(River Tay weekly report week ending 16th March 2024)
We have now moved into the middle of March and are well into the spring salmon fishing season on the Tay. Hopefully, as each week goes by, more pods of fresh spring salmon will enter the Tay system, ensuring anglers enjoy some decent early season sport.
Some nice fish were caught from the Tay system last week in spite of fishing pressure on the river remaining light. It is likely that if there were more anglers fishing the river, more fish would have been landed. With Easter just around the corner, hopefully, increasing numbers of anglers will be wetting a line on the mighty Tay in the upcoming weeks.
River levels were settled at the beginning of last week. However heavy overnight rain on Tuesday led to a lift in water on Wednesday. The river rose over a foot, which helped some beats. The weather remained unsettled on Thursday, with some longer spells of rain affecting many parts, which led to a rising river again on Friday. Unfortunately, many beats below the confluence of the Isla were unable to fish because of the coloured water on Friday.
On the River Tummel at Portnacraig, Mr Martin Timmins caught a lovely sea liced fish weighing fourteen pounds on the spinner from the Portnacraig bank on Wednesday. Mr Calum Imray followed this by landing a stunning twelve pounder from the Pitlochry Bank.
Mr Alan Grant had a fantastic Friday at Dalmarnock when he landed a lovely springer from the beat. It was great to see the first fish of the season caught from the Dunkeld Beat on Monday. The fish was a magnificent specimen weighing twenty four pounds. It just shows the calibre of fish the Tay system can produce at this time of year.
There was a fine brace caught at Glendelvine on Tuesday, and both fish weighed around the fourteen pound mark. There was another springer caught at Glendelvine on Saturday.
At Meikleour, it was nice to see some lovely fish landed on Wednesday. The midweek lift in the water certainly seemed to help. A cracking twenty pounder was caught on the harl from Islamouth, and this was shortly followed by a ten-pounder caught on a white & lemon Tay lure.
There was more success at Meikleour on Friday when Mr Alan Grant caught a fine thirteen pounder from Islamouth first thing in the morning before the river started to rise. It just goes to show the early bird catches the worm!
It was a happy Monday for Mr Stewart Scott, who landed a cracking springer at Cargill. The fish gave a great account of itself before it was safely released. There was more success at Cargill on Saturday, this time for Mr John MacGowan, who landed a fine sea liced springer from the beat. A fine fish was caught on the Taymount Beat on Tuesday.
There were other fish caught last week from the Tay system on beats that do not wish to be mentioned in this report.
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. 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 (only for beats that wished to be mentioned in the TDSFB report)
(week ending 20th March)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Portnacraig Pitlochry 2, Dalmarnock 1, Dunkeld 1, Glendelvine 3, Meikleour & U Islamouth 3, Cargill 2, Taymount 1.
Total: 13 Largest: Dunkeld 24lbs
A MILDER WEEK AHEAD?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 18th March 2024)
It was a dry start to last week, but rain midweek led to a lift in water on Wednesday of around a foot. The weather remained unsettled on Thursday, with some showers and longer spells of rain, which led to a rising river again on Friday. Hopefully, the weather will be more settled in the days ahead.
Over the weekend, it was mainly dry on Saturday, with some rain on Saturday night. Sunday was mostly dry, apart from the odd shower. Looking ahead to next week, it is set to feel much milder, with temperatures rising into the low teens on most days. There will be some showers on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday is set to be mostly dry with light winds. At this stage, the end of the week looks unsettled, with the possibility of low pressure influencing our weather.
Catches were spread on the river last week from Dalmarnock down to Taymount. It was also good to see Loch Tay and the River Tummel produce fish.
On the main river, there is a chance of making contact with a fresh fish almost anywhere, as the catches from last week suggest. A number of Tay beats offer prime spring salmon fishing at this time of year, which represents excellent value for money compared to many other rivers across Scotland. So why not wet a line on the mighty Tay next week? You might just experience some mid-March magic!
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 get in touch with 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 are high. In such conditions, the depth at which your fly moves 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, a powerful fifteen-foot rod with a ten-line rating usually covers almost any eventuality.
In terms of lines, whether a full Spey line or Shooting head system, a floating line coupled with a selection of polyleaders of various sink rates can work well. An intermediate or full sinking line may be required in higher water to produce the best results.
Make sure that your fly reel has 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 to use leader material with an adequate breaking strain during the early spring period. 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 will likely 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 cast lures comfortably, 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 that 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 that is very much dependent on water height and is practiced at the beat ghillies’ 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 worth remembering when releasing fish to keep them in the water for as long as possible and 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.