River Tay Spring Fishing

By Jock Monteith 18th December 2017

The mighty River Tay is Scotland's longest a deepest salmon river and thousands of salmon fishing visitors come to its famous salmon beats each season. While salmon can be caught on the Tay anywhere from mid January to mid October the main focus for many is from mid March to mid June when the Spring salmon run is in full swing.

The River Tay Spring Salmon Fight

There's nothing that compares to the physical beauty and sheer power of a cold water Spring salmon battle on a fly rod. If you've a dodgy ticker best you stick with the trout fishing as our Tay Springers will work your adrenalin gland to its limits. This wee fishy was taken during the beautiful month of May on the Tay's Upper Kinnaird salmon beat which is positioned right beside the River Tummel confluence.

River Tummel Area Salmon Beats

The River Tummel is a fantastic Spring salmon fishery of the River Tay system and any salmon beats in the Tummel area of the valley or downstream of them are a sensible & tactical choice. The Lower Kinnard salmon beat & the Dunkeld House salmon beat are another 2 prime & well known Spring salmon holding venues that are also well worth a cast.

River Tummel Salmon Fishing

On the River Tummel itself the Lower Tummel salmon beat near Moulinearn is worth a go too if you can get on as usually most of the Spring fishing is a sell out to long standing salmon fishers who return annually to this beat's beautiful fly pools. Sometimes a week or some days shake free and I was fortunate to secure 3 days for 4 rods for one of my clients last week. The 19th, 20th & 21st of April are currently up for grabs at £60 per day for 4 rods however this needs to be booked as one let.

A Spring Salmon Experience

Whether you're an existing River Tay salmon fisher or brand new to the sport a Spring salmon or two from the Tay or its tributaries will start your 2018 salmon fishing exploits off on the most positive note of all. To my mind there's nothing to beat the often subtle initial dunt from a Springer as it takes your fly before the fireworks begin and the scream of your reel is heard in the next valley!