THE MOST PRODUCTIVE WEEK OF THE SEASON SO FAR AS WE MOVE TOWARDS EASTER!

(River Tay weekly report week ending 27th March 2021) 

We move into April next week with Easter now on the horizon. It always seems to be a date in the calendar when it feels like spring has finally sprung in Scotland. The nights are getting longer, and the clocks have gone forward. As the sun gets stronger there is no longer such a stark temperature contrast between night and day. 

April is traditionally the beginning of the prime spring period on many Scottish rivers including the Tay. Usually, at this time of year, the numbers of fish entering the river and heading for many of Tay’s tributaries start to increase. This is in addition to the fish travelling up the main stem of the river to Loch Tay and beyond. 

There have been some cracking Tay springers landed in recent days. Things got off to a flyer last week on the Tay system when on Monday thirteen fish were landed which was great to see. In actual fact last week ended up being the most productive week of the season so far and hopefully, this is a sign of things to come as we move towards Easter and beyond.

Loch Tay has produced some stunning fish in the past few weeks and there was a lovely fish landed from the loch on Tuesday. The magnificent eight pounder was caught by Mr Grant Tigwell and on his first run down the loch.

A lovely fish caught on Saturday from Loch Tay

There were also a couple landed from the loch on Saturday including a fine sixteen pounder.

A lovely springer caught by Mr Fothringham from Murthly 2 on Monday

It was good to see the Dalguise Beat taste success on Monday when a fine springer was landed. There was a fish caught at Dalmarnock on Saturday. Monday at Murthly 2 proved to be magical when four springers were landed. This was the first day that the beat has opened this season because of the pandemic and what a start. Mr Patrick Fothringham was one of the successful anglers. There was another fish caught from the beat on Thursday.

One of the four springers caught from Glendelvine on Monday

There was also four fish landed from the famous Glendelvine Beat on Monday including a magnificent twenty four pounder. This is one of the biggest salmon landed from Scotland’s rivers so far this season and being caught from the Tay is great to see. There were three more fish caught from the beat on Friday.

A cracking springer caught from Glendelvine on Monday

Consistency was the name of the game at Islamouth with fish caught everyday including three on Thursday. The fish were caught on a mixture of fly and spinner with the best weighing seventeen pounds. Islamouth finished with a respectable nine fish for the week. 

Fine Cargill silver landed on Monday

Further downstream at Cargill it was a happy Monday with two nice springers landed. On Tuesday there was another two fish caught from the beat including one weighing sixteen pounds. This was great sport at Cargill through the early part of the week. The week ended on a high with a further springer landed on Saturday.

A silver bullet caught from Cargill on Tuesday

Taymount produced a nice fish on Monday and a couple on Saturday. There was also a fish caught on the Burnmouth Beat on Monday. It was nice to see some success at Catholes on Thursday. The cracking spring salmon was caught on the fly from the Woodside Pool.

It was good to see catches improve on the Tay system last week and hopefully, this is a sign to come in the days and weeks ahead. The Tay has traditionally a reputation for producing big fish and last week was no exception with a twenty four pounder landed. When you combine this with the improving catches there is no better time to go in search of spring silver on the mighty River Tay. So why not wet a line next week, if current travel restrictions allow? You might just hook into a twenty pounder…or maybe even something bigger!

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 March)

SALMON & GRILSE: 

Loch Tay Fish N Trips 3, Dalguise 1, Dalmarnock 1, Murthly 2, 5, Glendelvine 7, Islamouth 9, Cargill 5, Taymount 3, Burnmouth 1, Catholes 1

Total: 36  Largest: Glendelvine 24lbs

MORE NICE FISH TO BE LANDED AS WE MOVE TOWARDS EASTER?

(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 29th March 2021)

River levels were generally settled for much of last week until Friday. On Thursday night heavy rain swept across Perthshire and this led to a decent lift in the water. However, by Saturday the river was dropping nicely. Catches on the Tay system were up on the previous week which was great news for anglers. 

April is a great time of year to be out on the river with more fresh fish entering the river on a daily basis. The weather also starts to improve with the nights stretching. Hopefully, there will be more nice fish landed as we move towards Easter.

It has been a mixed bag of weather over the weekend with rain on Saturday night which led to rising river levels on Sunday. It was drier for a time on `Sunday before more rain swept in from the west. Looking ahead to next week there will be some rain on Monday and Tuesday which will always be heavier towards the western side of the catchment area. It will also feel milder than of late with temperatures in the mid-teens.  From midweek onwards a northerly wind is set to develop and temperatures will drop sharply. By next weekend there is a chance of some wintry showers.

There is a chance of fresh fish anywhere on the system next week. Loch Tay has produced some nice fish in recent weeks as has the River Tummel. The runs of fish heading for the Tummel entering the system should gain momentum over the next few weeks. On the main river, catches were well spread last week from Dalguise down to Catholes, so you could make contact with that elusive silver tourist almost anywhere. 

With the River Tay offering anglers excellent value for money when it comes to spring salmon fishing there is no better time to book a day’s fishing on one of Scotland’s most prolific and iconic salmon rivers if travel restrictions allow. So why not wet a line on the Tay next week? You might just start April off with a bang by landing that big Tay springer!

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 early spring period (January-March)

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 early spring months water temperatures are often low and river levels high. In such conditions, the depth at which your fly is moving through the water column can be the key to success. Often you may be required to use floating lines coupled with sinking polyleaders, intermediate or even full sinking lines. It is therefore important that you have a fly rod that can work in harmony with a heavy line. As the Tay is a big river usually a powerful fifteen-foot rod with a ten-line rating will cover almost any eventuality. 

Make sure your fly reel has a good drag system

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 can work well. In higher water, an intermediate or full sinking line may be required to produce the best results.
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 early spring period to use leader material with an adequate breaking strain. Usually a breaking strain between fifteen and eighteen pounds ideal.

Tube flies can work well during the early part of the season

During the early part of the season, tube flies often work well. If the water temperatures are low weighted copper, brass or even tungsten tubes of a decent length will allow your fly to get well down and close to where the fish are likely to be lying. In cold weather, the fish are unlikely to be keen on moving fast so it is better that your fly moves through the water column at an adequate depth and not too quickly. 

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 forty 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. 

The Vision 110 can be a productive lure on the River Tay

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 forty grams. Devon Minnows can also be effective on the River Tay during the early spring months. Vision 110s and Rapalas are also lures which are well worth considering.

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 during the early spring months. 

Setting out to do some harling on the Meikleour and Upper Islamouth Beat

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. 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 15^th to 1^st 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 respect at all times.