River Tay

Description of the River Tay

The River Tay is said to start 100m above the bridge at Kenmore as it flows out of Loch Tay in the Highlands of Scotland. It is famous for its salmon fishing, especially spring salmon and holds the UK record. It is the largest river in the UK if measured by flow which is more than the Thames and Severn combined.

Loch Tay

The true headwaters of the catchment start less than 10 miles from the west coast and flow eastwards to enter the North Sea through the Firth of Tay by Dundee. Two major rivers the Dochart and the Lochay flow into Loch Tay. This is a huge body of water over 14 miles long which acts to regulate flows somewhat. The River Tay proper is said to start at the bridge at Kenmore where the river exits the Loch so at birth the Tay is already a sizeable water course and is already 40m wide. Two miles downstream the Tay is joined by the River Lyon. From here down it is approximately 50m wide.

River Tummel from Pitlochry Dam

The River Tummel itself a large water rising on Rannoch moor and with watercourses through Loch Laidon, Loch Ericht, Loch Rannoch, Loch Tummel and Loch Faskally with its own tributaries of the Garry, Erochty and Tilt, joins the Tay at Ballinluig by the A9. Much of the river is visible from this major road north. From here on down it must be classed as a large river and is about 80m wide. At Dunkeld it is joined by the Braan.

River Tay at Dunkeld

Below Dunkeld at Meiklour the Tay is joined by the Isla system with its tributaries of the Ericht, Ardle and Blackwater. This system is particularly productive especially of summer fish. The River Almond flows in just below Stanley. Some of the most famous beats are to be found on this section. From Perth the Tay becomes tidal and is joined by the last major tributary – the Earn before reaching the Firth and eventually the sea at Dundee.

River Earn

Salmon can be caught almost anywhere in the system except above impassable falls and are present throughout the season. The lower beats are the most productive, difficult to get on and expensive, but your chances are that much better.

Jock’s Tips and Advice on the River Tay

In the early colder Spring months of the year salmon enter the River Tay and most of these early salmon are heading for the sanctuary of Loch Tay given the permissible & expected high Spring water levels.The later runs of Spring salmon show up in the Tay from late February onwards when the water temperatures increase a few degrees to the end of June where fresh run salmon can be caught throughout the system and even as far up the river as Loch Tayand beyond. The later run of spring salmon run appears in March, April & May and are predominantly heading for the River Tummel therefor anywhere in the immediate area downstream from the River Tummel/Tay confluence is well worth a visit. In the summer months salmon fishing on the Tay offers good sport and sea-liced fresh run salmon are present throughout the Tay system. Excellent fly fishing water can be found on quite a few of the famous middle Tay beats. The lower end of the river around and downstream of the town of Stanley traditionally fishes very well in the autumn through to the end of October when the Tay closes and these later running fish will also move up into the middle Tay salmon beats at this time. Accepted methods of fishing for salmon on the Tay are mainly these days with the fly and occasionally spinning during higher water levels. Harling which is a traditional form of trolling from a boat is permitted on the river and most Tay beats have boats in order to conduct this form of fishing. Popular and proven Spring Tay salmon flies are the Black & Yellow, Willie Gunn & Garry Dog and during late Spring and the Summer months flies the Cascade, Sunray Shadow, Stoats Tail & the various Ally’s Shrimp patterns fish well. In the autumn months of September & October salmon flies with red or orange in them do well and patterns like the Red Editor, Black & Orange or orange or red Flamethrowers often produce results. The River Tay opens annually from 15 January through to the recently extended closing date of 31 October. The Tay in my opinion offers great salmon fishing in Scotland due to its sheer size and seldom doesn’t have a good fishable water level due to its massive 2500 square mile loch fed catchment area. In recent seasons many large 3 sea winter salmon have returned. This class of salmon is what made the River Tay famous and this mighty Scottish river still holds the British record for a rod caught Atlantic salmon which was landed in October 1922 near the village of Caputh and weighed in at a staggering 64lbs. A 40lbs salmon was landed in the Lower Tay last season so I would not bet against a larger fish showing up this coming season.

Fishing Links for the River Tay

• Aberfeldy Angling Club Brown trout and grayling fishing on a number of beats from Aberfeldy to Logierait. The club also has salmon fishing around the town of Aberfeldy, but this is restricted to residents of Aberfeldy only. Day tickets are available for brown trout and grayling fishing.
• Aberfeldy Town Water Salmon fishing on the Aberfeldy Town Water is resevered for members only who must be residents of Aberfeldy. Day tickets are available to visitors for brown trout and grayling fishing.
• Almondmouth Single bank salmon and trout fishing on a short stretch the River Tay where the River Almond joins the Tay through Mansfield Estates.
• Ballathie House Hotel Salmon fishing on the River Tay at Ballathie House Hotel. At the beginning of the season the Hotel lets out day tickets. At other times it is timeshare fishing or let via the hotel.
• Ballechin Brown trout and grayling fishing on the Ballechin beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available. Salmon fishing thought to be private, but if you know where permits are available please send an email to the Editor.
• Benchill and Pitlochrie Two miles of double bank salmon and sea trout fishing on the lower River Tay. Brown trout and grayling fishing also available.
• Birnam Day ticket brown trout and grayling fishing on the River Tay near Dunkeld
• Boat of Cluny Brown trout and grayling fishing on the Boat of Cluny beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available.
• Bolfracks Estate Salmon, brown trout and grayling fishing on the Lower Bolfracks Estate beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available.
• Borlick Fishing Beat Brown trout and grayling fishing on the Boltachan fishing beat (also called Upper Borlick) of the River Tay. Day tickets available. Salmon fishing is thought to be private. If you know where permits are available please send an email to the Editor.
• Burnbane Brown trout fishing by fly only administered by Dunkeld & Birnam AA. Salmon fishing is private.
• Burnmouth The Burnmouth & Catholes fishings are made up of one mile of double bank salmon fishing and are situated below the Campsie Linn (falls), the main temperature barrier on the middle River Tay and thus ensure good holding of fish.
• Castle Beat Salmon and brown trout fishing on the Castle Beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available. Hotel hosts the opening and closing ceremonies for the salmon season.
• Castle Menzies Brown Trout and grayling fishing on the Castle Menzies beat of the river Tay. It is thought that day tickets are available. Salmon fishing ia thought to be private. If you have further information please email the editor.
• Catholes Salmon, trout, sea trout and grayling fishing on 750 yards double bank of the Lower River Tay near Stanley. Day tickets, weekly and spring tickets available.
• Cuilaluinn Brown trout and grayling fishing on the Cuilaluin fishing beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available. Salmon fishing is thought to be private. If you know where permits are available please Send email to the Editor.
• Dalguise The Dalguise fishings form some of the most impressive and respected salmon fishings on the middle Tay. Brown trout and grayling fishing is available through Perth & District Angling Association.
• Dalmarnock Day ticket salmon fishing one of the largest beats on the Tay in Perthshire, almost 3 miles, double bank and is situated about three miles downstream from the confluence of the Tay and Tummel. Hotel accommodation available.
• Derculich Brown trout and grayling fishing on the Derculich beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available. Information regarding salmon fishing is required. If you have information regarding permits please send an email to the Editor
• Derculich South Bank Brown Trout and grayling fishing on the Derculich South Bank (Coshieville Farm) beat Of the River Tay. Day tickets available. Information regarding salmon fishing is required. If you have information on where permits are available please send an email to the Editor
• Dunkeld & Birnam Angling Association Dunkeld & Birnam Angling Association has extensive brown trout and grayling fishings around Dunkeld in Perthshire, available on a day ticket.
• Dunkeld National Trust Brown trout fishing on the right hand bank of the River Tay on the National Trust land. Administered by Dunkeld and Birnam Angling Association.
• Dunkeld Post Office Dunkeld Post Office issues brown trout and grayling day tickets for The River Tay and The River Braan on behalf of Dunkeld and Birnam Angling Association and Murthly and Glendelvine. They also sell fishing tackle.
• Eastertyre Brown trout and grayling fishing on the Eastertyre beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available. Salmon fishing thought to be private, but If you know where permits are available please email the Editor.
• Eastwood Fishing Beat Brown trout fishing on the Eastwood beat of the River Tay. Salmon fishing thought to be private.
• Edradynate Salmon, Brown trout and grayling fishing on the Edradynate beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available.
• Farleyer Fishing Beat Salmon, brown trout and grayling fishing on the Farleyer Beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available.
• Findynate Salmon, brown trout and grayling fishing on the Findynate beat of the River Tay. Day tickets, ghillie and fishing hut available.
• Glendelvine Brown trout and coarse fishing on the famous Glendelvine beat is administered by Dunkeld & Birnam AA.
• Goldcastle Salmon, sea trout, brown trout and grayling fishing on a lower River Tay beat offered by Perth and District Angling Association and Stormont Angling Club.
• Islamouth and Meikleour Isalmouth and Meikleour salmon fishing beats on the River Tay offer fishing of the highest standard. Day tickets occasionally available.
• Kenmore Beat Day ticket salmon fishing on the Kenmore Beat starts at the Kenmore Bridge and offers double bank fishing on four named pools to the Chinese Bridge. Brown trout fishing available from Taymouth angling club. Hotel hosts the opening and closing ceremonies for the salmon season.
• Kercock The Kercock Fishings on the River Tay in Perthshire provides salmon and sea trout fishing for up to 8 rods per day. Individuals or parties are welcome, booking can be for single days or more.
• Kinloch House Country House Hotel near Blargowrie. Ideal for fishing on the rivers Tay, Isla, and Ericht.
• Logierait Brown trout and grayling fishing on the River Tay at Logierait Pine Lodges in Perthshire.
• Lower Farleyer Fishing Beat Brown trout and grayling fishing is thought to be available on the Lower Farleyer beat of the River Tay. Salmon fishing is private.
• Lower Kinnaird The Lower Kinnaird beat offers salmon fishing on 2 miles double bank from the junction with the Tummel. Bank and boat fishing with very comfortable hut and ghillie. Brown trout and grayling fishing through Perth & District AA. Cottage accommodation available.
• Lower Murthly Lower Murthly Beat is genuinely one of the best fly fishing waters on the River Tay, set in stunning scenery near Dunkeld, Perthshire. The beat has a ghillie and a fully serviced fishing hut with full facilities. Trout and coarse fishing on this beat is administered by Dunkeld & Birnam AA
• Lower Redgorton Lower Redgorton and Redgorton are two River Tay salmon beats which are fished an alternate days. The salmon fishings are timeshared, but days do become available when timeshare owners are unable to fish.
• Lower Scone Time shared salmon and sea trout fishing on Waulkmill, Fishponds and Knowesbank beats of the River Tay. Occasional day tickets available. Brown trout and grayling fishing day tickets available.
• Luncarty River Tay - a good big water beat for spinning and fly fishing from the boat. Salmon day tickets available in the Spring Only (January to April). Fish gather below and above hear waiting the right conditions to run the Shochie and the Ordie streams in the autumn. It fishes 4 rods, has 1 boat and a fishing hut at the river.
• Mains of Murthly Brown trout and grayling fishing on the Mains of Murthly beat (also called Grandtully Castle) of the River Tay. Day tickets available. Salmon fishing thought to be private. If you know where permits are available please send an email to the Editor
• Meikleour Salmon sea trout and brown trout fishing on a famous beat of the River Tay in Perthshire. Day tickets available.
• Monteith Salmon Fishing Services Scotland's leading salmon fishing guiding service covering all Scottish Salmon rivers including the River Tay, River Dee, River Spey and River Tweed.
• Muirtons Perth and District Anglers Association has the salmon fishings for this beat from Jan 15th to October 15th. The fishings extend for almost 2 miles of right hand bank. Members only. Trout fishing on this beat is administered by Stormont AC.
• New Town of Logierait Brown trout and grayling fishing on the New Town of Logierait beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available.
• Newtyle The Newtyle Beat offers quality middle Tay salmon fishing. It consists of a 6-rod lower beat and a 6-rod upper beat, most of which provides double bank fishing. Throughout the beats there are 11 named pools. The Victorian-style fishing hut, with its welcoming coal fire, is probably the most picturesque hut on the Tay.
• Perth and District Anglers Association Perth & District Anglers' Association offers access to a variety of fishing including salmon, brown trout, sea trout and grayling. The waters covered by the club are extensive and extend on the middle River Tay from the Junction with the River Tummel down to the tidal mark and include many of these beats. The club also has fishings on the River Almond, the River Earn, Loch Horn and the Frandy Fishery (Lower Glendevon Resevoir).
• Perth Town Water Salmon and brown trout fishing on the River Tay with day tickets available from the local council at very reasonable cost, and for residents (now open to all residents of Perth and Kinross and not just Perth) annual permits are a snip.
• Pitcastle Brown trout and grayling fishing on the Pitcastle beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available. Information regarding salmon fishing is required. If you know where permits are available please Send email to the Editor.
• Pitnacree North Fishing Beat Salmon, brown trout and grayling fishing on the Pitnacree North Fishing Beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available.
• Pitnacree South Fishing Beat Brown trout and grayling fishing on the Pitnacree South Fishing Beat of the River Tay. Salmon fishing thought to be private but if you know differently please: Send email to the Editor.
• Sketewan Brown trout and grayling fishing on the Sketewan beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available. Salmon fishing Thought to be private, but if you know where permits are available, please send an email to the Editor.
• Stanley Salmon sea trout fishing - information required. River Tay fishing. Brown trout and grayling fishing available.
• Stanley and District Angling Club The club has brown trout and grayling fishing on the River Tay at Stanley, Benchil, Luncarty, Taymount, Burnmouth, Islamouth, Meikleour, Upper Redgorton.
• Stanners & Willowgate The fishery comprises of a 9 acre fly only trout loch and 4 miles of Salmon fishing on the River Tay.
• Stenton Stenton is one of the most picturesque salmon beats on the River Tay offering the fly fisherman superb sport the whole length of the beat. The beat fishes well in all heights of water, from late Spring and Summer into the autumn. The beat fishes a maximum of 3 rods which are available as day tickets.
• Stobhall Two miles of famous double bank salmon fishing (reciprocal arrangement with Taymount) on the River Tay. Brown trout fishing also available.
• Stormont Angling Club Stormont Angling Club was established by The Rt Hon Earl of Mansfield with salmon, trout, sea trout and grayling fishing on some Scone Palace Estates beats of the River Tay and River Almond. Membership is open to all but preference is given to locals.
• Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board The Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board is the statutory body empowered to protect and improve the salmon fisheries in the Tay district.
• Taymount A famous salmon fishing beat covering 2 miles of the River Tay and including the Campsie Linn. Brown trout and grayling fishing.
• Tayside Hotel Originally built to serve Anglers who came from far and wide to fish for salmon on the River Tay in Perthshire the Tayside Hotel has been welcoming weary travellers with good food and a warm bed for over 100 years.
• The Atholl Arms Hotel Situated in the Historical Cathedral City of Dunkeld in Perthire , The Atholl Arms is a three star small hotel built in 1833, is an impressive structure with many original features and is ideal for fishing the middle tay beats.
• Tombuie Brown trout and grayling fishing on the Tombuie fishing beat of the River Tay. Also called Killiechassie. Day tickets available. Salmon fishing Thought to be private, but if you know where permits are available please send an email to the Editor.
• Tullypowrie Brown trout and grayling fishingon the Tulliepowrie beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available. Salmon fishing thought to be private, but if you know where permits are sold please email the Editor.
• Tullypowrie Fishing Beat Brown trout and grayling fishing for 2 rods is by fly only from dawn to dusk. Prices on application. 4 fish limit. Sunday fishing is allowed.
• Upper Bolfracks Salmon fishing on the Upper Bolfracks or Point beat is to be found at the confluence of the Rivers Lyon and Tay, The Point Beat is a fly only water, with spinning allowed in high water. Fishing is from the south bank. Day tickets available.
• Upper Delvine River Tay salmon fishing for members of Perth and District Anglers Association.
• Upper Grantully Beat Brown trout and grayling fishing on the Upper Grantully Beat (also called Lagg fishings) of the River Tay. Day tickets available.
• Upper Kinnaird Salmon fishing beat on the River Tay at the confluence with the River Tummel. Almost 2 miles of fishing. Ghillies and boats available. Great fishing hut. Trout and grayling fishing also available.
• Upper Murthly Genuinely one of the best salmon fly fishing waters on the Tay, set in stunning scenery near Dunkeld, Perthshire. Brown trout fishing available through Dunkeld & Birnam AA.
• Upper Redgorton Salmon sea trout fishing available on the River Tay to members of Perth and District Angling Association, brown trout and grayling fishing day tickets also available.
• Weem Fishings Salmon, brown trout and grayling fishing on the Weem Fishings beat of the River Tay. Day tickets available.