A COLD APRIL DRAWS TO A CLOSE BUT TOP QUALITY SPRING SALMON CONTINUE TO KEEP ANGLERS WARM ON THE TAY!

(River Tay weekly report week ending 1st May 2021) 

This year April has proved to be very cold and dry. Indeed, there has been a frost every day of the month somewhere in the UK which is highly unusual. Even though we moved into May over the weekend, the weather continued to see-saw between winter and spring across much of Scotland including Perthshire. The week started with temperatures close to average values for the time of year. However, on Tuesday a cold front swept down from the north and introduced bitterly cold Arctic air across much of the country. For the rest of the week, it felt much colder and more akin to winter rather than spring. There was some rain on Tuesday and this led to a small lift in water on Wednesday. Thankfully the north easterly wind dropped over the weekend and there were some night time frosts.  River levels were steady for much of last week apart from the small lift on Wednesday. The water temperature last week was 44.8 degrees Fahrenheit which is 7.1 degrees Celsius. Even though April was unseasonably cold there was no shortage of top quality spring salmon caught through the course of the month and this has helped to keep anglers warm on the Tay! 

Loch Tay has fished well in recent weeks and it was good to see two more fish caught from the loch on Wednesday. It was a great start on the upper river on Monday with three fish landed. Successful beats included Upper Bolfracks and Upper Kinnaird. Upper Farleyer also produced a magnificent sixteen pounder on the fly.

It was nice to see the first fish being caught from Loch Faskally on Tuesday. There were a couple more fish caught from the Loch on Friday and one on Saturday. Hopefully, this will be the start of some good sport on the loch.

The first salmon of the season caught from Loch Faskally on Tuesday

The Portnacraig Beat on the River Tummel has fished well over the past few weeks and last week was no different. There were a couple of fish caught from the beat on Monday. On Tuesday Mr Tony Brown landed a nice fish weighing thirteen pounds on the fly from the Portnacraig Bank. Mr Peter Fitzpatrick followed this up with another thirteen pounder this time on the spinner. Other successful anglers on Tuesday were Mr Jim Fisher and Mr Alex Mitchell.

A nice thirteen pounder caught by Mr Tony Brown from Portnacraig on Tuesday

On Thursday Mr Dave Stewart landed a nice twelve pounder on the fly from the Pitlochry bank in the morning. Not to be outdone Mr Iain McLaren landed a nice fly caught nine pounder. The Portnacraig Beat finished with thirteen fish for their week.

Mr Peter Fitzpatrick with a spring cracker caught from the River Tummel

On Monday Mr Kevin Elliot fished the Tay for the first time. Mr Elliot was fishing the Ash Tree Pool on Lower Kinnaird and was soon glad he made the trip South from Inverness when his fly rod buckled. After a terrific fight, Mr Elliot landed a stunning spring salmon on the fly. It is safe to say Mr Elliot will be making the journey south again to fish the Tay, in the not too distant future! There was also fish caught from the beat on Tuesday and two more fish caught on Wednesday including one weighing eighteen pounds. The week ended well with another nice fish caught on Friday.

Mr Kevin Elliot with his first Tay salmon caught from Lower Kinnaird

It was good to see the Dalguise Beat produce a fish on Thursday. There were happy anglers at Dalmarnock on Tuesday when two fish were landed including a magnificent springer weighing twenty two pounds. The Murthly 1 Beat produced a fish on Monday and again on Saturday which was good to see. The Murthly 2 Beat has fished well recently and there were two more fish caught from the beat during the first half of last week. There were a couple of nice fish caught at Glendelvine on Monday and one on Friday. It was good to see success at Kercock on Tuesday.

It was a productive day at Meikleour on Friday despite the low water conditions. There were two nice fish caught from Boxwood Bush as well as fish caught from the Castle Pool and one from the Ferry Crossing.

 One of four fish caught at Meikleour on Friday

The Farnell party were fishing at Islamouth during the first half of the week and enjoyed some good sport landing fish up to fifteen pounds. Mr Ian Mitchell’s party were at Islamouth during the second half of the week and caught some cracking salmon including four on Friday. 

On Monday Mr Robert Booth caught a lovely springer weighing nine pounds from Ballathie. The fish was caught from the Cradle. The fish took a lemon & white Kynoch lure. Mr Booth’s wife Mrs Annette Booth lost a fish. 

Mr Robert Booth with a Ballathie cracker caught on Monday

On Wednesday it was Mrs Booth’s turn to show hubby how it was done when she went one better landing a cracking fifteen pounder again from the same pool using the same lure.

Mrs Annette Booth with a sparkling salmon caught from Ballathie

There were three fish landed during the first half of the week at Cargill. Mr Derek Trevis caught a lovely twelve pounder on the fly on Wednesday. Mr David Purvis also enjoyed success at Cargill on Tuesday. 

Mr Derek Trevis with a fine springer caught at Cargill on Wednesday

There was success at Stobhall on Tuesday. On Saturday it was a double hook up on the beat when Mr Alistair Sheach fishing Wullies Stone and Mr Geoff Coates fishing the Aldrens Stream hooked into fish at exactly the same time on the fly. After great fights both fish were landed and weighed fifteen pounds.  

 One of two cracking fish caught at Stobhall on Saturday

There were three fish landed during the first half of the week at Taymount. On Thursday there were a couple more fish caught from the beat. It was good to see a fine brace landed at Upper Redgorton on Tuesday.

One of two fish caught from Upper Redgorton on Tuesday

There seems to be a reasonable head of fish in the Tay system now so hopefully, the good sport will continue in the upcoming weeks. As we move through May there should be decent numbers of hard fighting spring salmon entering the Tay system and with travels restrictions now eased and holiday accommodation open hopefully people will be able to experience good sport from far and wide. 

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 1st May 2021)

SALMON & GRILSE: 

Loch Tay Fish N’ Trips 2, Upper Farleyer 1, Upper Bolfracks 1, Upper Kinnaird 1, Loch Faskally 4, Portnacraig Pitlochry 13, Lower Kinnaird 6, Dalguise 1,  Dalmarnock 2, Murthly 1, 2, Murthly 2, 2, Glendelvine 3, Kercock 1, Meikleour & U Islamouth 4, Islamouth 10, Ballathie 2, Cargill 3, Stobahll 3, Taymount 5, Upper Redgorton 2.

Total:68 Largest: Portnacraig Pitlochry & Dalmarnock 22lbs

MAY MAGIC IN THE DAYS AHEAD?

(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 3rd May 2021)

Temperatures dropped at the beginning of last week after a cold front drifted southwards introducing behind it Arctic air across much of Scotland. It felt raw in the northerly wind at times but thankfully over the weekend, the winds became somewhat lighter. Fortunately, it was mainly dry last week, and river levels were steady. The weather is set to change in the upcoming days as we develop a more Atlantic influence to our weather. This will mean a series of low pressure systems coming in from the west bringing rain and wind at times. Looking ahead to next week, it is set to be a dry start on Monday but a vigorous low pressure system will soon move in bringing heavy rain and strong winds to much of central Scotland. On Tuesday there will be heavy showers and some of these could fall as snow. It will feel bitterly cold in the strong northerly wind. It should be a  bit more settled on Wednesday as winds fall lighter. Towards the end of the week, there is a chance that temperatures may start to rise but the unsettled theme is likely to continue.

It was nice to see some cracking fish being caught from the upper river last week. Loch Faskally started to produce fish as numbers going through the dam at Pitlochry begin to increase. The River Tummel also continued its recent run of good form with the Portnacraig Beat producing some nice springers. On the main Tay, fish were caught from Upper Farlayer down to Upper Redgorton with the beats located on the middle and lower river enjoying the best of the sport. So, there is a good chance of a fish anywhere in this area. 

Last week also saw a twenty two pounder caught from the River Tummel and the Dalmarnock Beat this shows the size and quality of the spring salmon that run up the mighty Tay on a regular basis. This has to be an incentive for those anglers looking to make contact with that fish of a lifetime!

With good availability on the river next week, and the chance of a big salmon, why not book some fishing on the Tay in the upcoming days? You might just be able to conjure up some May magic!

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.