Few parts of the UK offer visitors better or more varied fishing in such superb surroundings.  Currently, no separate rod licence is required to fish for salmon, trout or coarse fishing in Scotland.  All that is required is a permit, or permission from the owner to fish.  Much of the Tay system is covered by a ‘Protection Order’ that makes the possession of a permit mandatory when fishing for trout.  The Tay itself, and its tributaries the Isla, Ericht and Tummel, have large runs of salmon.          

Fresh spring fish enter the system before the opening day on January 15th and continue to do so until around the end of May.  These are followed by summer salmon and grilse, with fish entering from mid June through to the close of salmon fishing on October 16th.
Each year, between 10,000 and 15,000 salmon and grilse pass through Blairgowrie and, when the Ericht is in flood, they can often be seen passing over the weir in Blairgowrie.  Various salmon beats are available to visitors.  The Blairgowrie & Rattray and District Angling Association (BRDAA) has over 2 miles of fishing to offer visitors on the river Ericht for £20 per day.  The best of the fishing on the Ericht is probably in the spring when water levels tend to be high and suitable for salmon fishing.  In the summer, the Ericht is sometimes low and requires a spate to produce good fishing.  Most of the water is suitable for fly fishing, and “catch and release”, especially of spring fish, including those caught in the upper reaches in summer and autumn, is strongly encouraged on all beats and rivers.  The BRDAA also provides trout fishing on the Ericht for £2 per day.  Tickets for both salmon and trout, and advice, are available from Kate Fleming’s shop (tel. 01250 873990) in Blairgowrie High Street.  Several private beats are also available on the Ericht, its tributaries the Ardle and Blackwater, and the river Isla (see below) into which the Ericht flows (enquire at Fleming’s and at James Crockart’s (tel. 01250 872056), or consult www.anglingintayside.co.uk).  

Trout and grayling fishing are also available on much of the Tay and its tributaries Tummel and Isla, usually for no more than £5 per day.  Trout fishing opens on 15th March and closes on the 6th October, but grayling fishing continues throughout the winter.  Tickets are available from local shops or post offices in Stanley, Murthly, Birnam and Ballinluig.  Within an hour’s drive, the river Earn and the South and North Esks offer salmon and seatrout fishing e.g. the Kirriemuir Angling club has several miles of fishing available to visitors on the upper South Esk.

The area is blessed with some superb rainbow trout fishing. Butterstone loch (tel. 01796 472065) provides superb fishing for both boat anglers and ospreys (the Loch of Lowes nest site is only 1 mile away), mainly for rainbows but also for brown and blue trout.  Rescobie Loch near Forfar is another excellent rainbow trout fishery (tel. 01307 830367 between 8.30 and 9.00 am).  Piper Dam on the A923 to Dundee, boasts an osprey’s nest by the loch, only yards from the fishing boats.  For those who prefer fishing from the bank in the same area as Piper Dam, there are two or three small lochs including Ledcrieff Fishery (tel. 01382 581374).  Sandyknowes Fishery near Bridge of Earn is another bank fishery, stocked with rainbow trout.  For wild brown trout there are several unstocked hill lochs (ask locally).

Coarse fishing is also available. The Tay in lower Perth contains numerous roach with an average weight close to 1lb.  Perch and pike abound in local lochs, and some of these (e.g. Clunie) can be fished from the roadside (no litter or open fires please).  Further way, Dunmore loch on the north side of loch Faskally, offers excellent tench and some carp fishing (permits from Faskally boating station).  Clatto reservoir on the northwest outskirts of Dundee offers coarse fishing and water sports and is a good venue for taking children.  For those who enjoy sea fishing from rocks or boat, Arbroath is only 1-hour drive away from Blairgowrie.  The cliff path provides an excellent walk and views of Gannets and other seabirds.

Fishing takes the angler to many spectacular places.  Reekie Lynn, the waterfall just below the Bridge of Craigisla (5 miles north of Alyth on the B964), is worth seeing at anytime and is awesome when the in the River Isla is in flood.  Similarly, in the autumn when the rivers Braan and Almond are in flood, salmon can be seen trying to leap the water falls at the Hermitage (to the left of the A9 1 mile north of Dunkeld, and 5 miles west of Harrietfield on the B8063 respectively).  The Hydro Dam at Pitlochry incorporates a fish pass and viewing chamber and is well worth a visit in summer and autumn.  Closer to home, Cargill’s leap 500 yards above the bridge in Blairgowrie, can also provide a view of salmon when the river is low, and a spectacle when the river is high.  Craighall Gorge, 1 mile north of Blairgowrie provides a spectacular backdrop for anglers fishing the Ericht there.  Further information on river levels and can be found on www.tayfish.com and www.sepa.org.uk/riverlevels, and on Tay fishing on www.flyfishing-scotland.com and www.fishingnet.com .  
        
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