This beautiful salmon river is the principal one in Perthshire, in its
course it expands into Loch Tay, on leaving which it finds itself a
channel and becomes rapid for miles; it has a long course, passing the
towns of Dunkeld and Perth, and falls into the sea at Dundee.
The river Erne, after a long and rapid course falls into the Tay below
Perth. There is also the "Timel," at the pass of Cillecrankey, on the
road to Inverness from Dunkeld, and is fourteen miles from the latter
place, there is a small inn close to the river, in which there is good
trout fishing; the coach from Perth stops here to change horses and
breakfast; it is a fine rushing stream. And also the "Keith," at Blair
Dummond, where there is a very high waterfall, the sound of which can be
heard at some distance; it falls into the Tay.
There is excellent angling for salmon and sea trout in the river Tay,
five or six miles above Perth, in September and October; the white trout
are in abundance in this river in the latter month; the salmon run very
large in this water, in April, May, and June; and are best taken with
large salmon flies of rather a sombre hue.
At the town of Dunkeld there is famous fishing in the Spring and Autumn.
From Dundee to Perth and Dunkeld, through the "Carse of Gowrie," the
Valley of the Tay is one of the most beautiful parts of all Scotland, in
my estimation; at both sides of the river it is interspersed with
excellent gentlemen's seats, and beautiful grounds.
There is a fishery a little above the Bridge of Perth, which is very
productive.