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(River Tay weekly report week ending 8th April 2023)
Statistically, it is more likely to snow in Scotland over easter than at Christmas but thankfully none of the white stuff fell last week. In actual fact, the weather was very pleasant over the easter weekend with long dry sunny spells.
In the next six weeks, we should get a better idea of how strong the spring run will be across the country this year and hopefully catches will improve as we move through April and into May.
It was another dry and bright start to the week. However, there was some rain midweek as a weather front crossed the country. Towards the end of the week and into easter weekend high pressure built once again bringing largely dry and settled conditions across Perthshire. The water temperature last week was around 5.1 degrees Celsius which is 41.2 F. There were some nice springers caught from the Tay system last week as we moved through easter.
Mr Bruce Campbell with a fine Tummel springer caught at Portnacraig
On the upper river, there were fish caught on the Findynate, Farleyer and Pitnacree beats last week which was good to see. On the Portnacraig Beat on the River Tummel, there was no Monday morning blues for Mr Bruce Campbell who caught a fine seven pounder on the fly from the Portnacraig bank. Mr Greg Sinclair also tasted success on Monday at Portnacraig when he caught an eleven pounder on the fly this time from the Pitlochry bank.
William lands his first salmon at Dunkeld on Friday
Back on the main river, there was a fish caught at Dalmarnock on Monday. It was a day to remember for 13 year old William on Friday. He was fishing the Dunkeld Beat when he hooked and landed his first ever salmon. The fish took a salmo lure and was caught from the Greenbank. Well done young man!
A nice fish caught from Delvine on Wednesday
There was a couple of fish caught from the Murthly 1 Beat during the first half of the week. On Tuesday there was a magnificent twenty three pounder caught from the Murthly 2 Beat. A lovely fifteen pounder was caught from the Corner Pool at Delvine on Wednesday. The fish took a Vision110 lure.
Mr Phil Hampson lands a Kercock stunner on Tuesday
Mr Phil Hampson had a day to remember at Kercock on Tuesday. Mr Hampson hooked a powerful fish on the fly and after a good fight landed a lovely fresh springer. The fish was caught on a gold bodied Willie Gunn fly. On Saturday there was more success at Kercock, this time for Mr Andy Kerr who landed a fine ten pounder.
Mr Andy Kerr with a fine Kercock springer
It was a happy Monday for Mr James Hamilton at Meikleour. Mr Hamilton was fishing Boxwood Bush when he got a savage take. After a tremendous fight, Mr Hamilton went on to land a cracking twenty pounder.
A stunning twenty pounder caught at Meikleour on Monday
There was more success for the Smith Party at Meikleour on Wednesday when a cracking fourteen pounder was caught from Islamouth on the fly. There was also a sea liced seven pounder caught from the House Pool.
A fine springer caught from Meikleour on Wednesday
It was good to see a fish caught at Cargill on Tuesday. Mr Soulsby was the successful angler landing a lovely fresh springer. Next on the scoresheet at Cargill was Mr Alan Laing. Mr Laing caught a fresh twelve pounder from the Bridge Streat on Wednesday. The fish was caught on a bottle tube fly. Further downstream there were some nice fish caught at Taymount last week. Towards the bottom end of the river, the Upper Scone Beat also produced a fish last week which was good to see. There were also other fish caught last week from the Tay system on beats that do not wish to be mentioned in this report.
More success for the Smith party at Meikleour on Wednesday
Many people will have a few days’ holiday around Easter so why not wet a line on one of Scotland’s most famous and prolific salmon rivers? As ever there is no shortage of salmon fishing options on the Tay system with fishing to suit every angler’s taste. You never know, as you might just have a cracking Easter landing a big Tay springer!
Mr Soulsby enjoys success at Cargill on Tuesday
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 reporting on Fishpal only)
(week ending 8th April)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Upper Farleyer 1, Lower Farleyer 1, Pitnacree & Balnabeggan 1, Lower Bolfracks 1, Findynate 1, Loch Faskally 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 2, Dunkeld, 1 Dalmarnock 1, Murthly 1, 3, Murthly 2, 45 Delvine & Burnbane 1, Kercock 2, Meikleour & Upper Islamouth 5, West Grange 1, Cargill 3, Taymount 4, Upper Scone,1
Total:18 Largest: Murthly 2, 23lbs
IMPROVING CATCHES AS WE MOVE THROUGH APRIL?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 10th April 2023)
April can be a prime time of year on the River Tay on many beats for spring salmon fishing, especially on beats located on the middle river. Hopefully, as we move through April and into May catches will improve on the Tay system.
It was another dry and bright start to the week. However, there was some rain midweek as a weather front crossed the country. River levels were steady and generally conditions were good on many beats. It has been mainly dry and settled over the easter weekend. Looking ahead to next week Monday will be mainly dry. There is a chance of some showers on Tuesday. From midweek onwards it is set to turn much more unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain. It is also set to turn colder with even some snow falling on higher ground.
Catches on the Tay system were well spread last week from Farleyer down to Upper Scone. The River Tummel produced some nice fish as did the River Isla. Realistically there is a decent chance of catching a springer anywhere on the Tay system in the upcoming days.
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)
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 NICE SPRINGERS CAUGHT FROM THE TAY SYSTEM AS WE MOVE THROUGH EASTER! appeared first on Tay Rivers.
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