By Ken Bell, angling correspondent

ONLY DAYS after the Tay recorded one of its highest flows since the 1993 floods anglers will be out on most beats today to mark the start of the salmon season.

On a number of beats, as well as getting the boat ready, over the past couple of days gillies have been trying to dry off and clean out fishing huts inundated by the high water.

Getting rid of the water is comparatively easy; it is the mud and silt that can cause problems.

But there are fish about, although whether they are kelts—fish which have spawned—or the much sought after springers remains to be seen.

Tay Board inspector Derek Gregor said there was a good spawning season, with many fish in the upper system on the redds quite early.

Despite the floods during the week he expects that large numbers of kelts will still be in the system and asks anglers to handle these fish carefully before returning them to the water should they hook one.

Although the majority of the kelts will die, some make it back to salt water and will return to spawn again next year if they can, having put on more weight in the meantime, which means they will lay more eggs—so every one saved is a bonus.

There may also be some baggots about, fish which came into the river last year and have not yet spawned, and these, too, must be returned carefully.

Many inexperienced anglers can have difficulty deciding if a fish is a springer or not. The simplest way to decide is that if you have any doubt at all it is not a spring fish.

Springers could be scattered throughout the system following the spells of mild weather.

Anglers will be hoping that the improvement seen in the spring fishing on many beats last year will continue.

Although fishing in January and February last year was slow things picked up in March with over 400 fish reported, giving the best spring fishing since 1990. Many of the fish were returned to the water.

Since the fungicide malachite green was banned for use on fish by EU regulations the board has had to abandon its collection of rod-caught spring fish for the restocking programme but is persevering with other chemicals—including salt—to try to keep fish in their kelt reconditioning programme.

It asks anglers to return their first and every alternate spring fish between now and May 31 as part of the catch and release policy.

On beats which have gillies anglers will be given the option of tagging the fish they return as part of the board’s Passport to the Redds programme.

Angler who subsequently catch a tagged fish are asked to return it carefully after noting the tag number, and let the board’s office know.

Board chairman John Milligan hopes the number of spring fish caught and released on the tributaries will improve, for while beats on the main river are returning more than 50% of their springers the figure is much lower on rivers like the Isla, Ericht, Tummel and Earn, which open on February 1.

Ceremonies to mark the opening will be held at a number of beats including Lower Redgorton, Newtyle and Dunkeld House Hotel, but the main focus will be the traditional ceremony at Kenmore where botanist Dr David Bellamy is guest of honour.

Preceding the traditional blessing of the boats, the anglers will march through the village from the Kenmore Hotel to the boats, where Andrew MacTaggart, laird of Taymouth Estate, will make the first cast.

One of the highlights of the opening day is the competition for the Redford Trophy, awarded to the angler who catches the largest fish.

Along with the trophy comes a £200 tackle voucher.

Running the competition is Robert Jamieson, of James Crockart & Son, tackle dealers, Allan Street, Blairgowrie, who will be delighted to hear of any claims for the trophy.

Entries should be notified to him at 01250 872056 before 5.30 pm.