MORE STUNNING SPRING SALMON LANDED FROM THE TAY SYSTEM IN THE SPARKLING PERTHSHIRE SUNSHINE!

(River Tay weekly report week ending 24th April 2021) 

It is has turned out to be one the driest April’s since 2013 across the UK and there has been very little rainfall over the past few weeks across much of Scotland. This has led to river levels dropping away nicely with a few fish showing in many of the pools on some beats on the river. The reason for all the fine and settled weather has been a large area of high pressure which has centred itself over the UK and this had led to mainly fine and dry conditions for much of the month. However, it has continued to feel cold on some days with frequent night time frosts. Water heights are now perfect for many beats on the middle and lower river and there have been some stunning spring salmon landed from the Tay system in the sparkling Perthshire sunshine in the past few days. The water temperature last week was 43.5 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 6.4 degrees Celsius.

Loch Tay has produced some cracking fish in recent weeks and last week was no different. It was a magical Monday on the loch for Mr Duncan McKenzie who landed two lovely fish weighing nine and twelve pounds. Do Monday’s get any better than that? There were a couple more fish caught from the loch on Tuesday and one on Saturday.

One of three fish caught on Monday by Mr Duncan McKenzie on Loch Tay on Monday

It was good to see the upper river get off the mark on Monday when a nice fish was caught at Lower Farleyer. On Upper Kinnaird, there was a magnificent fish weighing twenty-two pounds caught from the Meetings Pool on the fly on Thursday.  

It was another productive week on the Portnacraig Beat on the River Tummel. On Monday morning Mr Steve Watt landed a nice sixteen pounder on the spinner. Mr Alun Williams landed two fish also on Monday including a twenty pounder. Portnacraig finished with eight fish for the week. 

It was good to see the Dalmarnock Beat produce a fish on Saturday. Mr Jonathan Amos struck spring silver on the Newtyle Beat on Wednesday morning from the Boil. On Thursday Mr Amos repeated the feat again this time with a sea liced nine pounder again from the Boil. On Saturday Mr Kevin Baird caught his first ever salmon from the Steps Pool on the Newtyle Beat. A great result and a day, which Mr Baird will remember for years to come! 

Mr Jon Amos with a cracking springer caught from Newtyle on Thursday

The Murthly 2 Beat continues to produce fish regularly with a fish landed on Monday and a fine brace on Tuesday including a cracking fifteen pounder. 

The Murthly 2 Beat excelled last week with no shortage of bent rods

On Wednesday there was a superb twenty pounder caught from Murthly 2. The Murthly 2 Beat finished with a very respectable seven fish for the week. 

 A stunning fish caught at Murthly 2

There was a fish caught from the Glendelvine Beat on Monday and Friday. Mr Robert McFarlane had a great day on Saturday at Kercock when he landed a magnificent springer weighing twenty pounds. The fish put up a great fight and was as fresh as paint.

Mr Robert Mcfarlane with a Kercock cracker caught on Saturday

It was a magical Monday at Meikleour and Upper Islamouth with five fine springers landed. Mr Niall Mitchell had a fine fish weighing eleven pounds from the House Pool.

One of five fish caught at Meikleour on Monday

In the afternoon in the space of forty minutes, four more fish were landed from the beat, which was quite incredible. Mr Niall Mitchell went on to land three more fish this time from the Castle pool. Mr Donald Williamson also got in on the act landing a fine ten pounder from Gow’s Run. It was a super Saturday at Meikleour for Mr Graeme Lightbody landing three springers in three hours at Meikleour. Does spring salmon fishing get any better than that?

A cracking springer caught from Meikleour on Tuesday

It was nice to see some action on the River Isla on Monday when a fish was caught from the Kethick Streams Beat. The Islamouth Beat continued its recent run of good form. Mr David Clark’s party had nine fish during the first half of the week weighing up to fourteen pounds. All the fish were caught on the fly. The good sport continued towards the end of the week with some more cracking springers landed.

Mr Ian Muir enjoyed some good rod bending action at Ballathie on Tuesday when he landed a fine eight pounder from the Bridgestream on the fly. 

 A stunning spring salmon caught on the fly by Mr Ian Muir from Ballathie on Tuesday

Mr Lloyd Stevenson had a great day at Ballathie on Thursday. He was harling at the Rumbling Stone when his rod buckled. What ensued, was a great fight with the fish making several long runs. Mr Stevenson went on to land a sparkling springer. The fish took a Vision lure. 

Mr Lloyd Stevenson caught this cracking springer from Ballathie on Thursday

On Friday Mr Gary Laing caught a lovely eleven-pound springer from the Cradle Wall on a Vision110 at Ballathie.

 Mr Gary Laing with a Ballathie cracker!

It was a good day at Cargill on Monday with two fish landed. Mr Pat Mckay caught a cracking fish. Mr Graham Raffan also landed a lovely sea liced springer from the beat.

Mr Ian Muir enjoyed more success on the Tay this time at Cargill on Wednesday. Mr Muir landed a sparkling springer in the Perthshire sunshine on the fly after a terrific fight. Mr Jamie Kilgannon had a lovely fish, which was caught on the fly at Cargill on Friday.

Mr Graham Raffan with a stunning springer caught at Cargill on Monday

On Monday Mr Steve Brown had a great day at Stobhall landing two beautiful spring salmon. On Wednesday Mr Rudi Kopczyk caught a fine springer from Findford Head at Stobhall. The fish weighed eleven pounds. 

 Mr Rudi Kopczyk with a stunning springer caught at Stobhall on Wednesday

On Saturday Mr Andrew Kennedy was wetting a line at Stobhall. Mr Kennedy was fly fishing the Aldrens Croy when his line tightened. After a terrific fight, Mr Kennedy landed his first ever salmon, a magnificent twelve pounder. What a fish and what a day for Mr Kennedy. You never forget your first! It was nice to see the Taymount Beat produce a fine brace on Friday.

Mr Andrew Kennedy with his first ever salmon caught at Stobhall on Saturday

We are now moving towards what should be traditionally the prime spring period for many beats on the River Tay. With some cracking spring salmon being landed from the Tay system last week there is every chance that anglers will enjoy more good sport in the days ahead. There is some decent availability on the river next week with salmon fishing to suit all tastes. So why not wet a line on one of Scotland’s most prolific salmon rivers in the upcoming days? You might just end April on a high!

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 24th April 2021)

SALMON & GRILSE: Loch Tay Fish n’ Trips 7, Lower Farleyer 1, Upper Kinnaird 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 8, Dalmarnock 1, Newtyle 3, Murthly 2, 7, Glendelvine 2, Kercock 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 11, Kethick Streams 1, Islamouth 19, Ballathie 3, Cargill 6, Stobhall 4, Taymount 2

Total: 77 Largest: Upper Kinnaird 22lbs

MORE SETTLED CONDITIONS IN THE DAYS AHEAD! 

(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 26th April 2021)

Courtesy of a large area of high pressure the weather was mainly dry and settled last week apart from some patchy light rain on Tuesday. This is a trend that has become the norm over the past few weeks. Indeed, this has been the driest April across the UK since 2013. It has been mainly dry and settled over the weekend. Looking ahead to next week, there will be some light patchy rain on Monday with some more rain on Tuesday. From Wednesday onwards it will be mainly dry for the rest of the week. It will feel notably colder in the northerly wind and there could be a few snow showers over higher ground. 

There were more stunning spring salmon caught from the Tay system last week and a number of these were sea liced, which was great to see. Fish entering the river seem to be running hard with sea liced fish being caught regularly on the middle river. Catches on the system were well spread last week from Loch Tay down to Stobhall. The River Tummel continues to fish well especially at Portnacraig. It was also good to see anglers have success on the River Isla through the course of last week. The numbers of fish entering the Tay system and heading for one of the many tributaries should continue to increase in the upcoming weeks so hopefully, there will be plenty more good sport to be had. There is a good chance of catching a springer anywhere on the Tay system next week, as catches in recent days would suggest. So why not book a day on the mighty River Tay next week? Nothing beat’s 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 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.