(River Tay weekly report week ending 5th October 2024)
It was another productive week on the Tay system, with many happy anglers on the river getting their rods bent. It is hoped that the good catches will continue until the season finally draws to a close a week on Tuesday. In addition to the excellent catches, the size of some of the fish being landed was very impressive. Numerous fish have been caught in the high teens of pounds and a fair proportion weighed well in excess of the magical twenty pound mark. This is exactly why the Tay is known as “a big fish” river. The river is currently at its lowest level all season, which is unusual for October. A decent lift in water would help freshen conditions and hopefully make the fish more aggressive.
It was a mostly settled week of weather with high pressure in charge. Winds were light and river levels were steady. It was cool at night, with a touch of frost in some spots. However, it became more unsettled as we moved into the weekend. On the upper river, the Edradynate, Lower Bolfracks and Upper Kinnaird beats all produced fish last week, which was good to see.
Success was achieved at Dalguise, Lower Kinnaird and Dalmarnock and these beats have all produced decent sport in recent weeks. On Tuesday, a fine brace was caught on the fly at Dunkeld.
It was good to see a fish caught at Newtyle on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday Mr Jon Amos caught a nice fish from the Boil at Newtyle.
The Murthly beats finished with a combined total of thirteen fish for the week. There was a fish caught at Stenton on Monday and there was success at Glendelvine on Thursday. It was a super Saturday at Glendelvine, with six fish landed from the beat. Mt Magnus Glock caught two nice fish. Mr John Dewar also landed a cracking sixteen pounder from the Garth.
A fine hat trick was landed at Delvine & Burnbane on Monday. Mr. Robert Grove caught an eight and fifteen pounder, and Mr. Tam Riley had a seven pounder. The fish were caught on a Tay Lure. Next on the scoresheet at Delvine was Mr Gary Borland, who caught his first Tay salmon from the Sparrowmuir Stream on a Tay lure on Wednesday. The lovely fish weighed fifteen pounds. On Friday, Mr William Cummings caught a fine seven pounder from the Corner Pool at Delvine.
Last week, some cracking fish were caught at Kercock, and many happy anglers with big smiles were present. Successful fishers included Mr Ernie Donnell, who landed some fine salmon, including a lovely thirteen pounder.
Mr Chris Stewart also caught a nice seven-pounder. On Saturday, six fish were caught at Kercock, including a fresh fish. Mr Scott Sykes landed a thirteen pounder.
There was some good sport to be had at Meikleour last week. Anglers Pete and Jane had a great day on the beat on Wednesday, landing some nice fish. Jane caught a fine twelve pounder.
Not to be outdone, Pete then went on to catch his first salmon on the fly, a magnificent thirteen pounder. A great day was had by all!
On Saturday, Mr Cuthbert caught a nice fresh grilse on the fly. Meikleour finished the week with eight fish.
The three hundredth fish of the season was caught at Cargill last week, with Mr Ian Mitchell being the successful angler.
There were some cracking fish caught from the beat last week, with many anglers enjoying some decent sport, including Mr Neil French, amongst others.
The Taymount Beat finished with seventeen fish for the week. At Catholes, Mr Jason Stratton caught a nice fish from the Catholes Stream on Friday. A couple of fish were caught at Upper Scone on Wednesday, with further success on Thursday. On Friday, there was a magnificent twenty one pounder caught from Upper Scone.
It was a great day at Benchil on Tuesday. Eight fish weighing up to eighteen pounds were landed from the beat.
Successful anglers included Mr Steven, Mr Charles Crossland, and Mr Peter Butterfield.
Later in the week, the rod was bent once more on the Benchil Beat, this time for angler Mr Stuart Cape.
It was good to see a fish caught at Luncarty on Wednesday.
The Upper Redgorton Beat produced some lovely fish last week, including five on Monday and Thursday and three on Tuesday. The Beat finished with a very creditable twenty five fish for the week.
At Fishponds, Mr Jim McDonald had a happy Monday, landing two nice fish. On Wednesday Mr Sandy Datta caught a five pounder from Benchil Green. The Waulkmill Beat finished with twenty three fish for the week including a fine twenty pounder caught on Thursday.
There were also fish caught from the Tay system last week on beats who do not wish to be mentioned in this report.
There has been plenty of fish landed from the Tay system in the past two weeks and this is encouraging for the final few days of the 2024 season. So why not book a day’s salmon fishing on the famous River Tay next week? It could be the place to give you that season-ending fairy-tale!
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 (For beats wishing to be included in this report only)
(week ending 5th October)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Edradynate 1, Lower Bolfracks 3, Upper Kinnaird 2, Lower Kinnaird 3, Dalguise 5, Dalmarnock 12, Dunkeld 6, Newtyle 5, Murthly 1, 2, Murthly 2, 11, Stenton 3, Glendelvine 7, Delvine & Burnbane 5, Kercock 15, Kethick Streams 2, Meikleour & Upper Islamouth 8, Cargill 31, Taymount 17, Catholes 1, Pitlochrie 1, Upper Scone 4, Benchil 9, Fishponds 5, Upper Redgorton 25, Luncarty 1, Waulkmill 23, Crieff Angling Club 1
Total: 208 Largest: Upper Scone 21lbs
A THIRTY POUNDER BEFORE THE SEASON FINALLY DRAWS TO A CLOSE?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 7th October 2024)
It was a mainly settled week of weather with high pressure in charge for the most part. This led to steady river levels last week. Over the weekend, the weather has become more unsettled, with showers or longer spells of rain. What the river needs now is a decent lift in water, hopefully making the fish more aggressive.
Catches were again excellent, with well over two hundred and fifty fish landed from the Tay system for the week. It was also encouraging to see the number of larger fish caught from the river in recent days, including a few around the mid twenty pound mark. This should, however, not be surprising as the Tay is renowned for producing big fish, especially at this time of year. Could there even be a thirty pounder landed before the season finally draws to a close on 15th October?
Over the weekend there was some rain on Saturday and Sunday and it will be pretty unsettled next week with low pressure firmly in charge. On Monday, dry conditions will mainly predominate apart from the odd shower. From Tuesday onwards, there will be showers or longer spells of rain for much of the week. It will also become windy from time to time. Temperatures will be around the low to mid-teens. Towards the end of the week, it is set to get much cooler as a northerly airflow develops.
Last week, fish were caught on the main river from Edradynate down to Waulkmill, with the bulk of the fish being caught from the beats situated on the middle and lower river. It was good to see some bigger fish being caught, and hopefully, this trend will continue until the end of the season. Probably the best chance of a fish next week would be on any of the beats situated on the middle and lower river.
There is good availability next week on some famous Tay beats. With only a few days of the 2024 season remaining there is no better time to book a day on the Tay and end your season on a high!
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.