(River Tay weekly report week ending 27th September 2025)
Last week saw us reach the autumn equinox. This is the time of year when the days and nights are roughly the same length. This means from now on we will start to see the days getting shorter quite quickly and this is a sure sign that winter will be upon us in the not too distant future. However, before then, a few weeks of the Tay salmon fishing season remain. There will likely be some good sport for many anglers intending to wet a line before the curtains are finally drawn on another season.
It was a mainly settled week of weather last week with high pressure in charge. There were also some night time frosts. The drop in temperature seemed to make the fish more aggressive last week, which is often the case at this time of year and led to some decent sport on some days. Again, most of the fish landed were older models, with the odd fresher fish caught. River levels were steady for much of last week.
On the upper river, successful beats last week included both Farleyer beats and Upper Kinnaird, amongst others. Moving downstream, there were four fish caught at Lower Kinnaird. It was good to see a fish caught at Dalguise on Wednesday and Saturday. There was also success at Dunkeld on Saturday. There were three fish caught at Newtyle on Monday. Mr Mel Williams caught a nice grilse from the Plain Tree Pool. In the afternoon, Mr Jens Peter Hartung enjoyed success when he landed a good fish on the fly from the Boil. On Tuesday, Mr Jerk Sonnichsen also landed a decent fish from the Boil.
Both Murthly beats produced fish last week and finished with a total of thirteen fish for the week. There were three fish caught at Glendelvine on Friday.
Mr George Bailey caught two nice fish at Delvine & Burnbane on Friday. One of the two fish landed by Mr Bailey weighed twenty pounds. It was good to see some nice fish caught at Kercock last week. Ms Rosie Conway caught her first ever salmon on the fly. The fish was caught on a Willie Gunn. Other successful anglers at Kercock included Jean Pierre Triboulet, Mr Rob Jamieson, Mr Kenny Milne and Mr Paul Jack.
Some nice fish were caught at Meikleour last week, including two fish landed from the beat on Monday and three on Tuesday. Meikleour finished with eight fish for the week.
Mr James Steel enjoyed a happy Monday at Islamouth when he landed a good fish from Sandyford. On Tuesday, Mr Roly Fisher and Mr Iain Roxburgh caught fish at Islamouth. There were five fish caught from Islamouth on Wednesday, with Mr Alex Haig-Thomas being one of the successful anglers. There were two more fish caught at Islamouth on Friday.
It was a good start to the week at Cargill with three fish landed from the beat on Monday, the best weighing twenty-two pounds.
On Wednesday, there were seven fish landed at Cargill, weighing up to nineteen pounds. Cargill finished with twenty fish for the week. Anglers at Ballathie have enjoyed some decent sport in recent weeks and last week was no different. A couple of fish were caught from the beat on Monday and another on Tuesday, with some more nice fish caught towards the end of the week.
The Taymount Beat finished with eighteen fish for the week, best weighing twenty pounds. A couple of fish were caught at Stobhall on Monday and Tuesday with four caught from the beat on Thursday. It was good to see a fish caught at Burnmouth on Monday.
There was a fish caught at Upper Scone on Saturday. On the Stanley beats, there was a fish caught at Pitlochrie on Tuesday. There were a couple of fish caught at Benchil on Monday. On Wednesday, there was a magnificent twenty-two pounder caught at Benchil. It was good to see three fish caught at Luncarty on Saturday. Successful anglers last week on the Stanley Beat included Mr Reid Haglin and Ms Donna Harris, amongst others.
It was a productive week on the Fisponds Beat. Mr Jim McDonald started the week by landing two fish on Monday, one from the Fireshot and the other from Hedge End. Mr Jim Ferrie and Simon Furniss caught fish from the beat on Wednesday.
Thursday saw two, first salmon caught for Mr Nik Lenson and Mr Wynn Davie. Well done, gentlemen, you never forgot your first. Last week, other successful anglers on the Fishponds Beat included Mr John Furniss, Mr Philip Bird, Mikal, Mr George Bailey, Mr Mike Elgie and Mr Jim Lapsey.
The Upper Redgorton Beat has produced some nice fish in recent weeks. It was a good start to the week with a couple of fish caught on Monday and another on Tuesday. There were three fish caught from Upper Redgorton on Thursday. The decent sport continued towards the end of the week at Upper Scone with six fish landed from the beat on Saturday. The Waulkmill Beat finished with eleven fish for the week.
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 feel 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 27th September)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Lochlane and Laggan 2, Crieff Angling Club 2, Lower Farlyer 5, Upper Farlyer 1, Lower Bolfracks 1, Upper Kinnaird 2, Lower Kinnaird 4, Dalguise 2, Dunkeld 1, Newtyle 4, Murthly 2, 10, Glendelvine 3, Murthly 1,8, Delvine Burnbane 2,Kercock 8, Meikleour & Upper Islamouth 8, Islamouth 14, Ballathie 10, Cargill 20, Stobhall 12, Taymount 18, Burnmouth 1, Pitlochrie 2, Upper Scone 1, Benchil 8, Fishponds 16, Upper Redgorton 13, Luncarty 3, Waulkmill 11.
Total: 192 Largest: Benchil, Cargill 22lbs
UNSETTLED WEATHER NEXT WEEK?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 29th September 2025)
We are now moving towards the end of September and the weather has felt more autumnal with some cooler days and night time frosts. It was mainly dry last week with light winds. However, over the weekend, it became a little more unsettled with some patchy rain affecting some parts on Saturday, but Sunday was mainly dry.
Next week Monday and Tuesday should be mainly dry apart from the odd shower. From midweek onwards, there is a chance of some unsettled weather with some showers or even some longer spells of rain. It could also become quite windy from time to time.
Most of the fish caught last week were older and appear to have been in the river for some time. Last week, on the main river, there were fish caught from Upper Farleyer down to Waulkmill, with the bulk of the action being on beats situated on the lower river. Probably the best chance of success next week would be on some of the beats located on the middle and lower river.
We are quickly moving towards the end of another season on the River Tay, so why not book a few days next week and catch those last few Tay salmon of the 2025 season? Perthshire is awash with colour at this time of year and provides a stunning backdrop to chasing the king of fish!
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 autumn period (September and October)
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 autumn months, water temperatures usually begin to fall on the river but much depends on the weather. The weather and water conditions can vary greatly during the autumn months with hot weather and low water coupled with high water temperatures especially if we have an Indian summer. Conversely, it can be quite cool with regular spells of wind and rain and even night time frosts. The fish also start to become a bit more aggressive especially when they turn their thoughts towards spawning. At this time of year, full floating lines coupled with polyleaders of various sink rates can often work well especially if conditions are more akin to the summer months.
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, colder water a sink tip or intermediate line may be required to produce the best results.
Make sure that your fly reel has got 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 autumn period to use leader material with an adequate breaking strain, as there can be some large fish around towards the end of the season. Usually, a breaking strain of around fifteen pounds is ideal.
During the autumn months depending on the water height and temperature smaller dressed flies can work well if river levels are low and temperatures are high. Small bottle tubes are also well worth ago. If there are frequent night time frosts and high water, tube flies of various lengths and weights may be the order of the day.
Spinning
A powerful spinning rod between ten and eleven feet 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 autumn months, the Floating Devon and Flying C can be particularly productive.
The Flying C lure can be fished upstream especially when water temperatures are higher 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. In high cold water, it can often be more about fishing the lure that bit slower and at an adequate depth.
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 autumn months, good conditions arise on many beats for harling, especially in higher water. Harling is a method which is very much water height dependent and is practised at the beat ghillies discretion