Fishing the R Tummel

Rivers in Tayside

The following pages include brief details of the principal rivers. In addition to these there are literally hundreds of small rivers and burns (brooks) almost all of which have native brown trout. These range from tiny streams in the mountain tops to mighty rivers such as the River Tay, the largest river by volume in the United Kingdom. Some rivers contain salmon, sea trout, grayling and brown trout and so fishing is available all year round in Tayside. Comprehensive information is contained in the "Angling in Tayside" guide book, which lists permit outlets, costs and is packed full of advice for fishing in Tayside. For details of the book click here. Please contact me for information about guided fishing trips.

River North Esk

This river is well known for the excellent fishing that it can provide for salmon. It drains almost 290 square miles, rising high in the Grampian Mountains to flow from Glen Esk to the sea near Montrose, a distance of thirty miles. Salmon can be expected at the beginning of the season from the lower river, especially below Morphie Dyke. Once the water temperature rises fish move quickly upstream towards Gannochy but they will not ascend the Loups until the water temperature is around eight degrees C. Although sea trout can be caught anywhere in the system the largest numbers head up the River Westwater rather than the main stem and some good shoals appear after summer spates. This river also enjoys a good run of grilse and salmon but it is truly a spate river and needs water to fish at its best.

River South Esk

This river system rises high in the Grampian Mountains and drains some two hundred and forty five square miles of Angus, from the wilderness areas of Glen Doll to its final destination, the North Sea at Montrose via Montrose Basin. Salmon are present in the lowest reaches of the river when the season opens. The middle reaches usually enjoy their first sport around the middle of March and the second week of April will see the arrival of fresh springers in Glen Clova. May is the best month for spring salmon fishing. Given water, grilse can be expected on summer floods from June onwards and later in the season fresh fish continue to arrive in the lower beats until the close. South Esk is best known for its runs of sea trout. Some years fair numbers of sea trout lie into its pools and provide night fly fishing. Kirriemuir Angling Club offer fishing on several miles of the most beautiful parts of the upper river in Glen Clova and you can e-mail them for details.

River Isla

This picturesque stream rises in Glen Isla and these upper reaches have a good population of brown trout that are moderately sized and usually free taking. This is an excellent place for the beginner to start river fishing. In the valley of Strathmore, the Isla settles down to a series of lovely pools and runs and becomes an excellent trout and grayling river. Below the Ericht the Isla acts as a corridor for salmon and grilse that are heading there. Trout and grayling are present everywhere. Its tributaries the Dean, Kerbet and Melgum are nice, small trout rivers.

River Ericht

The Ericht and its tributaries the Rivers Blackwater and Ardle have good runs of salmon and grilse. The Ericht has a series of obstacles that prevent salmon running upstream until the temperature has risen. Some time in May, salmon will have penetrated the upper reaches. This is small river fishing most of the sport on a single-handed rod with small flies. After summer floods the Ericht system enjoys really good grilse runs. The Ericht also maintains a very good trout population.

Lower River Tay (Meiklour to Perth)

The Tay from it's confluence with the River Isla is a truly mighty river. Its strong currents and deep pools make other Scottish rivers pale to insignificance. Many of the lower Tay salmon beats are well known for large catches and much of this portion of river is now time-shared. However there are a number opportunities to fish famous beats during spring and early summer when the fishing is not normally at its best and given good conditions great fishing can be picked up at very reasonable prices. Trout and grayling fishing is available throughout at very reasonable prices.

Middle River Tay (Ballinluig to Meiklour)

At the confluence with the River Tummel the Tay becomes a bigl river, immediately below the junction is, Lower Kinnaird a picturesque salmon beat that is characterised by gravel runs and good fly fishing water. From here down there are a number of famous salmon beats including Glendelvine. It was here on Saturday 7th October 1922 a young lass by the name of Miss Georgina Ballantine made history by landing the current UK record rod caught salmon weighing 64 pounds. There is some excellent trout and grayling fishing available throughout this portion of the river that extends to a length of about 18 miles where it reaches Islamouth. Just upstream of Dunkeld the Tay is joined by the River Braan that is well known for excellent brown trout river fishing.

Lower River Tay (Kenmore to Ballinluig)

From below the Kenmore Bridge the River Tay flows eastwards picking up the River Lyon en route and continuing in the same direction it meets its main tributary, the River Tummel at Ballinluig, a total distance of around twenty miles. There are several interesting salmon beats in the first few miles of its journey. Trout fishing in the Upper Tay is excellent at times.

River Tummel

This is a large system of rivers and lochs much altered by the impact of hydro electric schemes but it continues to produce some excellent fishing opportunities. Its headwaters drain Loch Laidon on Rannoch Moor, and extend via Lochs Errochty and Garry to the River Tilt, a vast area of the highlands. The infant River Tummel leaves the Loch Rannoch and continues its journey through Dunalastair Reservoir a shallow loch with a huge variety of insect life and some very large brown trout. From there the river continues to Loch Tummel and onwards to Pitlochry. This water contains some very interesting trout fishing. Loch Faskally is fed by two rivers the Tummel and the Garry. The Garry and its tributaries the Bruar and Errochty are affected by hydro electric schemes but the the River Tilt offers some salmon fishing. Below Faskally, the river is a large freestone river and it contains large numbers of brown trout and grayling.

River Lyon

The River Lyon emerges from Loch Lyon and flows through Stronuich Reservoir then down through Glen Lyon. Sometimes it runs broken and shallow interspersed by deep pools, other parts open out to form slow loch-like reaches. The river itself has some excellent trout fishing throughout its length. There are several good salmon beats on the Lyon.

River Earn

This medium sized river winds a course through Strathearn to empty into the estuary of the River Tay. It travels sedately and steadily for much of its journey, only during its first few miles down to Crieff does it encounter some significant gradient. Salmon main runs start with the arrival of grilse and continue into the autumn. September and October are the most prolific salmon fishing months. The river also has good runs of sea trout. Brown trout and grayling are plentiful.