Spring Salmon Fishing

A fine 20lb spring salmon taken in March from the Point Beat of the upper River Tay by Mr. Charles Forbes. The fish fell to a 1 1/2" Munro Killer tube on a sunk line. The fish was returned unharmed having been measured at 38". Using the nomograph this can be converted to a weight of 20lb On the bank we thought it was bigger. Tay fish can be deep and broad. So we may have underestimated it a bit, but what the heck... its still a fish of a lifetime! Note the scar and scale mark on the tummy.... probably from a seal.

Every cloud has a silver lining and the FMD crisis may well have helped the runs of spring salmon. While many of the beats below Dunkeld stayed open, those further upstream all closed, giving this years early run some further respite. By the end of March the brood stock holding tanks were virtually full. Only very large fish are now required.

Many more beats are now opening up. As Nick Mitchell from the Pitlochry tackle shop explained " there have been good runs of spring fish this year, but nobody about to catch them except for a few lucky locals!".