(River Tay weekly report week ending 12th October 2024)
With only a couple of days of fishing remaining on the Tay system, last week was the final full week of the season. The weather was quite unsettled and there was a small lift in water at the beginning of last week. As the week progressed, it became much colder as a northerly wind developed. It did become milder again over the weekend, with some rain on Saturday.
It was another week of decent catches on the river, with nearly three hundred fish caught. Again, the Tay system produced more than its fair share of big fish. Some cracking Tay salmon were landed during the final full week of the 2024 season, including a number of fish weighing well over twenty pounds, which was great to see.
On the upper river, there was success on the Edradynate, Lower Bolfracks and Upper Kinnaird beats through the course of last week. Further downstream, the Lower Kinnaird, Dalguise, Dalmarnock and Dunkeld beats all produced fish.
There was a fish caught at Newtyle on Monday and Friday. On Saturday Mr Michael Carr caught a nice fish on the fly at Newtyle. The Murthly beats finished with a combined total of twenty-one fish for the week. This included six fish caught from the Murthly 2 Beat on Tuesday. It was good to see a fish caught at Stenton on Monday and a couple more landed from the beat on Wednesday. There were a couple of fish caught at Glendelvine on Tuesday and one landed on Saturday.
At Delvine, Mr Ross Barrett caught his first ever salmon on Wednesday. The fish weighed eight pounds and was caught from the tail of the Sparrowmuir Pool on a Tay Lure. Well done, Sir… you never forget your first! There were three more fish caught at Delvine on Friday. Mr Mike Elgie had a twenty-two pounder from the Landslip on the fly and Mr Willie Cummins had a lovely fourteen pounder from the Big Stone.
At Kercock, Mr Robert McFarlane had a happy Monday, landing three cracking fish weighing up to sixteen pounds. On Monday, Kercock regular Mrs Sue Creswick also landed a nice fish on the fly.
On Tuesday, Mr McFarlane went one better, landing a twenty four-pounder at Kercock. The good sport continued as the week progressed. Other successful anglers at Kercock last week included Mr Darren Kaye and Mr Ernie Donnell, who enjoyed a very productive two weeks fishing. Kercock finished with a creditable thirty-three fish for the week.
At Meikleour, three fish were caught during the first half of the week, and two more were landed from the beat on Saturday.
The Cargill Beat has produced some decent sport in recent weeks and last week was no different. Three fish were caught from the beat on Monday. On Tuesday at Cargill, Mr Gavin Mason enjoyed good sport, landing some cracking fish on the fly.
On Thursday, Mr Jake Herman caught a nice fish on a Devon Minnow. Six fish were caught from the Taymount Beat, including a magnificent twenty five pounder on Monday, and twelve were landed on Thursday. The Taymount Beat finished with forty-three fish for the week.
Mr Jason Stratton caught a nice six pounder at Catholes on Monday from the Catholes Stream. At Benchil on Thursday, Mr John Norcliffe landed a fine sixteen pounder.
On both Thursday and Saturday, three fish were caught at Benchil, including a magnificent nineteen pounder caught by Mr Robert White.
Other successful anglers on the Stanley Beats, to mention just a couple, were Gleneagles guest Mr Bradshaw and Mr James Holder.
There was a fine brace landed at Upper Scone on Monday with more fish caught from the beat as the week progressed.
On the Fishponds Beat, Gordon Orr was the lucky angler landing two fish from both Craig’s & Lodge End, both weighing five pounds on a Tay Lure. On Friday, the rod was bent, this time for Mr Brian Joseph, who landed a lovely fish weighing in at around eight pounds from the Craigs. Next on the score sheet was Mr Grant Macintyre, who caught a cracking fourteen pounder on the fly from the Fireshot on Saturday.
The Upper Redgorton Beat has fished well in recent weeks and there were happy anglers again last week. Highlights included three fish landed from the beat on Wednesday. The Waulkmill Beat finished with twenty-nine fish for the week, including a cracking twenty three pounder for Mr Neil Mitchell on Friday. There were also other fish caught last week from the Tay system on beats that do not wish to be mentioned in this report.
With only two days remaining in the Tay salmon fishing season, there is still time to land that last big Tay salmon of 2024, so why not have cast? Who knows, you might land that fish of a life time!
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
(week ending 12th October 2024) (only for beats that wish to be mentioned in the TDSFB report)
SALMON & GRILSE:
South Chesthill 5, Edradynate 5, Lower Bolfracks 1, Upper Kinnaird 7, East Haugh 1, Lower Kinnaird 7, Dalguise 1, Dalmarnock 2, Dunkeld 4, Newtyle 3, Murthly 1, 3, Murthly 2, 18, Stenton 3, Delvine & Burnbane 4, Glendelvine 3, Kercock 33, West Grange 1, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 5, Cargill 22, Taymount 43, Catholes 2, Benchil 7, Upper Scone 8, Fishponds 4, Upper Redgorton 7, Waulkmill 29
Total: 227 Largest: Taymount 25lbs
STILL TIME REMAINING TO CATCH THAT LAST TAY SALMON OF 2024!
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 14th October 2024)
Two days remain of the 2024 Tay salmon fishing season, so there is still time to catch that last Tay salmon of 2024. Last week was a week of unsettled weather, with low pressure dominating proceedings. This brought mostly showers across the Tay catchment area. There was a small lift in water at the beginning of last week. From midweek onwards, it turned much cooler, and the northerly wind felt raw at times.
Over the weekend it was wet on Saturday but mainly dry on Sunday. The rain on Saturday led to a lift in water on Sunday. Looking ahead to next week, Monday and Tuesday should be mainly dry, apart from the odd shower. It will feel milder than of late with temperatures in the low to mid teens.
The fish caught last week were mostly older fish, but it was good to see some larger fish landed, including a fish weighing twenty five pounds. Salmon were caught from the Edradynate down to Waulkmill with the majority of fish caught on the middle and lower river. The best chance of success during the season’s final two days is likely to be on beats situated on the middle and lower river. As always, there is a good variety of salmon fishing available on the Tay system in the next couple of days. So why not have that final Tay foray of 2024? You might just end your Tay season on a high!
Good luck to all those anglers intending to wet a line before the season ends.
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.