Freestone · Mixed · Perthshire

River Tummel

River Tummel venue image
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The Tummel is the most heavily regulated river on the Tay system — a Highland tributary that runs out of Loch Rannoch through Loch Tummel and finally through the great dam at Pitlochry, where the famous fish ladder lets salmon up to the upper lochs and where anyone passing through in the summer stops to watch them through the glass.

Species

Decent — worth a look

Low and clear — careful approach country. Low water tactics — small singles, riffling hitch in the smooth glides.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Cool — slow
6°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
Conditions
Level
0.23 m
Water temp
6.2°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
7°C
Wind
SE 9 km/h
Light breeze
Pressure
1002 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
11.1 mm
Moderate rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for atlantic salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Fair conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Directions
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About this water

The Tummel is the most heavily regulated river on the Tay system — a Highland tributary that runs out of Loch Rannoch through Loch Tummel and finally through the great dam at Pitlochry, where the famous fish ladder lets salmon up to the upper lochs and where anyone passing through in the summer stops to watch them through the glass. Below the dam the river fishes very well for salmon in the summer and autumn months, with the Pitlochry beats offering some of the more accessible salmon fishing in central Scotland — not cheap, but available to day-ticket anglers in a way the Dee and Spey largely aren't. The river also holds good brown trout throughout, and a small but genuine grayling population that fishes well in winter. A hydro river, undeniably, but a proper fishing river too.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon15 January → 15 October
Other water nearby · 5