(River Tay weekly report week ending 27th June 2020)
The great news this week was that the River Tay will be welcoming anglers from all across the country in the not too distant future. The Scottish government announced that from Friday 4th July people will be able to travel freely for leisure, and self-catering accommodation will be allowed to open. In the upcoming weeks, hotels will also open. This is great news for anglers across the country that want to enjoy a few days fishing on the River Tay over the summer period.
Anglers will be able to enjoy fishing holidays on the Tay once again!
We are currently in the midst of the Scottish summer with July almost upon us. Traditionally the main summer salmon and grilse run on the River Tay would coincide with Wimbledon fortnight, but times have changed and in the new world that we are currently living in there is no Wimbledon this year. In recent years, the summer run on the River Tay as with many other rivers around Scotland has arrived to our shores that bit later. Instead of early July, now larger numbers of summer fish have started to enter the system later in July and into August. Having said that, there have already been some lovely summer salmon and grilse caught from the Tay system in the past few weeks.
Temperatures soared across Scotland last week as warm air from Spain came our way. Indeed, Thursday saw the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures across many parts of Scotland rising into the mid to late twenties. Friday saw some heavy and thundery showers affect much of Scotland and with that, the heat relented somewhat. It has felt cooler over the weekend with more of an Atlantic influence to our weather as low pressure has dominated. There have been frequent showers and some longer spells of rain. This has led to a lift in water on Sunday. Thankfully there is a much fresher feeling to proceedings, which is good news for anglers looking to wet a line.
Catches on the River Tay last week were well up on the previous week in spite of all the hot weather. River levels were settled for much of last week apart from the odd small rise mainly due to showers over the catchment area. The water temperature last week was 57.0 degrees Fahrenheit which is 13.9 degrees Celsius.
The week got to a flyer on the Tay system with twenty six fish caught on Monday. This was hardly surprising as it was the coolest day of the week. On the upper river, there was success on the Edradynate, Lower Bolfracks and Upper Kinnaird beat on Monday. There was another fish caught from Upper Kinnaird on Thursday and one from Edradynate for Mr Martin on Friday weighing eight pounds.
Temperatures soared across Scotland last week as warm air from Spain came our way. Indeed, Thursday saw the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures across many parts of Scotland rising into the mid to late twenties. Friday saw some heavy and thundery showers affect much of Scotland and with that, the heat relented somewhat. It has felt cooler over the weekend with more of an Atlantic influence to our weather as low pressure has dominated. There have been frequent showers and some longer spells of rain. This has led to a lift in water on Sunday. Thankfully there is a much fresher feeling to proceedings, which is good news for anglers looking to wet a line.
Catches on the River Tay last week were well up on the previous week in spite of all the hot weather. River levels were settled for much of last week apart from the odd small rise mainly due to showers over the catchment area. The water temperature last week was 57.0 degrees Fahrenheit which is 13.9 degrees Celsius.
The week got to a flyer on the Tay system with twenty six fish caught on Monday. This was hardly surprising as it was the coolest day of the week. On the upper river, there was success on the Edradynate, Lower Bolfracks and Upper Kinnaird beat on Monday. There was another fish caught from Upper Kinnaird on Thursday and one from Edradynate for Mr Martin on Friday weighing eight pounds.
A nice fish caught from Edradynate on Monday
On the River Tummel, the PAC water produced a fish on Monday. Mr Martin Timmins caught a cracking seventeen pounder on the fly which was sea liced from the Sawmill. Mr Tony Brown did the business the following day just upstream at Portnacraig when he caught a nice nine pounder on the fly.
The Dalguise Beat produced a couple of fish on Saturday. It was a Monday to remember at Lower Kinnaird with a total of six fish landed including a magnificent twenty pounder. Mr John Campbell was fishing the Dalmarnock Beat on Monday when he caught a cracking eight pounder from the Dalmarnock Bank Pool. The fish was caught on a black Flying C lure. Dalmarnock produced another fish on Tuesday and Wednesday as well as on Friday.
Mr John Campbell with a nice fish from Dalmarnock
It was good to see the Dunkeld Beat taste success on Monday and Wednesday. It was a memorable day for young Eddie Richards on Saturday when he caught his first ever salmon from the beat from the Mouse Trap Pool. The fish weighed thirteen pounds and Eddie was delighted. You never forget your first salmon!
A delighted Eddie Richards after landing his first ever salmon at Dunkeld on Saturday
Mr John Amos was one of the successful anglers at Newtyle when he landed a beautiful sixteen pounder on the fly. This was one of four fish caught on Monday. Newtyle fished well throughout the week with fish caught on most days.
A cracker caught from Newtyle on Monday
It was good to see the Delvine & Burnbane Beat produce a few fish as the week progressed including one on Monday and two on Wednesday. The Kercock beat continued its recent run of good form with eight fish caught during the first half of the week. Many of the fish were caught on the fly, which was good to see. Regular Kercock angler Mr Robert McFarlane who has caught a number of fish from the beat recently struck more silver on Wednesday when he landed a lovely fresh eighteen pounder on the fly. The beat produced a fish on Friday and Saturday to end a productive week.
Mr Robert Mcfarlane with a lovely fish from the Kercock Beat
On the River Isla, there was success at Kethick Streams on Monday. The West Grange Beat on the Ericht produced three fish on Tuesday and one on Wednesday. There was some good sport to be had at Cargill through the course of the week with a brace landed on both Monday and Tuesday and a couple on Thursday. The week ended well with a further four fish caught on Saturday.
A Cargill cracker caught last week
Mr Geoff Fisher was fishing at Stobhall on Monday when he landed a stunning fresh salmon, which gave him a terrific fight. He can’t wait to get back to the beat to wet a line and chase more Tay silver! There was another fish caught from the beat on Monday as well as Tuesday. The week ended well at Stobhall with five fish landed in the last two days.
Mr Geoff Fisher with a stunning salmon caught at Stobhall
Towards the bottom end of the river it was a bit quieter but both Waulkmill and Almondmouth produced fish through the course of the week. Catches on these beats should improve as we move through July.
The weather was far from ideal for much of last week with rocketing temperatures, bright sunshine and cloudless skies. Thankfully looking ahead to next week, it is set to get cooler and with it, fishing conditions should improve.
With people able to travel freely around the country from Friday and self-catering accommodation and hotels opening up in the not too distant future, this could be the perfect opportunity to book a salmon fishing holiday on the River Tay. A salmon fishing holiday on the River Tay could just prove to be the perfect staycation!
We would like to thank all the ghillies and beat owners on the River Tay system who have contributed to this report by providing their time and information as the weekly report would not be possible without your help and support. If you would like to share any interesting stories or pictures from your time fishing on the River Tay for the purposes of this report, please free to contact us at info@salmonfishingholidaysscotland.com
Good luck to all those anglers fishing on the River Tay next week.
The weather was far from ideal for much of last week with rocketing temperatures, bright sunshine and cloudless skies. Thankfully looking ahead to next week, it is set to get cooler and with it, fishing conditions should improve.
With people able to travel freely around the country from Friday and self-catering accommodation and hotels opening up in the not too distant future, this could be the perfect opportunity to book a salmon fishing holiday on the River Tay. A salmon fishing holiday on the River Tay could just prove to be the perfect staycation!
We would like to thank all the ghillies and beat owners on the River Tay system who have contributed to this report by providing their time and information as the weekly report would not be possible without your help and support. If you would like to share any interesting stories or pictures from your time fishing on the River Tay for the purposes of this report, please free to contact us at info@salmonfishingholidaysscotland.com
Good luck to all those anglers fishing on the River Tay next week.
Tight lines,
Samantha & Sandy Datta
Beat catches reported
(week ending 27th June)
SALMON & GRILSE: Edradynate 2, Lower Bolfracks 1, Upper Kinnaird 2, Portnacraig Pitlochry 1, Dalguise 2, Lower Kinnaird 7, Dalmarnock 5, Dunkeld 3, Newtyle 9, Delvine & Burnbane 4, Kercock 9, Kethick Streams 1, West Grange 4, Cargill 11, Stobhall 8, Waulkmill 1, Almondmouth 4, Crieff AC 1.
Total: 75 Largest: Lower Kinnaird 20lbs
TEMPERATURES SET TO GET COOLER IN THE DAYS AHEAD!
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 29th June 2020)
Summer had arrived in earnest across much of Scotland including Perthshire, with temperatures soaring towards the end of last week. Indeed, Thursday saw the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures widely in the late twenties recorded. This made for difficult fishing conditions. However, in spite of this, there were some fine fish caught from the river and catches actually improved on the previous week. Those anglers that fished unsociable hours did well with some evenings being particularly productive. This is often the case when it is very hot and sunny throughout the day.
The fish caught were mostly a mixture of larger summer salmon and hard fighting grilse of which many were sea liced which was great to see. In the upcoming weeks, more salmon should enter the Tay system on a daily basis giving anglers the chance of making contact with the king of fish.
Thankfully the weather is set to be kinder to anglers next week. Over the weekend low pressure has dominated our weather with showers or longer spells of rain on Saturday and Sunday and this has led to a lift in water. It has also felt much fresher with temperatures returning to more seasonal values. Monday and Tuesday will see showers affect many parts of Perthshire. Wednesday should be mainly dry. There is a chance of further rain towards the end of the week. Temperatures should be around the mid-teens.
Last week there were fish caught from Edradynate down to Almondmouth which shows that there are fish well spread throughout the system. There were also fish caught from the River Tummel, Isla and Ericht. Probably the best chance of success next week would be on beats situated on the middle and lower river. As always, there is a good variety of salmon fishing available on the Tay in the upcoming days with fishing to suit even the most discerning of anglers' tastes. So why not chase some summer silver on the Tay next week? You could have a July day to remember!
Good luck to all those anglers fishing on the River Tay next week.
The fish caught were mostly a mixture of larger summer salmon and hard fighting grilse of which many were sea liced which was great to see. In the upcoming weeks, more salmon should enter the Tay system on a daily basis giving anglers the chance of making contact with the king of fish.
Thankfully the weather is set to be kinder to anglers next week. Over the weekend low pressure has dominated our weather with showers or longer spells of rain on Saturday and Sunday and this has led to a lift in water. It has also felt much fresher with temperatures returning to more seasonal values. Monday and Tuesday will see showers affect many parts of Perthshire. Wednesday should be mainly dry. There is a chance of further rain towards the end of the week. Temperatures should be around the mid-teens.
Last week there were fish caught from Edradynate down to Almondmouth which shows that there are fish well spread throughout the system. There were also fish caught from the River Tummel, Isla and Ericht. Probably the best chance of success next week would be on beats situated on the middle and lower river. As always, there is a good variety of salmon fishing available on the Tay in the upcoming days with fishing to suit even the most discerning of anglers' tastes. So why not chase some summer silver on the Tay next week? You could have a July day to remember!
Good luck to all those anglers fishing on the River Tay next week.
Tight lines and stay safe,
Samantha & Sandy Datta
As the Tay is a big river usually a powerful fourteen or fifteen-foot rod with a ten-line rating will cover almost any eventuality. In terms of lines whether that be a full Spey line or Shooting head system a floating line coupled with a selection of polyleaders of various sink rates is perfect for the job at this time of year. In higher water, during the summer months, a sink tip or intermediate line may be required to produce the best results.
Fly Fishing
During the summer months, water temperatures usually begin to rise on the river. The fish also start to become a bit more active. Often river levels are low but on the River Tay, they are never too low that fresh fish cannot run the system. At this time of year, full floating lines coupled with polyleaders of various sink rates can often work well.
A fine fly caught River Tay salmon
Make sure that your fly reel has got an adequate backing capacity and a good reliable drag system. On the River Tay when that line tightens the fish could turn out to be that one of a lifetime. It is also important during the summer period to use leader material with an adequate breaking strain, as there are some big summer salmon that run the Tay. Usually, a breaking strain between twelve and fifteen pounds is ideal.
Spinning
A powerful spinning rod between ten and eleven foot is usually more than adequate to cover the River Tay. The rod should be able to comfortably cast lures weighing anything from eighteen to thirty grams. A good fixed spool or multiplier reel with a reliable drag system is perfect for the River Tay. The reel should be able to accommodate a large amount of either nylon or braided line with an adequate breaking strain.
Spinning in the summer months on the River Tay
Harling
Harling is a method unique to the River Tay which involves fishing from a motorised boat. This method is employed on many beats and can be highly effective. 
Harling is a unique, effective method of fishing on the River Tay
Usually, two or three rods are placed in rod holders with various lures and then the ghillie skilfully combs the water by moving back and forth in the boat, whilst gradually dropping downstream, covering the likely lies on the beat. Often during the summer months, the water is too low to harl on many beats. However, if there is a decent spate this method can be highly productive. Harling is a method which is very much water height dependent and is practised at the beat ghillies discretion.
TDSFB conservation policy
All anglers fishing on the River Tay system are reminded that the TDSFB’s policy from January 15th to 1st of April is that all spring salmon must be released. This means that the TDSFB has a 100% mandatory catch & release policy of all salmon caught. This is in line with the Scottish Government Statutory Conservation Regulation. Even if the fish dies it must still be returned to the river.
It is also worthwhile remembering when releasing fish to keep them in the water for as long a period as possible and to use minimal handling. Please also give the fish plenty of time to recover before releasing them. It is important that anglers treat their quarry with the utmost of respect at all times.
