Borders & South Scotland
The River Tweed rises at Wells of Tweed, 1,500 feet up in the hills north of Moffat, and flows around 97 miles east to Berwick — and for much of the last two centuries has been the single most productive salmon river in Scotland, producing over 10,000 fish a season as recently as fifteen years or so ago. The Junction Pool at Kelso, where the Teviot meets the main river, is regarded as one of the most famous salmon fishing spots in the world, with a single-day record of 52 fish caught there in October 2003.
Unusually for a major Scottish salmon river, no statutory rod licence is required anywhere in the Tweed catchment. The river divides into four fishing sections — Upper, Middle, Lower and Bottom — with around 45 well-managed beats between them, and the tributaries (Teviot, Ettrick, Yarrow, Till and Whiteadder) are substantial salmon rivers in their own right rather than afterthoughts.
Rivers
River Tweed
One of Europe's great Atlantic salmon rivers. Season runs 1 February–30 November, with spring conservation catch-and-release in force 1 February–30 June across the whole system. Best known as an autumn river, though spring and summer fish run too. Fly fishing predominates; spinning permitted on most beats 15 February–15 September.
Salmon · Sea troutRiver Teviot
The Tweed's largest tributary by catchment, joining the main river at Kelso. Good early-season salmon runs, around 700 fish landed in an average season, plus abundant grayling and brown trout.
Salmon · GraylingRiver Ettrick & River Yarrow
Converge at the Meetings Pool near Selkirk. A remarkable 70–80% of the salmon that run the Tweed system in spring and early summer actually spawn in the uppermost reaches of the Ettrick — genuinely the nursery of the whole river. Wild brown trout fishing April–September on both.
Salmon · Wild troutRiver Till & River Whiteadder
The Till is the Tweed's only English tributary, entering from Northumberland. The Whiteadder drains the Lammermuir Hills — both are genuine salmon and sea trout waters within the wider system.
Salmon · Sea troutGeneral guide only — Tweed fishing rights are held by around 128 riparian owners and let through estates, hotels or angling associations by the day or week; walk-up access is rare on the main salmon beats, though club day tickets for trout and grayling are more widely available on the tributaries. Always confirm current permits, season dates and rules before fishing.
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