Tweed Fishing - General Advice

Licences

Guests simply need to book a number of rods for their chosen days on a beat.  No other fishery licences are necessary. 

Refunds and cancellations

If the river floods and the beat is unfishable, there are no refunds given, in accordance with general Scottish fishing practice.  Rods may still fish unless the ghillie advises that it is not safe to do so.  In the event of the rod having to cancel and given suitable notice, the beat owner or agent will usually try and re-let fishing. A cancellation fee may apply. This is entirely at the discretion of the beat owner or agent and will be set out in the fishery conditions. 

Fishing hours

Most beats fish from 9 / 9.30am to 5pm with an hour for lunch.  Some beats will allow anglers to fish on alone after 5pm.

The role of the ghillie or boatman

Ghillies are employed by the beat owners to look after guests, maintain the fishery and carry out the day-to-day management.  When arriving at the beat, the ghillie will assist guests with selecting the most appropriate tackle and show each guest where to fish and explain how best to fish each beat.  Where there is one ghillie between several rods, he will check on guests regularly and offer advice.  He will also assist with landing and returning fish.  All catches must be recorded (whether or not the fish is kept) and at the end of the day it is vital to report any catches to the ghillie that he is not already aware of.  On beats where there is a high ratio of ghillies to rods, you may well have your own designated ghillie for the day.  On beats where most of the fishing is done from the boat, ghillies are usually referred to as boatmen. 

Ghillies will usually offer informal instruction to rods.  It is best to check with the ghillie prior to booking if you would like more extensive tuition in case his other responsibilities will prevent this. Not all beats offer a dedicated ghillie and some will only offer ghillies during the prime autumn season.  If you like the constant attention and advice offered by ghillies, then as a general rule, you are better to opt for beats on the Lower and Middle Tweed where the ghillie to rod ratio is higher, particularly in the autumn. 

Ghillies are also responsible for ensuring that anglers fish within the law, adhere to the fishery's conditions, the Tweed Angling Code and other conservation codes and in these respects the ghillie's decision is final.  It is customary to tip the ghillie at the end of the day or week's fishing.

The old adage that you ignore your ghillie's advice at your peril was never truer than on Tweed.  Ghillies are highly skilled professionals who spend years honing their craft.  Their experience and advice is invaluable and will help you have the best chance of catching fish and getting the most from your visit.  

Boats

There is a unique skill to manoeuvring a boat on a river so that the rod's fly is most likely to cover salmon and is presented in exactly the right way.  Poor casters and anglers may benefit from booking the Lower and Middle Tweed beats where boats are more frequently used. It is worth keeping in mind that boats will only be used when the conditions justify them and ghillies are entitled to refuse to take a boat out if it is not safe to do so.

Tips

It is customary to tip the ghillie / boatman at the end of the day or week's fishing.  Tipping is very personal, however as a very rough guide, we would suggest that £20-£30 per day is normal, perhaps more if you have caught a fish.  Traditionally, the tip is concealed between your fingers as you shake hands and say goodbye.  If fishing for a few consecutive days with the same ghillie most anglers will leave tipping to the end of the trip.

River Tweed Conditions

There are a number of conditions that rods must abide by.  Please click here to see the Tweed Angling Code for Salmon and Sea Trout. Each fishery will have its own conditions which rods will agree to on booking. Ghillies will assist rods in ensuring that the correct procedures are followed at all times. 

Catch and release

Due to consistent and sustained management since the mid 19th Century, Tweed has generally stable numbers of salmon returning to spawn each year.  This has been achieved without the need for compulsory catch and release policies or hatchery-reared fish.  That rods assist by showing restraint in the number of fish they keep has meant that stocks continue to be sustainable.  All beats will have a policy on returning fish which must be adhered to in conjunction with the River Tweed Conditions.  

Disabled Access

The Tweed Foundation, Tweed Proprietors, the Wheelyboat Trust and others have supported the development of the first ever bespoke UK fishing boat for the disabled and elderly for use on large salmon rivers.  Two Wheelyboats are available on Tweed for anyone in a wheelchair or who is infirm or unsteady on their feet and might feel unsafe sitting on the traditional high seated Tweed boats without support. The Tweed Foundation can provide wheelchairs for those who do not normally need them but might require them for safety and comfort of fishing.  The beats that can currently take the Wheelyboat are as follows:

Bottom Tweed: The Boathouse, Ladykirk, Horncliffe.

Lower Tweed: Junction, Upper Hendersyde, Sprouston, Carham, Lower Birgham, South Wark, The Lees, West Learmouth.

Middle Tweed: Ravenswood, Dryburgh North, Rutherford, Upper Floors, Lower Floors.

There is a nominal charge of £1 per day. Please contact us for further information.