One of my salmon fishing ambitions was to catch a ‘Springer’ from the mighty River Tay. Therefore, I booked a River Tay salmon fishing holiday to try and tick this off my bucket list.
Previously, the closest I came to fishing the River Tay was a day on the River Tummel, one of its main tributaries, during a summer family holiday north of Pitlochry, several years ago. However, on that occasion, the conditions were not good for salmon fishing and I blanked.
After some research, I booked Jock Scott cottage on the Kinnaird Estate, a few miles north of Dunkeld, as the base for the River Tay salmon fishing holiday.
The cottage was lovely and much larger than expected. It is set in the large estate grounds, which meant there was plenty of outside space for my partner and Pearl to explore. After getting everything unpacked and my fishing gear sorted, it was time for an early bed so that I could make the most of the first days fishing on the Lower Kinnaird beat.
Based on beat availability I decided to fish three River Tay beats, namely: Lower Kinnaird, Dunkeld House, and Kercock.
River Tay Salmon fishing: Day 1 on Lower Kinnaird beat
After a hearty fried breakfast, I set off to meet the gillie, Martin Edgar, at the beat lodge.
It was a cold (5°C), cloudless start to the day but it was forecast to warm-up in the bright sunshine as the day progressed.
After a warm welcome, Martin explained that there were six anglers fishing the beat.
I was to fish the lower pools in the morning and then after lunch fish the Junction Pool with the River Tummel.
I expressed concern that things were going to be difficult with the fly in the bright sunshine but Martin was optimistic because he believed the sun would warm things up and bring the fish off the bottom.
Martin’s recommendation for the day was to fish a medium sized tube fly on fast sink-tip line and slowly work down through the fast runs into body of the pools. He helped me set up two rods: one with a Cascade on a 1” copper tube and the other with a black and yellow 1” copper tube.
Fir Trees Pool – Lower Kinnaird beat
At the Fir Trees Pool Martin explained where the salmon lies are and how best to fish this pool.
As instructed I started fishing this fast run with the rod loaded with the floating line tipped with a 15ft fast sink-tip and a Cascade 1″ copper tube.
This set-up proved problematic because the fly kept snagging on the bottom.
Eventually, I switched to another rod loaded with the intermediate line tipped with a medium sink tip and the black and yellow copper tube (1”), which stopped the fly snagging on the riverbed.
I thoroughly fished the pool but didn’t have any takes or see any fish moving. As I reached the end of the pool Martin returned to see how I was getting on and to show me how to fish the next pool.
Guay Pool – Lower Kinnaird beat
On seeing the pool for the first time my impression was that this was a great pool, which should be holding at least one salmon.
Martin explained how to fish this pool and where salmon often lie. As instructed, I started at the head of the pool with a black and yellow copper tube and slowly fished my way through the neck.
After no fishy interest, I changed the fly to a gold conehead black Sneadla and continued fishing into the body of the pool.
About a third the way down the walled bank I felt a pluck on the line, which I thought was probably a trout. However, a couple of casts later the line was pulled out of my hand and on lifting the rod it doubled into my FIRST…
Tay Salmon that took off downriver with the reel SCREAMING
On my own, it wasn’t going to be easy to land the salmon on this bank. After about 10 minutes the salmon, I guided it into the slacker water by the bank and when it turned on its side…
I netted my first Tay Springer
It was a beautiful bar of silver.
After allowing it to fully recover from its fight, it was released to continue its migration.
After a short rest, I resumed fishing the remainder of the pool. I had another short pull on the line a little further down but didn’t connect with anything.
Up to lunchtime, I fished the pool again but with no additional luck.
At the lodge shared my good fortune with the other anglers. No one else had caught any salmon but a few salmon had been seen in the pools I was going to fish in the afternoon session.
Junction Pool – Lower Kinnaird beat
After lunch Martin took me upriver to the Junction Pool; where the River Tummel flows into the Tay.
Martin explained where I should concentrate my efforts and mentioned that a couple of fish were seen there earlier in the day.
I walked up to where Tay and Tummel meet and fished the pool with the Black Snealda on a sink-tip set-up but didn’t get any offers.
After changing the fly to a Cascade, I fished the pool again but all to no avail.
Plantation Pool – Lower Kinnaird beat
At 4 pm Martin returned to see how I was getting on. He suggested moving downriver to fish the Plantation Pool for the last hour. I fished down through this run with the Black Snaelda but again my efforts were not rewarded.
After this, it was time to call it a day and returned back to the Lodge for a catch up with the other anglers to see if anyone had been successful.
One of the guys who had fished the Guay Pool from the right bank had managed to land a good springer (14lbs) – so it seems that there were more fish down there to catch.
After thanking Martin for his hospitality and excellent advice, I headed back to the cottage with a big smile on my face after catching my first Tay Springer.
I hoped days 2 & 3 were going to be as good?
River Tay Salmon fishing: Day 2 at Dunkeld House
After resting the rods and more importantly my arms for a day, my second day on the River Tay was on the Dunkeld House beat.
Weather-wise it was forecasted to be sunny and blustery day with a northerly chill in the wind.
I met the gillie, Simon Furniss, at the beat lodge to discuss the plan for the day. After a warm welcome, Simon explained that I would be fishing with 2 other anglers were fishing the beat.
Up to lunch time, I was to fish the run on the far side of island below Calligan’s Croy and then through the Lady Pool down into Cutty Stone.
Following instruction from Simon I waded across the river to the top of the island, just below Calligan’s Croy.
Simon explained that at the current river height the salmon have no choice but to run through this narrow section where they can be caught resting behind some of the large boulders. I started fishing with a floating line, which was tipped with a 15ft sink-tip sporting a German Snaedla 1” copper tube fly.
Slowly, I fished down through the run to the “V” where the water from the other side of the island meets. At this point, I felt a short pull on the line but then nothing. I fished on for a while but didn’t get any other interest.
Next, I fished from the Lady Pool down past Cutty Stone for the remainder of the morning but unfortunately I didn’t produce anything.
After this, I retreated to the lodge for lunch and to see how my fellow anglers had faired.
Simon, who had been fishing the top of the Upper beat from the bank had also drawn a blank.
While the other angler, who had fished the Cathedral Stream from the boat, had landed two salmon: one on the fly and the other on the spinner.
For the afternoon session, Simon took me down to show me how to fish Gauge Tree Pool.
The cross-wind had picked up and made casting the fly a challenge. Nevertheless, I worked down through this pool with the fly.
At the halfway point, a salmon jumped mid-river, which raised my spirits a little. I worked through the pool a couple more times with different flies but to no avail.
Next, I drove-up river to the fish through the Rock Pool and Croy Stream for the last hour of the day. This is another lovely section of the river but my efforts were not rewarded with any fish or offers to the fly.
I returned to the lodge for a catch up with the other anglers but no other fish were caught in the afternoon session.
After thanking Simon for his hospitality and advice I headed back to the cottage to get changed and take my partner out for dinner.
No silver today; hopefully day 3 on the Kercock beat will offer more success?
River Tay Salmon fishing: Day 3 at Kercock Beat
My third, and final day, on the River Tay salmon fishing, was on the Kercock beat.
Weather-wise it was forecast to be another sunny day but with a strong wind gusting to 40mph in the afternoon, which was going to make casting a fly very interesting!
I met the gillie, Gary Harkin, at the beat lodge to discuss the plan for the day. After a warm welcome, Gary explained that there were six of us fishing the beat, and up until lunchtime I was assigned to fish the Cottage Pool, Garden Stream, Cottage Stream, and Croys Pool.
Morning session
At the Cottage Pool, Gary explained how to fish the pool and where the fish usually lie at this river height.
His recommendation for the day was to fish a medium-sized tube fly (Cascade) on a floating line tipped with a 15ft medium sink-tip. I fished all the pool thoroughly but didn’t get any offers.
Next, I walked upriver to fish the Garden Stream and then the Cottage Stream.
I fished meticulously through the runs, changing my fly a couple of times but didn’t get any interest.
After this Gary returned to show me the Croys Pool and explain where the lies were. The wind had picked up significantly, making casting quite challenging but I persevered at fishing the pool.
Opposite one of the lies my line tightened quickly and for a split-second, I thought a fish was on but this turned out to be fly getting stuck on the boulder. I continued down through the pool until lunchtime with no luck.
I returned to the lodge for lunch and see if any of the other anglers had been successful.
Like me, everyone else had struggled during the morning and drawn a blank. During lunch, the wind strengthened further and was gusting to about 40 mph.
Afternoon session
Gary decided to take me over to the left bank to fish Gean Tree Pool and Dugeon Pool because it would be easier fishing in the strong wind.
I began by fishing through Gean Tree Pool with the same line set-up from the morning session but had changed the fly to a German Snaelda.
In the shelter of the gravel bank, it was much easier to cast a decent line. However, I fished through the pool without any offers.
Next I walked upriver to the head of the Dungeon Pool and fished through with the same set-up but yield anything.
This pool is very deep so I decided to switch to a full sinking line tipped with a size 12 Cascade double and fished the pool again but without any luck. However, I did see one salmon jump close to the far bank but it wasn’t interested in my offerings.
Back at the lodge, I was met by a bunch of very tired anglers who were ready to go home after a hard day fishing with nothing to show for but…
wind-swept hair!!
The challenge of salmon fishing is getting through those frequent blank days, which was helped by fishing on a beautiful river like the River Tay.
Tight lines till next time, when I will be back on the Welsh Dee at Llangollen.
Andrew