(River Tay weekly report week ending 13th September 2025)
We have now moved into the middle of September and only four full weeks of the 2025 River Tay salmon fishing season remain. After a tough spring, some nice summer salmon and grilse were caught from the river over the summer season. In recent weeks, a few fresh fish have been caught and it’s hoped that this trend will continue for the remainder of the season.
There was another lift in water at the beginning of last week after heavy rain on Sunday. Monday and Tuesday were mainly dry but there were more showers and even some longer spells of rain through the middle part of the week. This led to another lift in water on Thursday and Friday. All in all, the weather had quite an autumnal feel to proceedings. It was good to see multiple fish over twenty pounds caught last week and one fish tipped the scales over the magical thirty pounds mark.
On the upper river there was a fish caught on the Upper Farleyer Beat on Thursday. Mr Benjamin Custance was fishing the Upper Kinnaird Beat on Thursday with head ghillie Mr Martin Edgar. Mr Custance got a savage take in the boat. A monumental battle ensued where the fish made some long surging runs. Finally, the fish was netted and tipped the Mclean net scales at a colossal thirty-two pounds. This was Mr Custance’s first ever salmon on his first day salmon fishing. Do first salmon get any better than this?
On the middle river, the Lower Kinnaird Beat finished with eight fish for the week. Fish were also caught at Dalguise and Dalmarnock. There were three fish caught on the Murthly 1 Beat on Tuesday. A fine brace was landed on the Murthly 2 Beat on Monday, with three more caught on Tuesday. The Murthly beats finished with a combined total of eight fish for the week. There were four fish caught at Stenton last week, including three on Saturday.
Mr Mario Kreft had a day to remember at Kercock on Monday. It was Mr Kreft’s first time salmon fishing and it did not take him long to taste success. Mr Kraft caught a lovely eight pounder. What a great result! On Wednesday, there was a magnificent fifteen pounder caught at Kercock. Mr Tommy Wright was the successful angler.
Mr Andy McFetridge caught a lovely thirteen pounder followed by Mr David Macintyre who landed a fine grilse weighing six pounds.
It was nice to see fish caught at Meikleour on Wednesday and a couple on Saturday.
It proved to be a magical Monday at Cargill, where seven fish were landed, up to twenty-two pounds. Cargill regular Mr Neil French was the captor of the fish of the day! There were five more fish caught at Cargill on Tuesday and the good sport continued throughout the week. On Thursday, there were seven fish landed at Cargill, weighing up to twenty pounds, with a further ten caught on Friday.
At Ballathie, there were fish caught from the beat on Monday and Tuesday, with four more landed on Saturday. The Taymount Beat has been fishing well in recent weeks and last week was no different. A couple of fish were caught at Taymount on Monday, and a fine hat trick was landed from the beat on Wednesday. The Taymount Beat finished with twenty-one fish for the week. There was success at Stobhall every day during the first half of last week, with three more fish caught towards the end of the week. The Upper Scone Beat finished with eleven fish for the week.
On the Stanley beats, there was success at Pitlochrie on Tuesday. On Wednesday, there were a couple of fish caught at Benchil. The fish were caught on the fly from the Long Shot and the Little Shot. Two fish were caught from Luncarty on Saturday.
At Fishponds, Tuesday saw the rod bent for Mr Simon Furniss, who caught a lovely eight pounder on the fly from Benchil Green. Mr Mikal managed two fish from the beat on Friday, one of eight pounder and the other, ten pounds. Both fish were caught from the Iron Burn, both on a Flying-C. Mr Mikal’s son also had success when he caught an eight pounder from the Luncarty pool, also on a Flying-C. Other successful anglers included Mr John Cargill, who landed his first ever salmon from the Shocie mouth, followed quickly by his second, also from the Shocie mouth. Well done, Sir!
With only around four weeks of the salmon fishing season remaining on the River Tay, time is running out to land that last big Tay salmon of the year, so why not have a cast? Nothing beats landing some Tay September crackers!
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 13th September 2025)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Rhiedorrach Estate 3, Lower Farleyer 1, Upper Kinnaird 1, Lower Kinnaird 8, Dalguise 5, Dalmarnock 2, Murthly 2, 4, Stenton 4, Murthly 1, 4, Kercock 6, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 4, Ballathie 7, Cargill 32, Stobhall 7, Taymount 21, Upper Scone 11, Pitlochrie 1, Benchil 3, Upper Redgorton 7, Fishponds 8, Luncarty 2, Waulkmill 19.
Total: 160 Largest: Upper Kinnaird 32lbs
FOUR WEEKS OF THE SEASON NOW REMAINING!
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 15th September 2025)
There was a lift in water at the beginning of last week, following heavy rain on Sunday. There were further showers and even some longer rain spells from midweek onwards, leading to more rising water on Thursday and Friday. All in all, it felt quite autumnal. The unsettled weather continued over the weekend and showers affected many parts of Perthshire. On Sunday evening, there was more prolonged rain and strong gusty winds.
Looking ahead to next week, Monday and Tuesday will see heavy showers affect many parts. It will also be breezy. The unsettled weather with frequent showers will likely continue for much of the week. Towards the end of next week, high pressure may build.
With only four weeks remaining of the 2025 season, hopefully, some good fish will be caught before the season finally draws to a close. There were some nice fish caught from the river last week, but the vast majority of these were older models, although the odd fresh fish was landed.
Last week, there were fish caught from Lower Farleyer down to Waulkmill, with the majority of the action on the middle and lower river. The best chance of success next week will likely be on beats situated in this area of the river. As always, a good variety of salmon fishing is available on the Tay system in the upcoming days, with fishing to suit even the most discerning of anglers’ tastes. So why not chase a big Tay salmon next week? With less than four weeks of the season remaining, you could have that 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