Scottish Borders Fishing
The Wheatsheaf is ideally situated for access to some of the best sea trout and salmon fishing in the Scottish Borders. Specifically we are within easy reach of the River Tweed and its lower tributaries the Whiteadder and the Till. Read the latest review (scanned) in Trout and Salmon, page one, page two, page three. If you're after brown trout and rainbow trout fishing then both the Watch Reservoir and Coldingham Loch are local favourites. Excellent sea fishing can be had off the east coast of Berwickshire.
We are part of the VisitScotland Anglers Welcome Scheme
Tweed Salmon & Sea Trout Fishing Season
The salmon and sea trout fishing season starts on the 1st of February finishing on the 30th of November. April and May can offer the best Spring fishing. For angling purists, catching a fresh Tweed springer on the fly is an experience hard to surpass. The spring is also a good time for fishing for sea trout and salmon on the River Whiteadder and the River Till. Two of the Tweed's lower tributaries. For your salmon fly fishing needs, visit Tweed Salmon Flies.
Summer Tweed fishing gives the Tweed angler some superb fishing for reasonable prices. If the River Tweed is low then bottom and lower Tweed beats such as Ladykirk and Tweed Mill offer excellent fishing. The River Whiteadder and the River Till have good sea trout fishing right up into the summer.
The Autumn run on the Tweed is world famous bringing anglers from every continent. Not only is there a large run in the autumn but some salmon can approach the 30lb mark.
Where to Book
Locally salmon fishing can be arranged on Pedwell and Tweedhill through Sale & Partners. Salmon fishing on the River Tweed more widely can be organised through Fish Tweed or alternatively Tweed Salmon Fishing. Salmon and sea trout fishing can be arranged on the Whiteadder through Game Fair (01289 305119) in Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Tweed Salmon Beat Distances from the Wheatsheaf:
- Bottom Tweed: Tweedhill (6 miles) up to Milne Graden (5 miles) (see Tweed Fishing Map below).
- Lower Tweed: Tillmouth Park (9 miles) up to the Junction at Kelso (13 miles)
- Middle Tweed: Lower Floors (13 miles) up to Boleside (24 miles)
Highlighted Tweed Beats
One of the best beats on Bottom Tweed, Ladykirk does well when the river is low. A large number of fish gather at Ladykirk waiting for the river level to rise during dry periods. At its best in the autumn good fishing can be had all year round. It offers 3 miles of single bank fishing from the Scottish side which for most of its stretch is the better bank to fish from. Ladykirk has a five-year catch average of 401 salmon and 18 sea trout.
The Junction Pool, at the top of Lower Tweed, is one of the best-known salmon fishing pools in Scotland where the River Teviot meets the River Tweed. The Junction and Hempseedford beat offers 1.5 miles of double bank fishing with a five-year catch average of 649 salmon and 75 sea trout.
Click on the map for a larger view of local salmon beats on the River Tweed. These maps were kindly provided by Nigel Houldsworth (Copyright© 2005). Visit Fishing Maps to buy the full illustrated Tweed Fishing Map.
Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout Fishing
The Wheatsheaf hotel is within easy reach of Coldingham Loch and the Watch Reservoir. Contact phone numbers below:
- Coldingham Loch (018907 71270)
- Watch Reservoir (01361 890331)
The Berwickshire coast offers excellent sea angling, with Eyemouth being the main centre, although boats also operate from Burnmouth and St. Abbs. Fish can be caught from shore or boat with the main species being cod, mackerel, coalfish, flounder, plaice, sole, haddock, whiting, catfish, ling and wrasse. Again there is no closed season, so the weather is the only restricting factor.
