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(River Tay weekly report week ending 22nd July 2023)
It was good to see catches continue to improve on the Tay system last week with a number of larger summer salmon and grilse landed. Conditions were favourable after the recent lift in water coupled with the cooler temperatures.
Over the next six weeks, there should be more summer fish which enter the Tay system providing good sport for anglers. Over the past few years, late July and August have been the most productive period during the summer months and hopefully, this will be the case over the next few weeks.
With us now being in the midst of the Scottish summer, there is no better place to be than on the banks of the mighty River Tay. With the trees in full leaf and wild flowers adorning the banks of the river, it truly is a magical place to wet a line.
The Tay is a truly magical place to wet a line during the summer months!
It was a mixed bag of weather last week. The week started on a dry note but there were some showers through the middle part of the week. Thankfully river levels remained steady.
It was good to see the upper river produce some fish last week with the recent lift in water helping. There were three fish caught from the Upper Farleyer Beat on Wednesday and another fish was landed from the beat on Saturday.
On the River Tummel at Portnacraig Mr Robert Gardiner enjoyed some success on Monday when he landed a fine fish weighing thirteen pounds from the Pitlochry bank. In the evening Mr Martin Timmins caught a sixteen pounder on the spinner again from the Pitlochry bank. There was more success at Portnacraig on Wednesday this time for Mr Massimo Castlevecchi who caught a fine fourteen pounder on the fly. Mr Martin Timmins was at it again when he caught a fourteen pounder on the spinner on Wednesday evening. Both fish were caught from the Portnacraig bank. There was more success for Mr Martin Timmins this time on Thursday when he caught a nice seven pounder on the fly from the Pitlochry bank.
A nice salmon caught at Portnacraig on Wednesday
Back on the main river, there was a fish caught at Lower Kinnaird on Wednesday. At Dalguise Mr Gary Jones who was fishing the beat for the first time on Wednesday caught a nice fish from the tail of the Guay Pool. There was another fish caught at Dalguise on Saturday. There was a stunning salmon weighing twenty seven pounds caught from the Dalmarnock Beat on Monday. This just goes to show the quality and size of fish the Tay system is capable of producing at this time of year. Mr Michael Lund Pederson from Denmark caught a lovely fish on the fly from the Cotter Pool at Newtyle on Tuesday. There was some nice fish caught from both Murthly beats last week which was good to see.
A lovely fish caught at Delvine on Thursday
Mr Jack Wood from Mississippi had a day to remember at Delvine & Burnbane on Thursday. Mr Wood caught his first ever salmon weighing six pounds. A short time later Mr Wyatt Burns caught his first ever salmon weighing thirteen pounds. Both fish were caught in the tail of Sparrowmuir.
It was another decent week at Kercock with anglers enjoying some good sport.
A lovely fish caught from the Kercock Beat
There were three fish caught from the beat on Monday with another landed on Tuesday. The good sport continued on Thursday when there were four fish caught from the beat. The Kercock Beat finished with eleven fish for the week.
A fine salmon caught at Meikleour on Tuesday
It was a happy birthday for Mr Brian Henry who was fishing at Meikleour on Tuesday. Mr Henry landed a fine summer salmon weighing sixteen pounds from the Castle Pool. There was also success for Mr George Milne on Tuesday landing a cracking eight pounder from the March Pool. On Wednesday Mr Fred Parsonage landed a fresh grilse at Meikleour. Not to be outdone Dad and British Olympian Mr Gary Parsonage landed a stunning thirteen pounder from Meikleour the following day. So, it was Olympic silver for Mr Parsonage on Thursday but it must have felt like gold!
A fine fresh grilse caught at Meikleour on Wednesday
At Cargill there were some lovely fish landed last week. Mr Alun Lunardi landed a stunning summer salmon on the fly on Monday. Mr Royston Coombes celebrated his 76th birthday in style at Cargill on Wednesday when he caught his first ever Tay salmon. Do birthday presents come any better than this? Not to be outdone Mr James Coombes caught a nice fish at Cargill also on Wednesday. Other successful anglers at Cargill last week included Mr Adam Bennett and Mr Dan James who caught a fine summer salmon on the fly from the Pot Shot on Friday evening.
Mr Robert White lands Benchil silver on Monday!
Anglers at Taymount enjoyed some good sport last week. There were fish caught on most days. The Taymount Beat finished with thirteen fish for the week.
A lovely fresh fish caught at Pitlochrie on Wednesday
It was a productive week on the Stanley beats. On Monday Mr Robert White had a nice fish from Benchil. The good sport continued on Tuesday with four fish caught at Pitlochrie including a magnificent eighteen pounder. All the fish were caught from the Horsey Pool on the fly.
Ms Ann Emsens with a lovely summer salmon caught at Pitlochrie on Thursday
There was more action at Pitlochrie on Thursday with a total of five fish landed weighing up to seventeen pounds. Most of the fish were caught on the fly. Successful anglers included Ms Ann Emsens, Mr Ronnie Fraser and Mr Gerry Rattery.
Mr Gerry Rattery lands Pitlochrie silver!
There was also a fish caught from the Luncarty Pool on Tuesday.
Further downstream there was a lovely thirteen pounder caught from the Craigs at Fishponds on Tuesday with another fish landed from the beat on Saturday. On the opposite bank, it was nice to see a fish caught at Upper Redgorton on Friday and Saturday. The Waulkmill Beat finished with eight fish for the week.
A fine salmon caught at Fishponds on Tuesday
There were also fish caught from the Tay system last week on beats who do not wish to be mentioned in this report.
So, the improvement in catches last week on the River Tay was good news for anglers and long may it continue. Currently, the Tay is at a great height for fly fishing on many beats. So why not book a day’s salmon fishing on the famous River Tay next week? It could be the place to provide you with some midsummer magic!
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
SALMON & GRILSE:
Upper Farleyer 4, Portnacraig Pitlochry 5, Lower Kinnaird 1, Dalguise 2, Dalmarnock 1, Newtyle 1, Murthly 1, 1, Murthly 2, 4, Delvine & Burnbane 2, Kercock 11, Meikleour & Upper Islamouth 8, West Grange 3, Cargill 11, Taymount 13, Pitlochrie 9, Benchil 2, Luncarty 1, Fishponds 2, Upper Redgorton 2, Waulkmill 8, Crieff Angling Club 1
Total: 92 Largest: Dalmarnock 27lbs
It was good to see catches on the river improve last week with the recent lift in water coupled with the cooler temperatures seeming to have the desired effect. Indeed, last week proved to be the most productive week of the season so far. Most of the fish caught were in superb condition with a number being sea liced. There were also several larger summer salmon caught, including a twenty seven pounder as well numerous fish being landed in the high teens of pounds.
It was a bit of a mixed bag of weather last week with some sunshine as well as some showers towards the end of the week with temperatures cooler than of late. There have been a few heavy showers over the weekend across Perthshire with variable amounts of cloud.
Looking ahead to next week low pressure will continue to influence the weather and this means that it will remain unsettled. Monday and Tuesday should be mainly dry but there will be a few showers. It will feel cool in the north westerly breeze. From midweek onwards it is likely that there will be a few showers and these are set to be quite widespread. Temperatures next week will be widely in the mid to high teens.
The fish caught last week were mostly a mixture of larger summer salmon and hard fighting fresh grilse and many were sea liced which was great to see. Salmon were caught from Upper Farleyer down to Waulkmill which shows that the fish are well spread throughout the system. There were also fish caught on the River Tummel, Ericht and Earn.
It was interesting to see that more fish are being caught from the lower river. As we move through July and into August the beats located in this area should come into their own. Traditionally this is when these beats start to produce larger numbers of fish on a more consistent basis. Probably the best chance of success next week would be on some of the beats situated on the middle and lower river. Hopefully, there will be more twenty pounders caught on the Tay system in days ahead.
There is good availability next week so why not wet a line and chase some Tay summer silver? There is no better way to end July than landing a big Atlantic Salmon!
Good luck to all those anglers fishing on the River Tay next week.
Tight lines,
Samantha & Sandy Datta
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.
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.
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.
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.
During the summer months depending on the water height and temperature smaller dressed flies can work well. Small bottle tubes are also well worth ago. Don’t forget how effective flies like the Sunray Shadow can be at this time of year. These flies fished close to the surface can really do the business especially if the fish are keen on chasing a fly and in an active mood.
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.
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 summer months, the Floating Devon and Flying C can be particularly productive. The Flying C lure can be fished upstream especially when water temperatures start to rise 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. These lures can be excellent during the summer months.
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 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 practiced at the beat ghillies discretion.
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.
The post A TWENTY SEVEN POUNDER, OLYMPIC SILVER AND TWO BIRTHDAY SALMON! appeared first on Tay Rivers.
Continue reading...
It was good to see catches continue to improve on the Tay system last week with a number of larger summer salmon and grilse landed. Conditions were favourable after the recent lift in water coupled with the cooler temperatures.
Over the next six weeks, there should be more summer fish which enter the Tay system providing good sport for anglers. Over the past few years, late July and August have been the most productive period during the summer months and hopefully, this will be the case over the next few weeks.
With us now being in the midst of the Scottish summer, there is no better place to be than on the banks of the mighty River Tay. With the trees in full leaf and wild flowers adorning the banks of the river, it truly is a magical place to wet a line.
The Tay is a truly magical place to wet a line during the summer months!
It was a mixed bag of weather last week. The week started on a dry note but there were some showers through the middle part of the week. Thankfully river levels remained steady.
It was good to see the upper river produce some fish last week with the recent lift in water helping. There were three fish caught from the Upper Farleyer Beat on Wednesday and another fish was landed from the beat on Saturday.
On the River Tummel at Portnacraig Mr Robert Gardiner enjoyed some success on Monday when he landed a fine fish weighing thirteen pounds from the Pitlochry bank. In the evening Mr Martin Timmins caught a sixteen pounder on the spinner again from the Pitlochry bank. There was more success at Portnacraig on Wednesday this time for Mr Massimo Castlevecchi who caught a fine fourteen pounder on the fly. Mr Martin Timmins was at it again when he caught a fourteen pounder on the spinner on Wednesday evening. Both fish were caught from the Portnacraig bank. There was more success for Mr Martin Timmins this time on Thursday when he caught a nice seven pounder on the fly from the Pitlochry bank.
A nice salmon caught at Portnacraig on Wednesday
Back on the main river, there was a fish caught at Lower Kinnaird on Wednesday. At Dalguise Mr Gary Jones who was fishing the beat for the first time on Wednesday caught a nice fish from the tail of the Guay Pool. There was another fish caught at Dalguise on Saturday. There was a stunning salmon weighing twenty seven pounds caught from the Dalmarnock Beat on Monday. This just goes to show the quality and size of fish the Tay system is capable of producing at this time of year. Mr Michael Lund Pederson from Denmark caught a lovely fish on the fly from the Cotter Pool at Newtyle on Tuesday. There was some nice fish caught from both Murthly beats last week which was good to see.
A lovely fish caught at Delvine on Thursday
Mr Jack Wood from Mississippi had a day to remember at Delvine & Burnbane on Thursday. Mr Wood caught his first ever salmon weighing six pounds. A short time later Mr Wyatt Burns caught his first ever salmon weighing thirteen pounds. Both fish were caught in the tail of Sparrowmuir.
It was another decent week at Kercock with anglers enjoying some good sport.
A lovely fish caught from the Kercock Beat
There were three fish caught from the beat on Monday with another landed on Tuesday. The good sport continued on Thursday when there were four fish caught from the beat. The Kercock Beat finished with eleven fish for the week.
A fine salmon caught at Meikleour on Tuesday
It was a happy birthday for Mr Brian Henry who was fishing at Meikleour on Tuesday. Mr Henry landed a fine summer salmon weighing sixteen pounds from the Castle Pool. There was also success for Mr George Milne on Tuesday landing a cracking eight pounder from the March Pool. On Wednesday Mr Fred Parsonage landed a fresh grilse at Meikleour. Not to be outdone Dad and British Olympian Mr Gary Parsonage landed a stunning thirteen pounder from Meikleour the following day. So, it was Olympic silver for Mr Parsonage on Thursday but it must have felt like gold!
A fine fresh grilse caught at Meikleour on Wednesday
At Cargill there were some lovely fish landed last week. Mr Alun Lunardi landed a stunning summer salmon on the fly on Monday. Mr Royston Coombes celebrated his 76th birthday in style at Cargill on Wednesday when he caught his first ever Tay salmon. Do birthday presents come any better than this? Not to be outdone Mr James Coombes caught a nice fish at Cargill also on Wednesday. Other successful anglers at Cargill last week included Mr Adam Bennett and Mr Dan James who caught a fine summer salmon on the fly from the Pot Shot on Friday evening.
Mr Robert White lands Benchil silver on Monday!
Anglers at Taymount enjoyed some good sport last week. There were fish caught on most days. The Taymount Beat finished with thirteen fish for the week.
A lovely fresh fish caught at Pitlochrie on Wednesday
It was a productive week on the Stanley beats. On Monday Mr Robert White had a nice fish from Benchil. The good sport continued on Tuesday with four fish caught at Pitlochrie including a magnificent eighteen pounder. All the fish were caught from the Horsey Pool on the fly.
Ms Ann Emsens with a lovely summer salmon caught at Pitlochrie on Thursday
There was more action at Pitlochrie on Thursday with a total of five fish landed weighing up to seventeen pounds. Most of the fish were caught on the fly. Successful anglers included Ms Ann Emsens, Mr Ronnie Fraser and Mr Gerry Rattery.
Mr Gerry Rattery lands Pitlochrie silver!
There was also a fish caught from the Luncarty Pool on Tuesday.
Further downstream there was a lovely thirteen pounder caught from the Craigs at Fishponds on Tuesday with another fish landed from the beat on Saturday. On the opposite bank, it was nice to see a fish caught at Upper Redgorton on Friday and Saturday. The Waulkmill Beat finished with eight fish for the week.
A fine salmon caught at Fishponds on Tuesday
There were also fish caught from the Tay system last week on beats who do not wish to be mentioned in this report.
So, the improvement in catches last week on the River Tay was good news for anglers and long may it continue. Currently, the Tay is at a great height for fly fishing on many beats. So why not book a day’s salmon fishing on the famous River Tay next week? It could be the place to provide you with some midsummer magic!
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 (For beats wishing to be included in this report only)
(week ending 22nd July)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Upper Farleyer 4, Portnacraig Pitlochry 5, Lower Kinnaird 1, Dalguise 2, Dalmarnock 1, Newtyle 1, Murthly 1, 1, Murthly 2, 4, Delvine & Burnbane 2, Kercock 11, Meikleour & Upper Islamouth 8, West Grange 3, Cargill 11, Taymount 13, Pitlochrie 9, Benchil 2, Luncarty 1, Fishponds 2, Upper Redgorton 2, Waulkmill 8, Crieff Angling Club 1
Total: 92 Largest: Dalmarnock 27lbs
MORE TWENTY POUNDERS IN THE DAYS AHEAD?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 24th July 2023)
It was good to see catches on the river improve last week with the recent lift in water coupled with the cooler temperatures seeming to have the desired effect. Indeed, last week proved to be the most productive week of the season so far. Most of the fish caught were in superb condition with a number being sea liced. There were also several larger summer salmon caught, including a twenty seven pounder as well numerous fish being landed in the high teens of pounds.
It was a bit of a mixed bag of weather last week with some sunshine as well as some showers towards the end of the week with temperatures cooler than of late. There have been a few heavy showers over the weekend across Perthshire with variable amounts of cloud.
Looking ahead to next week low pressure will continue to influence the weather and this means that it will remain unsettled. Monday and Tuesday should be mainly dry but there will be a few showers. It will feel cool in the north westerly breeze. From midweek onwards it is likely that there will be a few showers and these are set to be quite widespread. Temperatures next week will be widely in the mid to high teens.
The fish caught last week were mostly a mixture of larger summer salmon and hard fighting fresh grilse and many were sea liced which was great to see. Salmon were caught from Upper Farleyer down to Waulkmill which shows that the fish are well spread throughout the system. There were also fish caught on the River Tummel, Ericht and Earn.
It was interesting to see that more fish are being caught from the lower river. As we move through July and into August the beats located in this area should come into their own. Traditionally this is when these beats start to produce larger numbers of fish on a more consistent basis. Probably the best chance of success next week would be on some of the beats situated on the middle and lower river. Hopefully, there will be more twenty pounders caught on the Tay system in days ahead.
There is good availability next week so why not wet a line and chase some Tay summer silver? There is no better way to end July than landing a big Atlantic 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
During the summer months depending on the water height and temperature smaller dressed flies can work well. Small bottle tubes are also well worth ago. Don’t forget how effective flies like the Sunray Shadow can be at this time of year. These flies fished close to the surface can really do the business especially if the fish are keen on chasing a fly and in an active mood.
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.
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 summer months, the Floating Devon and Flying C can be particularly productive. The Flying C lure can be fished upstream especially when water temperatures start to rise 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. These lures can be excellent during the summer months.
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 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 practiced 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.
The post A TWENTY SEVEN POUNDER, OLYMPIC SILVER AND TWO BIRTHDAY SALMON! appeared first on Tay Rivers.
Continue reading...