(River Tay weekly report week ending 2nd October 2021)
Anglers prayers were finally answered last week after heavy rain on Sunday night into Monday morning led to rising river levels. By Tuesday morning the river had risen over four feet and was unsurprisingly carrying some colour.
This seemed to be the catalyst for over one hundred fish being caught from the river on Wednesday and well over three hundred and fifty by the end of the week. There were further lifts in water from midweek onwards which kept river levels topped up but also added some colour to the river from time to time. In addition to the lifts in water it was also much cooler with some frosts through the middle part of the week and this would have certainly helped catches. The water temperature last week 51.4 degrees Fahrenheit which 10.8 degrees Celsius.
On the upper river, there were fish caught on both Farleyer and Bolfracks beats towards the end of last week. On Tuesday morning there was a nice twelve pounder caught at Upper Kinnaird on a Blair Spoon. On the Lower Kinnaird Beat there was a fine sixteen pounder caught on a Junction Shrimp brass tube from the Ash Trees Pool on Monday. There was more success from the Ash Trees Pool on Tuesday when a twelve pounder was caught on a Dee Monkey double. The Lower Kinnaird Beat produced two more fish on Friday and one on Saturday.
At Dalguise Mr Iain Inglewood caught a nice fish from the Bridge Pool spinning and Mr Andy Chase caught his first ever salmon from the Island on Wednesday. Other successful anglers through the course of last week at Dalguise included Mr James Leonard who caught a fresh fifteen pounder on the fly from the Guay Pool on Saturday as well as Mr Mike Carr who caught a five pounder from the tail of the Bridge Pool on the same day.
It was a great end to the week at Dalmarnock when four fish were landed on Saturday. At Dunkeld Mr Brian Joseph was fishing on Wednesday and caught two cracking fish weighing sixteen pounds and twenty four pounds from the Rock Pool. On Friday and Saturday, it was the turn of the Tarr party to taste success when the biggest fish landed was superb seventeen pound clean fish.
At Newtyle there was a fine brace landed by Mr Colin Chandler on Tuesday weighing three and five pounds. The fish were caught on a Vision 110 lure. Mr Chandler landed another fish from the beat on Wednesday. On Friday Mr Richard Thompson caught two fish on the fly from the Boil at Newtyle.
Both the Murthly Beats produced fish through the middle part of the week. It was a happy Saturday at Delvine & Burnbane with six fish landed from the beat. Anglers enjoyed some great sport at Kercock with six fish landed on Tuesday as well as five on Friday and six more on Saturday. Kercock finished with twenty one fish for the week.
The Goble Party had a fantastic day at Meikleour on Tuesday when they landed six salmon weighing up to nineteen pounds. A number of the fish were caught on a fluorescent orange Vision 110 lure. The party finished their four days fishing with someone in the party catching their first salmon and quickly afterwards three more, a birthday salmon and a first fly caught salmon followed by a second two casts later. Great sport at Meikleour in anyone’s book!
It was nice to see fish caught on the River Isla last week with both the Kethick Mains and Kethick Streams beats producing fish.
At Islamouth Mr Roly Fisher’s party were fishing at the beginning of the week and landed nineteen fish on Wednesday up to twenty four pounds. Later in the week Mr Tim Leyshon and his wife who had both never fished before ended up landing nine between them at Islamouth. Mr Leyshon caught a seventeen pounder on the fly but his wife went one better landing a fish of over nineteen pounds.
Anglers at Ballathie enjoyed some good sport last week including landing seventeen on Saturday.
Mr Neil French was at it again at Cargill on Tuesday landing two fish. Mr John Crook opened his account at Cargill also on Tuesday, which was great to see. There were a total of six fish caught from the beat on that day.
Cargill produced sixteen fish on Wednesday with Mr Neil French back in action again. Other successful anglers through the course of the week included Mr Lyndsay Cripps and Mr Jim Connell amongst others.
Anglers at Stobhall and Taymount caught fish on most days and finished with eleven and thirty seven fish for the week respectively including a twenty seven pounder caught at Taymount on Saturday. It was nice to see a fish caught from Horsey on the Pitlochrie Beat on Tuesday. Mr Graham Reid enjoyed success when he caught a nice fish on the fly from the Long Shot at Benchil on Wednesday.
Mr Brian Joseph and his son Adam had a great day at Fishponds on Tuesday. Mr Joseph landed two fourteen pounders from the Craig’s and Benchil Green. His son Adam caught a sixteen pounder from Lodge End on a spinner. There were five more fish caught at Fishponds on Wednesday.
On Saturday Mr Neil Mitchell caught a couple of fish from Fishponds and Samantha and Sandy Datta both got their rods bent with fish being landed up to eighteen pounds. Anglers at Waulkmill had a fantastic Wednesday landing ten salmon for the day and Almondmouth finished with nine fish for the week.
We were all thankful that finally there was a decent lift in water last week, even though it was two months too late! It was good to see decent numbers of fish being caught by anglers with numerous fish weighing well into the teens of pounds landed last week and many above the magical twenty pounds mark. Hopefully, the conditions will be conducive to good salmon fishing in the days ahead.
There is now only one full week of the season remaining, so why not book a day's salmon fishing on the famous River Tay? It could be the place to give you that season-ending fairy-tale!
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 2nd October)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Upper Farleyer 1, Farleyer Lower 2, U Bolfracks 2, Lower Bolfracks 1, Upper Kinnaird 1, Lower Kinnaird 8, Dalguise 6 (should be 3 but not reported Thursdays fish so check at next count), Dalmarnock 4, Dunkeld House 7, Newtyle 8 Murthly 1, 6, Murthly 2, 8, Delvine & Burnbane 6, Kercock 21, Meikleour & Upper Islamouth 26, Kethick Mains 4, Kethick Streams 2, Islamouth 49, Ballathie 43, Cargill 47, Stobhall 11, Taymount 37, Upper Scone 3, Pitlochrie 1, Benchil 2, Upper Redgorton 5, Fishponds 15, Luncarty 1, Waulkmill 17, Almondmouth 9, Crieff AC 1, Lochlane & Laggan 5
Total: 361 Largest: Taymount 27lbs
SOME MORE GOOD SPORT BEFORE THE SEASON FINALLY DRAWS TO A CLOSE?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 4th October 2021)
The upcoming week is the last full week of 2021 salmon fishing season on the Tay so there will be many keen anglers looking forward to wetting a line for the final time this year. Hopefully, there will be some good sport to be had before the season finally draws to a close on the 15th of October.
It was good to see catches improve on the river last week and the catalyst for this appears to be the decent lifts in water coupled with the drop in temperature in recent days. It has been very unsettled over the weekend across much of Scotland including Perthshire with heavy rain and strong winds especially on Saturday and this led to another lift in water on Sunday. The weather forecast for next week is set to continue in a similar vein with low pressure remaining in charge. It will be windy on Monday with a few showers. There is the likelihood of more rain spreading up from the south on Tuesday and this will be coupled with strong and gusty winds. At this stage, Wednesday is looking mainly dry with more wet weather on the way towards the end of the week. It will feel cool in the strong and gusty wind next week with temperatures in the low teens for most but it may get a little milder towards the end of the week.
Last week there were fish caught on the main river from Upper Farleyer down to Almondmouth with the bulk of the fish being caught from the beats situated on the middle and lower river. It was good to see that some of the fish landed were well over twenty pounds. Probably the best chance of a fish next week would be on any of the beats situated on the middle and lower river.
There is good availability next week on some famous Tay beats so why not book a day? There is no better way to end the season on a high, than landing a big Tay salmon!
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 autumn period (September and October)
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 autumn months, water temperatures usually begin to fall on the river but much depends on the weather. The weather and water conditions can vary greatly during the autumn months with hot weather and low water coupled with high water temperatures especially if we have an Indian summer. Conversely, it can be quite cool with regular spells of wind and rain and even night time frosts. The fish also start to become a bit more aggressive especially when they turn their thoughts towards spawning. At this time of year, full floating lines coupled with polyleaders of various sink rates can often work well especially if conditions are more akin to the summer months.
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, colder water a sink tip or intermediate line may be required to produce the best results.
Make sure that your fly reel has got 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 autumn period to use leader material with an adequate breaking strain, as there can be some large fish around towards the end of the season. Usually, a breaking strain of around fifteen pounds is ideal.
Spinning
A powerful spinning rod between ten and eleven feet 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.
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 thirty grams. Devon Minnows can also be effective on the River Tay. During the autumn months, the Floating Devon and Flying C can be particularly productive.
The Flying C lure can be fished upstream especially when water temperatures are higher and often salmon will chase the lure before taking it. The Vision110 lures have also got a good reputation for producing fish on the river. In high cold water, it can often be more about fishing the lure that bit slower and at an adequate depth.
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.
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 autumn months, good conditions arise on many beats for harling, especially in higher water. Harling is a method which is very much water height dependent and is practised at the beat ghillies discretion.
TDSFB conservation policy
All anglers fishing on the River Tay system are reminded that the TDSFB’s policy from January 15th to 1st of April is that all spring salmon must be released. This means that the TDSFB has a 100% mandatory catch & release policy of all salmon caught. This is in line with the Scottish Government Statutory Conservation Regulation. Even if the fish dies it must still be returned to the river.
It is also worthwhile remembering when releasing fish to keep them in the water for as long a period as possible and to use minimal handling. Please also give the fish plenty of time to recover before releasing them. It is important that anglers treat their quarry with the utmost of respect at all times.
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