TEMPERATURES REMAIN UNSEASONABLY LOW BUT FINE SPRING SALMON CONTINUE TO BE CAUGHT FROM THE TAY SYSTEM!

(River Tay weekly report week ending 8th May 2021) 

We are now moving into mid-May, which is a prime spring period on many Scottish rivers. Usually at this time of the year before our eyes, the seasons are changing, as we move deeper into spring. With the days getting longer, often it is only a matter of time before we experience those magical balmy evenings of summer with the dark winter nights being a distant memory. Unfortunately, this could not be further from the truth this year. It seems that winter has been reluctant to release its icy grip as it was another unseasonably cold week across much of Scotland with northerly winds and frequent snow showers across some parts.  

A stunning scene at Meikleour this week

Despite the cold weather and at times challenging conditions there were some fine spring salmon were caught from the Tay system last week. River levels rose through the middle part of last week and then remained unsettled over the weekend. The water temperature last week was 42.4 degrees Fahrenheit which is 5.5 degrees Celsius. 

Mr James Mylne caught his first ever salmon on Loch Tay on Wednesday

Mr James Mylne had a good day on Loch Tay on Wednesday when he caught his first ever salmon. The fish weighed a cracking fifteen pounds. It was congratulations to Mr Fraser Millikan on Thursday. Mr Millikan caught his first ever Loch Tay springer weighing eleven pounds. 

Mr Fraser Millikan caught this nice fish from Loch Tay on Thursday

On the upper river, both Bolfracks beats produced fish during the week including one weighing sixteen pounds. The Edradynate Beat produced a fish on Tuesday and there was a nice springer caught at Upper Farleyer on Saturday. There was also success on Loch Faskally on Monday. 

Mr Matt Griffin with a lovely springer caught from the Upper Bolfracks Beat

Mr Steve Watt had a fish from Portnacraig on the River Tummel on Monday. On Tuesday Mr Jim Fisher had a nice thirteen pounder on the fly. Mr Gary Westhead enjoyed success on Tuesday when he caught a lovely twelve pounder on the fly from the Portnacraig bank. 

Mr Gary Westhead with a nice fish caught at Portnacraig on Tuesday

On Thursday Mr Iain McLaren had a fine eleven pounder on the fly from the Pitlochry bank. Not to be outdone Mr Curtis Brunker caught a magnificent twenty six pounder in the afternoon. The fish is the biggest fish caught from the beat this season so far. Portnacraig finished with ten fish for the week.

.Mr Curtis Brunker with a magnificent twenty six pounder from Portnacraig

Lower Kinnaird has fished well recently and there were a couple more fish caught from the beat during the first half of the week as well as one on Thursday.  On Friday a magnificent twenty three pounder was caught from Lower Kinnaird. It was a good day at Dunkeld on Thursday with two fish landed. Both fish were caught from the Cathedral Stream on the fly and weighed ten and fourteen pounds. On Saturday Mr Martin Furness had a great day at Dunkeld when he landed a cracking ten pounder from the Gauge Pool.

A stunning springer caught from Dunkeld on Thursday

There was also some lovely springers fish caught from the Newtyle Beat during the course of the week . 

A nice fly caught salmon from Newtyle on Wednesday

On Thursday there were two fish caught from the beat including a fine ten ponder for Mr Gordon Bell. On Saturday Mr Alan King landed a stunning sea liced fourteen pounder from the Fiddlers.

Mr Gordon Bell with a fine fish caught at Newtyle

Both Murthly beats had a fish on Thursday. On Friday Murthly 2 produced two more. It was good to see a fish caught from the Glendelvine Beat on Monday. Meikleour and Upper Islamouth produced fish on Wednesday and also every day during the second half of the week. 

A happy angler at Meikleour this week

The Ness party were fishing during the first half of the week at Islamouth. They enjoyed some great sport landing twelve fish up to fifteen pounds. There were some nice fish caught towards the end of the week and Islamouth finished with seventeen fish for the week. 

Mr Jim Fitzsimmons had a happy Monday on the lower beat at Ballathie. Mr Fitzsimmons was fishing the fly in the Grey Stane Pool when his line tightened. A great battle ensued after which he landed a nice springer weighing seven pounds. There was another fish caught at Ballathie on Thursday. On Friday Mr Alan McGoldrick caught a stunning nine pounder from the Cradle. The fish was as fresh as paint and put up a great fight. There were two more fish caught from Ballathie on  Saturday. Mr Ian Rose had a nice fish harling from the Clockston. Mr George Morris was the other successful angler who caught a fine ten pounder on the fly from the Bridge Stream.

Mr Alan McGoldrick with a sparkling Ballathie springer!

It was nice to see the Stobhall Beat have some success on Tuesday. On Thursday Mr Patrick Sweeney caught two lovely springers at Stobhall on the fly. The fish were caught from the Sharks Fin and Wulies Stane. 

One of two fish caught by Mr Patrick Sweeney from Stobhall on Thursday

Mr Jim McLanaghan caught a nice fish on the fly from Stobhall on Friday from Tams Corner. There were three fish caught from the Taymount Beat during the first half of the week. Taymount finished with six fish for the week.

 A magnificent Stobhall springer caught on Friday

With only a couple of weeks of the spring season remaining time is running out to make contact with that big Tay springer. So why not book a day on one of Scotland’s most famous and prolific salmon rivers next week? You might just have that May day to remember!

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 8th May)

SALMON & GRILSE: 

Loch Tay Fish N Trips 2, Edradynate 1, Upper Farleyer 1, Upper Bolfracks 2, Lower Bolfracks 1, Loch Faskally 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 10, Lower Kinnaird 5, Dunkeld 3, Newtyle 4, Murthly 1, 2, Murthly 2, 3, Glendelvine 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 4, Islamouth 17 Ballathie 5, Stobhall 4, Taymount 6, Lochlane & Laggan 1, Crieff AC 1.

Total: 74 Largest: Portnacraig Pitlochry 26lbs

TIME RUNNING OUT TO CATCH THAT TAY SPRINGER!

 (River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 10th May 2021)

We are now moving into mid-May and so time is running out to catch that Tay springer. It has been cold over the past few days across Perthshire for mid-May. Last week there was a lift in water through the middle part of the week and then again over the weekend but on the whole, conditions remained decent. This is traditionally the prime spring period for many beats on the river and hopefully, more anglers will taste success on the Tay over the next few weeks. 

The weather is set to get milder in the days ahead which should make fishing a much more pleasurable experience than of late. There was heavy rain across Perthshire on Saturday which led to another lift in water levels. On Sunday it felt much milder than of late with temperatures into the mid-teens. Looking ahead the weather will remain unsettled for much of the week with heavy showers as low pressure remain firmly in control. Winds will be from a southerly direction making it feel warmer. Towards the end of the week, there is the chance of high pressure building from the north leading to cooler more settled conditions.

Again, last week catches were well spread on the Tay system from Loch Tay down to Taymount. A number of the fish caught were sea liced which was good to see. Fresh fish could be caught anywhere on the river as well as Loch Tay and Loch Faskally in the upcoming days. The River Isla could also be a worthwhile option to consider. 

There is good availability on the river next week to suit all budgets and the great variety of fishing on offer on the Tay system is second to none. With the weather set to get a little milder and some nice fish being caught from the river in recent days, why not wet a line on the mighty River Tay next week? You might just experience some mid-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.