From Ghillies to Grayling: A fishing holiday guide

Are you feeling inspired to take up fishing and learn the ways of the river?

Let us demystify fishing in our wonderful part of the world as you plan your holiday. Home to the famous River Tweed, replete with salmon, in addition to its bountiful tributaries, the Scottish Borders is a must-visit region for those keen to pick up this hobby. Should you need any more help or advice, do contact our friendly team who will be very happy to assist you.

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 & 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.

Boats

There is a unique skill to manoeuvering 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. Inexperienced 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. Se below for more information on the role of the ghillie.

River Tweed Angling Code

There are a number of conditions that rods must abide by, outlined in 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 guests 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, the Tweed has generally stable numbers of salmon returning to spawn each year. However, the river has strict conservation measures in place which now includes a mandatory catch-and-release policy from 1st February to 30th June to the whole of the Tweed system. Outside this period, anglers are encouraged to show restraint in the number of fish kept, and catch-and-release is widely encouraged. 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 for use on Tweed and further details on this service is available on FishTweed.

Salmon Fishing – Rods & Lines

Depending upon the conditions and time of year, different tactical approaches will be required for catching salmon. In very general terms, a 15′ rod is regarded as standard all year round along with a stout salmon reel.

The opinions on fishing tactics are wide and far-reaching. A ‘potted guide’ is set out below:-

• In the spring when the water and air temperatures are cool, fish are less inclined to travel great distances to intercept a fly. To this end, every attempt is made to fish ‘slow and deep’. In order to do this, sunk lines such as Wetcel 2 and 4 are used and occasionally intermediate lines with a sink tip.

• As the water warms, consistently reaching temperatures over 50°F so the tactics are to fish higher in the water and slightly faster than before. Intermediate, sink tip and floating lines are then employed.

• Throughout the summer and into the early autumn most people will fish the fly and bait high and fast in the water. Fish will respond by coming some distance to intercept a lure in quite an aggressive manner.

• As the water cools into October and November, we return to cold water tactics by presenting the fly deep and slow to the salmon.

• Nylon leaders ranging in strength from 10lbs to 20lbs should always be carried in the Tweed fisher’s armoury.

Flies

Generations have tried and tested countless flies over the years, some more effectively than others! What is arguably more important than pattern and colour, is the size of the fly employed and the depth and speed at which it is fished. Do consult local tackle shops and ghillies – they are best placed to advise you on what is working well for the conditions.

The following are generally regarded as a good starting point for fishing on Tweed: Ally’s Shrimp/Cascade, Stoat’s Tail, General Practitioner, Tosh, Hairy Mary, Thunder and Lightning, Willie Gunn, Frances (of all colours), Pot Bellied Pig. A range of flies from size 6 to 16 should feature in the fisher’s bag along with bigger Waddingtons for the cold water and some tubes in 1/4″ to 3″.

Spinners

Flying Cs, Mepps, Devons, Rapala, Spoon and Toby are all popular but be aware that on Tweed only one set of double or treble hooks per lure is allowed.

Waders

On many beats there will be a mixture of bank and boat fishing. The use of chest waders is recommended and most rods tend to wear them in the boat too.

Lifejackets

Most beats will either insist upon or recommend the use of lifejackets, and some will ask guests to sign a disclaimer if they opt not to wear one. Most beats will provide lifejackets but it is best to check before arrival.

Fishing Tackle Hire

If you don’t have your own fishing equipment you can rent rods, reels, lines, waders and wading boots from our friends at Fin and Game. Located in Kelso’s town centre, with the River Tweed, River Till and the River Teviot on the doorstep — and just a few shops away from the C&C office — they’ll set you up with all the top-end equipment you need for a successful day’s fishing.

Instructors & Ghillies

The Role of the Ghillie or Boatman

Ghillies are employed by the beat owners to look after guests, to offer advice on where to fish and what tackle to use, and will often give informal instruction to rods. Their experience is invaluable and they will maximise your chances of catching fish and getting the most from your visit. On beats where most of the fishing is done from the boat, ghillies are usually referred to as boatmen. Not all beats offer a dedicated ghillie and some will only offer this service during the prime autumn season.

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.

Informal Instruction from Ghillies

Most ghillies are usually prepared to offer a degree of informal instruction to rods. The effectiveness of this tuition will obviously depend on whether the ghillie is available for your sole use and if he is a willing and helpful teacher! You may wish to check this in advance.

Formal Instruction

There are a number of renowned local instructors who offer instruction either on their own water or on the beat you have booked.  If you opt for the latter, it is extremely important to check that the resident ghillie is happy with this arrangement.  We can fully recommend Eoin Fairgrieve who is a fully qualified member of AAPGAI and specialises in double and single handed casting tuition for novices looking to learn the basics right through to expert fly fishers looking to sharpen-up their technique.  For details of other instructors in your area, please refer to AAPGAI (Advanced Association of Professional Game Angling Instructors) or GAIA (Game Angling Instructors Association).

Fishing Guides

There are local qualified guides who will usually join you (or your party) for the day on the beat you have booked to provide you with dedicated advice and tuition throughout the day.  As with third party instructors, it is extremely important to check, where appropriate, that the resident ghillie is happy with this arrangement. Please refer to FishTweed for details.