(River Tay weekly report week ending 10th April 2021)
With Easter behind us, we are now moving into what should be the prime spring period on many of Scotland’s salmon rivers including the River Tay. In the next six weeks, we should get a better idea of how strong the spring run will be across the country this year, especially once travel restrictions ease and holiday accommodation is allowed to re-open. Hopefully catches will go from strength to strength in the weeks ahead.
It was great to see catches improve markedly on the Tay system last week with some stunning spring salmon landed. Last week was by far the most productive week of the season so far and long may it continue. What made the catches even more impressive was that fishing pressure was relatively light as it has been so far this year on the river due to the pandemic restrictions.
It felt bitter in the raw northerly wind for much of last week with even some of the white stuff falling to lower levels. Anglers that braved the elements were rewarded for their efforts as many caught magnificent spring salmon. The quality of some of the fish landed were second to none which was great to see. Due to the lack of rainfall river levels were mostly steady last week apart from a small rise on Friday, which was good news for anglers. Water temperatures were around 4.0 degrees Celsius, which is 39.2 Fahrenheit.
There was good sport to be had on Loch Tay. Mr Grant Tigwell decided to endure then inclement weather and the strong northerly wind on Tuesday. He was glad that he did when landed a sparkling six pounder. The following day Mr Tigwell had a day to remember on the loch when he landed a stunning twenty four pounder. After returning the fish Mr Tigwell was just putting his second rod out when another salmon took the lure this time weighing nine pounds. If this was not enough around fifteen minutes later the rod buckled again and Mr Tigwell went on to land an eighteen pounder. This was all in the space of an hour. What terrific sport in anyone’s book!
Anglers enjoyed some good sport on the River Tummel through the course of last week. It was a magical Monday for Mr Jim Fisher who was wetting a line at Portnacraig. Mr Fisher caught a beautiful ten pounder on his first run down the Portnacraig Bank on the fly.
On Tuesday Mr Stuart Humphreys was first on the scoresheet at Portnacraig when he landed a superb twenty-three pounder on the fly. Next in the catch book was Mr Alun Williams who added to his success from the previous week when he landed an eight pounder on the fly. Further downstream on the Tummel the Sawmill Beat produced the goods for Mr Jimmy Ross who landed a nice ten pounder.
On Wednesday Me Steve Watt landed a cracking fish weighing twenty-one pounds from Portnacraig. There were a further four fish caught from the beat on Thursday. Mr James Broomhall had a day to remember landing a terrific twenty pounder from the Portnacraig Bank in the morning. In the afternoon Mr Broomhall doubled his tally when he caught a ten pounder from the Pitlochry bank on the spinner.
It was a good end to the week at Dalguise with a fish caught on Saturday. Dalmarnock enjoyed success on Friday. Mr Tim Symonds had a magical Monday at Dunkeld when he landed a lovely eight pounder from the Gauge Pool. The fish was caught on a Salmo lure. There was another fish caught from the beat on Saturday.
Mr David Gardner is the new ghillie on the Newtyle Beat having just started at the beginning of April. Mr Gardner has fished the beat for many years and enjoyed some good success. On Wednesday Mr Gardner was out harling when his rod buckled. After a terrific fight, Mr Gardner landed a lovely eleven pounder. The fish was caught on a pink Tomic lure. There were two more fish caught from Newtyle on Saturday.
Mr Andrew Lawson will not forget last Monday in a hurry and not because it was Easter Monday. Mr Lawson was fishing at Glendelvine when he caught his first ever salmon. The stunning springer weighed ten pounds and was caught on the fly from the Boat Pool. Well done that man… you never forget your first! There was also another fish caught on the fly from the beat on the same day. There were two more fish caught at Glendelvine on Friday.
Mr Kenny Milne was fishing on the productive Kercock Beat on Wednesday. Mr Milne’s line tightened and what ensued was an all mighty battle. The fish made several powerful runs before it was landed. The magnificent specimen weighed eighteen pounds and was as fresh as paint.
The Meikleour & Upper Islamouth Beat only opened its banks to anglers at the beginning of the month due to the pandemic. On Monday there was a fine ten pounder caught at the Rushes and a fourteen pounder from Boxwood Bush. What a great start to the season!
The following day thirteen year old Charlie McKay showed everyone how it was done when he landed a fine ten pounder from the March Pool.
On Thursday it was the turn of Mr Robertson to taste success at Meikleour. Mr Robertson landed a pristine springer weighing nineteen pounds just before the final whistle was blown. The fish was caught on a Tay lure. It was a super end to the week at Meikelour with four more springers landed on Friday. Mr Cross landed a nice fish from the beat on Saturday, which rounded off a great week at Meikelour. It was nice to see Keithick Mains Beat on the River Isla produce a fish on Wednesday.
The Islamouth Beat fished consistently well last week producing nine fish during the first half of the week. On Thursday Mr Jim Ferrie and his party enjoyed a great day at Islamouth. Mr Ferrie landed three salmon weighing seven, ten and fourteen pounds.
Mr Barry Ward also landed a nice fish as did his fishing partner Mr Simon Furniss. It was a great day had by all despite the gale force winds and testing conditions. Islamouth finished with a very creditable eighteen fish for the week.
It was Cargill head ghillie, Mr David Godfrey’s birthday on Saturday and he celebrated it in style when he caught a stunning spring salmon. Birthday presents don’t come much better than this! There was also another fish caught from the beat on Saturday.
It was great to see more success being enjoyed by anglers at Stobhall. On Monday Mr Kieran Duff caught his first ever salmon from the Linn Pool on his fifth cast of the morning showing everyone salmon fishing is easy!
Next on the scoresheet was Mr Gavin Wiseman who caught a lovely fish from Lower Eels just before lunch. There were two other fish lost through the course of the day. On Wednesday there were two more fish caught from Stobhall when Mr Charles Martin landed a superb brace. Mr Martin landed a nine pounder from the Majors Cast and a ten pounder from Findford Head.
On Thursday there were two more fish caught from Stobhall weighing nine and twelve pounds. There was success at Taymount on Wednesday, and another fish caught on Friday, which was good to see.
The Burnmouth Beat produced a nice fish on Saturday. Mr George Thomson caught a beautiful spring salmon from the Catholes Beat on Wednesday. The fish gave a great account of itself and was caught on the fly. It was also good to see the Pitlochrie Beat produce a fish on Tuesday.
It was very encouraging to see so many nice fish caught from the Tay system last week. Some of these fish have created memories for life for anglers, which is always special. As we move through April the number of fish entering the Tay system and heading for one of the many tributaries should continue to increase. This is in addition to the fish running the main river. Anglers should therefore stand an excellent chance of hooking the ultimate prize in our sport a hard fighting spring salmon and there is no better place to do this than on the mighty River Tay.
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 April)
SALMON & GRILSE: Loch Tay Fish N Trips 4, Portnacraig Pitlochry 12, Dalguise 1, Dalmarnock 1, Dunkeld House 2, Newtyle 3, Glendelvine 4, Kercock 1, Meikleour & Upper Islamouth 9, Kethick Mains 1, Islamouth 18, Cargill 2, Stobhall 6, Taymount 2, Burnmouth 1, Catholes 1, Pitlochrie 1.
Total: 69 Largest: Portnacraig Pitlochry 24lbs
MORE STUNNING SPRING SALMON TO BE LANDED FROM THE TAY SYSTEM IN THE DAYS AHEAD?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 12th April 2021)
April can be a prime time of year on the River Tay on many beats for spring salmon fishing and last week showed why, as catches improved dramatically. This was despite relatively light fishing pressure due to the pandemic. There is already a reasonable head of fish in the system as has been shown by the catches in recent weeks. These fish will be joined by more fresh fish entering the system daily, so anglers stand a great chance of making contact with that elusive springer. Hopefully, there will be more stunning salmon landed in the days ahead.
Last week saw mostly dry conditions predominate across much of Perthshire apart from the odd snow shower. It was bitterly cold in the strong northerly wind. There was also some night time frosts. River levels were steady and generally conditions were good on many beats. This was reflected in the improved catches.
It has been mostly cold and dry over the weekend apart from a few scattered snow showers on Saturday. Looking ahead to next week, high pressure looks set to build bringing dry settled conditions for much of Scotland. Monday and Tuesday should be mainly dry with the chance of the odd shower. It will feel cold with night time frosts. Temperatures are set to gradually rise from midweek onwards and the dry weather should continue. There is a chance of some patchy rain as we move towards next weekend.
It was good to see anglers enjoying some good sport last week on the Tay system. Many anglers that braved the elements were rewarded for the efforts landing some stunning spring salmon. Catches were well spread from Dalguise down to Pitlochrie on the main river. Loch Tay produced some nice springers and the River Tummel continued its recent run of good form producing springers regularly with the Portnacraig Beat being particularly productive once again. Realistically there is a good chance of landing a fresh fish anywhere on the Tay system in the upcoming days.
With decent conditions forecast and top quality hard fighting spring salmon being landed daily, why not start your quest of catching a spring salmon on the River Tay next week if current pandemic travel restrictions permit? Nothing describes that amazing feeling when you hook a 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)
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.
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.
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