Angling for business on the Tay

Sep 23 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

FISHPONDS is among the most picturesque and productive beats on the River Tay but few anglers are aware of its rich and intriguing history.

But recently-installed Scone Estates fishery manager Iain Kirk would like to see that change in the next 12 months.

He’s keen to see long-forgotten ponds hidden away behind bush-lined banking dug out and given a new lease of life.

Iain, who has moved down river from Dunkeld, explained: “The Fishponds title relates to plans pushed through in the 1860s by the Earl of Mansfield. He had the foresight to realise they could take nothing for granted in terms of taking salmon from the river.

“Back then it was more about netting than angling, although that did take off in the Victorian era. But the Earl decided to take eggs and fertilise them, and rear young salmon in a hatchery system near the river.

“He had ponds dug out and the remnants of the old stone sluice gate is still here. The smolts were tagged and the netting stations kept tabs on them when they returned from the sea.

“This was all incredibly far-sighted and pre-dated preservation measures by more than a century.”

Iain, a qualified Scottish Game Angling instructor, is keen to see the old ponds restored, convinced they would be the perfect setting for a casting school where novices could be taught how to master fishing on the fly.

He’s teaming-up with Scott MacKenzie, a world champion distance fly caster, to provide tuition for rookies.

“Scott is a talented guy, he is casting nearly 70 yards and even designs rods nowadays,” he said.

“It’s great that he will be hosting courses and I’m sure it will have economic benefits for the local hotels.

“These three-day courses should be up and running by the spring or early summer.”

It’s just one of a shoal of ideas Iain has brought to the post linked to historic Scone Palace, with every salmon heading up-river having to negotiate the rods at revered Lower Scone pools like Almondmouth, Gold Castle and Waulkmill.

“We are first off the tide here, near the Palace, and this year we have seen averages of 26 fish a day. This is quality Tay fishing.”

Iain insists the challenge is to lure more anglers back to Fishponds, whether they hail from Perthshire or potentially lucrative continental markets.

When the PA stopped-off, two well-chuffed anglers landed feisty 14-pounders, which were carefully returned to the water under the conservation-friendly catch and release scheme.

Iain said: “It’s an education process and we tell anglers fish don‘t spawn in the freezer. Most people are happy about it.”

While many stretches of the Tay are the exclusive fiefdom of well-heeled timeshare fishers, a rod on Fishponds can be secured for the day at prices ranging from £40 to £250, including the services of an experienced ghillie and boat.

Iain, who landed his first salmon on the River Fyne as a wide-eyed 10-year-old, cautioned that Scotland’s rivers could no longer rest on their laurels, with an international market opening-up in pursuit of the ‘King of Fish’.

“I ghillie in Russia for a few weeks every year on the River Yokanga, looking after the camp and 14 rods a week,” he revealed.

“The clients come from all over the world. I went out as an angler and fell in love with the place. I got the salmon heroin habit and keep going back.

“But nowadays I get as big a kick out of seeing the look on someone’s face when they get a bite – and helping them land their first salmon.

“In Russia they are Atlantic salmon, in a river 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle and it doesn’t get dark in June. They are aggressive takers and the best week saw 335 caught.

“The Tay and other Scottish rivers now face serious competition from Russia, Canada and even Argentina. We still have the heritage on our side but standards have to improve all-round to give visitors an experience which will bring them back.

“There has been a complacency in Scotland for too long. Measures are being taken to re-stock the Tay but it is a huge river system. It’s not an easy task.

“We have to play to our strengths. But we have to make sure anglers and their families are catered for and get serious about our industry.”

Iain hopes to see a contemporary Scandanavian-style chalet replace the beat’s traditional and modest riverbank retreats.

“We have to make sure that guests go away with great memories of the overall experience,” he added.

FOR further information on Fishponds see the fishtay website.