River Tweed River Report Week Ending 5th October 2019 - Tay Salmon Fly

River Tweed River Report Week Ending 5th October

The week started with steady catches then with a couple of morning frosts the fish came on the take on Thursday with 110 reported on that day alone, then as it seems to be this season just when things were looking up the weather gods turned and we had a rising dirty river below Kelso on Friday with it getting slightly better as the day went on, on Saturday. A good head of fish seem to have pushed up into the upper river with fish been reported right up to Peebles with Traquair landing 10 on Thursday and 13 for the week and fish spread around over many beats. There were more reports of bigger fresher fish this week maybe the start of some autumn fish arriving time will tell.

It was very disappointing to receive a few reports this week regarding a regular Tweed fisher killing heavily coloured fish, not the first time but hopefully the last!

The Tweed Forum chose Melrose teacher Tom Rawson as this year’s winner of our River Champion Award for his campaign to reduce plastic littering and single use plastic consumption in the Scottish Borders. Follow the link below for more details:

https://tweedforum.org/news/and-the-winner-is/?preview=true

It was a great pleasure to see Kelso High School participate in a Tweedstart angling development day on the 3rd October. A great time was had by all and hopefully we'll some of them on the riverbank in the coming years.

Considering the beats below Kelso lost nearly 2 days of good fishing the weekly catch of 389 salmon is the best weeks catch of the season so far. With a good flood going past as a write this the start of the week is looking rather bleak but fingers crossed it settles and clears enough so that we can get back fishing before to long.

Above Kelso 191 fish were reported with Boleside 20 and Rutherford 23 having the best of the fishing with fish spread out over the whole area. Fishing at Peebles Mr Connor Alexander Newcombe landed a mixture of grilse and salmon during the week. On Horsburgh Mr Stuart Norris landed 3 fish on Saturday up to 14lbs on an inch Junction Shrimp. On Glenormiston Mr Douglas Galbraith has success with Mr Dougie McGregor expertly netting his fish. Fishing Dryburgh Upper on Saturday Mr Gerald Dutton had a day to remember with ghillie Brian Douglas landing 2 salmon inc a monster fish of 34lbs taken on a Willie Gunn and also landing 2 Sea Trout. Fishing Rutherford on Thursday Mr Colin Hewitt landed 4 fish up to 16lbs, which was a lovely fresh fish. Mr David Robson have a good trip to the River Tweed landed 2 fish on Dryburgh Lower and then down river at Milne Graden landed another 2 fish.

Between Kelso and Coldstream 95 fish were reported with the Lees 26 having the best of the fishing. Fishing at the Junction Dr Wyn Davis and Carol McBain both landed lovely fresh fish. Fishing at the Lees the Sidoli Party had good success with Chris Sidoli landed a fine 15lb fish in the Back Of The Wall, Francis having success in the Temple Pool and Dom finding some action in the Cauld. Mr Hugh Newton had a good week landing 2 fish at Upper North Wark weighing 20lbs and 10lbs on a Tay Salmon Fly Rogie copper tube before having a cast at West Learmouth later in the week and landed a 16lb fish. Also on Upper North Wark Mr Peter Sweet landed a 7lb fish from the Snipe Pool on a Willie Gunn. Mr Andrew Reagan landed his 1st salmon from the Snipe Pool on a Cascade Conehead, Mr Jamie Bligh landed a fresh 5lb Sea trout from the Dub. Mr Hugh Anderson fishing at Lower Birgham on Saturday landed a superb 22lb fish.

Below Coldstream 49 fish were reported with Tillmouth 22 having the best of the fishing.

On the River Till, no fish were reported.

On the Teviot Mr Ian Bennet had success including a fresh fish taken on a copper bodied Allys Shrimp Size 12. On The Whiteadder Mr Bob Armstrong had a 7lb fish from Clarabad on the BDAA stretch.

389 Salmon and 62 Sea Trout, with the best fish for the week was 34lb Salmon caught on the Dryburgh Upper beat.

Hendersyde Head Boatman Ketch reports “Yet another week of fishing a rising river every other day. I can't remember a season like it, very frustrating. We did manage to get some action most days and were very unlucky at times with fish not sticking. But we ended up with 5 very hard worked for salmon”

Lower Birgham Head Boatman Mr Tom Davis reports “The week started off to an absolute flyer, within the first 20 minutes on Monday morning we hooked and landed a cracking 24lb hen fish. What a start to the week. This was followed by a couple more on Monday. Then the river came up again and this continued most of the week. Our last fish on the week was a 22lb fish for Hugh Anderson on Saturday. So 7 landed for the week. A few on and off. But plenty of rain over this weekend will make fishing tough the opening few days this week. But with some more water, comes some more optimism that there will be some fresh fish running the river. Just hope they don’t just bomb through without taking a fly or two! Tight lines Tom”

On Upper North Wark, another week of what if’s for us with a number of fish hooked and lost. We managed 4 salmon and 2 sea trout but could easily have been double figures with a bit of luck. Beat regular Mr Hugh Newton landed 2 on Monday at 20lbs and 10lbs, Mr Peter Sweet also on Monday landed a 7lber all from the Snipe. Mr Andrew Reagan landed his 1st salmon on Thursday from the Snipe and Mr Jamie Bligh landed a fresh 5lb sea trout the same day from the Dub. Boatman Richard Farr completed the weeks catch with a 4lb sea trout from the back of the isle.

Lees Head Boatman Mr Malcolm Campbell reports “A good start to the week with 10 on Monday but got harder as the week went by, not helped by the rise in water. 26 landed which is a good week in present climate. 4 fresh/clean fish in the 26. For full report on the week go to Lees page on tweedbeats and see Malcolms fishing report."

Berwick and District Angling Association Secretary Dave Cowan reports “Whiteadder performed well towards the end of the week however two fish came off early on from the lower beats and a rise to over a foot for the week end saw a further two salmon off the upper beats on Saturday. Levels still around the foot mark but forecast rain over Sunday will either make it perfect or kill it for the start of the week.”

Hawick Angling Club reports “The fishing on both Acreknowe and Williestruther is open till the 30th November. With the change in the temperature the fish are feeding deeper and Buzzers or Lures fished deep and slow are proving the most successful. Barnes has now closed, having fished well this season. The river has again been up and down over the past week resulting in little fishing effort for Salmon. Tickets can be purchased from the usual outlets. Tight Lines”

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 6ft 11” (and rising) and the water temperature is 48.

Looking at the availability for this coming week I would recommend Boleside or further upstream, Dryburgh Upper and Upper North Wark beats should have a chance of some action this week.

The forecast this coming week, a wet and windy start to Monday with widespread and locally heavy rain in the morning. The afternoon should be brighter with sunny spells but with blustery showers too. Winds easing a little. The weather is expected to remain showery and unsettled during the middle part of next week. Sunny spells and frequent showers, some thundery, are expected on Tuesday with a brisk and gusty westerly wind. A similar picture on Wednesday which looks very breezy and showery. Further rain or showers look possible on Thursday too.

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 ahead fishing, sinking lines with assorted poly leaders should suffice on most places with Junction Shrimp, Temple Shrimp, Willie Gunn Snaelda and Rogie are all capable to tempting fish on 1.5” – 2” tubes or dressed flies in size 6 on the upper river

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: 389 Salmon 62 Sea Trout

Total caught so far this season: 4812 Salmon and 1754 Sea Trout

As reported on Fishtweed:-

(Biggest Salmon 34lb Dryburgh Upper)

(Biggest Sea Trout 14lb Milne Graden)

www.taysalmonfly.co.uk



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