(River Tay weekly report week ending 11th April 2026)
With Easter behind us, we are now moving into what should be the prime spring period on many of Scotland’s salmon rivers, including the River Tay. In the next six weeks, we should get a better idea of how strong the spring run will be across the country this year. Hopefully, catches will go from strength to strength in the weeks ahead.
We finally got a spell of more settled weather last week following Storm Dave battering much of the country during the previous weekend. The heavy rain associated with Dave led to river levels peaking at over ten feet on the Ballathie Gauge last Sunday. The milder weather through the middle part of last week led to melting snow and this resulted in unsettled water on some days. However, in general, the river was running at a decent height for many beats.
On Loch Tay, thirteen-year-old Jake McFarlane was fishing with his father Robert, when he hooked a nice fish on Monday. After a good fight, Jake went on to land a lovely fresh springer. Jake’s father, Robert, was certainly put in his place when Jake landed another lovely springer on Monday afternoon.
Jake enjoyed more success catching another lovely springer on Wednesday on Loch Tay. Well done, young man, three springers in three days can’t be bad and just great to see father and son creating memories of a lifetime!
It was great to see a magnificent spring salmon weighing thirty pounds caught from the loch on Monday. The fish was caught by Mr. Rob Jamieson. The fish appeared to be a fish that may have run the system in early January. Nonetheless, this was a great result.
On Tuesday, Mr. Lewis Uttley caught his first ever salmon on Loch Tay and what a fish it was. After a great fight, Mr. Uttley landed a magnificent fresh springer weighing thirty pounds. What a fish for your first Loch Tay salmon! Both these fish are by far the heaviest salmon caught in Scotland so far this season and it just goes to show what the Tay system is capable of producing at this time of year. Other successful anglers on Loch Tay last week included Mr. Neil Marshall and Mr. Donald Brown.
On the River Tummel at Portnacraig, Mr. Massimo Castelvecchi enjoyed a dam double on Tuesday. In the morning, Mr. Castelvecchi landed a fine six pounder from the Portnacraig bank. In the afternoon, he went one better when he caught a cracking ten pounder from the Pitlochry bank. Further downstream on the River Tummel at East Haugh, Mr. Gregor Nimmo caught a springer from the Home Stream on the East Haugh Beat on Saturday.
There was success at Dalmarnock on Friday. At Newtyle, Mr. Lukasz Michalowicz caught a fine sea liced springer on the fly from the Boil on Thursday. On Friday, Mr. Almut Muller from Germany caught a cracking twenty pounder on the fly from the Ferry Pool at Newtyle. The fish had some predator damage but swam away strongly. Both Murthly beats produced fish last week, which was good to see.
Mr. John McElroy and Mr. Kevin Gilmour both caught nice fish at Glendelvine on Saturday.
Both springers were caught from the Spruces and there was also a fish lost from the beat on the same day.
Mr. Grant Macintyre had a magical Monday at Delvine. Mr. Macintyre was fishing just above the Stinky Pipe when he got a powerful take on the fly. After a great battle, Mr. Macintyre went on to land a cracking fourteen pounder. Do bank holidays get any better than this?
Mr. James MacDonald caught a fine nine-pound springer from the Burnbane Pool at Delvine on Thursday. The fish was caught on a Vision type lure.
There have been some nice fish caught at Meikleour in recent days and last week was no different.
Angler Graeme caught a fine thirteen pounder on Monday afternoon from the beat. On Thursday, Mr. Richard Laing caught his first ever salmon at Meikleour and what a fish it was! Mr. Laing played a powerful fish that made several long runs. Eventually, Mr. Laing landed the magnificent twenty-four pounder. Well done, Sir. Do first salmon get any better than this?
A couple of fish were caught from the West Grange Beat on the River Ericht last week, which was good to see.
At Islamouth, Mr. Gregor Nimmo caught a lovely springer from the Longhead on Monday.
Three fish were landed at Islamouth on Wednesday. Successful anglers included Mr Willie Fotheringham, Mr Gary Weir and Mr James Holder.
On Thursday, Mr. Andrew Race caught a nice fish from the Longhead and Mr. Trevor Dolman caught a sparkling springer from the Ashtree on the fly.
Islamouth finished with eight fish for the week.
Retired longstanding Ballathie ghillie and Tay legend Mr George McInnes was fishing at Ballathie on Wednesday. Mr. McInnes went on to land a lovely fish from the upper beat after a good fight on a Vision 110 lure. It was great to see Mr. McInnes enjoying some quality time on the river again.
On Thursday at Cargill, Mr. Keith Bird caught a fine springer on the fly. It was good to see a fish caught at Stobhall on Tuesday. The Taymount Beat finished with three fish for the week.
On the Stanley beats, Mr. Robert White caught a nice springer on the fly from Horsey on the Pitlochrie Beat on Wednesday.
On Friday, Mr. Arthur Reynolds landed his first ever Tay Springer on the fly from Woodside. Well done and the first of many, I am sure!
Further downstream, Mr. Mateusz Pokora caught a fine springer at Upper Redgorton on Saturday.
It was encouraging to see some nice fish caught from the Tay system last week, including two weighing around the magical thirty pounds mark. Some of these fish created memories of a lifetime for anglers, which is always special. As we move through April, the number of fish entering the Tay system and heading for one of the many tributaries should continue to increase. This is in addition to the fish running the main river. Anglers should therefore stand a decent chance of hooking the ultimate prize in our sport, a hard-fighting spring salmon and there is no better place to do this than on the mighty River Tay.
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 11th April)
(For beats which report on Fishpal only)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Portnacraig Pitlochry 2, East Haugh 1, Dalmarnock 1, Newtyle 2, Murthly 1, 2, Murthly 2, 1, Glendelvine 2, Delvine & Burnbane 2, Meikleour & Upper Islamouth 3, West Grange 2, Islamouth 8, Ballathie 1, Cargill 1, Stobhall 1, Taymount 3, Catholes 1, Pitlochrie 1, Upper Regorton 1
Total: 35 Largest: Meikleour & Upper Islamouth 24lbs
MORE STUNNING SPRING SALMON TO BE LANDED FROM THE TAY SYSTEM IN THE DAYS AHEAD?
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 13th April 2026)
It was nice to finally have a more settled week of weather. There was very little rainfall, especially during the first half of the week, but milder temperatures led to melting snow, resulting in unsettled river levels on some days. Towards the end of the week, the weather became a little more unsettled, but on the whole, for early April, conditions were not too bad. Over the weekend, there were some showers and even some longer spells of rain and it was quite windy. Looking ahead to next week, Monday will see a few showers but Tuesday should be mainly dry. From midweek onwards, there will be showers on most days, with temperatures around average for the time of year.It was nice to see anglers enjoying some good sport on the Tay system last week. Catches were well spread from Loch Tay down to Upper Redgorton on the main river. Loch Tay produced some nice springers, including a couple of fish weighing around the magical thirty pounds mark.
Realistically, there is a decent chance of landing a fresh fish anywhere on the Tay system in the upcoming days. 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 spring period (April-May)
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 April and May water temperatures usually begin to rise on the river. The fish also start to become a bit more active. As river levels start to drop and water temperatures rise often heavy sinking lines and big tube flies are no longer needed. Instead sink tip lines or even floating lines coupled with a sinking polyleader can be more than adequate.
As the Tay is a big river usually a powerful 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 can work well. In higher water an intermediate or full sinking 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 early spring period to use leader material with an adequate breaking strain. Usually a breaking strain between fifteen and eighteen pounds ideal.
In April and May depending on the water height and temperature smaller tube flies of various weights can work well. If the water temperatures are low weighted copper, brass or even tungsten tubes will allow your fly to get well down. Usually by late April and into May depending on the water height dressed flies can also be considered as a good alternative to the tube.
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 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. In April and May, the Floating Devon can also work well. The Vision110 lures have also got a good reputation for producing fish on the river. These lures can be excellent during the spring months. Once the water temperature rises sufficiently the Flying C is also a great lure and one which can produce the goods.
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 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.