River Tweed River Report Week Ending 13th April 2019 - Tay Salmon Fly

River Tweed River Report Week Ending 13th April

The best weeks catch of the season so far, with settled conditions helping and a reasonable head of fresh fish entering the river with the vast majority caught been sea liced. The easterly winds that were with us for most of the week didn’t seem to put the fish of the take until later in the week when it changed to bitterly cold by Saturday.

Fish are continuing to push up into the middle river with 24 fish been reported above Kelso with the Floors beats and Makerstoun beats having the best of the fishing with 7. The Mertoun beats picked away and landed 6 for the week. Middle Pavilion got off and running for the season under new head ghillie Steven Charlton when Mr Philip Smith landed a nice wee fish in the Whirls Pool on a copper toby. On Tweedswood, one of Eoin Fairgrieve’s speycasting pupils landed the lovely springer well done Eoin and Kevin.

Between Kelso and Coldstream 41 fish were reported with Junction 12, Hendersyde 6, Sprouston 5 and Lower Birgham 5 having the better of the fishing.

The Junction had a better week with 12 springers landed, Mr Tom O’Shea, Mr Steven Curnow, Mr Crispin Rodwell and Mr Mike Graham all having success.

Fishing on Lower North Wark Mr David Barker reports “Just back from 3 days at Lower North Wark where we had 4 lovely Springers. This is Paddy Dangerfield’s first ever salmon. A 12lber from The Willows. He had another from the Wall after lunch on Monday so two in a day... Like buses. I also had a good fish from the Willows after lunch on Monday and a fish from the Ferry yesterday”

With the water levels starting to drop there were a few fish reported below Coldstream with 11 reported. Milne Graden getting 3 on Saturday with Mr Bob Miller 2 and Boatman Kevin Wright landing 1, Ladykirk landed 3 while Tillmouth landed 4. Mr Steven Atkins fishing at Tweedmill had some sport landing 3 lovely springers, Well done Sir

On the River Till, Redscar and Upper Tindal reported 2 sea trout.

90 Salmon and 9 Sea Trout, with the best fish for the week was 17lb Salmon caught on the Sprouston beat.

Middle Pavilion Head Ghillie Steven Charlton reports “First fish landed for the season by Mr Phil Smith caught in the whirls on a copper toby, east wind caused problems all week, hoping for a more settled week and the water temp to bump up a bit with a warmer week in store.”

Lower Birgham Head Boatman Mr Tom Davis reports “Last week started very well, catching sea liced fish all of fantastic quality and in superb condition. As the week went on we saw a few more fish running through but couldn’t get attached to any. But a great week of 5 fish, and hope for the same or more for this next week to come!”

Hendersyde Head Boatman Ketch reports "We got off to a great start last wk with both rods landing 2 springers each on Monday morning. Sadly it took a thousand more casts before we were rewarded with another. The cold east wind making things extra tricky didn't help and I bet the flies hatching off the river realised they'd made a big mistake. We did end up with 6 springers for our efforts which was a fair result considering the testing conditions"

On Upper North Wark, a tough week with mostly east winds blown up the river making casting tricky at best. We lost 2 fish this week, Mr James Stokoe been unlucky in the Snipe on Tuesday and Kenny losing one right at the net on Friday, also on Friday Mr Jimmy Girvan landed a 3lb Sea Trout.

Lees Head Boatman Mr Malcolm Campbell reports “Slow week and bloody cold. Howard Smith, Mark Rodgers and Bob Wigglesworth caught the tree fish we had this week. All liced the biggest being a 10lber. Just hoping the weather forecast is correct and this east wind pisses off”

Berwick and District Angling Association Secretary Dave Cowan reports “Whiteadder started the week at 2ft dropping to steady out at just over a ft on Saturday and produced three fish for the week, two salmon and a sea trout all from the same upper beat.

First fish was caught by Association President on Monday weighing in at 9lb, a solid silver fish, safely returned. The second fish was banked on Tuesday by Ian, a fish of about 6lb and the third fish, a nice sea trout fell to a Frank from Edinburgh. No further fish have been reported over the weekend but prospects remain good for Monday onwards...”

We are blessed in this area to have some superb local fishing tackle shops that are well worth a visit the superb well stocked Borders Gunroom in St Boswells and Fin and Game in Kelso I would recommend for a rummage round which and find out from the local staff what’s currently doing the damage on the river and lochs.

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.

The stunning Saddler Cottage, located within the grounds of Tillmouth Park in now under new ownership. Suitable for fishers and families this lovely cottage is very handily placed for fishing the Lower and Bottom Tweed beats. If you would like more information please check out the link https://www.crabtreeandcrabtree.com/properties/saddler-cottage/

The week ended with the level at Sprouston 10” and the water temperature is 45.

Looking at the availability for this coming week I would recommend the Dryburgh Upper, Lower Birgham, Tillmouth, Milne Graden and ladykirk beats should have a chance of some action this week.

The forecast this coming week, Tomorrow morning will be mostly dry but early sunshine will give way to cloudier skies. Dry in the afternoon with some sunshine returning. Feeling chilly in the fresh to strong south-easterly winds. On Tuesday, it will be rather cloudy with spells of rain, mainly light. The rain will die out later in the day to leave a dry night with some clear spells developing. Wednesday will be a largely fine day with sunny spells and it will feel milder. Early mist or fog patches on Thursday will disperse to deliver a dry day with sunny spells and variable cloud. A fairly mild day.

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

Look at what to bring for the week aheads fishing, water levels are dropping in now and conditions are looking settled this week with the weather due to warm up significantly Floating lines with assorted poly leaders should suffice on most places with Black and Yellow, Gledswood Shrimp, Monkey, Spring Ghillie all capable to tempting that springer on inch to inch and a half tubes and possibly onto dressed flies in size 8 and 10. On the spinning front the Blue Rapala, 18-20gm tobies 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: 90 Salmon 9 Sea Trout

Total caught so far this season: 376 Salmon and 42 Sea Trout

As reported on Fishtweed:-

(Biggest Salmon 18lb Upper Hendersyde)

(Biggest Sea Trout 7lb Lower Birgham)

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