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(River Tay weekly report week ending 4th March 2023)
We moved into March last week and as each day passes more hard-fighting spring salmon should be running the Tay system. Over the next few weeks, we should be coming into the prime spring period on the river and hopefully, there will be some good sport to be had.
We had a very settled spell of weather last week courtesy of a large area of high pressure. There was very little rainfall and variable amounts of cloud. River levels were steady for much of the week. Catches picked up on the river last week and there were some magical March springers caught from the Tay system.
On the upper river, there was a lovely springer weighing eighteen pounds caught from the Lower Bolfracks Beat on Tuesday. The fish put up a great fight and was in superb condition. Other beats which produced fish on the upper river last week included Upper Kinnaird.
A stunning springer caught from Lower Bolfracks
On the River Tummel it was great to see the first fish of the season caught from the Portnacraig Beat. Mr Steve Watt caught a fine fourteen pounder on the fly from the Portnacraig Bank on Monday.
On Saturday Mr Colin Ferguson caught a lovely fifteen pounder on the fly at Portnacraig. The fish was caught from the Pitlochry Bank.
Mr Colin Ferguson lands a fine springer on the fly at Portnacraig
At Dunkeld there was a nice springer weighing ten pounds caught on Thursday. The fish was caught in the Rock Pool on a Posh Tosh fly.
It was a red letter day for Mr David Gardner at Newtyle on Wednesday. Mr Gardener was fishing the fly from the bank in the Steps Pool. Whilst the fly was swinging around in the current Mr Gardner got a very gentle take and then a tremendous battle ensued. The fish made several long and powerful runs before it was netted. The springer tipped the scales at a magical twenty two pounds. What a fish!
A magnificent springer caught from the Newtyle Beat on Wednesday
Mr Tony Black went out for a quick harl on the Murthly 2 Beat on Monday. After only an hours fishing Mr Black landed a magnificent seventeen pounder. What a great way to start the season on the Murthly Beats. There was further success at Murthly 2 on Saturday when another fish was caught from the beat.
A beautiful springer caught from the Murthly 2 Beat on Monday
On Thursday Mr John Dewar was fishing the Dungeon Pool on the Kercock Beat. Mr Dewar hooked a powerful fish which put up a great tussle. Mr Dewar went on to land a fine fifteen pounder. What a lovely fish and good to see the Kercock Beat get off the mark for the season.
Mr John Dewar with a Kercock cracker!
There were nice fish caught on the Taymount Beat on Tuesday and Friday. Towards the bottom end of the river, it was good to see the Upper Scone beat produce a springer on Wednesday. The successful angler Mr James Fraser landed a fine fourteen pounder.
Mr James Fraser with a superb fourteen pounder!
It was a super Saturday for Mr Andrew Dobson at Pitlochrie on Saturday. The Dobson family from Leeds enjoyed a very special day after successfully bidding for the Tay Rivers Trust lot donated by Stanley Fishing’s and the Tayside Hotel. Mr Dobson hooked a decent fish which gave a great tussle. After a long battle, Mr Dobson landed a beautiful spring salmon weighing twenty one pounds.
The Dobson Family with a cracking springer caught at pitlochrie on Saturday
There were other fish caught last week from the Tay system on beats that do not wish to be mentioned in this report.
The river is currently running at a great height for many beats so hopefully more nice fresh springers will be landed as we move through March on the Tay system.
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 beat’s reporting on FishPal only)
(week ending 4th March)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Lower Bolfracks 1, Upper Kinnaird 2, Portnacraig Pitlochry 2, Dunkeld 1, Newtyle 1, Murthly 2, 2, Kercock 1, Taymount 2, Upper Scone 1, Pitlochrie 1
Total: 13 Largest: Newtyle 22lbs
COLDER WEATHER IN THE DAYS AHEAD!
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 6th March 2023)
The Tay system continued to produce some lovely spring salmon last week. River levels were steady as there was very little rainfall. The river is currently running at a great height for many beats so hopefully some more nice springers will be landed as we move through March.
It has been mainly dry over the weekend. Looking ahead to next week it is set to turn much colder as a northerly wind develops. There is the possibility of some wintry showers and these could fall down to lower levels.
Monday and Tuesday will be mainly dry with a few wintry showers. It will feel bitterly cold in the northerly winds. The cold theme will continue through the middle part of the week with more snow showers possible. There will also be hard night time frosts.
Catches were well spread on the system last week from Lower Bolfracks down to Upper Scone. There was also fish caught on the River Tummel. On the main river, there is a good chance of making contact with a fresh fish almost anywhere in the days ahead. With some cracking spring salmon caught from the Tay in recent days why not wet a line next week? Nothing beats hooking 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 early spring period (January-March)
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 before visiting the River Tay.
Fly Fishing
During the early spring months water temperatures are often low and river levels high. In such conditions, the depth at which your fly is moving through the water column can be the key to success. Often you may be required to use floating lines coupled with sinking polyleaders, intermediate or even full sinking lines. It is therefore important that you have a fly rod that can work in harmony with a heavy line. As the Tay is a big river usually a powerful 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 can work well. In higher water, an intermediate or full sinking 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 early spring period to use leader material with an adequate breaking strain. Usually, a breaking strain between fifteen and eighteen pounds is ideal.
During the early part of the season tube flies often work well. If the water temperatures are low weighted copper, brass or even tungsten tubes of a decent length will allow your fly to get well down and close to where the fish are likely to be lying. In cold weather, the fish are unlikely to be keen on moving fast so it is better that your fly moves through the water column at an adequate depth and not too quickly.
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 forty 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 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.
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 during the early spring months.
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. Harling is a method which is very much water height dependent and is practised at the beat ghillie’s 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 for 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. Anglers must treat their quarry with the utmost respect at all times.
The post SOME MAGICAL MARCH SPRINGERS CAUGHT FROM THE TAY SYSTEM! appeared first on Tay Rivers.
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