(River Tay weekly report week ending 6th September 2025)
We have now moved into September and the first month of autumn. The weather did have an autumnal feel last week with frequent showers and even some longer spells of rain. It was also quite breezy from time to time. There was a lift in water at the beginning of the week and river levels were quite unsettled. Despite the unsettled conditions at the beginning of the week, there was some good sport to be had on the river on most days. All in all, it was a reasonably productive first week of September.
On the upper river, successful beats last week included Lower Farleyer and Upper Kinnaird. There were fish caught at Lower Kinnaird on the middle river on Monday, Tuesday and a couple more on Wednesday.
It was good to see a fish caught at Dunkeld on Monday. On Wednesday, Mr Peter Robinson caught a nice fish from the Boil at Newtyle. There was more success at Newtyle on Saturday when a lovely grilse was caught from the Trap.
There were a couple of fish caught from the Murthly 2 Beat on Monday and another on Tuesday and there were a couple of fish caught from the Murthly 1 Beat on Wednesday. The Murthly beats finished with a combined total of ten fish for the week. There was success at Stenton on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
It was a great start to the week at Kercock, where three fish were landed from the beat on Monday. Mr Lance Montaigue caught a nice thirteen pounder from the Upper Gean Tree.
Mr Geoff Hignet went one better, landing a sixteen pounder on a Willie Gunn and Mr Rudi Kopczyk caught a fine six pounder on a Cascade fly.
More nice fish were caught at Kercock throughout the rest of the week.
At Meikleour, there was a fine hat trick landed on Monday, with five more fish landed from the beat on Tuesday. The Meikleour Beat finished with nine fish for the week.
At Islamouth, three fish were landed on Monday. Successful anglers included Mr Barry Ward, who caught a good fish from the Ash Trees.
Mr Stuart Lang also caught a fish from the Castle Pool. On Tuesday, four fish were caught at Islamouth, weighing up to sixteen pounds. Successful anglers included Mr Mike Brown and Mr John Mcelroy. Both fish were caught from the Longhead. On Wednesday, Mr Barry Ward and Mr Stuart Lang enjoyed more success at Islamouth. During the second half of the week, Mr Peter Kellock and his party caught two nice fish on Saturday.
It was a memorable Monday for Mr Joe Scott from Yorkshire at Cargill. Mr Scott caught his first ever salmon on the Tay with his first cast. Following this, ten casts later, Mr Scott caught another salmon. What an introduction to salmon fishing on the Tay for this gentleman! On Tuesday, Mr Hector Rawson caught a nice fish on the fly at Cargill. On Wednesday, Ms Lily Rawson caught a cracking fish at Cargill. Mr David Curtis had a super Saturday at Cargill when he landed a magnificent nineteen pounder on the fly. What a fish!
It was good to see a fish caught at Ballathie on Monday and a couple more on Tuesday. There were some more nice fish caught at Ballathie throughout the course of the week.
It was a happy Monday for anglers fishing at Taymount, who finished with six fish for the day. There were seven more fish caught from the beat on Thursday. The Taymount Beat finished with twenty-three fish for the week. There was a fine brace landed at Stobhall on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Upper Scone Beat finished with a couple of fish for their week.
On the Stanley Beats, there was a fish caught at Pitlochrie on Tuesday. On Monday, Mr John Shaw caught a magnificent twenty one pounder from the Long Shot on the fly at Benchil. The fish was a bar of silver and put up a great tussle.
On Friday, Mr Sandy Datta caught a grilse from the Long Shot. Mr Eddie Alexander and his party had a great day at Luncarty on Thursday when they landed three nice fish.
At Fishponds, a couple of fish were caught from the beat on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, there was a cracking twenty one pounder caught at Fishponds. Mr Andrew Smith was the successful angler and also managed to land an eight pounder. Mr Will Edwards landed a cracking eighteen pounder. All in all, a great day at Fishponds! Other successful anglers included Mr Jim Macdonald and Mr Iain Jardine.
A couple of fish were caught at Upper Redgorton on Monday and Wednesday. It was a memorable Saturday for Mr John Kane. Mr Kane was fishing the Fireshot at Upper Redgorton when he got a powerful take. After a great fight, Mr Kane went on to land a fresh sixteen pounder. Saturday’s don’t get much better than that!
The Waulkmill Beat finished with seventeen fish for the week. This included six fish landed from the beat on Monday.
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 6th September)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Rhiedorrach Estate 8, Lochlane and Laggan 9, Upper Farleyer 1, Lower Farleyer 2, Upper Kinnaird 2, Lower Kinnaird 5, Dunkeld 1, Newtyle 2, Murthly 1, 2, Stenton 6, Murthly 2, 8, Kercock 8, Meikleour & Upper 9, Islamouth 12, Cargill 9, Ballathie 6, Taymount 23, Stobhall 7, Burnmouth 1, Pitlochrie 1, Upper Scone 2, Benchil 3, Fishponds 11, Upper Redgorton 6, Luncarty 3, Waulkmill 17
Total: 165 Largest: Taymount 24lbs
MORE UNSETTLED WEATHER IN THE WEEK AHEAD?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 8th September 2025)
There was a rise in water at the beginning of last week, following heavy rain on Sunday, which was welcomed by anglers. The weather did have an autumnal feel to it with frequent heavy showers and some longer spells of rain. It was also quite windy from time to time. Temperatures did rise a little over the weekend but it remained breezy. Saturday was mainly dry, with a few showers and a spell of heavier rain on Sunday.
Looking ahead to next week, the unsettled weather is set to continue with low pressure firmly in charge. Monday and Tuesday will be mainly dry apart from the odd shower. From midweek onwards, there will be showers or longer spells of rain. It will also be windy at times. Temperatures will be in the mid to high teens.
Last week, fish were caught from Lower Farleyer down to Waulkmill. Probably the best chance of making contact with a hard fighting Tay salmon next week is likely to be on beats located on the middle and lower river.
There is good availability next week, so why not enjoy a day on the river? There is no better way to start the autumn season than by landing a big Tay belter!
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