Tay

[tyneandrew]

Looking at the season so far page for August, there were basically 2,000 fish caught last season. There is going to be some serious work to do to match that this season.

The thing i don't remember last season though were weeks averaging 500 fish in August?

Ant thoughts?

[madkeen]

Been out 3 times on the Tay this week and and it doesn't look like we will be getting any 500 fish weeks for a while only seen 1 fish .

[castlikeaghille]

Just in response to the earlier point on 2006 August catches:

Coupar Grange - 163
Dunkeld House - 100
Almondmouth - 182
Murthly 2 - 97
Islamouth - 94 (3 days per week)
Isalmouth (Meikleour) - 79
Cargill - 113
Ballathie (not published) but will be there or there abouts with Cargill

So that gives you a 1000 from some of the top summer beats. I'm sure if I went through the exercise of totting up the totals of all the other Tay, Isla and Ericht Beats another thousand would be about right. What these stats don't tell you was how many were not worth catching skinny grilse of 12oz - 2 1/2lbs - a lot I'd guess from my experiences on three of the above last August.

As for this year all I can say is think long term and back initiatives like Jocks and let's take action to try and bring back the Tay to being a great salmon river again.

Regards

CLaG

[kercock]

One factor which plays a huge part in the puzzle, is the water height. The river is/was running at around two feet lower last season around this time,in fact two and a half feet at yesterdays level on our beat. today 11.00AM it was three and a half ,rising rapidly
High water suits very few beats on the Tay and the fluctuating levels of this year suit none. There does seem to be less fish around but with the higher water levels it is difficult to say with real accuracy the only guide being the fishcounter at Pitlochry is the only counter the fish can bypass in high water and the counter there is most certainly down on last year
Our catches are definately down and based on this past week the wee skinny ones are in the river again

[donnieW]

I'm certainly starting to wonder about the accuracy of the counter at Pitlochry. It would appear that decent numbers of fish are arriving at Portnacraig then vanishing almost without trace. 20 - 30 a day are being counted but, judging by the numbers showing below, the count should be higher.

[jones]

Dennis - heard a rumour that even when some old duffer gets his nice 11lb sea licer on the bank (first of the season) he puts it back 4 hrs later!! Think he must be "slipping" in his dotage - about time he went round the world.

The Tay looks like it is picking up this week, but like everyone else I'm praying for a period of settled conditions.

[tyneandrew]

jones said:

Dennis - heard a rumour that even when some old duffer gets his nice 11lb sea licer on the bank (first of the season) he puts it back 4 hrs later!! Think he must be "slipping" in his dotage - about time he went round the world.

The Tay looks like it is picking up this week, but like everyone else I'm praying for a period of settled conditions.

Have you seen the forecast this week

[jones]

Yes - when will the rain stop?!!??!!