Tay Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 16th February 2019.

Tay Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Salmon fishing report w/e 16th February 2019.

The river Tay has gone into February with a bit more optimism following a large spate from storm Eric. It has been a reasonably quiet start to the season with settled good low water heights but cold. In the past week we have seen a lot more water and much milder temperatures producing an upturn in catches encouraging everyone throughout the system. Hopefully settled weather over the coming weeks will give everyone a chance of landing a spring “Bar of Silver” and even possibly a fish of a lifetime with some three winter salmon arriving.

Beat catches reported
(week ending 16th February)

SALMON & GRILSE: Catholes 1, Upper Scone 2, Burnmouth 1, Stobhall 1, Taymount 3, Ballathie 1, Islamouth 2, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 1, Delvine Burnbane 1, Dunkeld House 2, Upper Kinnaird 1, Loch Tay Fish n' Trips 2, Portnacraig Pitlochry 3.
Total: 21 Largest: Burnmouth 18lbs
SEA TROUT: Delvine Burnbane 2.
Total: 2 Largest: Delvine Burnbane 4lbs

Last week saw an improvement in catches recorded with a few small runs working up the system. It is early in the season but after a good spate expectation was far higher and the results came. 

It was a steady week with fish recorded every day and there was a spread throughout the river as temperatures came up and encouraged salmon to run. 

On the lower river Upper Scone and Catholes caught their first fish of the season. 

Upper Scone had the Thomas party fishing for the week achieving 2 in the period with Phil Gibson landing a 15 pounds fish from the Wash House on the Pitlochrie beat, the other fish was landed in the famous Pitlochrie pool earlier in the week. 

On Catholes, a delighted James Holder caught a 7 pounds fish fly fishing from the boat in the Black Stones. Burnmouth also recorded their first of the season and the largest off the river last week at 18 pounds. Taymount caught 3 in the week for Stuart Voce’s party. 

Stuart managed a couple in the week up to 14 pounds and guest 

Johnny Gordon landed a 7 pounder for good measure. Two of the fish came from the legendry Linn pool on Tuesday following increased water levels from the previous weekend. 

Stobhall also had a fish from the Linn pool on Wednesday with John Nevin being the successful angler. 

Further upstream Ballathie had success on Saturday with an 11 pounds salmon falling to Alan Rankin in the Garden pool from the boat. Islamouth had a couple in the week and reported seeing odd fish as well as they travelled through the beat which was encouraging. 

Douglas Miller caught a 7 pounds fish on Saturday and the Richard Muir party caught a 14 pounds fish earlier in the week. 

Upper Islamouth and Meikleour caught a 14 pounds fish with Alex MacPhee landing his first ever salmon from the boat. 

The middle riverhas seen some action last week as fish travel slowly up the system. The milder weather has seen water temperatures climb a bit encouraging salmon to run further afield. Delvine Burnbane saw their first salmon coming in at 8 pounds from the boat at the tail of the beat. Much further up river, Dunkeld House caught a couple in the week up to 10 pounds from the Gauge and Chestnut pools from the boat. 

The upper river saw a single fish come from Upper Kinnaird weighing 16 pounds. 

On Loch Tay Fish n’ Trips have got off the mark with a couple of early run fish up to 16 pounds. 

Robert McFarland was the successful angler landing 2 fish on Tuesday weighing 12 and 16 pounds caught on Rapalas. 

The Tummel is also seeing some early action proving fish are certainly running up the system. The Pitlochry angling club stretch below the Dam accounted to 3 fish last week up to 15 pounds all on the fly. 

Neill Sproull caught a fish at 15 pounds from the town bank and 

Steve Watt landed 2 fish during the week up to 15 pounds from the Port-na-Craig bank. That is an excellent early start for the club. 

The Spring Salmon fishing was well and truly underway after all the excitement of opening day’s celebrations. It has been a quiet start but there has been far more optimism following last week results so 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!

Thank you all who have shared information with me to make this report week in week out, without that it would not be possible to compile such a detailed report for the river. 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.