Loch Tay

Loch Tay is the most famous loch within the district and the one from which the River Tay flows. It stretches for around 14 miles from Kenmore in the east to Killin in the west where its principal tributary, the River Dochart, enters.

The Dochart’s headwaters, known as the Cononish Water, rise on the slopes of Ben Lui (3,710 feet), west of Tyndrum. This is considered to be the symbolic source of the Tay, although the River Ba actually rises further west. The rougher Cononish soon flattens out to become known as the Fillan Water and, after passing though lochs Dochart and Iubhair near Crianlarich, finally becomes known as the Dochart. While surrounded by steep hills, including the dominating Ben More, the Dochart itself generally is a gently meandering river over a flat grassy floodplain.

The Dochart is famous for traditionally producing almost unique early running large high sea age salmon. Many of these 3SW fish traditionally had not only entered the Tay well before the angling season opened on 15 January but had already reached Loch Tay, where they gathered until warmer conditions in later spring allow them to enter the Dochart by passing the much photographed Falls of Killin.

While such fish are now much rarer, they still do exist, and the Killin end of Loch Tay is still a major focus for salmon fishing in early spring by trolling lures from boats. Later in the spring and through the summer, given some water, salmon are also caught to some extent right up the River Dochart.

The River Lochay is another tributary which merges with the Dochart as it enters Loch Tay. The Lochay was only made accessible to salmon around 1960 when the Hydro Board installed a fish pass around a large waterfall. There are still issues regarding this river which continue to be worked on.

River Earn

The River Earn is a sizeable river in its own right which enters the upper Firth of Tay where it starts to widen out a few miles below Perth.

The Earn’s source is from smaller tributaries feeding into Loch Earn within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park; the river proper commencing as it is discharged from Loch Earn at St Fillans. Like a number of Tay tributaries, this part of the Earn has been harnessed for hydro electricity and, for some miles, this part of the Earn has a maintained modest flow. After Dalchonzie Power Station a few miles upstream of Comrie, the flow increases markedly and the Earn appears a much bigger river.

At Comrie, the Earn is joined by the Ruchill Water, a steeper flashy tributary which rises in the hills above Callander. Thereafter, Strathearn gradually opens out and, below Crieff, the Earn becomes progressively more lowland in character, placid and meandering.

There is a lot of fishing on this long river, some of the best of which is controlled by angling clubs. When present, salmon are fished for along much of the Earn’s length. However, unlike much of the Tay, the Earn is a significant sea trout river too. They spawn in tributaries along the length of the Earn, including into the very uppermost reaches of the Ruchill Water. Brown trout fishing is also popular and the Earn holds a good head of grayling.

River Eden

The River Eden is a smaller river, separate from the Tay, but part of the Tay fisheries district. The Eden rises just south of Glenfarg but then flows eastwards through the Howe of Fife, discharging into a large estuary at Guardbridge, just north of St Andrews. For much of its length the Eden has a low gradient and drains one of the most intensively cultivated areas in Scotland.

In character, the Eden looks more like a chalk stream than a typical river in this part of the world. However, the Eden has traditionally had a later run of salmon and is fished over much of its length by the Eden Angling Association. This river is believed to have suffered a lot from agricultural intensification. Loss of spawning gravel is thought to have been an issue and more recently there had been a loss of Ranunculus in lower river. But, compared to other rivers, juvenile salmon grow very fast in the Eden, with many perhaps going to sea as 1 year olds. The river also holds significant populations of brown trout and sea trout.

River Ericht

Thie very productive tributary of the River Isla rises on the Cairnwell mountain a few miles south of Braemar. Initially known as the Shee Water, it then becomes known as the Blackwater. At Bridge of Cally, the Blackwater merges with the River Ardle, which rises in the hills to the west of Glen Shee. Both the Ardle and Blackwater start in open hill country but, for most of the lengths, are bouldery rivers lined by alders. Both rivers are very productive of juvenile salmon, making the Ericht system the most productive upland salmon river in the district.

Below Bridge of Cally, the river is now known as the Ericht. About 3 miles downstream, the Ericht flows through the incredible Craighall Gorge, reputed to be the deepest in Scotland. A small fall known as Craighall Linn was formerly considered largely impassable to salmon. Also, a few miles downstream at Blairgowrie, there were a number of impassable weirs which meant salmon did not even get up that far. But, in the early 20th century, weirs were removed and passes were installed on others to help salmon progress. Finally, around 1960, the Hydro Board paid for Craighall Linn to be blasted and thereafter the Ericht system was rapidly colonised to become the very productive salmon river it is today.

Below Blairgowrie, for the final 5 miles of its journey, the Ericht winds its way across flatter productive farming country again before merging with the placid River Isla.

The Ericht is a spring salmon and summer grilse river. In the spring the best of the fishing tends to be in the lower reaches below Blairgowrie and often water dependent. Otherwise many Ericht fish contribute to catches in the Isla and Tay beats like Islamouth. But, in late spring and summer, the salmon and grilse spread out upstream once it is warm enough for them to pass small waterfalls such as Cargill’s Leap at Blairgowrie. Depending on conditions, productive salmon angling can take place right up into the Shee Water; so much so, that the Board purchased the fishing rights in the uppermost reaches and maintains the area as a salmon sanctuary.

River Garry

The River Garry is one half of the River Tummel system, joining the upper Tummel to become Loch Faskally just upstream of Pitlochry. It is the main salmon producing area within the Tummel system.

The Garry itself is an amalgam of three main tributaries; the River Tilt, the Errochty Water and the upper Garry. Until recently, most of the salmon were produced in the Tilt, Errochty and lower Garry because the upper Garry was closed to salmon in the 1950s because of hydro abstraction. However, in 2017, flow was restored over an 8 mile stretch of the river and an obstruction, a weir at Struan, was removed. This area is being restocked from the Board’s hatchery and is already producing considerable numbers of smolts.

Before the recent restoration work, the flow below Struan was maintained from a hydro dam at Loch Errochty. The Errochty Water is a 6 mile, generally tree lined, small river. It is an important salmon spawning tributary but is maintained as a sanctuary from fishing. The Tilt, in contrast, is a relatively steep, wild, tributary which flows down the spectacular Glen Tilt. It is thought the earliest of the Tummel’s spring salmon spawn in the Tilt. While bouldery and relatively unproductive, and the juvenile salmon slow growing, there is a lot of river.

The lower Garry particularly and the Tilt are both fished for salmon from the summer onwards once a good head of fish has passed Pitlochry Dam.

River Isla

The River Isla is an important eastern tributary that rises in the Grampian Mountains, less than 10 miles south east of Braemar. For its first 25 miles, the Isla flows south to where it crosses the Highland Boundary Fault. There, it cascades over two spectacular falls, Reekie Linn and the Slug of Auchrannie which prevent salmon accessing upstream. Thereafter, the Vale of Strathmore flattens out into rich farming country and the Isla meets the Dean Water which drains the highly fertile area around Forfar and Glamis. Now turning west, the Isla becomes a meandering lowland river, very different in character to most Tay tributaries.

But, as the Isla approaches Coupar Angus, it is joined by the River Ericht, a highly productive salmon river, perhaps the most so in district. Large numbers of salmon can transit through the lower reaches of the Isla. Big catches can be made when conditions hold back Ericht fish, despite the lower Isla not having the character of a typical salmon river.

The Isla joins the Tay some 15 miles upstream of Perth and the area around the junction is often the most productive salmon fishing on the Tay, particularly in drier weather when Isla fish stop there before moving on.

While the Isla is noted for its salmon runs, it is also popular with brown trout and grayling anglers.

River Lyon

The Lyon is a major western tributary of the Tay. It rises in the hills just east of Bridge of Orchy, and then flows about 35 miles before meeting the upper Tay a few miles west of Aberfeldy. Glen Lyon is a spectacular, narrow steep sided glen, arguably the most stunning part of the Tay catchment

However, the Lyon was radically changed in the 1950s when several hydro dams were built in the upper catchment. Lubreoch Dam cut off something like 8 miles of the upper river and greatly expanded the previously small Loch Lyon. Salmon no longer have access to that area. Formerly a very flashy river, the flow in the River Lyon is now highly regulated. The average flow is much reduced and the upper part of the river is dependent on artificial “freshets” to help salmon migrate. Our research has also shown that aspects of flow regulation may have impacted on the Lyon’s invertebrate community and thus salmon production for a considerable distance downstream of the dams.

Although the Lyon may not be as productive as it once was, it still has a significant salmon run and, as well as contributing to salmon catches all along the Tay, the river is also fished along pretty much all of its length.

Other Tay tributaries

Other notable tributaries of the Tay include the River Almond which meets the Tay on the outskirts of Perth. This productive river starts its journey in the hills south of Loch Tay and for about half its length flows east through the spectacular Glen Almond. On emerging from the Sma’ Glen, it runs its final half through lower farming country, but it still maintains its high quality hill river appearance. The Almond is a productive salmon tributary. When conditions allow, it is fished in the autumn along much of its length, but it especially contributes to catches in the main river Tay in the vicinity of its mouth. The Buchanty Spout waterfall is a well known viewing spot for jumping salmon in the autumn.

The River Braan rises close to that of the Almond but flows north east wards to join the Tay opposite the village of Dunkeld. This is again an attractive small river, but two well known falls at the tourist hotspots of the Hermitage and Rumbling Bridge prevent salmon access beyond the bottom end of this river. However, it holds a good head of trout and pike are also fished for in Loch Freuchie.

The Dighty Water is not a tributary of the Tay proper, but drains the catchment just to the north of Dundee and enters the Firth of Tay at Monifieth. Although a small lowland water, draining productive agricultural country and urbanised areas, it does have a salmon run.