CATCHES HAMPERED BY HIGH WATER BUT THE TWENTY POUNDERS JUST KEEP COMING!

(River Tay weekly report week ending 3rd April 2020) 

We moved into April last week and the Scottish weather made many of us look like April fools. During the previous week, the weather had felt quite spring like with milder conditions predominating across much of Scotland. The weather during the first few days of April has been quite a shock to the system. Northerly winds predominated towards the end of last week and there was a distinct chill in the air. The culprit for the colder weather was a cold front which moved southwards on Thursday. The weekend has been mainly dry but it has remained cold. If the forecast is to be believed then it is set to get even colder early next week when we are due to get an Arctic blast with even snow showers possible in some places.  Perhaps we should not be surprised, as statistically, it is more likely to snow in Scotland over Easter than at Christmas.

Unfortunately, high water hampered catches for the first half of last week due to the heavy rain last weekend. As the week progressed river levels dropped gradually but the river was still high on Saturday. On a positive note, there were fish landed around the twenty pounds mark on most days. This just goes to show what the Tay system is capable of producing at this time of year. The water temperature last week was around 41.5 degrees Fahrenheit which is 5.3 degrees Celsius. 

On Tuesday Mr Iain McLaren was fishing on the River Tummel at Portnacraig. It was Mr McLaren’s first run down the Portnacraig bank when his fly line tightened. After a good fight, Mr McLaren landed a nice twelve pounder. 

Mr Iain McLaren with a fine fly caught salmon from the River Tummel

Mr Alun Williams was next on the scoresheet at Portnacraig when he landed a stunning salmon weighing twenty two pounds also caught on the fly. Needless to say, the fish led him a merry dance. Well done Sir! On Tuesday Mr Ally Gowans also landed a fish from the Portnacraig Bank on the fly. So, all in all, it was a great first half of the week at Portnacraig. 

 Mr Alun Williams with his cracking twenty two pounder!

There was success at Dunkeld on Saturday for Mr Ross who caught a lovely fish from the Gauge Pool which was sea liced and as fresh as paint.

A lovely sea liced springer caught from Dunkeld on Saturday

It was good to see the West Grange Beat on the Ericht produce the goods on Monday. A beautiful spring salmon weighing twenty pounds was caught from the Dykes on a Willie Gunn tube fly.

 Spring silver on the Ericht at West Grange

Mr Simon Furnace and his party were fishing on the prolific Islamouth Beat. Conditions were far from ideal because of the high water. In spite of this, a lovely twenty one pounder was landed from the beat on Wednesday. The fish was caught from the Isla mouth itself. Mr Jim Ferrie had a red letter day on Friday at Islamouth when he landed three springers two of which were weighing eighteen and nineteen pounds. The eighteen pounder gave him a great fight on the fly rod. There was more success for Mr Ferrie on Saturday when he finished his week with a cracking nine pounder just before the final whistle was blown. What a few days for Mr Ferrie, memories which will live with him for years to come!

Mr Jim Ferrie enjoys a red letter day at Islamouth

Mr Sandy Pringle had a day to remember at Stobhall on Wednesday. Mr Pringle was fishing the Trinks on the Linn Pool when he hooked and landed a sparkling springer. 

Mr Sandy Pringle with a carcker caught from Stobhall on Wednesday

There was more success on Friday at Stobhall this time for Mr Gary Bruce who caught a spanking sea liced springer from Bellymore. At Taymount there was a fine brace caught on Thursday with fish also landed from the beat on Friday and Saturday.

 Mr Gary Bruce with a Stobhall cracker!

It was a super Saturday for Mr Jonny Muir at Catholes. Mr Muir was fly fishing when he got a savage take and after a terrific fight landed a lovely fresh springer.

Mr John Muir with a sparkling fish caught from Catholes

Unfortunately, mother nature was against anglers fishing the Tay last week because of the high water. Hopefully, the weather will settle down in the next few days, as anglers all we can do is to keep our fingers crossed. As we move through April and into May the runs of spring salmon entering the river should continue to increase. This gives anglers an excellent chance of making contact with that elusive spring silver tourist. 

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 3rd April 2020)

SALMON & GRILSE: 

Portnacraig Pitlochry 3, Dunkeld 1, West Grange 1, Islamouth 7, Stobhall 2, Taymount 4, Catholes 1

Total:19 Largest: Portnacraig Pitlochry 22lbs

MORE TWENTY POUNDERS IN THE DAYS AHEAD?

(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 5th April 2020)

The Scottish weather bared its teeth once again as there was a dramatic temperature drop from Thursday of last week onwards. Thankfully it was mainly dry over Easter weekend but on Sunday the temperature dropped further as a raw northerly wind set in. Looking ahead to next week there will be frequent snow showers on Monday mostly over higher ground but there is a chance of few flakes even down to lower levels.  There will also be gale force northerly winds which will make it feel very raw. On Tuesday it will remain very cold with the chance of more snow showers. It should be drier on Wednesday with lighter winds. Towards the end of the week, temperatures will rise slightly and there is a chance of some rain especially in western parts of the catchment area. 

Catches were hampered on the Tay at the start of last week because of the high water and when you combine this with limited fishing pressure because of the pandemic regulations it’s easy to see why there was only a handful of fish caught. It was encouraging to see the number of larger fish caught including a few over the magical twenty pounds mark. This just goes to show what the Tay system is capable of producing at this time of year and hopefully, there will be plenty more twenty pounders landed in the days ahead. 

It was good to see the River Tummel produce a few fish and a twenty pounder was caught from the River Ericht. As we move through April and into May sport on these tributaries should continue to improve. Many of the fish caught last week were sea liced indicating that the fish entering the system are now running hard. There is a chance of picking up a fresh fish anywhere on the main river next week as catches in recent days would suggest. Loch Tay is also a good option as is the River Tummel and Ericht. 

With lovely fish being landed daily and if current pandemic restrictions allow why not wet a line on one of Scotland’s most prolific salmon rivers next week? You might just have that April day to remember!

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 spring period (April-May)

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. 

Harling can be a very productive method at certain times of the year 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. Harling is a method which is very much water height dependent and is practised at the beat ghillies discretion.