Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 20th August 2016.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay, Perthshire Report for W/E 20th August 2016.

The salmon fishing season on the Tay in Perthshire is now in Summer although the weather has not been ideal at times but a run is developing and catches are improving as we are now in mid-August after another steady July despite some unsettled conditions at times. The river has had fresh water and is hovering around or just above summer levels despite some heavy localized rain giving reasonable conditions at times for fishing plus warming temperatures are seeing catches maintained. Expectation is high on the river for 2016 with now over 2500 fish recorded so far plus hopefully settled weather will continue with an improving run in August to give everyone a chance of landing a Tay �Bar of Silver�.

Summer salmon and now improving grilse numbers were running and landed throughout last week with more unsettled weather and catches have continued to spread with higher river temperatures. It was a steady week despite more turbulent conditions at times with around 180 fish landed and the biggest one recorded was a 23 pounds beauty on Upper Redgorton. Spring has now transferred into summer and steady runs are coming into the river plus better weather is making fishing easier with lower water and a bit of fresh water last week may have encouraged more fish to run the river as the summer run develops. The fish that have been caught so far have been superb quality and of a good size overall and now summer awaits with Autumn not far away.

On the nature front the Sand Martins, Swifts and Swallows are all over the skies, Ospreys are being seen, Ducks have broods of young, Sand Pipers are on the river banks and Kingfishers dart past. Many wild flowers are in bloom but a good few are now past their best for another year, it is truly magical to be salmon fishing in Perthshire on the banks of the silvery Tay.

Beat catches reported (week ending 20th August)
SALMON & GRILSE: Almondmouth 17, Waulkmill 9, Lower Redgorton 8, Luncarty 3, Upper Redgorton 8, Fishponds 4, Benchil 2, Upper Scone 3, Pitlochrie 1, Stobhall 13, Taymount 14, Ballathie 8, Cargill 6, Islamouth 12, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 5, Kercock 16, Delvine Burnbane 1, Glendelvine 2, Murthly 2 11, Newtyle 4, Dunkeld House 5, Dalmarnock 6, Dalguise 5, Lower Kinnaird 2, Upper Kinnaird 4, Farleyer Upper 2, Farleyer Lower 4, Ericht Fishing 2.
Total: 177 Largest: Upper Redgorton 23lbs
SEA TROUT: Lower Kinnaird 1.
Total: 1 Largest: Lower Kinnaird 2lbs

The majority of the salmon were caught in the lower river in early spring, which is understandable with the cold conditions but that has changed with warmer water allowing fish to run further giving improving results up the river including fish from Loch Tay, Loch Faskally and beyond now as fish spread in the system. The lower river is now the barometer for the runs as they enter the river with water temperatures around 60F, plus fish are now starting to be caught in greater numbers in the lower river with the developing summer run.

This past week saw a more fish from the lower river scattered throughout the beats encouraging everyone as a summer run starts to develop in earnest. The beats at Stanley and below are seeing improving sport as the summer run enters the river and now earlier run fish have started to drop back towards their final destinations of Almond, Shochie and Ordie which can only help sport in this area. The beats just above the tide have started to produce fish on a regular basis with Almondmouth now starting to show good daily catches and amassing 17 last week. Waulkmill and Lower Redgorton caught 17 between them. Luncarty saw improving sport with Dougie Wangert and Tom Allan both catching on the beat on Monday. Fishponds and Upper Redgorton had fish during the week with a notable day on the Craigs for the Upper Redgorton boys with fish caught at 23, 18 and 9 pounds.

Stanley and Upper Scone had quieter weeks with only 6 between them however lady angler Sharon Pollock caught her heaviest fish at 21 pounds from the Plain Water on Benchil.

Richard Sims also caught at Benchil on the fly from the Long Shot. Taymount and Stobhall had steady weeks with Tim Greenfield, Jim Coates and young Andrew Barker all catching later in the week. Ballathie and Cargill amassed 14 fish between them in the week. There seems to be lots of fish in the beats but they are hard to tempt.

Steve Curnow had a grilse earlier in the week, Paul Clarke had a good fish on the fly from the Grey Stones and Bridge Stream, Jason Holt had his first Tay salmon and Donald MacLachan caught a good fish in the Cradle. Islamouth continues to fish well with Ian Muir, Tim Greenfield, Andrew Barker and Brian Giles all being successful on fly earlier in the week. Meikleour and Upper Islamouth continued their recent success with 5 in the week up to 14 pounds.

The middle river has slowed down with rising river temperatures over recent weeks but the recent rain must help in the weeks to come. Kercock had a superb week with 16 fish which included 10 on Saturday.

Billy McInnes was one of the successful rods. Delvine and Burnbane had one in the week and Glendelvine had a couple. The Murthly beats continue to do well with 11 coming from the number 2 beat. Newtyle had 4 in the week and Dunkeld House had a better week with 5 which included 3 fish for Carl and 7 pounds fish for

Peter Buckley. 6 came from Dalmarnock with Chris Hart, Robin Scott, John Cross and Stuart Graham all catching grilse on fly. Dalguise had 5 for their week with Rickis party enjoying success catching fish up to 16 pounds. The Kinnaird beats had 6 during the week.
The upper river was seeing sport with a fish caught on the Farleyer beats and recent fresh water should improve activities in the weeks to come.

The Tummel is continuing to see limited sport from the Port-na-Craig beat administered by Pitlochry Angling Club but unfortunately nothing was recorded last week and there is now over 5700 fish through the Dam resulting in fish being recorded in Loch Faskally and fish are running the Garry. This is a high figure in recent years caused by the temperature coming up quickly earlier in May and encouraging the fish to run.

The Isla are seeing salmon run up the river and progressing to the Ericht with 2 fish reported last week from the lower Ericht.

Fish have been reported running the Lyon as well but low water levels have curtailed sport. No news from that part of the river last week.

Fish have also been running the Earn but no fish were reported last week.

The Spring Salmon fishing season is over and we are now in Summer as we progress through August and expectation of a developing summer run. Last week�s catches were again heartening and more fish are running with warmer weather and some fresh water. Let us hope this is a sign of an upturn in catches as we go deep into August. It has been a reasonable start with well over 2500 fish recorded so let us hope the season lives up to every one�s expectations over the coming weeks and months. Tight lines!

Salmon Fishing Scotland - By Robert White