fish. 

Jim Wotherspoon and 

Kenny Milne got in on the act and lastly Sandy Datta had a lovely fresh fish on Saturday. The Murthly and Glendelvine beats had a much better week with 11 fish between them. 

Dunkeld House also did well with 7 fish for their week up to 12 pounds from all over the beat.

Dalmarnock were not to be out done with 5 for the week including a fish of 23 pounds. 

Dalguise caught 3 which included an 11 pounds fish for Donald Cameron from the Bridge Stream and Jake MacLean had a 13 pounds fish from the same pool one evening. Lower Kinnaird had a single fish. 

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

The Lyon has been seeing a run of spring salmon recently, however there was no news form the area.  

Loch Tay is also seeing sport but nothing was reported last week. 

The Tummel was also seeing sport recently form the Pitlochry Angling Club stretch at Portnacraig however nothing was reported last week but on a positive note there are now around 1350 plus fish through the ladder with temperatures rising. Fish have been travelling further afield with Dave Wilson catching a fish on the Garry at Ruan Ruarie weighing 7 pounds. Loch Faskally also reported a couple with Hugh Gormley landing a 10 pounds fish.

Salmon are now going up the Isla and being caught with fish also landed recently on the lower Ericht on the Blairgowrie Angling Club water. The recent water would have taken fish way above Blairgowrie to give sport on the upper Ericht. 

The Earn is starting to see salmon and sea trout arrive in the last few weeks with Lochlane and Laggan reporting both last week. 

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 signs in the past week or so however the sheer class of the fish caught continues to be outstanding and with hopefully a settled river in the coming weeks should see improved catches with a settled forecast as well.  

The Spring Salmon fishing was slow as we saw out May the end of that run this year. June has picked up probably due to some fresh water and the emergence of some summer fish, let us hope that builds further in the weeks to come. 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.