Dalguise - River Tay

[tyneandrew]

Just wandering if anyone has any fished this beat, seems like quite a good one to try?

[Fruin]

Fished it a few years ago. It has a good mix of water from very deep holes to fast streamy water. It should start fishing better from now on.
There is an island that, in higher water, stops you getting access to the main stream for a stretch towards the middle/bottom of the beat. I thought that the beat would have benefitted from a small bridge over to the island. This may have happened by now(?).

[rennie]

It is a good beat Tyneandrew,fished it under Mike Smiths leadership and really enjoyed it.Best bits for me (where I caught) are the very top pool(Guay Stream) from the right bank good spot for the fly here you can really open up your shoulders best taking spots are the big flat stone midstream about half way down, then again in the tail of the pool.Below the island Fruin mentioned is the Otterstone Pool,cracker this one ,big cast for the fly rod or better still floating devon from the right bank lashed right across to the far bank(Mr Smith caught two Huge fish here in consecutive years from the same lie),better fly water as you get into the tail(only coz you can cover it with a fly rod).If you like to bait fish the pool in front of the hut (if its still there after the floods) is a cracker fishes well to the floating devon too.The beat has good history and is starting to come into form especially if it gets a drop of water. Interesting fact is HRH Charlie boy often fishes Kinnaird above,he was there when I last fished got a cheery wave from a gun toting security person as I fished the Guay Stream.

[kercock]

In the lower water we have right now the fish will certainly stack up in the bridge pool at the hut which doe'nt reall lend itselto the fly,however if you dont mind spinning for a bit you could do well. It is rightly been said that the upper part (upstream of the hut) and the lower has some cracking fly water. No chance of a bridge over to the island Gary,it would disappear in any high water,but last time I was there there was a wee boat..to row across. Too deep to wade

[Peter Terndrup]

Anyone who has experience whit this beat for spring fishing in april?

[madkeen]

Fished in the spring a few times not the most productive of spring beats but it does have some cracking fly water.
Alan

[sinkingtip]

FAO 'Fruin'. Know this beat very well. 30 years experience of fishing it. Re. a 'bridge' onto the Island Kercock is quite right in saying that it would probably get washed away in a flood. Simple fact : it is perfectly easy to wade over the backwater to get on the Island (about 100 yards upstream from the tip of the Island). When higher water prevents wading across the simple fact is that the pool does not fish owing to the weight of the current going through it - the lower the water the better this pool fishes. Summary : if you cant wade across to the Island Pool it aint worth fishing it (a bridge or boat for crossing would make no difference whatsoever !!) In higher water stick to Guay (boundary to big croy), The Boils, Tail of Otterstone (right bank), The Casting Platform (great spring lie), Tail of Bridge Pool (both sides) and Dowally Stream (left bank going down to Calums Corner and the Dowally burn mouth). Stan Pelc the ghillie will keep you right !! In the meantime any Dalguise questions I'm your man !! BTW - the Island Pool (in my opinion) is probably one of the nicest fly pools on the entire Tay system and is long enough to
keep 3 rods (fishing fly) happy for an entire day !! A fly fishers dream

[sinkingtip]

FAO Tyne Andrew. Dalguise is probably (pound for pound) the best value fishing you will find anywhere on the Tay. DON'T assume that expensive prices equate with great fishing !! Under the present Ghillies (Stan Pelc) regime catches have been improving noticeably since his arrival. Extremely well kept beat with five star fishing lodge. Ghillie and access to the boat (dependent on water height) are included in the price !!..........a situation which is becoming less and less common these days as several beats are now starting to charge EXTRA for having a 'burl' in the boat for harling or anything more than a casual "Aye - just go upstream" or "Ower there will dae ye" being passed off as 'advice' or 'guidance' from the ghillie. BTW I am NOT Stan Pelc !!! I have fished with him many times and found him to be EXTREMELY knowledgeable, helpful and fair in his treatment of split parties (or otherwise) regardless of whether they are fishing with Stan for the first time or have done so for many years. There ARE better beats but be prepared to take out a second mortgage !! There are are beats that are 50-75% more expensive than Dalguise but are simply no better (often not as good) than this water. There are cheaper beats.......but probably not worth fishing. Take advice from a man with over 40 years experience of fishing the entire Tay system. You want value for your hard earned dosh ? ..........fish Dalguise - you wont regret it !!

[sinkingtip]

FAO Peter Terndrup : In common with most 'middle' Tay beats April and May are, under normal circumstances, the prime spring months. It is a known fact that the 'spring run' doesn't even enter the river until about middle March so April and May are prime months for these middle beats. As the seasons have changed you can often still catch fresh 'springers' well into June (June is NOT the doldrum month people tend to think it is - assuming that you are willing to be on the water early and late which is positively encouraged by ghillie Stan Pelc (you should, however, allow him a few hours off during the middle part of the day to spend 'quality' time with his bairns and missus otherwise they would never see him from dawn to dusk !!) Book your April fishing at Dalguise now before it all goes Peter - April is an excellent month !!

[Fruin]

Sinkingtip,

I stated that it was a few years ago that I fished this beat and I did throughly enjoy my time on the beat. However, at the time I was advised that there was no access to the Island Pool, so I stated this in my post.

Stan is well known as a top ghillie on the Tay, of that there is no doubt. However, if you have a preference for this beat there is no need to SHOUT SO LOUDLY ABOUT IT!!!

Try to give a realistic representation to people who do not know the water:

"April is an excellent month"

Whatever your views of April are, the returns on Fishtay show an average of about 7 fish for the month on a 6 rod beat. Statistically, that means that if you fished a rod every day on the beat for a whole month you would probably get one fish. Excellent spring beat???

Don't get me wrong, I like Dalguise and it has some excellent fly water, but let's not get over excited about things. Lets us all keep our reporting and assessments realistic. Otherwise, any sound advice on this forum will be masked by too much nonsense.

[sinkingtip]

Take it easy Fruin - just like to 'bold' things for effect - not to shout about it. "April is an excellent month" - yes it is !! - generally on the Tay system !! I never actually stated the Dalguise was an "excellent spring beat" that was your quote !! As stated before I simply said that April was an excellent month !! Sorry if my post gave you the impression I was specifically speaking about Dalguise but the way I see it if the spring fish are running the river then Dalguise is as good a bet as any - assuming you can actually fish !!
As for your insinuation that my posts are "nonsense" and that my reporting is not "realistic" lets remind ourselves that anglers new to this wonderful river need encouragement and not to be told that historically "if you fish a rod on the beat every day for a month you would probably only get one fish" - that really does the river, the beat and the individual angler a great injustice, is mildly insulting and simply puts people off before they have even started. I have just re-read the post which has obviously caused your concern and cannot see anything unrealistic or nonsensical whatsoever.
Finally, IF I WANT TO SHOUT ABOUT ANYTHING THEN SHOUT I SHALL - and I would thank you to allow me that courtesy. Am I not allowed my opinion ?? I am NOT SHOUTING - I am simply emphasizing details in a typographical manner. My sincerest apologies if my use of the 'bold' facility causes you so much angst

[lomond]

Sinkingtip, reading Fruin's reply, it doesn't look like there is a great number of fish caught on this beat during April. Are the Fishtay figures inaccurate ?

Also with your quotes of :

..........'fish Dalguise - you wont regret it !! '
..........'Book your April fishing at Dalguise now before it all goes Peter '

It reads to me you were specifically speaking (and trying to advertise) Dalguise. Do you have any connections with this beat ?

[sinkingtip]

Hi Lomond - I have just found this Forum and, to be honest, if I thought that I would get so much grief for simply stating my opinion then I simply wouldn't have bothered.
I have NO direct connections with this beat other than having fished it off and on for many years (as I have on 75% of Tay beats) and simply stated that, to an angler or anglers new to salmon fishing and the Tay generally, that Dalguise offers good value - whats wrong with that and why should that cause so much concern !!! Geez a break and long live the right to have an opinion

[lomond]

Sinkingtip, thanks for your opinions,they are appreciated. I may well book a day here in April. Please let the Forum know of any other good value for money beats on the Tay(or other rivers). No need for the bold type though.

Cheers Lomond

[sinkingtip]

Tay - Farleyer (Junction of Lyon and Tay) : The beats around Grandtully (upstream of the canoeists - Edradynate (bonnie fly water just below the famous Church Pool) / Derculich and Clochfoldich (narrow streamy water - easily covered with a fly) : Kercock (ghillie Dennis Buchan is a true gem !!) : The beats around Stanley (Benchil / Catholes / Luncarty) - Contact Bob White : Stormont AC water (if you can get a membership).
Tummel : East Haugh beat.
Lyon - Meggernie, Ro-Ro and Chesthill Estate waters (June - August).
Ericht - the waters let by Glenericht Estates : Aberbothrie Fishings - marches at the lower end at Balbrogie - junction of Ericht and Isla (contact Kate Fleming Fishing Tackle Blairgowrie) : Blairgowrie AC waters (contact Crockarts Tackle, Blairgowrie).
South Esk (Angus) - Clova Hotel Water (August -October) Finavon Castle Water : Kirriemuir AC : House of Dun water (NTS).
North Esk : The Burn beat : Arnhall beat (Edzell) : Canterland and Gallery waters.............hows that for starters ? No family, professional, monetary or 'other' connections with any of these
waters whatsoever........just trying to be helpful Be brave - be bold !!

[Fruin]

sinkingtip said:

Be brave - be bold !!

;D ;D ;D

Sinktip, sorry to have caused any offense, I just thought that your post seemed a bit over zealous in favour of Dalguise over other Tay beats.
I also thought that the bold type looked like you were having a dig at me.

Welcome to the forum and I look forward to your future posts, as you obviously have a good knowledge of the Tay.

I do agree that Dalguise is a nice beat.

[sinkingtip]

No worries. Thought maybe for a minute you had been out on Saturday - lost a thumper - and was still 'hating the world and their brother!' ........believe me I have been there !! Now that we've got that sorted lets look forward to some informed, informative and enlightening discussions over the coming months. Like I say, have just found this forum by chance.....thought it was a great and wanted to contribute both with advice and / or opinion where appropriate....thats all !!

[hornet]

Sinking tip,

Welcome to the forum and keep the info coming for us new guy's .

Regards,

Hornet

[macsalmo]

Glad you've all got that sorted

Welcome to the forum Sinkingtip.

Gary

[sinkingtip]

;D You bet !! Its like the 'atmospheric pressure' has lifted on a balmy July night !!.....anybody fancy staying late to have a crack at the sea - troot's ?? ;D
BTW - I am a devotee of nightime S/T fishing on, mainly, the South Esk (Angus) and have started a South Esk thread on the main page for anyone into covert Seatrout fishing (legitamate!)......"pit that torch oot and bide aff the skyline laddie". Regards to all.