(River Tay weekly report week ending 11th July 2020)
There were some lovely salmon caught from the Tay system last week with a number fish weighing well into double figures landed. Many of the fish were sea liced and mostly a mixture of sparkling fresh grilse and larger summer salmon. In recent years early July has not been that productive on a number of beats but this season seems to have bucked that trend somewhat which is great news for anglers. We can hopefully look forward with optimism to what the remainder of the summer season has in store on the River Tay.
Heavy rain last weekend led to a decent lift in water at the beginning of the week and this appeared to be the catalyst for improved catches on the river. For once the weather also played ball as it was unseasonably cool for the time of year with temperatures mostly in the mid-teens. Indeed, during some evenings, the temperature dropped to low single figures in the Scottish glens which is very unusual for this time of year. The water temperature last week was 56.3 degrees Fahrenheit which is around 13.5 degrees Celsius. On the upper river, it was good to see the Farleyer beats produce a few fish through the course of last week. Edradynate got off the mark on Tuesday when lucky angler Ciarin caught a lovely fresh nine pounder on the fly. There was also some good sport to be had at Upper Bolfracks with five fish caught on Wednesday.On the River Tummel, there were bent rods on the Portnacraig Beat at the beginning of the week with a total of six fish landed on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday it was a dam triple for Mr Martin Wilson who landed three lovely salmon weighing sixteen, fourteen and thirteen pounds. The fish were all caught on the fly. What a great way to start the week!
One of three fish caught by Mr Martin Wilson on Monday
Not to be outdone Mr Roberto Fraga achieved a similar feat on Tuesday landing three fine fish weighing ten, twelve and thirteen pounds again all caught on the fly. So it turned out to be a double dam triple at Portnacraig!
Mr Roberto Fraga with one of his three fish caught at Portnacraig last week
Back on the main river, the Dalguise Beat tasted success on Wednesday. Further downstream Ms Teresa Lander had a few days to remember at Dalmarnock. Ms Lander caught a perfect fresh grilse from the tail of the Dalmarnock Bank Pool on Monday. On Tuesday she went one better landing an even bigger fish, this time from the Summer House Pool.
Ms Teresa Lander with a Dalmarnock cracker!
There was success on the Dunkeld Beat on Monday. It was a red letter day at Newtyle also on Monday when five fish were landed including three for Newtyle regular Mr John Amos. There was also a couple of fish caught on the harled fly. There were two more fish caught from the beat on Wednesday. On Saturday Mr Sandy Datta had a nice sea liced grilse caught on the fly from the Alders. In the afternoon his wife Samantha went one better when she caught a fine ten pounder from the Ferry Pool.
A cracking fish caught from Newtyle on Monday
Mr Jamie Green with a lovely fifteen pounder caught from Delvine & Burnbane
Tuesday was a day that will be firmly etched in the memory of nine year old Robbie who fishing on the Kercock Beat. He landed his first salmon at Kercock which was as fresh as paint and fin perfect. It’s just great to see the younger generation enjoying our wonderful sport.
Young Robbie with a Kercock cracker!
There were a total of five fish caught from the beat during the first half of the week. Towards the end of the week the good sport continued with five salmon caught on Saturday. Mr John Dewar was one of the successful anglers.
The Meikleour & Upper Islamouth Beat only opened its banks to fishers following the lockdown period a few days ago and anglers have enjoyed some great sport on the beat.
The Meikleour & Upper Islamouth Beat only opened its banks to fishers following the lockdown period a few days ago and anglers have enjoyed some great sport on the beat.
Mr Andrew Gunn with a nice fish from Meikleour on Tuesday
Last week was no different with nine fish caught from the beat during the first half of the week. Mr Andrew Gunn was one of the successful anglers. On Thursday the good fishing continued with a further five salmon landed. Mr Oliver Paterson was fishing with his father and caught a lovely thirteen pounder from the boat. Fellow guest Mr Anderson caught his first ever salmon on the fly from the Castle Bank, a moment he will not forget in a hurry. Mr Cannon landed a lovely sixteen pounder from the Meadows and his friend Mr McCallum had a nice fish from Boxwood Bush.
A lovely fish caught at Meikleour on Thursday
On Friday Dr Ruth Cordiner caught her first ever salmon from Boxwood, a moment she will never forget. Fellow angler Mr Chris Barbour had a nice grilse in the Castle Pool. There were another two fish caught on Saturday from the beat.
Dr Ruth Cordiner with her first ever salmon!
There was some good sport to be had at Cargill with three fish caught on Tuesday and a further six landed on Wednesday. Mr Steve Cunroe was one of the lucky anglers who managed to get his rod bent on numerous occasions.
Mr Steve Cunroe with a fine Tay salmon
On Thursday Mr Charles Drummond heard his fly reel sing when he caught a magnificent fish from the beat. This was one of three fish landed that day.
Mr Charles Drummond with a beautiful fly caught salmon at Cargill
Mr Gordon Wilson had a fantastic day at Stobhall on Tuesday landing two fine salmon. He enjoyed more success on Wednesday when he caught a lovely big summer salmon from the upper beat.
Mr Gordon Wilson with a lovely summer salmon caught from Stobhall
Not to be outdone Mr Marc Sabido also enjoyed some good sport on the beat landing a couple of fish on Tuesday.
Mr Marc Sabido with a Stobhall cracker!
Next on the score sheet was Mr Stuart Orr who landed a sparkling fresh fish on Friday. The beat finished the week with two more fish landed on Saturday including a cracking eighteen pounder.
Mr Stuart Orr with a sparkler caught from Stobhall
There was a hat trick landed at Taymount on Wednesday with three fish in the book. Another fish was caught from the beat on Friday and a brace on Saturday. The Pitlochrie Beat produced a couple of fish during the first half of the week, as did Benchil. On Friday Mr Jim Ferrie landed a sparkling grilse from Pitlochrie on the fly. Well done Sir!
Mr Jim Ferrie with a sparkling grilse caught from the Horsey Pool on Friday
The Upper Scone Beat produced a fish on Tuesday, as did Upper Redgorton. There was success at Fishponds on Monday as well as a brace on Thursday and one on Friday and Saturday. A fine twenty pounder was caught from Waulkmill on Wednesday and it was good to see the Almondmouth Beat taste Tay success on the same day. There were four more fish caught from Almondmouth on Thursday. Almondmouth finished with nine fish for the week.
The lift in water certainly appeared to be the catalyst for the improved fishing last week. It was great to see so many fresh fish landed and hopefully, this is a sign of things to come as we move through July and into August. Currently, the Tay is at a great height for fly fishing on many beats with a good number of the fish caught recently being sea liced. So why not book a day's salmon fishing on the famous River Tay next week? It could be the perfect opportunity to get a piece of the action!
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
The lift in water certainly appeared to be the catalyst for the improved fishing last week. It was great to see so many fresh fish landed and hopefully, this is a sign of things to come as we move through July and into August. Currently, the Tay is at a great height for fly fishing on many beats with a good number of the fish caught recently being sea liced. So why not book a day's salmon fishing on the famous River Tay next week? It could be the perfect opportunity to get a piece of the action!
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 11th July)
SALMON & GRILSE: Farleyer Upper 4, Farleyer Lower 1, Edradynate 1, Upper Bolfracks 6, Portnacraig Pitlochry 6, Dalguise 1, Dalmarnock 3, Dunkeld 1, Newtyle 10, Glendelvine 4, Delvine & Burnbane 2, Kercock 13, Meikleour & Upper Islamouth 18, Cargill 12, Stobhall 12, Taymount 6, Pitlochrie 3, Benchil 3, Upper Scone 2, Upper Redgorton 1, Fishponds 5, Waulkmill 5, Almondmouth 9
Total: 128 Largest: Waulkmill 20lbs
IS THE GOOD SUMMER FISHING SET TO CONTINUE IN THE UPCOMING DAYS?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 13th July 2020)
It was great to see catches on the river improve last week. Some of the fish caught were in superb condition with a number being sea liced. There were also a number of larger summer salmon caught, with fish landed in the teens of pounds not being uncommon. It appears the catalyst for the improved catches has been a lift in water at the beginning of last week as well as it being quite cool for the time of year. It is not often that during the summer months you are blessed with good water and weather conditions.
It has been mainly dry over the weekend across Perthshire with variable amounts of cloud. Looking ahead to next week, Monday and Tuesday should be mainly dry apart from the odd shower. From midweek onwards the weather should settle down as high pressure builds and it is likely to be mainly dry. It could get warmer as we move towards next weekend as southerly winds predominate.
The fish caught last week were mostly a mixture of larger summer salmon and hard fighting fresh grilse and many were sea liced, which was great to see. Salmon were caught from Upper Farleyer down to Almondmouth, which shows that the fish are well spread throughout the system. It was interesting to see that more fish are being caught from the lower river now. As we move through July and into August the beats located in this area should come into their own. Traditionally this is when these beats start to produce larger numbers of fish on a more consistent basis. Hopefully, the good fishing will continue on the Tay system in the upcoming days. Probably the best chance of success next week would be on some of the beats situated on the middle and lower river.
There is good availability next week so why not wet a line and chase some Tay summer silver? There is no better way to end July then landing that big Atlantic Salmon!
It has been mainly dry over the weekend across Perthshire with variable amounts of cloud. Looking ahead to next week, Monday and Tuesday should be mainly dry apart from the odd shower. From midweek onwards the weather should settle down as high pressure builds and it is likely to be mainly dry. It could get warmer as we move towards next weekend as southerly winds predominate.
The fish caught last week were mostly a mixture of larger summer salmon and hard fighting fresh grilse and many were sea liced, which was great to see. Salmon were caught from Upper Farleyer down to Almondmouth, which shows that the fish are well spread throughout the system. It was interesting to see that more fish are being caught from the lower river now. As we move through July and into August the beats located in this area should come into their own. Traditionally this is when these beats start to produce larger numbers of fish on a more consistent basis. Hopefully, the good fishing will continue on the Tay system in the upcoming days. Probably the best chance of success next week would be on some of the beats situated on the middle and lower river.
There is good availability next week so why not wet a line and chase some Tay summer silver? There is no better way to end July then landing that big Atlantic Salmon!
Good luck to all those anglers fishing on the River Tay next week.
Tight lines,
Samantha & Sandy Datta
Tactics for the River Tay during the summer period (June-August)
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.
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