Sunday, 18 October 2020

River Tweed River Report Week Ending 17th October 2020 - Tay Salmon Fly

 River Tweed River Report Week Ending 17th October  

 A very unsettled week with the weather coming in from the North East, bringing a lot cooler air and a fair few heavy showers. The water was nice and settled on Monday to start the week then into Tuesday there as a rise and with the increased wind, it started to feel like autumn with leaf after leaf attaching themselves to the hooks. On Wednesday the water crept up all day and with about 4 lifts in the Leader in a few days the water held a fair bit of colour for the remainder of the week with it getting slightly better going into Saturday. Overall it feels like the season is pittering out now with more than half the fish caught last week being caught above Kelso right up into the upper reaches of the river. Of all the information received this week there is still a real lack of anything fresh to be seen never mind caught hopefully this will change a bit when the temperature drops to a more like mid-October rather than the water being in the 40s and not much proper frost so far.  The week ahead is looking a bit unsettled so catches could be a bit more sporadic.

 Coronavirus rules have changed in the Scottish Borders with a 6pm closing time for indoor venues and those with outdoor facilities can continue until 10pm (I think!!) If you have any concerns about an upcoming trip it would be best to contact your hotel ect before travelling to make sure of the restrictions that could affect your trip.

 Fishing at Cardrona Mr Stewart Scott landed a 3lb Grilse from the Rumbler. Mr Craig Adam landed fish of 20lbs and 14lbs from the Nutwood and Dirtpot. Mr Stuart was like lightening on Saturday fishing at Horsburgh landing 3 fish on a Junction Shrimp. Mr Colin Adam landed a fish of 15lbs. Holylee picked away and landed 9 for the week. Ghillie Jack Melrose landed fish of 30lbs and 22lbs, Mr Douglas Galbraith fish of 18lbs and 16lbs. Mr John Dawson fishing the Upper River had fish of 15lbs and 12lbs. Mr Peter Noble had a good trip landed a fish of 18lbs on Ashiesteil, two at Ladykirk and one at Tweedswood. Mr Michael Appleton fishing Ladyside on Beat 1 of the Middle Ettrick had a success on a Red Frances Conehead. Mr Neil Millard using a double handed rod for the first time landed a superb 20lb fish from Upper Hendersyde under the guidance of Mr Iain Wilson from the Borders Gunroom, in St Boswells.

 Mr Colin Bruce from Nest reports “28/09, Colin Halliday had a red letter day, following a hard frost with the gauge at 3" he landed 6 fish to 14lbs and lost another 5 all on a conehead orange shrimp from the Gullets. Following a 6" rise on 1/10 Jim Lapinski had 2 really fresh fish best 12lb on a black and yellow tube. With the river at 1'6" on 9/10Chris Joyce had 4 fish to 14lb from the Policemans and Gullets on a size 10 cascade and Geoff Hignett had a very 6lb fresh fish from the Boat pool on a Dee Monkey and managed another on 10/10, Robbie Smith caught his first every fish a12lb hen fish from the Gullets safely returned under expert tuition from his father Ray. On 15/10 Gary Kennedy from the Annan had a 20lb fish and an 8lbr from Rampy on a junction Shrimp with the river at 1'9" and in beautiful condition, Nigel Bliss had a 17lb fish from the house pool on a black and yellow tube”

 

Above Kelso 252 fish were reported, Between Kelso and Coldstream 95 were reported and below Coldstream 84 were reported. With the best fishing being on the Boleside where 31 Salmon were landed. Tillmouth 27, Ladykirk 25 and Junction 19 also picked away during the week.

456 Salmon and 20 Sea Trout were landed for the week with the best fish 30lb Salmon caught on the Holylee beat.

 

 On the evening on 19th September the fishing hut on the Lees Beat at Coldstream was broken into and   everything stolen. If you are offered any cheap tackle or have any information please get in touch or call the Police on 101.

 

The River Tweed Salmon Fishing Museum opening times are as follows on Weekdays 10am – 4pm and on Sundays 10am – 1pm.

If you catch a tagged fish then please take a note of the tag number, this can be made easier by taking a photo of the tag. To report a tagged fish please contact the Tweed Foundation on 01896 848 277 or the Head Fishery Officer on 07884 230 045.

 

Lower Birgham Head Boatman Mr Tom Davis reports “Well as weeks go, last week was great and frustrating all in one. We started the week really well and ended the week even better. But there was the matter of 3 days of a rising or dirty river to contend with in the middle that put a dampener on things. Although the river never got to a silly height or a horrendous dirty colour, it did give us small unsettling bits of water. Losing some fish upstream and putting the others down. Most of the fish caught this week have been in the river for some time and after being carefully landed all went back strongly to go upstream and do what they are here to do. Again large numbers of fish were being caught up and down the river which is great. All fish need to be handled well but some of these big hen fish are most definitely best left in the water and not held up out the water for the glory picture. We all have to look after what we have in the river and be as responsible as we can if we want to keep enjoying this wonderful thing! Hopefully next week can keep going from how we ended this week. And hope the rainfall doesn’t come too much and spoil the river as it’s in fine colour and a great height for us. So tight lines. Tom

 

On Upper North Wark, a quiet week with the unsettled water at the start of the week and we didn’t fish the end of the week. Any enquiries or booking requests please call Martin on 07825334427.

 Lees Head Boatman Mr Malcolm Campbell reports “The

weather didn't help us this week, heights were a bit too big for us Tuesday to Friday. Ken Brown who is new to Salmon fishing got his first two fish, fish of the week was a 25lber caught by Nick Douglas Home in the Temple whilst being Ghillied by dad Andrew, it was likely a pound or two heavier but Andrew is always conservative with the weight when it comes to big fish. We were on fast sink lines and back to black n yellow flies which keeps it easy. The beat was quieter this week and fish seem to have moved on. Nice to see fish being caught down at Tillmouth and Ladykirk, hopefully they will move up or perhaps they never will and might spawn down there.

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. 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.

The week ended with the level at Sprouston 1ft 11” and the water temperature is 44.

Looking at the availability for this coming week I would recommend Tweedswood, Dryburgh

Upper, Bemersyde, Upper Hendersyde and Upper North Wark beats should have a chance of some action this week.

 The forecast this coming week, Tomorrow, unsettled conditions will

persist, with showery outbreaks of rain moving in throughout the day that could be heavy at times. Southerly winds will increase. On Tuesday, there will be variable amounts of cloud with the scattering of showers persisting for most of the day, heaviest in the afternoon. Brisk south-westerly winds. Wednesday looks to be largely cloudy with patchy light rain or drizzle at any time of the day, but becoming drier in the evening. Thursday is set to be dry with a good deal of sunshine.

 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, looking at the weather for this coming week he water levels could fluctuate throughout the week. It could be a case of bring every line with you just incase but a rough guide a floating line or intermediate line with assorted poly leaders should suffice on most beats, Red Frances, Burgundy Frances, Black Frances, Purple Frances, Junction Shrimp and Snaelda are all capable to tempting fish on 1/2” – 1” tubes. The river is now Fly Only until the end of the season

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 (This figure is a rough guide and does not include fish caught during the Lockdown period 24th March to 12th May)

Total catch last week:  456 Salmon & 20 Sea Trout

Total caught so far this season: 7758 Salmon and 1127 Sea Trout

As reported on Fishtweed:-

(Biggest Salmon 30lb Holylee) (Upper Caberstoun 35lb, Tweedmill 32lb, Norham Castle Syndicate 31lb)

(Biggest Sea Trout 15lb Drygrange)


















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