(River Tay weekly report week ending 17th September 2022)
We moved deeper into autumn last week and the signs were there for all to see with the nights getting noticeably longer and thick fog on some mornings which took some time to clear. It was considerably cooler than the previous week and mostly dry. The water temperature last week was 55.6 degrees Celsius which is 13.1 degrees Fahrenheit. Catches improved on the Tay system last week compared to the previous week with well over two hundred fish landed from the system.
On the upper river, there were fish caught on the Upper Farleyer, Lower Bolfracks and Upper Kinnaird beats last week. There was success at Lower Kinnaird on Wednesday. It was nice to see a fish caught at Dalguise on Monday and another fish landed from the beat on Wednesday with a couple more on Saturday.
There was success at Newtyle on Monday when a grilse was landed harling. On Wednesday Mr Mark Allsop caught a fine nine pounder on the fly. The fish was caught from the Deans Burn.
It was a memorable day for Mr Kieran Murphy on Saturday at Newtyle. Mr Murphy caught his first ever salmon from the Boil. The fish was caught on the fly. What a great achievement!
At Kercock there was a fish caught from the beat on Monday and Friday. It was a great end to the week with seven fish landed. The successful anglers to mention just a couple were Richard Chambers who caught a lovely grilse and Jim Jewell from Australia who caught his first ever Atlantic salmon on the fly, The fish weighed a cracking fourteen pounds. A lovely first salmon in anyone’s opinion…well done sir!
On the Meikleour Beat there were some nice fish caught last week including three on Monday and Thursday.
Anglers at Islamouth finished with twenty six fish for the week. It was a good start to the week at Ballathie with six fish caught on Monday. The decent sport continued through the course of the week with some nice fish landed including a magnificent twenty three pounder on Wednesday.
It has been a productive few weeks at Cargill recently and last week was no different. There were twelve fish landed from the beat during the first two days of the week.
Successful anglers at Cargill last week included Mr Jan Smith and Mr Gavin Mason. It was a day to remember at Cargill on Saturday for Mr Barry Fisher. Mr Fisher 79 years young put all his experience to good use and caught a magnificent salmon which put up a great tussle. Well done Sir! There were a total of twelve fish caught at Cargill on Saturday.
Picture
Anglers enjoyed some good sport at Stobhall last week with some lovely fish caught on most days. The Taymount beat finished with forty fish for the week.
Further downstream there was a fine nineteen pounder caught at Upper Scone on Monday and the beat finished with nine on Saturday. There were fish caught at Benchil and Fishponds on Saturday which was good to see.
The Waulkmill and Almondmouth beats finished with fifteen and thirteen fish for the week respectively.
There are now only four full weeks remaining before the curtains are finally drawn on the 2022 season. Hopefully catches will hold up well, in the upcoming weeks.
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
(week ending 17th September)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Lower Farleyer 2, Lower Bolfarcks 5, Upper Kinnaird 1, East Haugh 1, 1, Lower Kinnaird 1, Dalguise 4, Newtyle 3, Murthly 2, 3, Kercock 9, Meikleour & Upper Islamouth 7, Kethick Streams 3, Islamouth 26, Ballathie 10, Cargill 39, Stobhall 31, Taymount 40, Upper Scone 14, Benchil 1, Fishponds 1, Upper Redgorton 2, Waulkmill 15, Almondmouth 13
Total: 231 Largest: Ballathie 23lbs
A MAINLY DRY WEEK AHEAD?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 19th September 2022)
It was a generally settled week of weather last week and river levels were steady apart from a small lift in water on Monday. It was good to see several bigger fish landed including numerous fish in the late teens as well as a few over that magical twenty pounds mark.
It was mainly dry over the weekend apart from the odd shower and it felt quite cold in the keen north westerly wind. Looking ahead to next week Monday and Tuesday should be mainly dry with lighter winds as high pressure starts to build over the UK. There is a chance of some rain from midweek onwards as weather systems sweep in from the Atlantic. Temperatures should be a bit milder than of late mostly around the mid to high teens.
With only a few weeks of the Tay season remaining, why not wet a line and chase some Tay autumn silver in the upcoming days? You might just have that September day to remember!
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.