River Tweed River Report Week Ending 18th August
Firstly I’d like to apologise for not writing
the report for the week ending the 11th August, I was off at Lords
enjoying the cricket, so missed what was going on, on the river. With this in
mind some of the Ghillie/Boatman reports will include 2 weeks of information.
The week past proved to be the best week of the
season so far, mostly due to a sudden increase in the catches on Friday and
Saturday. 75 and 49 fish were reported for these days with 4 beats having
double figure days. Ladykirk 12, Horncliffe 11, Birgham Dub 10 and Hendersyde
10.
As I write there is a 2ft rise in the Teviot at
Hawick and a wee bit of a rise on the Ettrick and Tweed. Some colour will no
doubt come from the Teviot to affect the beats before Kelso on Monday. With the
fish numbers landed towards the end of last week, maybe this lift will get a
few more moving up into the Kelso area and beyond. Back to last week, reports
coming in to me was of a mixture of older salmon and fresh grilse in the lower
river with a lot higher percentage of fresh bit been caught in the bottom beats
as would be expected in the current conditions and fish entering the river on
the tides. The Best of the fishing was a bit scattered last week with some
better catches from the small lifts below Kelso. Hendersyde 20, Birgham Dub 17,
Tillmouth 24, Ladykirk 34 and Horncliffe 20 were the top performing beats for
the week
Middle Pavilion had 5 Salmon and 5 Sea Trout
for the week with the best day of their season so far coming on Friday with 2
Salmon and 5 Sea Trout landed by Mr Tim Briggs, Mr Conn Lloyd and Mr John
Simmister having a good day. Mr Neil Sayers had success in the Bridge Pool,
while Mr Andy Clegg had success in the Spit.
Dryburgh Upper landed 5 salmon for the week
along with 3 sea trout, Success was had on the beat by Mr Alan Meek, Mr Frazer
Thomson and Mr Marty Keenan.
Fishing on the Lees, Mr Steve Robbins landed a
nice 12lb fish on a Durris Shrimp
After any fishing trip on the Tweed it’s always
worth a trip to Kelso to enjoy a superb meal with great atmosphere in the fabulous
Contented Vine restaurant. I would highly recommend it as a must visit during
your trip. Call 01573 224777 to reserve your table
44 were reported caught above Kelso, 83 fish
were reported between Kelso and Coldstream and 96 reported below Coldstream.
On the River Till, two sea trout were reported
at Redscar and Upper Tindal on Friday.
240 Salmon and 43 Sea Trout, with the best fish for the week was 18lb Salmon
caught on the Ladykirk Beat.
Bemersyde Fishing
reports “After nearly six weeks of dry weather in the Borders the rain
has finally arrived and it is more than welcome!! Rain all day Sunday, but with
the land being so dry we only had a foot of water in the river and some colour
by Monday lunchtime so no fishing in the afternoon. We did see some older fish
move in that morning. I was looking forward to the Tuesday and a little water
and some fish make the difference!! Fiona Brown lost a fish in the Stream in
the morning and Stewart Robinson landed 2 in Boat Pool 1 fresh grilse 3lbs and
an old spring fish about 10lbs. The water is below the gauge now but we managed
s 10lbs fish out the stream on a no 8 Ally Shrimp, Andrew Dryburgh being the
lucky rod. The forecast was for more train at the beginning of the week but it
has not materialised weather forecasts change like the fishes moods! Let's hope
we get some more soon or we will be back to summer levels by the end of week. Some
sad news to tell you all old Holly passed away this month after 14 years down
the river with me so no more barking when you guys and girls get a fish on in
the Dish, will be missed at Bemersyde. On a lighter note I have a new pup
called Honey on the beat for you all to meet when you come down to fish. The
grass is cut and also the weed so all ready to fish when we get water and more
fish. Here is hoping we get an Autumn Run of some sort this year on the Tweed”
Hendersyde Head Boatman Ketch reports “W/E 11th
Aug – A slow week again but the rods were rewarded for their efforts with 4
fish, a mixture of grilse and old salmon. The highlight of the week for host
Lord John Lee was catching a fish on Monday using a fly that he had been
presented with at the annual London Fly Fishers dinner where he was appointed
guest speaker. It’s a tradition that they receive a specially designed fly
unique for them and Lord Lee’s was named the “Golden Touch” it certainly was
for him on Monday. W/E 18th Aug – What a difference a bit of extra
water makes. A couple of small lifts brought a few new fish into the beat and
although it was only certain pools which were producing fish the rods had some
great sport with a mixture of 20 old and fresh salmon and grilse plus 3 sea
trout”
On
Upper North Wark, levels remained on the low side for us, the rise from Monday
gave us 6” on the gauge for Tuesday morning. Mr Richard Farr landed a nice Sea
Trout from the Mill Stream on a wee snaelda fly. Rise in water today so
hopefully get some water to fish in at the start of the week.
Lees Head Boatman Mr Malcolm Campbell reports “Some fish
at last. All on a #10 fly with a floater or just a wee inter sink tip on the
end. No monsters in the bag the biggest was 7lb but all very welcome after a 2
month drought, we have seen fish in every pool but not all keen to have a look
at the fly. Hopefully this rain tonight will freshen things up again.
Ladykirk Head Ghillie Mr Matthi Viethen reports “Finally a
few smiling fishers around. Another good week for us, in fact the best of the
season with 9 salmon between 8 and 18lb,
25 grilse between 2 and 6lb and 1 sea trout of 4 lb.
Notable catches were:
- 6 Salmon and Grilse for syndicate rod in a morning
(including 18lb), finished with 7 for the day.
- 6 Salmon for regular day rod fishing this week (8, 9, 9,
12, 14 and 15lb).
- 2 first ever Tweed grilse for friends of syndicate rod”
Norham Castle Syndicate Ghillie Mr Barry Clapham reports “W/E
11th Aug. – 2 Fresh fish caught by Mr Stuart Binns and a 1st
Tweed Salmon to Mr George Baines. Lots of fish about. W/E 18th Aug –
Great 2 days fishing with fish caught and lost. On Friday we had 5 salmon all
fresh. 2 for Mr Gary Birtwell who was fishing the beat for the 1st
time and was lucky to land on his very 1st cast. Other fish were 1
for myself and 2 for Team V Fly. Saturday we also had 5, a great day for Mr
George Baines who the previous week had his 1st Tweed salmon with
us, so decided to come back for another shot. He managed 2, a nice fresh salmon
for starters then managed to land a good salmon of 18lbs after a good battle.
Team V Fly strikes again, 3 salmon for them, they are on fire well done lads.
Great couple of days, tight lines for the week ahead”
Horncliffe Head Ghillie Mr Tony Averill reports “A good start
to the week, 2 fish landed and 3 lost on Monday. Tuesday to Thursday things
went a bit slow, but then on Friday and Saturday things changed. Friday 11 fish
were landed and 5 lost. Saturday 7 fish landed and 1 Sea Trout. Mr Neil Ford
received a nice bottle of gin for landing the 50th fish of the
season and Mr Mark Dean landed a cracking 15lb fish quickly followed by a 5lb
and a 12lb with 2 others lost. Congratulations to them both. I have a lot of
availability this week so get booked and catch some fish”
Mr David Cowan secretary of Berwick and District Angling
Association beat on the Whiteadder reports “Whiteadder still very much in need
of rain but at 2 inches and rising this morning the prospects could be good for
this week. Friday and Saturday saw some good catches on lower Tweed so fish are
there and ready to run. One Sea Trout reported”
The week ended with the level at Sprouston 7” and the water temperature
is 60.
Looking at the availability for this coming week I would recommend the Lower
Birgham, Upper North Wark (If the rise today comes to something) Tillmouth, Pedwell,
and Horncliffe beats should have a chance of some action this week. With the
water rising today there might be a push of fish up into the middle river with
the Dryburgh Beats and Rutherford worth a cast.
The
forecast this coming week, Tuesday will become mainly cloudy
and quite breezy with some showers spreading from the west by the afternoon.
Becoming mostly dry by Tuesday evening. However, rain will push in from the
north-west in the early hours. Wednesday will see the rain clearing soon to
leave it mostly fine. Thursday should also have some sunshine at times but with
the chance of a few showers as well.
As always I would like to thank all those who provide me with the
information to make this report, it is very much appreciated. If you have any
information or photo’s you would like included please get in touch with Martin
on 07825334427 or info@taysalmonfly.co.uk
With water levels still on the low side despite the small rises of the
past few weeks the water temperature has finally started to cool down and back
to about normal for the time of year. Floating lines with poly leaders on the
end should cover most fishing conditions at the moment. Dressed flies around a
size 10 to 12 should be the order of the day, I would suggest are Copper Cascade, Stenton
Shrimp, Gledswood Shrimp, Kylie Shrimp, Frances and Sunray Shadow should bring
success. If you like to give the spinner a go, Rapala or Toby should bring
results.
As always come prepared and always listen to the advice of your boatman
or ghillie. If you’re needing to top up your fly box ahead of your trip please
check out www.taysalmonfly.co.uk
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Season So Far catches
Total catch last week: Salmon 240
Sea Trout 43
Total caught so far this season: 1685 Salmon and 354 Sea Trout
As reported on Fishtweed:-
(Biggest Salmon 21lb Birgham Dub)
(Biggest Sea Trout 12lb Tillmouth & Birgham Dub)
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