(River Tay weekly report week ending 27th July 2024)
We are now moving towards the end of July and the River Tay continues to produce the goods. It is not only that decent numbers of fish have been caught in recent weeks but also that the quality of fish being caught has been second to none. Numerous fish in the high teens of pounds have been landed, including a few over the magical twenty pounds mark. Anglers will be hoping that the good sport will continue with more top quality fish being landed as we move into August.
It was dry for most of last week apart from the odd shower and winds were generally light. Temperatures were in the high teens and anglers fishing early in the morning and then again at dusk did well. There was a slight lift in water at the beginning of the week but this dropped away quickly from midweek onwards. It was another week of decent catches on the river, which was great to see.
On the upper river, a nice grilse was caught at Edradynate on Monday. A fish was caught at Lower Kinnaird on Friday, and success was achieved at Dalguise on Tuesday. The Dalmarnock Beat produced a fish on Wednesday, and three more were caught from the beat on Friday.
It was an excellent start to the week on the Murthly beats, with a combined total of seven fish landed for the day. As the week progressed, the good sport continued, and the beats finished with a combined total of twenty six fish for the week. A few nice fish were also caught at Stenton last week, including three on Friday.
On Wednesday, Mr Jimmy Lapsley had a good day at Delvine. He caught two nice fish on the fly from the Corner Pool and Sparrowmuir. On Wednesday, Mr Simon Furniss enjoyed success at Delvine when he landed a nice fresh grilse.
It was a day to remember at Glendelvine on Thursday when six fish were landed from the beat. Mr Steve Caddle caught two nice six pounders. In the evening, Mr Tony Black had a great night’s sport and landed four cracking salmon on the fly, best weighing eight pounds. There were three more fish caught from the beat on Saturday.
It was a magical Monday at Kercock, with five fish landed for the day. Two more fish were caught from the beat on Tuesday. As the week progressed, more nice fish were caught. Successful anglers at Kercock last week included Mrs. Nikkii O Donenell, who caught three crackers weighing up to nine pounds, Mr. Angus Maclennan and Mr Derrick Willmot, amongst others.
The Farnell party were fishing at Meikleour last week and they had a happy Monday on the beat. Mr Farnell caught a cracking four pounder from the Castle Pool. Mr Blundell caught a fourteen pounder from the House Pool and then landed a five pounder from the tail of Boxwood Bush. There were a total of four fish caught at Meikleour on Monday.
The good sport continued at Meikleour as the week progressed. On Thursday eleven year old Cammy MacDonald caught a nice five pounder from the Castle Pool. On Friday Cammy went on to land a four pounder from Boxwood Bush. Well done, young man. It is great to see youngsters enjoying our wonderful sport!
There were some nice fish caught on the River Isla last week. Anglers fishing both the Kethick Mains and Kethick Streams beats enjoyed some decent sport.
The Cargill Beat has produced some nice fish in recent weeks and last week was no different. There was an eighteen pounder caught from the beat on Monday. Father and son duo Mr Jack and Mr Fred Smith enjoyed some great sport on Monday.
On Tuesday, Mr Andrew Norman caught some nice fish despite a rising river. The good sport continued as the week progressed at Cargill, including five fish being landed from the beat on Friday.
The Taymount Beat finished with twelve fish for the week. On most days, fish were caught at Upper Scone, which was good to see. The beat finished with ten fish for the week.
On Tuesday evening, Mr Jason Stratton caught a fine nine pounder on the fly at Benchil. The fish was caught from the Little Shot. Mrs Anne Emsens had a great day at Benchil on Thursday, landing two fish weighing up to seventeen pounds on the fly. On Saturday, Mr Charles St. Johnston caught a lovely grilse on the fly at Benchil. It was good to see a fish caught at Upper Redgorton on Monday. Four more fish were caught from the beat on Thursday and two on Saturday.
On Monday at Fishponds, Mr. Simon Furniss and Mr. James MacDonald were in the thick of the action. Both anglers landed cracking fish. Mr Furniss landed a lovely fifteen pounder on the fly. Mr Jim MacDonald went one better landing a sixteen pounder. Both fish were caught from the Craigs. Well done gentlemen!
Mr Jim MacDonald was at it again at Fishponds on Thursday. Mr MacDonald hooked two fish at once in the Luncarty Pool while harling. Keeping a cool head, Mr MacDonald managed to land both fish, which included a magnificent nineteen pounder.
The Luncarty Beat has been producing the goods recently, and things got off to a flyer on Monday. Mr Alistair Dunbar and his son Sandy had a morning to remember landing three nice fish. What a great experience for father and son to share.
On Wednesday, Mr Robert White landed a fine fifteen pounder on the fly. The Luncarty Beat finished the week with eight fish.
It was a good day at Waulkmill on Tuesday, with a total of four fish caught from the beat. The Waulkmill Beat continued to produce some nice fish as the week progressed, including eight on Saturday. Fish were also caught last week 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 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 (For beats wishing to be included in this report only)
(week ending 27th July)
SALMON & GRILSE:
South Chesthill Fishing 1, Edradynate 1, Portnacraig Pitlochry 1, East Haugh 1, Lower Kinnaird 1, Dalguise 1, Dalmarnock 4, Murthly 1, 8, Murthly 2, 18, Stenton 6, Glendelvine 9, Delvine & Burnbane 4, Kercock 8, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 8, West Grange 3, Kethick Streams 3, Kethick Mains 3, Cargill 23, Taymount 12,Upper Scone 10, Benchil 5, Fishponds 5, Upper Redgorton 7, Luncarty 8, Waulkmill 16
Total: 166 Largest: Fishponds & Cargill 19lbs Others: 51
WHAT WILL AUGUST HAVE IN STORE FOR ANGLERS FISHING THE TAY?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 29th July 2024)
It was a week of mostly settled weather across much of Scotland, including Perthshire. Winds were generally light and river levels were steady for the most part, except for a slight lift at the beginning of the week. There were some magnificent salmon and grilse caught from the Tay system last week, which was great to see. The fish caught were mostly a mixture of larger summer salmon and hard fighting grilse and many were sea liced. In the upcoming weeks, more salmon should enter the Tay system daily, giving anglers the chance of making contact with the king of fish. July was a productive month on the Tay system and it will be interesting to see what August will have in store for anglers fishing the Tay.
It has been mainly dry over the weekend, apart from the odd shower, with temperatures generally in the high teens. Looking ahead to next week, Monday and Tuesday should be mainly dry with light winds. It will feel much warmer than of late, with temperatures in the low twenties. The rest of the week should be mainly dry with variable amounts of cloud, apart from the odd shower.
Last week, there were fish caught from Edradynate down to Waulkmill, with the majority of fish caught on the middle and lower river. There were also fish caught on the River Lyon, Tummel and Isla. The best chance of success on the main river next week would probably be on beats situated on the middle and lower river.
As always, there is a good variety of salmon fishing available on the Tay in the upcoming days with fishing to suit even the most discerning of anglers’ tastes. So why not chase some summer silver on the Tay next week? You could have that special 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 summer period (June-August)
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 summer months water temperatures usually begin to rise on the river. The fish also start to become a bit more active. Often river levels are low but on the River Tay they are never too low that fresh fish cannot run the system. At this time of year full floating lines coupled with polyleaders of various sink rates can often work well.
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 water during the summer months a sink tip or intermediate line may be required to produce the best results.
Make sure that your fly reel has got 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 during the summer period to use leader material with an adequate breaking strain, as there are some big summer salmon that run the Tay. Usually a breaking strain between twelve and fifteen pounds is ideal.
During the summer months depending on the water height and temperature smaller dressed flies can work well. Small bottle tubes are also well worth ago. Don’t forget how effective flies like the Sunray Shadow can be at this time of year. These flies fished close to the surface can really do the business especially if the fish are keen on chasing a fly and in an active mood.
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 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 summer months, the Floating Devon and Flying C can be particularly productive. The Flying C lure can be fished upstream especially when water temperatures start to rise 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. These lures can be excellent during the summer months.
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 summer months, the water is too low to harl on many beats. However, if there is a decent spate this method can be highly productive. Harling is a method which is very much water height dependent 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 of 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 worthwhile remembering when releasing fish to keep them in the water for as long a period as possible and to use minimal handling. Please also give the fish plenty of time to recover before releasing them. It is important that anglers treat their quarry with the utmost of respect at all times.