(River Tay weekly report week ending 11th October 2025)
With only three days of the salmon fishing season remaining on the Tay system, last week was the final full week of the season. Water levels gradually dropped throughout the week after the big flood the previous weekend. On Monday, the river was much clearer compared to the weekend and was in good order. In terms of the weather, thankfully, it was much more settled. There was the odd shower at the beginning of the week but from midweek onwards, high pressure influenced our weather. This led to a lot of dry settled weather. In terms of the fishing, it was twenty pounders galore during the final full week of the season on the Tay system. It was great to see so many larger fish caught and hopefully this trend will continue until the season draws to a close on Wednesday.
On the upper river, there were fish caught from the Edradynate, Lower Farleyer, Lower Bolfracks and Upper Kinnaird beats last week. On the middle river, there were fish caught on the Lower Kinnaird, Dalguise and Dalmarnock beats, which was good to see.
At Dunkeld, a nice fish was caught from the Ivy Tree Pool on Monday. The fish was caught on the fly. There was another fish caught at Dunkeld on Saturday. There was success at Newtyle on Wednesday.
The Murthly beats produced some nice fish last week and finished with a combined total of thirteen fish for the week. This included a magnificent twenty three pounder caught from the Murthly 2 Beat on Friday.
On Monday, Mr Bryan McLean enjoyed success when he caught a good fish from the Stone Seat at Glendelvine. On Friday, Mr Sandy Datta managed a fish on the fly from the tail of the Garth at Glendelvine. It was good to see a fish caught at Delvine on Friday, with a couple more landed from the beat on Saturday.
The Kercock Beat has produced some fine fish recently; last week was no different. A fish was caught from the beat on Monday with three more landed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, there was a twenty three pounder caught at Kercock by regular angler Mr Pete Creswick on the fly.
Ms Amanda Cox landed her first ever fish on the fly. Other successful anglers at Kercock last week included Mr Darren Kaye, Mr Ernie Donnell and Mr Richard Witt, amongst others.
Anglers at Meikleour finished with thirteen fish for the week which included a magnificent twenty three pounder caught on Tuesday.
Mr Iain Farnell and Mr Philip Taylor caught fish at Islamouth on Monday. On Tuesday, Mr Roger Gledhill landed a hard fighting fish from the Greenbank, as did Mr Phil Taylor.
Mr Graham Preston also enjoyed success when he caught a fish in Donnits. Mr Nigel Woolley caught a nice fish from the Ashtree on Wednesday.
During the second half of the week at Islamouth, successful anglers included Mr Brian Archer and Mr Nick Sharp, amongst others.
It was a good start to the week at Cargill with a total of ten fish landed for the first couple of days and a further five on Wednesday including a twenty five pounder.
Cargill finished with twenty fish for the week. Successful anglers at Cargill last week included Mr Gavin Mason, amongst others.
At Ballathie, there were a couple of fish caught on Monday, with four more fish caught from the beat on Wednesday. There were more fish caught from the beat during the second half of the week. The Stobhall and Taymount beats finished the week with fourteen and nine fish, respectively.
There was success at Burnmouth on Thursday. The Upper Scone Beat finished with nine fish for the week.
On the Stanley beats, it was good to see a fish caught at Catholes on Tuesday. On Thursday, Mr Ollie Hall enjoyed some good sport, landing some nice fish from the Horsey Pool at Piltochrie.
There was success at Benchil on Wednesday and Friday. Mr Larry Laeven also caught a nice fish on the Stanley beats last week.
Four fish were caught at Luncarty on Tuesday and Thursday, with a couple more landed from the beat on Saturday.
It was a happy Monday at Fishponds for Mr Willie Cumming’s who landed four fish from the beat. The decent sport continued at Fishponds as the week progressed. On Thursday, Mr Kenny Carr landed a magnificent twenty six pounder. Last week, other successful anglers at Fishponds included Mr Nick Jenkins, Mr Hammish Ferguson, Mr Alistair Jack, Mr Mike Elgie and Mr Alex Davies. There were a couple of fish landed at Upper Redgorton on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The Waulkmill Beat finished with twenty fish for the week.
On the River Earn, some nice fish were caught by anglers fishing the Crieff Angling Club Water. There were nine fish caught from the beat on Monday and a further four on Tuesday. On Monday, there was a magnificent twenty four pounder caught from the beat, which was great to see.
With only three days of the Tay salmon fishing season remaining, there is still time to land that last big Tay salmon of 2025, so why not have a cast? Who knows, there might be a Tay salmon with your name on it!
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 October 2025)
SALMON & GRILSE:
Rhiedorrach Estate 3, Lochlane and Laggan 4, Crieff Angling Club 17, Upper Farleyer 1, Lower Farleyer 5, Lower Bolfracks 2, Edradynate 2, Upper Kinnaird 1, Lower Kinnaird 3, Dalguise 3, Dalmarnock 1, Newtyle 1, Murthly 1, 7 Murthly 2, 6, Glendelvine 2, Delvine & Burnbane 3, Kercock 14, Meikleour and Upper Islamouth 13, Islamouth 15, Ballathie 10, Cargill 20, Stobhall 14, Taymount 9, Burnmouth 1, Upper Scone 9, Pitlochrie 2, Catholes 1, Benchil 2, Upper Redgorton 7, Fishponds 16, Luncarty 10, Waulkmill 16.
Total: 226 Largest: Fishponds 26lbs
STILL TIME REMAINING TO CATCH THAT LAST TAY SALMON OF 2025!
(River Tay salmon fishing prospects week commencing 13th October 2025)
Three days are remaining of the 2025 Tay salmon fishing season, so there is still time for that final cast on the river. After the heavy rain of last weekend and the subsequent flood, the river gradually dropped throughout the course of last week. The weather was reasonably settled apart from a few widespread showers. It has been mainly dry over the weekend across the region with high pressure firmly in charge. Looking ahead to next week, the settled weather is set to continue. It will be mainly dry with temperatures in the mid-teens and light winds.
The fish caught last week were mostly a mixture of hard fighting grilse and larger salmon. The vast majority of the fish landed were older fish but there were numerous fish caught weighing over the magical twenty pounds mark. Salmon were caught from the Edradynate down to Waulkmill, with the majority of fish caught on the middle and lower river. There were also some nice fish caught from the River Earn last week.
The best chance of success during the final three days of the season is likely to be on beats situated on the middle and lower river. As always, a good variety of salmon fishing is available on the Tay system in the next few days. So why not have that final Tay foray of 2025?
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