(River Tay weekly report week ending 10th October 2020)
With only four days of salmon fishing now remaining on the Tay system, last week was the final full week of the season. After the big flood during the previous weekend water levels gradually dropped through the week. On Monday the river was carrying a fair amount of colour but by the middle of the week, the water was much clearer. In terms of the weather, it was typical autumn fare with heavy blustery showers on some days accompanied by a strong wind. Towards the end of the week, the keen northerly wind led to it feeling noticeably cooler but the river was at a good height for many beats. In actual fact, it was almost perfect autumn fishing weather.
It was good to see the number of big fish caught from the Tay system last week. There were numerous fish landed in the high teens and early twenties as well as two tipping the scales at over the magical thirty pounds mark. Traditionally the Tay has had a reputation for producing large fish and many anglers fishing the river last week were not disappointed. It would be fair to say that the majority of fish caught were older but they certainly put up a great fight in many cases. The water temperature last week was 48 degrees Fahrenheit which is 8.9 degrees Celsius.
On the upper river, anglers enjoyed success at both Farleyer Beats (including six from Upper Farleyer on Saturday) as well as Lower Bolfracks and Upper Kinnaird. There was a couple of fish caught at Lower Kinnaird on Wednesday and one on Thursday. Dalguise also enjoyed success on Thursday. Further downstream there was success at Dalmarnock on Tuesday. It was a great end to the week at Dalmarnock with a total of six fish caught on Friday and Saturday including a magnificent eighteen pounder.
Mr John Stamp had a happy Monday when he landed a fine fifteen pounder at Newtyle. The fish was caught from the Plane Tree pool and weighed fifteen pounds. Mr Stamp went on to land three fish for his week including one from the Trap on Saturday.
Both Murthly beats enjoyed some success on Thursday with a fish caught from Murthly 1 and a couple from Murthly 2. There were two more fish caught from Murthly 2 on Friday and Saturday. Anglers at Glendelvine enjoyed some good sport on Saturday landing four fish. There was also success at Delvine & Burnbane on Thursday and Saturday for Mr Stan Nicol who landed a grilse on a red and gold Vision110 lure from Sparrowmuir.
It was a decent first half of the week at Kercock with anglers enjoying some good sport. There were a total of five fish caught including a cracking nineteen pounder on Wednesday. There were a couple more caught from the beat on Thursday. On Saturday anglers enjoyed some great sport with six fish landed including one which was very fresh which was great to see.
It was a happy Monday at Meikleour with two fish landed and another fish caught on Thursday with the higher water again suiting the beat. Friday and Saturday saw more success with two more fish caught.
The Farnell party were fishing at Islamouth last week and enjoyed some good sport in spite of the difficult conditions at the start of the week. They landed a total of nine fish and lost many others with the biggest weighing in at sixteen pounds.
There was good sport to be had at Ballathie on Monday with four fish landed and two more on Wednesday. On Friday there was a magnificent twenty eight pounder caught at and the big fish just kept coming with a twenty six pounder caught from the lower beat on Saturday.
Anglers enjoyed some good sport through the course of last week at Cargill and there were some big fish landed. In spite of the high water Cargill regular Mr Neil French landed a nice fish on Monday morning. Mr George Riddell caught his first ever Tay salmon also on Monday. There were a total of five fish landed for the day including a cracking eighteen pounder.
On Tuesday anglers at Cargill went one better landing six fish. Successful anglers included Mr Gareth Craze with a nice grilse and Mr George Riddell was back in the action again. However, one of the fish of the season has to go to Mr Craig Mason who landed a magnificent thirty one pounder. The fish gave a great account of itself in high water but patience and skill during the long fight eventually paid dividends. Craig was ably assisted by his father Mr Gavin Mason and together they shared an unforgettable moment once the fish was landed. Craig had actually caught a fish earlier in the day and the combined weight of both his fish came to an unbelievable eighty pounds.
The good sport continued towards the end of the week at Cargill with Mr Gavin Mason and Neil French amongst others getting their rods bent.
In spite of the high coloured water, it was a good start to the week at Stobhall. Mr Barry Ward landed three fish and his good friend Mr Jim Ferrie also enjoyed some good sport landing two.
However, fish of the day on Monday had to go to Ms Catherine Ferguson who caught the biggest fish in the party weighing a magnificent fifteen pounds.
There were fish caught on a regular basis as the week progressed at Stobhall which was good to see. On Friday Mr Barry Ward enjoyed more success landing three lovely fish weighing eighteen, sixteen and fifteen pounds. Not a bad day’s work!
There were five fish caught during the first half of the week at Taymount and the beat finished with a total of fourteen fish for the week. At Upper Scone there were a total of nine fish caught with four for Mr Gary Perks and three for Mr Bob Shaw. The biggest fish of the week went to retired ghillie Mr Jimmy Barrett who landed a lovely sixteen pounder. Well done sir!
It was good to see success at Pitlochrie on Wednesday. Ms Becci Roberts landed a big fish from the Benchil Beat on Tuesday. The fish was caught from Aitken Head.
Upper Redgorton had a fish on Tuesday and a couple on Friday with one landed on Saturday. There were three fish caught at Fishponds during the first two days of the week with another fish landed on Thursday. Anglers enjoyed some great sport on Saturday with five fish landed from the beat.
On Wednesday it was a day to remember for Mr Andrew Crisp. Mr Crisp was fishing the Luncarty Beat when his line tightened. Quite soon it became apparent that this was no ordinary fish. After what proved to be a monumental fight Mr Crisp landed a magnificent thirty two pound monster. The fish was caught on a toby lure. What a fish and what a day for Mr Crisp!
The good sport continued at Waulkmill with fourteen fish caught during the first half of the week including seven on Wednesday. On Thursday the beat produced a superb twenty pounder. The week ended well with six fish landed on Saturday. Catches at Almondmouth were consistent with a total of fourteen fish caught for the week.
With four days of the Tay salmon fishing season remaining there is still time to land that last big Tay salmon of 2020, so why not have cast? Who knows, the river might just produce another thirty pounder!
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 10th October 2020)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Upper Farleyer 9, Lower Farleyer 2, Upper Bolfracks 2, Lower Bolfracks 1, Upper Kinnaird 2, Lower Kinnaird 3, Dalguise 1, Dalmarnock 7, Newtyle 3, Murthly 1, 3 Murthly 2, 6, Glendelvine 4, Delvine & Burnbane 3, Kercock 15, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 5, West Grange 4, Islamouth 12, Ballathie 10, Cargill 27, Stobhall 15, Taymount 14, Upper Scone 9, Pitlochrie 1, Benchil 1, Upper Redgorton 4, Fishponds 9, Luncarty 2, Waulkmill 23, Almondmouth 14, Crieff AC 5, Lochlane & Laggan 2.
Total: 219 Largest: Luncarty 32lbs
STILL TIME REMAINING TO CATCH THAT LAST TAY SALMON OF 2020!
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 12th October 2020)
Four days are remaining of the 2020 Tay salmon fishing season, so there is still time for that final cast on the river. After the heavy rain of last weekend and subsequent flood, the river gradually dropped through the course of last week. The weather was reasonably settled apart from a few widespread showers. It started to feel cool towards the end of the week in the keen northerly wind. It has been mainly dry over the weekend across the region apart from the odd shower. Looking ahead to next week, Monday will see a spell of rain affecting much of Perthshire and this could be heavy in places. It should be drier on Tuesday apart from the odd shower. For the final two days of the season, it should be mainly dry with lighter winds as high pressure starts to build. It will feel quite chilly with temperatures just about making double figures.
The fish caught last week were mostly a mixture of hard fighting grilse and larger salmon. Salmon were caught from the Upper Farleyer down to Almondmouth with the majority of fish caught on the middle and lower river. There were also fish caught from the River Ericht and Earn. The best chance of success during the final four days of the season is likely to be on beats situated on the middle and lower river. As always, there is a good variety of salmon fishing available on the Tay system in the next few days. So why not have that final Tay foray of 2020?
Good luck to all those anglers intending to wet a line before the season ends.
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 is 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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