Tay Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 30th June 2018.

Tay Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 30th June 2018.

The Tay, Perthshire has now seen out June for salmon fishing with disappointing results in recent weeks with the exception of a week ago with a much improved catch after fresh waterhowever that did not continue last week primarily due to very hot and bright weather conditions in our current outstanding summer. 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 30th June)
SALMON & GRILSE: Lower Redgorton 1, Upper Redgorton 1, Upper Scone 2, Stobhall 2, Taymount 1, Ballathie 4, Cargill 3, Islamouth 4, Kercock 1, Dunkeld House 1, Upper Kinnaird 1, Farleyer Upper 1.
Total: 22 Largest: Upper Scone & Islamouth 15lbs
SEA TROUT: Benchil 2.
Total: 2 Largest: Benchil 3lbs

Salmon were landed last week in very hot and bright conditions in much smaller numbers after fresher water appeared from heavy showers the previous week sparking off the start hopefully of a summer run. The river has been settled and at lower levels now due to the lack of rain dropping away quickly with a far warmer forecast. The numbers were understandably much lower with around 20 fresh salmon recorded last week making it disappointing. The spring run is certainly over now, and frustratingly only small runs were coming into the river, it seems that there is a start to a summer run with some grilse appearing which hopefully will build, and last but fluctuating weather can make fishing difficult especially in very hot weather. 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 a few fish being landed in difficult conditions. Lower Redgorton can be a bit of a barometer in lower conditions with the Bleaching’s being an excellent low water pool. John Hogg managed a single fish from there in the week. Upper Redgorton also had a fish. On Upper Scone Graham Jackson caught a lovely fresh salmon weighing approximately 15 pounds from the Long Shot on Benchil with his friend also catching a grilse from the Woodside on the Pitlochrie beat at Stanley. Stobhall and Taymount caught 3 between them in the week. The low water certainly suits Ballathie and Cargill with much deeper pools as they managed 7 fish. Dave Davenport and Trevor Watkins caught single fish in the week but Paul Bleasdale had a good day on Friday landing a couple. 

On Cargill David Sands caught a lovely 11 pounds fish on the fly from the Cradle pool. Up on Islamouth 4 were landed in the week with John McElroy’s party having limited success early in the week as did Ian Gellatly’s party in the second half. 

The Middle river enjoyed the same difficult conditions and fish were hard to come by. 

Kercock had one fish for the week but hosted a successful three day ladies course to improve casting and fishing skills. Dunkeld House caught a 7 pounds fish on the fly from the Cathedral Stream. 

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 and Upper Kinnaird last week. 

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 1500 plus fish through the ladder with temperatures rising. 

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 however there are concerns now about the lack of water and rising temperatures. 

The Earn is starting to see salmon and sea trout arrive in the last few weeks but nothing was reported 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. 

There have been some encouraging signs in the past week or so however the very hot settled summer weather has slowed things down in the meantime but 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.