(River Tay weekly report week ending 9th October 2021)
It was another productive week on the Tay system last week with many happy anglers on the river getting their rods bent. Indeed, the past two weeks have produced well over six hundred and fifty salmon from the river and it is hoped that the good catches will continue until the season finally draws to a close on Friday.
In addition to the excellent catches the size of some of the fish being landed has been very impressive. There have been numerous fish caught weighing in the high teens of pounds as well as a fair proportion weighing in excess of the magical twenty pounds mark. This is exactly why the Tay has a reputation of being known as a "big fish" river.
It was another unsettled week of weather with strong winds coupled with showers or longer spells of rain on some days. Unsurprisingly there were multiple lifts in water through the course of the week. The water temperature last week was 50.5 degrees Fahrenheit which is 10.3 degrees Celsius.
On the upper river, Mr Mat Griffin caught a nice six pounder on the fly at Upper Bolfracks. Edradynate produced a couple of nice fish last week. Successful anglers included Mr Nick Gardner who caught a decent fish on the fly on Thursday. Other successful beats on the upper river included Lower Bolfracks, Lower Farleyer and Upper Kinnaird amongst others.
Mr Gavin Thompson had a good day at Portnacraig on the River Tummel on Tuesday. Mr Thompson landed a superb seventeen pounder on the fly from the Pitlochry bank. Anglers on the middle river enjoyed some good sport last week.
There were fish caught on several beats including Lower Kinnaird, Dalguise and Dalmarnock amongst others. It was a happy Monday on the Murthly 2 Beat when seven fish were landed with more fish caught towards the end of the week. At Kercock there were fish caught on most days. The excellent sport at Meikleour continued last week with nine fish landed during the first two days of the week. It was good to see fish caught on both the River Ericht and Isla last week with success at West Grange as well as both Kethick beats.
At Islamouth the Farnell Party got off to a good start landing eight fish on Monday and then having two days of four. Most of the fish were caught on the fly. Mr Philip Taylor landed a cracking twenty pounder from the Long Head. Islamouth finished with twenty five fish for the week.
Anglers at Ballathie caught some nice fish last week with rods bent on almost a daily basis. The excellent sport at Cargill continued with twenty one fish landed on Monday and fifteen on Tuesday. Successful anglers included Mr Gavin Mason, Mr Neil French, Mr Steve Cunrow and Mr Scott Stewart amongst others. Towards the end of the week, the fish just kept coming at Cargill with Mr Chris Hague, Mr Simon Jones and Mr Simon Bland all enjoying good sport. Cargill finished with fifty five fish for the week.
It was a great start to the week at Stobhall with nine fish landed on Monday up to twenty one pounds and there were no shortage of bent rods as the week progressed. The Taymount Beat finished with forty three fish for the week.
A magnificent twenty five pounder was caught at Catholes on Thursday. It was good to see a couple of fish caught from Benchil on Monday with Mr Richard Ladabie landing a nice fish from the Long Shot. On Wednesday Mr Ronnie Mackenzie landed a good fish at Benchil on the fly from Todd holes on a small Red Francis.
Next on the scoresheet at Benchil was Mr Alistair Sheach who caught a lovely fresh fish on Friday from the Long Shot on the fly.
Anglers at Upper Redgorton had a productive day on Tuesday with nine fish landed from the beat. The good sport continued through the course of last week.
At Fishponds, there were some cracking fish landed last week including a magnificent twenty four pounder on Tuesday. Some of the fish caught were fresh which was great to see.
At Luncarty on Thursday both Ms Katie Allan and her partner Mr Ben Place caught their first ever salmon. I think the smile says it all! The Waulkmill and Almondmouth beats finished with fourteen and sixteen fish for the week respectively.
There has been no shortage of fish landed from the Tay system in the past two weeks and this is encouraging for the final few days of the 2021 season. So why not book a day's salmon fishing on the famous River Tay this week? 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 9th October)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Strathfillan AA 1, Lower Farleyer 12, Upper Bolfracks 4, Lower Bolfracks 1, Edradynate 3, Upper Kinnaird 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 1, Lower Kinnaird 3, Dalguise 6, Dunkeld 2, Dalmarnock 3, Newtyle 2, Murthly 1, 1, Murthly 2, 14, Glendelvine 3, Delvine & Burnbane 2, Kercock 9, Meikleour & Upper Islamouth 12, West Grange 6, Kethick Mains 2, Kethick Streams 2, Islamouth 25, Ballathie 14, Cargill 55, Stobhall 17, Taymount 43, Burnmouth 2, Upper Scone 4, Catholes 2, Pitlochrie 2, Benchil 4, Upper Redgorton 17, Fishponds 9, Luncarty 3, Waulkmill 14, Almondmouth 16, Crieff AC 6.
Total: 323 Largest: Catholes 25lbs
A THIRTY POUNDER BEFORE THE SEASON FINALLY DRAWS TO A CLOSE?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 11th October 2021)
It was another unsettled week of weather last week with showers or longer spells of rain on some days. This led to multiple lifts in water through the course of the week. Catches were excellent with over a hundred fish landed from the system on Monday and it being another three hundred plus fish week. It was also encouraging to see the number of larger fish caught from the river in recent days including a few around the mid twenty pounds mark. This should however not be surprising as the Tay is renowned for producing big fish especially at this time of year. Could there even be a thirty pounder landed before the season finally draws to a close on Friday?
Over the weekend there was some rain on Saturday and Sunday was mainly dry. It looks like high pressure is set to build next week bringing a lot of dry and settled weather. Winds are also set to be light. There will be a few widespread showers on Monday and it will feel cooler than of late. From Tuesday high pressure becomes firmly in charge with a lot of dry weather for the rest of the week coupled with light winds. There is a chance of some light and patchy rain on Friday. Temperatures will be around the low to mid-teens with the chance of some nighttime frosts.
Last week there were fish caught on the main river from Lower 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 some bigger fish being caught and hopefully, this trend will continue until the end of the season. 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. With only four days of the season remaining, there is no better time to book a day on the mighty Tay and end your 2021 season on a high!
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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