Salmon fishing on the River Tay ranks as an unmissable experience in Scotland. Furthermore, if you’re serious about catching an Atlantic salmon, then the River Tay offers realistic prospects.

When is the salmon fishing season on the Tay?

The River Tay season starts on 15th January and ends on the 15th October. However the tributary of the Tay, the River Earn, continues to the 31st October. Therefore allowing you to expend your season on the Tay by two weeks.

In fact, the Earn, is one of the most scenic rivers in Perthshire, and in Autumn, the forests are awash with colour.

Whilst the salmon season on the Tay starts in January, the river starts to offer the best chance of a fish from March onwards.

Furthermore, some of the bigger spring fish, or “springers” are caught in late March, like this one shown below.

The best tactics for fishing the River Tay

Firstly, it’s vital to use the right tackle. A 14ft or 15ft rod is ideal and a 10 weight is perfect. Alternatively, if spinning, a 10ft or 11ft rod with a 4000/5000 spinning reel is a good choice.

Secondly, fly choice is subjective. It’s always best to listen to the ghillies and the guides. Thirdly, you need to understand the correct depth to fish at. This is determined by air and water temperature, pressure and river levels. To enable you to adapt to conditions, you need to carry a set of poly leaders with varying sink depth rates.

Finally, it pays to fish each pool methodically and with careful thought and discipline. Start at the head of a pool and fish downstream, taking a step or two between casts. think carefully on how to present the flies/ spinners. Lastly, you should fish with confidence, focus and stay relaxed. Adopting the correct mindset is vital when fishing for salmon. They are elusive fish, and you face a formidable challenge.

How much are salmon fishing permits on the River Tay?

Naturally salmon permits vary greatly, on each beat and on a week to week basis. Prices are determined by the beat owner, and are set according to likelihood of catching (based on historic catch rates) and also supply and demand.

In fact, it’s like buying a ticket to the Wimbledon tennis tournament, different seats offering different views, and prices varying greatly. The outer courts on day one, are not the same price as Centre Court tickets on Mens final day.

Permit prices tend to peak in October. This is when greater numbers of fish enter the river, and if conditions are right, the catch rates are historically high.

How far is the River Tay from Edinburgh?

It will take you approx 1 hour drive north from Edinburgh to reach the middle beats of the River Tay. Furthermore, it is a straight and easy drive on the M90 for most of the journey. Interestingly, en-route, you will pass the historic Loch Leven. In 1882 Loch Leven starting operating a hatchery, and the Loch Leven strain of brown trout has been transported to many regions of the world: Argentina, the Indian subcontinent, the Falkland Islands, Australia and New Zealand.

In North America it now lives alongside the German Brown strain and rainbow and cutthroat trout. The Rio Grande sea trout probably originated as Loch Leven trout that migrated to the sea in search of food.

Meanwhile, for guests looking to travel to Inverness and Highland, Dunkeld is en-route and a perfect stop off point. Redwood wines is one of the best spots to enjoy lunch, dinner and a glass of wine, anywhere in Scotland. Dunkeld Cathedral is unmissable. Furthermore, the waterfall walks to the Hermitage, amidst some of the tallest tress in the UK is spectacular.

Where is the best accommodation for fishing the River Tay?

To begin with, Dunkeld does not have any high quality accommodation options. Dunkeld House is a Hilton hotel, the location is spectacular but service is hit and miss. The rooms facing the river are good, and the food is average. It’s a long walk to the village from the hotel, or a drive.

It’s worth traveling 10 minutes North to the excellent Knockendarroch Hotel. The service is first class, it’s bang in the centre of Pitlochry and close to the middle Tay river beats. Knockendarroch rooms are charming, the beds comfortable, and showers are hot. Furthermore it’s quiet. Therefore unlike other hotels, you won’t be kept awake by wedding parties.

What is the difference between a ghillie and guide?

To begin with you should understand, a ghillie and a guide are very different. A ghillie looks after one or more specific beats on a river and therefore knows it inside out. He is responsible for organising which pools are fished in rotation by which guests. Furthermore, he is a caretaker of the beat and looks after the upkeep, maintenance of the bankside and hut. The ghillie should have a real understanding of the water he looks after. For example, where the fish lie at differing river levels, what flies work best and what sink rate polyleader works on each pool.

Ghillies tend not to spend a lot of time with guests. Once the guests are set up and understand where to fish, they are left to it. Unless of course, they hook a fish. Because at that point, the ghillie will help by netting the fish. Sporadically the ghillies do the rounds and check everyone and adjust tactics, but if guests are with guides, they tend to leave them to it.

What does a fishing guide do?

A guide operates on various river beats throughout Scotland. Therefore he has knowledge of different beats and works with the ghillies. A guide generally stays with the guest all day, so can offer casting tips and tuition and advice on fly changes and poly leader choice(working with the ghillie). Often a guide will collect the guest from the hotel, provide equipment and waders and ensure safety protocol is adhered to.

In summary, guides will keep a closer eye on guests to ensure the safety guidelines of the ghillie and the beat are adhered to. For example, often guests will take off sunglasses and perch them on their hats, leaving their eyes open to an accident with a hook in the eye. On many occasions, guests remove life vests to go for a pee and choose not to put them back on again. Finally the worse one, take your eye off a guest and they will start to wade too deep. Guides can help ghillies by keeping a closer eye on these potential disaster points.

Can I catch and kill salmon on the Tay?

In short, if you’re planning a salmon fishing trip with Alba we don’t allow killing of salmon for the table. We practice sustainable catch and release and all fish are handled carefully and returned to the river to continue their remarkable spawning journey.

Some ghillies or guides will permit the killing of a small cock fish outwith spring time. However, in general, you will encounter a universal catch and release culture when fishing for salmon on the River Tay.

Can I fish a drift boat on the River Tay?

Firstly, drift boat fishing US style is not practised in Scotland. This is because all the beats are under different ownership, and therefore each beat requires a different permit from the land owner.

However, Harling from a boat is common practice. This involves trailing multiple rods and lures/ flies from the back of the boat. Usually 4, and manoeuvring the boat over different lies. Typically the boat man moves downstream a boat length at a time.

Should I tip a salmon fishing guide or ghillie? Is it the custom?

Firstly, it is normal practice to tip your guide at the end of a fishing day in Scotland. Tips vary greatly however 10% is usual.

In addition, Alba factor in a tip for the resident Ghillie, this is on a per rod basis, we take care of that. However if the guest chooses to tip the ghillie as well, again this is fine.

All tips and gratuities are appreciated whether received or not, it’s just important that guests enjoy their day.

When is the best time of year to catch a salmon on the River Tay

Salmon can be caught all year round on the River Tay from January onwards to October. Spring fishing in March April and May allows anglers to target bright clean, silver springers. These fish are less in numbers, but arguably the most sought after prize. In the summer months, the mature salmon runs are bolstered by the arrival of the grilse run. These are smaller salmon that have spent one year at sea and average 4-8lb in weight.

As the season progresses towards late summer and Autumn, numbers of fish increase. Autumn fish tend to be more coloured. Occasionally you will encounter fresh run autumn fish, more silver in colour. Generally though, a lot of Autumn fish have been in the system for a while and as a result, colour up for spawning and camouflage.

How long is a day? when fishing for salmon. Can you fish half days?

In summary, we are flexible with timings. All associated costs for a day salmon fishing are charged on a day rate. For example, permits and guides and tips to ghillies are all “by the day”. Therefore there is no difference in cost between a half day and a full day. Lastly we are happy to accommodate any timing requests, just let us know and we’ll try to accommodate.

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