St Andrews

[salarex]

Forgive me if I post this in the wrong area!

I have been reading with dismay some of the threads relating to prospects and runs for the season. My 15 year old son had his first sea trout last year, and did well at Troutmasters. He is keen to take his first salmon this year, and as my wife is working in St Andrews for the first two weeks of August, we intended to stay with her and fish the Tay. The Tay website was optimistic and it looked as if we could get a beat for a reasonable price. Now after reading those threads I am very glad I havent booked anything yet!

I was tempted by the Deveron, but that is a three hour drive! Could anyone kindly advise of reasonably priced fishing near enough to St ANdrews to make it worthwhile and to give an enthusiastic youngster a chance of a fish?

I also noted the comment of people saying there was a dearth of youngsters fishing - not surprising given the costs and the lack of fish. But I would like my son to learn to love salmon and sea trout fishing as much as I, and would like him to learn the Spey cast with a reasonable chance of connecting with the real thing.

Thanks in advance!

[castlikeaghille]

graham said:

I would opt for the Tay. You wont have to travel far and it will still produce fish if other rivers are drought stricken because of the size of the river the fish can still run easily in very low water. I can recommend Kercock, I fished it last season in August while my local rivers were at a standstill and picked up a fish for my day. Dennis the gillie on Kercock posts on the forum regularly and will keep you right on the day.

This is sound advice. Over the last few years the Tay grilse run has been arriving later and later and the first ten days of August is now prime time.

The gloom on this board relates to the collapse of the Tay spring run this year. As salmon fuishers we should be optimistic about the future. There's no reason to believe yet the grilse run won't happen as the grilse and spring runs have different migratory patterns.

Looking at what is available on Fish Tay, you are much better paying for the middle Tay over the Upper if you can. Assuming that to be so, Newtyle offers the most fly water, Dunkeld House the most chance of a fish (but probably on worm or spinner) and Kercock the best balance of both worlds.

The above offers classic big river fishing, with a sporting chance of a fish. Alternatively, if catching that first salmon is more of a priority than anything else then Coupar Grange on the Isla (tributary of the Tay) gives you your best chance of all by quite some margin, albeit a different type of fishing experience.

The grilse are prolific albeit generally smaller than those in the main river. The beat actually thrives on low summer levels. It also has the advantage of being a small river most of which can be comfortably covered with a reservoir rod. Just like all the other beats mentioned (albeit Newtyle is the most fly orientated) you can spin it and use worm at the discretion of the gillie...ah yes, the gillie at Coupar Grange

Regards and good luck

CLaG

[sinkingtip]

Dalguise (upstream of Dunkeld) also offers some nice fly water and is reasonably priced. I see that the Fishtay website still shows some availability during the period in question. Ditto Kercock and Newtyle.

[salarex]

That's really terrific advice - thank you all very much. I am used to fishing the Welsh rivers and some smaller Scottish rivers, so the Isla sounds a good start, though it would be nice to fish both!

The availability is a little limited, and Coupar Grange appears ro require a minimum of 3 days for 2 rods - I have no idea what NOLB means! On the premise it is next door, I am very tempted by Islabank which appears to be reasonably priced with a day on Kercock and another possibly on Newtyle or Dalguise.

Is it possible to fish at night for sea trout on these beats?

Best wishes and tight lines

[duncanm]

NOLB = No Online Booking - you have to call the contact given

[rennie]

Salarex,dont bother with Isla Bank,you wont enjoy it at all and above all its not worth it,classic beat it aint.As far as Sea Trout go again dont bother,very few run the Isla and those that do run the Tay will be well past their best by then,thats if you can find one.Your best shot at that time of year is to be up and about at first light,fish small flies unless there is a good water height running.If you want to fish the fly properly try the Tay beats Coupar Grange is not the best beat to fish the fly(but its still productive),if you get water try the Ericht at Blairgowerie(thats where any fish in Coupar Grange run through with a lift in water), club water buy a ticket on the day from any of the two side by side tackle shops in Blair. cheap too.If the Tay is suffering from low water go for the Town water in Perth,day ticket,council run but tidal(very),fish will stack up here in very low water at that time of year.Tight lines, Pedro.

[Sloggi]

salarex said:

On the premise it is next door, I am very tempted by Islabank which appears to be reasonably priced with a day on Kercock and another possibly on Newtyle or Dalguise.

Is it possible to fish at night for sea trout on these beats?

As rennie intimates, Islabank is probably not a good option especially in the summer when the water may be pretty low. Personally, at that time of the year the safest bet in terms of coming face-to-face with a fish is the Tay - you should see a grilse or two around that time with every chance of success. Again rennie is correct with the early start info. I'd also come back in the evening looking for sea-trout/grilse with a big lure on an intermediate line.

Good luck

[salarex]

Great information, very much appreciated. Will see if we can get a day on CG, perhaps another on Kercock so that my boy gets some words of wisdom from a ghillie (he's never seen one of those!) and then follow Pedro's advice - no worries on the early start or the small fly - I've managed two trips over the last two years and had on from the Don on a 14 and one from the Tweed on a 12! Will also try the lure in the evening.

Thanks again.

[zeolite]

You could add the Earn into your itinery if you want a sea-trout. Kinkell Bridge gets a few and Sandy the gillie is a lovely man.
Incidentally the River Eden that flows into the sea just NW of St Andrews is a salmon river although not a prolific one. The fishing is very dependant on the available water.

[louper]

Another possible is the Kirrie Angling Club waters on the South Esk, especially for under 16s, at £10 for the season it would be worth joining in case conditions are good. Seatrout are usually happy to play at that time and you would have a good chance of a salmon if there is water.

Contacts are on the FishEsks Site

Louper

[doublehooked]

No1 choice would be Coupar Grange, fish are always in the beat and the Ghillie will do his best to get your lad a fish.