(River Tay weekly report week ending 26th September 2020)
Last week saw us reach the autumn equinox. This is the time of year when the days and nights are of roughly equal length. This means going forward we will start to see the days getting shorter quite quickly and this is a sure sign that winter will be upon us in the not too distant future. However, before then there are still a few weeks of the Tay salmon fishing season remaining and it is hoped that there will be some good sport to be had for many of the anglers intending to wet a line before the curtains are finally drawn on another season.
The weather last week could only be described as autumnal. It was relatively mild at the start of the week. However, from Wednesday onwards a keen north westerly wind developed and this led to temperatures crashing. The mornings were especially chilly with a light frost in some places on Thursday and Friday and there was a real autumnal feel to proceedings. As the water temperatures dropped catches improved towards the end of the week. The drop in temperature seemed to make the fish more aggressive. On the whole the weather was relatively settled and dry and so river levels remained steady for much of the week. The water temperature last week was 50.9 degrees Fahrenheit which is 10.5 degrees Celsius.
Back on the main river, the Lower Kinnaird Beat produced a fish each day during the first half of the week. It was a great start to the week at Dalmarnock with four fish landed on Monday and a couple on Saturday. Mr David Maxwell had a day to remember at Newtyle on Monday. First thing in the morning Mr Maxwell landed a fine grilse on the fly from the Steps Pool. Just before lunch, Mr Maxwell lost a good fish in the Fiddlers. In the afternoon Mr Maxwell had a hattrick of takes and this time the fish stayed on. The fish was again caught on the fly but this time from the Trap. What a day! Mr Bill Hannan was next on the scoresheet when he caught a nice ten pounder from Fiddlers on the fly on Thursday. On Friday Mr Paul West landed a fine twelve pounder from the Dean’s Burn on a Thunder & Lightning fly.
Mr Glen Bakie had a day to remember at Delvine & Burnbane on Thursday. He was fishing in the Sparrowmuir Stream when his line tightened. Mr Bakie hooked the fish in quite fast water and so enjoyed a monumental tussle. Finally, after a long fight, Mr Bakie landed a cracking fresh eighteen pounder. The fish was caught on a Vision110 lure. There were happy faces at Kercock on Saturday when four nice fish were landed including a lovely twenty pounder. It was good to see the Meikleour & Upper Islamouth Beat produce some consistent sport during the first half of the week with a fish landed each day.
The Cairns party were fishing at Islamouth last week. They managed to land a more than respectable three salmon and two grilse. All the fish were caught on the fly with the biggest tipping the scales at twelve pounds.
The Ballathie Beat produced a couple of fish on Monday and three on Wednesday including a fine seventeen pounder. There were two fish caught from the beat on Friday. At Cargill Mr Bill Grandison landed a nice fish from the upper beat on Thursday. There was more success for Mr Grandison on Friday this time from the Cradle.
Mr Gavin Mason enjoyed a special moment at Cargill on Saturday when he landed the two hundredth fish from the beat for the season on the fly. Other successful anglers on Saturday included Mr Todd.
The Casini party were fishing at Stobhall last week and enjoyed some decent sport on most days. Mr Roy Hammerson caught a nice fish on the fly on Thursday from the beat.
Taymount had a brace each day during the first half of the week and finished with eleven fish for the week. Retired ghillie Mr Jimmy Barrett had a nice grilse from Upper Scone. Mr James Berney caught a cracking twenty pounder on the fly and also managed a grilse. Mr Alec Lyell also got on to the score sheet at Upper Scone. It was nice to see the Benchil Beat produce a fish on Thursday.
Anglers enjoyed some good rod bending action at Fishponds on most days including four on Tuesday. At Upper Redgorton there were fish caught on Monday and Wednesday and a couple on Friday.
Mr Charles Martin and Mr Alan Davidson banished away those Monday morning blues when they were fishing at Luncarty. They managed four fish for the day which was a great result in bright conditions. It just shows how perseverance can pay rich dividends!
The Waulkmill Beat has been one of the most productive beats on the river in recent weeks and anglers fishing the beat enjoyed some more good sport with six fish caught during the first two days of the week. There were three fish caught from the beat on Friday including a cracking twenty two pounder. There was an eighteen pounder caught from the beat on Saturday. Decent numbers of fish were caught at Almondmouth on most days including eight on Monday. The beat finished with twenty four fish for the week.
It was another week of largely settled water levels on the Tay and there was some nice fish caught, although many of the salmon landed were older fish. As we move towards the end of September and into October it is hoped that more fresh fish will enter the Tay system so anglers can enjoy some decent sport before the season finally draws to a close.
With the river currently being at a decent height for many beats on the river why not wet a line on the mighty Tay next week? Nothing beats landing some late September silver on a backdrop of autumn gold! 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 26th September)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Upper Farleyer 1, Upper Bolfracks 1, Lower Bolfracks 1, Findynate 2, Edradynate 2, Upper Kinnaird 3, Portnacraig Pitlochry 1, Lower Kinnaird 4, Dalmarnock 7, Dunkeld 1, Newtyle 6, Delvine & Burnbane 1, Glendelvine 3, Kercock 5, Meikleour & Upper Islamouth 3, Islamouth 11, Ballathie 8, Cargill 9, Stobhall 7, Taymount 11, Upper Scone 4, Benchil 1, Upper Redgorton 5, Fishponds 9, Luncarty 5, Waulkmill 11, Almondmouth 24,
Total: 146 Largest: Waulkmill 22lbs
WILL THE DROP IN TEMPERATURES MAKE THE TAY SALMON MORE AGGRESSIVE IN THE DAYS AHEAD?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 28th September 2020)
We are now moving towards the end of September and the weather has taken a distinctly autumnal feel. Last week started off on a mild note but from Wednesday onwards temperatures plummeted as north westerly winds brought a chill to the air. There was night time frost towards the end of the week across some parts of Perthshire. Thankfully it was a relatively dry week and river levels remained generally settled. Over the weekend the weather has been mainly dry but it has felt raw in a strong northerly wind especially on Saturday. Looking ahead to next week there will be some patchy rain on Monday after a dry start. Tuesday should be mainly dry with light winds and it will feel milder than of late with temperatures in the mid teens. From midweek onwards the weather is set to turn more unsettled as low pressure develops bringing showers or longer spells of rain to much of Perthshire.
Most of the fish caught last week were older fish, which appear to have been in the river for some time. The drop in temperature towards the end of the week led to better catches as some of the fish became more aggressive and more inclined into taking a fly or lure. It is hoped that more fresh fish will enter the Tay system in the upcoming weeks so anglers can enjoy some decent sport before the curtains are drawn on another Tay season.
Last week, on the main river, fish were caught from Findynate down to Almondmouth with the bulk of the action being on beats situated on the lower river. Probably the best chance of success next week would be on some of the beats located on the middle and lower river.
We are quickly moving towards the end of another season on the River Tay so why not book a few days next week and catch those final few Tay salmon of the 2020 season? Perthshire is awash with colour at this time of year and provides a stunning backdrop to chasing the king of fish!
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 autumn period (September and October)
The ghillies on the River Tay are all highly experienced and have an intimate knowledge of their beats. Their advice and guidance are key to success. Please contact your ghillie for up to date advice on tactics and what tackle to bring prior to visiting the River Tay.
Fly Fishing
During the autumn months, water temperatures usually begin to fall on the river but much depends on the weather. The weather and water conditions can vary greatly during the autumn months with hot weather and low water coupled with high water temperatures especially if we have an Indian summer. Conversely, it can be quite cool with regular spells of wind and rain and even night time frosts. The fish also start to become a bit more aggressive especially when they turn their thoughts towards spawning. At this time of year, full floating lines coupled with polyleaders of various sink rates can often work well especially if conditions are more akin to the summer months.
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, colder water a sink tip or intermediate line may be required to produce the best results.
Make sure that your fly reel has got 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 autumn period to use leader material with an adequate breaking strain, as there can be some large fish around towards the end of the season. Usually, a breaking strain of around fifteen pounds is ideal.
Spinning
A powerful spinning rod between ten and eleven feet 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.
In terms of lures, spoons like the Toby, Salmo Toby and Blair variety work well on the river. These can range in weight from eighteen to thirty grams. Devon Minnows can also be effective on the River Tay. During the autumn months, the Floating Devon and Flying C can be particularly productive.
The Flying C lure can be fished upstream especially when water temperatures are higher and often salmon will chase the lure before taking it. The Vision110 lures have also got a good reputation for producing fish on the river. In high cold water, it can often be more about fishing the lure that bit slower and at an adequate depth.
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.
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 autumn months, good conditions arise on many beats for harling, especially in higher water. 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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