Autumn run required on Tay

The very lower part of the River Tay is producing consistent salmon catches with Almondmouth, Waulkmill and Lower Redgorton all catching in the week but in disappointing numbers for the time of year.

The beats further up are not fairing any better but improved slightly as hopes turn to some form of autumn run.

Upper Scone had a better week with 12, which included a 26lb fish from Horsey on the Pitlochry beat.

At Stanley, on the Benchil beat, Alistair Sheach and Billy Hendry both landed good fish on the fly from their boat. Later in the week Simon Furniss had a 15lb fish from Horsey on the fly.

Stobhall and Taymount shared 35 fish between them and further upstream Ballathie and Cargill had 23 while 16 fish came from Cargill with Neil French and Ian Jardine being the top rods, catching fish up to 18lb.

Islamouth finished with 11 and Upper Islamouth and Meikleour accounted for six, with Jen and Josh Goudge from Seattle catching their first salmon.

That feat was also achieved by Jeremy Cahill later in the week.

The middle river continues to be extremely disappointing.

Despite dropping river temperatures and more water, it has not produced good sport.

There have been odd exceptions, though.

Fish came from Kercock, Delvine, Murthly, Glendelvine, Newtyle, Dunkeld House, Dalmarnock, Dalguise and the Kinnaird beats, but in small numbers for the time of year.

The upper river was seeing steady sport with fish recently caught and reported last week at Farleyer.