(River Tay weekly report week ending 17th April 2021)
The Scottish government announced on Tuesday that nationwide travel was once again permitted from Friday. This has huge implications for anglers wanting to wet a line on many of Scotland’s rivers who do not live within the area the river is located. This is an announcement that many anglers have been waiting for as they can now travel to fish their favourite river.
Fishing pressure has been relatively light so far this season due to the travel restrictions on most rivers. This is likely to change in the upcoming weeks. Although travel restrictions have been eased the strict rules around holiday accommodation remain in place and these are set to be eased on 26th April. Most people will agree that this is another step towards the new normal which is great news.
We are now into mid-April which is traditionally a prime time for spring salmon fishing on many of Scotland’s rivers. Usually, spring catches start to build from early March and peak over the next few weeks. On the River Tay, April and May are often the most productive spring months especially for beats located on the middle river. This usually coincides with larger runs of salmon entering the Tay destined for rivers like the Lyon, Tummel and Isla. Hopefully, good numbers of hard fighting spring salmon will continue to enter the Tay system in the next few weeks ensuring that there is plenty of good sport to be had for anglers.
It was mostly dry for much of last week and river levels were settled which was good news. Many beats on the river were at a perfect height for fly fishing. The dry settled conditions continued into the weekend and at times it felt positively spring like in the sunshine. The water temperature last week was 41.5 degrees Fahrenheit which is 5.3 degrees Celsius.
There were some top-quality spring salmon landed last week from the Tay system, which was great to see. On Friday eight-year-old Jake McFarlane had a day to remember. Jake was fishing on Loch Tay with his father Robert when the rod buckled. Jake expertly played the fish under the guidance of his father and went on to land a lovely ten pounder. This was Jake’s first ever salmon. A day that will live with him forever. Well done young man!
It was good to see the upper river produced two fish during the first half of the week at Lower Bolfracks. On Thursday a fin perfect nine pounder was landed from the Poltewan Pool at Edradynate.
On the River Tummel, the good sport continued at Portnacraig. On Monday Mr Steve Watt landed a stunning fish weighing twenty pounds. In the afternoon there was more success for Mr Watt when he caught a nice nine pounder from the Portnacraig Bank. Both fish were caught on the spinner. Further downstream on the Tummel Mr Graeme Stewart landed a cracking sea liced fifteen pounder on the fly from the Sawmill.
On Tuesday Mr Alun Williams landed two fish, a twenty pounder which was caught on the fly and then a twelve pounder on a spinner. Mr Jim Fisher also landed a fine eight pounder on the fly. There was more success for Mr Steve Watt at Portnacraig on Wednesday when he landed a fine sixteen pounder on the spinner from the Pitlochry bank. On Thursday there were three more fish caught from Portnacraig on the fly. Mr Dave Stewart had a nice ten pounder from the Portnacraig Bank. Other successful anglers on Thursday included Mr Adrian Mailer and Mr Callum King.
There was success on the Lower Kinnaird Beat on Saturday when Mr Stuart Crow landed a stunning fourteen pounder on the spinner followed by a cracking twenty pounder on the fly. Both fish were caught from the Guy Pool.
Mr Simon Furnace landed a cracking nineteen pounder on the harled fly at Dunkeld on Monday. The fish put up a great fight and was caught from the Gauge Pool. On Saturday Mr Greg Howie caught a lovely ten pounder from the Cutty spinning.
It was a great end to the week on Saturday at Newtyle. Mr Munro Reid got things started with a sparkling springer caught on the fly from the Cotter Pool. Next was the turn of Mr David Bryce who also struck silver in the Cotter Pool. The twelve pounder gave Mr Bryce a fight to remember. Both fish were caught on the fly.
There was some great sport to be had on the Murthy 2 Beat during the first half of the week with a total of five fish caught. There was also a fish caught from the beat on Thursday and Saturday. There was success at Glendelvine on Monday with a couple of nice fish landed. Another fish was caught from Glendelvine on Friday. There was a stunning springer caught from the Kercock Beat on Monday. The fish gave a great account of itself and was safely returned.
It was a magical Monday at Meikleour with three fish landed. One of the fish caught was an angler’s first every salmon and was caught from the Castle Pool. Always a moment that you will never forget!
On Thursday a cracking twenty three pounder was caught at Meikleour by Mr Steven Gamlen from the Castle Pool. A cracking Sea trout weighing five pounds was also caught from the March Pool. There were four more fish caught from the beat on Friday.
At Islamouth there was plenty of action during the first half of the week. Unfortunately, many of the fish hooked did not want to stay on. Mr Iain Wood had a nice fish which was caught on the fly on Monday. On Tuesday Mr Sandy Datta caught a nine pounder on the fly from the Ash Tree Pool.
On Thursday Mr Jim Ferrie enjoyed more success at Islamouth. Mr Ferrie landed a nice fish weighing eight pounds. However, Mr Ferrie had his sights set on a double and went on to land a cracker weighing nineteen and a half pounds. Both fish were caught on a Vison lure. Mr Simon Furnace landed a fine brace on the fly at Islamouth on Friday. Both fish were caught on a Posh Tosh. Mr Furnace and Mr Jim Ferrie enjoyed more good sport at Islamouth on Saturday. Other successful anglers included Mr Neil Mitchell who landed a fine brace.
It was a day to remember for Mrs Caroline Seaton, husband of famous Tay ghillie David. Mrs Seaton was fishing with Ballathie ghillie Mr Gary Mcerlain when she hooked a cracking spring salmon. After a great fight, Mrs Seaton landed a superb fifteen pounder which was safely returned.
On Thursday Mr Godfrey Holden caught a sparkling seven pounder from the Clockston Pool on the upper beat at Ballathie. There was another fish caught from the beat on Saturday.
Major D. Malpas had a great day at Cargill on Monday. He landed a stunning springer in the April sunshine. The fish was as fresh as paint and put up a terrific fight. There was another fish caught from the beat on Wednesday weighing a magnificent eighteen pounds. Cargill finished with three fish for the week.
Mr David Lang caught a lovely springer on the fly from Stobhall on Tuesday. The fish was caught from the Aldrens Stream on the Fly. There was more success at Stobhall on Thursday.
On Friday Mr David Haughay caught his first ever fly caught salmon from Stobhall. Well done Sir! Mr Colin Scott had a super Saturday at Stobhall when he landed a nice fish from the Kilmou Tail bank. There were four fish caught from the Taymount Beat during the first half of the week as well as a couple on Saturday.
We are now moving into what should traditionally be the prime spring period for many beats on the River Tay. With some cracking spring salmon being landed from the Tay system last week there is every chance that anglers will enjoy more good sport in the days ahead. It seems that the easing of travel restrictions has come at the perfect time for those wanting to fish on the River Tay.
There is some decent availability on the river next week with salmon fishing to suit all tastes. With anglers now permitted to travel out with their local area within Scotland, why not wet a line on one of Scotland’s most prolific salmon rivers in the upcoming days? You might just land some April Tay silver!
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 17th April)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Loch Tay Fish n’ Trips 1, Edradynate 1, Upper Farleyer 1, Upper Bolfracks 1, Lower Bolfracks 2, Portnacraig Pitlochry 9, Lower Kinnaird 2, Dunkeld 2, Newtyle 2, Murthly 1, 1, Murthly 2, 7, Glendelvine 3, Kercock 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 9, Islamouth 16, Ballathie 3, Cargill 3, Stobhall 4, Taymount 7
TOTAL: 73 LARGEST: Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 23lbs
MORE SETTLED WEATHER NEXT WEEK SHOULD HOPEFULLY ENSURE DECENT CATCHES!
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 19th April 2021)
It was largely settled for much of last week with often cloudless skies and sparkling sunshine. It did feel cool at times and there were frequent overnight frosts as temperatures quickly dropped in the evening. It has been mainly dry over the weekend and the settled weather is set to continue next week. Monday will be mainly dry and sunny with light winds. Tuesday will see some patchy rain affect much of Perthshire courtesy of a weak weather front. Behind this, we will establish a northerly airflow and for the rest of the week it will feel much colder with the chance of the odd wintery shower, but most places will remain dry.
Due to the settled weather, river levels gradually dropped for much of last and week and also over the weekend. Currently, the Tay is at an excellent height for fly fishing on many beats. It has been good to see several fish caught on the fly in recent days and many of these have been sea liced.
Last week there were fish caught from Upper Farleyer on the upper river down to Taymount, so catches were well spread on the Tay system. The beats on the River Tummel also produced fish with Portnacraig continuing its recent run of good form. Many of the fish caught last week were sea liced and this would indicate that as the water temperature gradually rises the fish are running hard upstream. There is a good chance of a springer anywhere on the Tay system next week as catches in recent days would suggest. So now with travel restrictions easing, why not book a day on the mighty River Tay next week? Nothing beat’s landing that big Tay springer!
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)
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.
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.
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