Islamouth top as Tay season ends

The salmon fishing season on the Tay has now ended.

Islamouth finished with several fish, taking their tally for the year close to 500, making it the river’s most successful beat.

Most were caught on the fly with only odd fish caught spinning in high water.

Luncarty had a couple in the week with Canadian Craig Cook landing a 6lb fish on a Toby. Fishponds had eight with some heavy fish caught up to 18lb.

Upper Scone had a reasonable week with experienced rods doing well, which included seven from Benchil on Monday. Jack Fryer caught a superb 18lb fish on the fly in Horsey on the Pitlochrie beat, Chicken Bob Shaw had a great week with several fish with colleague Gary Blanco Perks. Tim Greenfield and Charles Savage enjoyed success on the fly from Benchil landing fish up to 18lb.

Later in the week Marc Herman caught a 13lb fish on the fly from the same beat.

Burnmouth had three on Monday above Catholes Weir and Robert Galbraith landed a 16-pounder from the tail of the Black Stones.

Taymount had a good last week with around 30 fish, while Ballathie and Cargill had 45 between them with fish up to 22lb. The fly proved successful with Neil French doing well and Ian Jardine landing the beat’s 300th of the season.

The Muir party had fun, including Diana Boreland landing her first salmon.

Upper Islamouth and Meikleour had 18 with nine on a great last day, including a fish at 25lb.

The last day saw Scott Sykes landing three, Matthew Allin caught a 24lb fish and Andrew McCaig caught his first, weighing 19lb. His brother Oliver then landed a 25lb fish.

Sandy Pringle and Jamie Cumming caught fish up to 12lb at Delvine and Burnbane and, up on Newtyle, Steven Cope caught his first on the fly.

At Dunkled House Brian Joseph managed a 16lb fish and Dalguise had a good end with seven. The Kinnaird beats fared better with 20 fish including a 25lb beast on the last day.

There are now more than 6,350 fish through the dam at Pitlochry.

On the Ericht above Blairgowrie, Michael Preedy ventured out for a last cast of the season and managed to catch five grilsesized fish, all on the fly, in the space of four hours.