(River Tay weekly report week ending 19th June 2021)
It will quite literally be mid-summer next week as on Monday it will be the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. This is when one of the Earth's two poles achieve maximum tilt towards the sun. Monday will therefore mark the longest day of the year.
For anglers, this means that fishing very late at night and then again early in the morning is possible. During the summer months, this can often be the best times to wet a line especially if it has been hot and sunny during the day.
It was cooler across much of Scotland including Perthshire last week and thankfully at times, there was more cloud cover. There was a small lift in water during the middle part of the week. All in all, it was a much better fishing week and catches responded accordingly. The water temperature last week was 13.9 degrees Celsius which is 57 degrees Fahrenheit.
The good news was that catches on the Tay system improved last week with a decent number of larger summer salmon caught including fish weighing well over twenty pounds. Many of the fish were caught on the fly with the river at a perfect height for fly fishing on many beats. There were also a few nice Sea trout caught which is always a welcome addition to any salmon that are landed.
On the upper river, Mr Gordon Pollock had a nice fish from the Edradynate Beat on Thursday weighing twelve pounds. Other successful beats on the upper river through the course of the last week included Lower Farleyer and Upper Kinnaird.
A lovely fish caught from Edradynate on Thursday
Mr William Davidson had a nice fish from the Portnacraig Beat on the River Tummel on Friday.
A nice fish caught from Portnacraig on Friday
It was nice to see fish caught from Dalmarnock on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday there was success on the Dunkeld Beat. Mr Jake Leonard had a day to remember at Newtyle on Tuesday. Mr Leonard was fly fishing the Trap when his line tightened. After a great fight, Mr Leonard landed a lovely salmon.
Mr Jake Leonard with a lovely fish caught from Newtyle
On Thursday Mr Calum Laurie originally from New Zealand had a special day at Newtyle. Mr Lawrie was fishing the Boil when he hooked his first ever salmon. After a great fight, the fish was duly landed. Well done Sir, you never forget your first!
Mr Calum Laurie with his first ever salmon caught at Newtyle on Thursday
On Friday Mr John Amos enjoyed success at Newtyle when he caught a nice fish on the fly from the Trap in the evening. He also lost a fish ten minutes later.
Mr John Amos with a nice fish caught at Newtyle
There was a fine brace caught at Murthly 2 on Tuesday. Further downstream it was good to see the Kercock Beat produce fish regularly including a lovely fifteen pounder on Friday.
It was a good day on Saturday for Mr Peter Gilding who was fishing at Meikleour. Mr Gilding hooked a powerful fish in the House Pool. After a good fight, Mr Gilding landed a nice eleven pounder.
A lovely fish comes to the net at Meikleour on Saturday
Mr Stuart Yates and his party were fishing at Islamouth during the first half of the week and they enjoyed some great sport landing a total of eleven fish for their three days including a cracking eighteen pounder. Mr Simon Furniss and his party were fishing the beat during the second half of the week and they also caught some nice fish which was good to see. Many of the fish were being caught on a striped Sunray. Islamouth finished with seventeen fish for the week.
A nice fish was caught from Ballathie on Tuesday. Anglers at Cargill enjoyed some decent sport at the start of the week. Mr David Harrington caught a lovely fresh fish from the beat on Monday morning. This was in spite of the gale force winds. There were two more fish caught from the beat on Tuesday.
A Cargill cracker caught on Monday
Next on to the scoresheet at Cargill was Mr John Wilson from Newcastle who landed a stunning fresh fish on the fly on Wednesday.
Mr John Wilson with a cracking fly caught salmon on Wednesday
There was also success at Cargill for Mr Chris Farmer. Mr Farmer was fly fishing the Clocksden when he got a savage take. After a long fight, Mr Farmer landed a fine salmon.
Mr Chris Farmer with a nice fish from Cargill caught on Wednesday
Further downstream Mr Dewi Morris banished away those Monday morning blues when he landed a lovely fresh salmon from Stobhall. The fish was in great condition and caught from Findford Head. There were more fish caught from the beat on Tuesday and Thursday.
A stunning twenty four pounder was caught from Taymount on Monday with another couple landed from the beat on Wednesday. This is the stamp of fish the Tay has been renowned for. It was good to see fish caught at Waulkmill and Almondmouth through the course of last week. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come for beats located at the bottom end of the river in the upcoming weeks.
Mr Dewi Morris with a Stobhall sparkler!
The Scottish summer school holidays are now almost upon us. This a great chance for the younger generation to experience our wonderful sport. What could be better than for a youngster to enjoy a day on the River Tay and maybe even hook a salmon? It is an experience they will never forget!
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 19th June)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Lower Farleyer 1, Edradynate 1, Upper Kinnaird 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 1, Dalmarnock 2, Dunkeld 1, Newtyle 3, Murthly 2, 2, Kercock 3, Meikleour & U Islamouth 1, Islamouth 17, Ballathie 1, Cargill 5, Stobhall 3, Taymount 3, Waulkmill 3, Almondmouth 6.
Total: 54 Largest: Taymount 23lbs.
WILL CATCHES CONTINUE TO IMPROVE NEXT WEEK?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 21st June 2021)
The weather was quite settled across much of Perthshire last week. There was an area of low pressure that brought a brief spell of rain on Tuesday night and into Wednesday. From midweek onwards it remained mainly dry as high pressure built in once again. Thankfully the wall to wall sunshine of recent weeks was replaced by more cloudier skies and it was cooler with temperatures in the mid to high teens. Overall fishing conditions were better and catches responded accordingly. Hopefully catches will continue to improve next week.
It was mainly dry over the weekend apart from the odd isolated shower. Looking ahead to next week high pressure is set to extend across Scotland during the first half of the week bringing mostly dry and settled conditions. Winds will be light with temperatures in the mid-teens. There is a chance of more unsettled weather from Thursday onwards as our weather may be influenced by low pressure.
Last week water levels were steady for much of the week apart from a small lift on Tuesday. The river is currently at a perfect height for many beats. In the past few days, there have been salmon caught from Lower Farleyer on the upper river down to Almondmouth at the bottom end of the lower river, so catches have been well spread on the Tay system. The fish caught have been mainly larger summer salmon and grilse with many being sea liced. With the decent current water levels, fresh fish entering the system are likely to be running hard. As the spread of catches would suggest, there is a chance of landing a fresh fish anywhere on the River Tay next week with beats on the middle and lower river probably offering the best chance of some good sport. So why not book a day on the mighty River Tay next week? Nothing beat's landing some River Tay summer silver!
Good luck to all those anglers fishing on the River Tay next week.
Tight lines,
Samantha & Sandy Datta
Malloch Trophy
The Malloch Trophy is an award given for the largest salmon caught on the fly and safely returned to the river each year. If you would like to be considered for the Malloch Trophy, please telephone Inga MacGillivray on 01738 583733 alternatively, you can email Inga at admin@tdsfb.org
Tactics for the River Tay during the summer period (June-August)
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.As the Tay is a big river usually a powerful fourteen or fifteen-foot rod with a ten-line rating will cover almost any eventuality. 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 is perfect for the job at this time of year. In higher water, during the summer months, a sink tip or intermediate line may be required to produce the best results.
Fly Fishing
During the summer months, water temperatures usually begin to rise on the river. The fish also start to become a bit more active. Often river levels are low but on the River Tay, they are never too low that fresh fish cannot run the system. At this time of year, full floating lines coupled with polyleaders of various sink rates can often work well.
A fine fly caught River Tay salmon
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 summer period to use leader material with an adequate breaking strain, as there are some big summer salmon that run the Tay. Usually, a breaking strain between twelve and fifteen pounds is ideal.
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 thirty 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.
Spinning in the summer months on the River Tay
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. 
Harling is a unique, effective method of fishing 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. Often during the summer months, the water is too low to harl on many beats. However, if there is a decent spate this method can be highly productive. Harling is a method which is very much water height dependent and is practised at the beat ghillies discretion.
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