Tay Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 11th August 2018.

Tay Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 11th August 2018.

The Tay, Perthshire is now in August for salmon fishing with encouraging results in recent weeks due some rain and cooler weather conditions in our current outstanding summer. The hot weather had been making life extremely difficult with water temperatures going over 70F/21C daily however that all changed in recent weeks after some heavy rain bringing the river up and dropping the river temperature by around 10F to produce excellent fishing a week ago by current standards. The current conditions have improved dramatically giving everyone a great chance of landing a “Bar of Silver” and even possibly a fish of a lifetime with some of the multi sea winter fish currently being caught in recent weeks.

Beat catches reported

(week ending 11th August)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 7, Waulkmill 3, Lower Redgorton 11, Upper Redgorton 3, Fishponds 2, Benchil 3, Upper Scone 4, Burnmouth 1, Stobhall 4, Taymount 1, Ballathie 8, Cargill 4, Islamouth 9, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1, Kercock 4, Murthly 1 2, Murthly 2 2, Newtyle 1, Dunkeld House 2, Dalmarnock 2, Lower Kinnaird 3, Farleyer Upper 3, Strathfillan AA 1.
Total: 81 Largest: Kercock 20lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Redgorton 2, Murthly 1 2.
Total: 4 Largest: Murthly 1 3lbs

Salmon were landed last week in far more favourable conditions with improving numbers after the change in conditions. The numbers were again encouraging in a difficult season with around 80 salmon recorded making it a positive week signaling a reasonable summer run and a few more grilse. The improving conditions meant some of the resident fish became more active also. The spring run is a memory, and frustratingly only small runs are still coming into the river this year but with improving conditions catches are being made in better numbers. Hopefully there will be a lot more of them to come as we go deeper into the summer period and enter autumn. 

On the Lower river most beats have had some sport last week. At the bottom of the river Almondmouth, Lower Redgorton and Waulkmill all had fish confirming a run entering the river at long last however in much smaller numbers than would be expected for the time of year. Lower Redgorton had a good week with 11. Upper Redgorton and Fishponds had 5 between them with the Junior Malloch Winners days having success on Monday. 

5 youngsters took part on the day hosted by Fishponds following their individual achievements the previous year being recognized by organiser Fishpal and contributors MacKenzie fly rods and Caledonia Fly Company. Benchil produced fish on the fly for Danny Fulton and John Morrison. Upper Scone had fish from Pitlochrie and Benchil in the week. Burnmouth reported a single fish as did Taymount with 4 coming off Stobhall. Ballathie had a better week with 8 fish for the Gold party. 

Cargill had 4 in the week with Graham Turner landing a lovely 15 pounds fish on the fly and Tony Clements catching a grilse. Islamouth caught 9 for their week with David Mayhew and Antony Scott-Hopkins parties all gaining success on the fly. A single fish came from Upper Islamouth and Meikleour. 

The Middle river had a few fish in the week but would dearly love more water to spice things up. 

Kercock had 4 for the week which included a 20 pounds fish for Mark Torrance. The Murthly beats had 4 between them and a single fish came off Newtyle. Dunkled House had a couple as did Dalmarnock. 

Lower Kinnaird had 3 fish up to 15 pounds caught on fly. 

The Upper river had 3 fish reported from Upper Farleyer and way up on the Fillan the Strathfillan Angling Club reported a single fish. 

The Tummel is seeing fish continue on their journey now with around 2040 fish through the ladder. 

The past weeks have seen better catches after rain and cooler temperatures greatly improving sport in an extremely difficult year so far, so let us hope that continues.  

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 and the sheer class of the fish caught continues to be outstanding with hopefully a settled river in the coming weeks we should see improved catches with a settled forecast as well.  

The Spring Salmon fishing was slow as we saw out May with the end of that run this year. June had picked up probably due to some fresh water and the emergence of some summer fish a couple of weeks ago, but we now need the current hot weather to break and it has so let us hope that the summer run 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.