Some Rain & A Few Fish

The last week probably didn't see as much rain as was predicted and levels only lifted by 6-7" in midweek before dropping down to 2-3" above summer level again. However that small rise does seem to have encouraged fish to move up. James Mackellar had a successful couple of days at Cardrona, getting two salmon on Friday and a sea trout on Saturday. Succesful flies were a collie dog, small junction shrimp and a stoat's tail.

Also on Saturday, Brian Marshall returned a 9lb salmon and both Iain Bain and Brian Davidson each had a sea trout.

More rain is forecast and the river is rising quickly in its upper reaches at the moment so the next week should see more fish caught. It's been a long time coming!

River levels are updated twice daily on Fishtweed should you wish to check current river conditions.

Indian Summer

This last week has seen more settled weather and the bright sunshine and gradually falling water (now at just under one foot above summer levels) has meant for pleasant but generally unproductive fishing conditions. There have been rewards for those who were persistent, the most notable catch was a 8.5lb salmon caught on an Ally's Shrimp by Robert Steel. Two sea trout were caught early on in the week, the biggest, a fish estimated at 6lbs, was captured by Tom Borthwick.

We are unlikely to see any significant rainfall over the next few days but there is likely to be more cloud cover which should improve prospects for those hoping to catch a September salmon.

Skagit and all that

Just as a postscript to the earlier post, this blog's other co-author ventured out in less than promising conditions for a few casts this afternoon and proved the worth of these new-fangled Skagit lines. The river was rising and carrying a tinge of colour but a couple of hours with a 12'9" 8 weight rod lined with 550gr Rio Skagit head and an 8ft T-14 sink tip produced a couple of violent pulls, the second of which resulted in this sea trout being banked. The fly? Let's just say it was a dirty great steelhead fly armed with a size 2 stinger hook and leave it at that! Apologies for the picture of my knee - it was a rushed photograph as I wanted to get the sea trout back in the river where she belongs.

They've Arrived!

A decent lift last Sunday and other small rises in the intervening days since have helped maintain good levels throughout the last week and so it was no surprise that Cardrona saw its first two salmon of the season caught on Saturday. Both fish were very fresh as can be seen from the photograph of the first (estimated at around 11lb) going back.

There are undoubtedly more fish present as Charlie McGhee, also fishing on Saturday, hooked and lost a couple of fish.

We've also added to our tally of sea trout this week, Iain Bain and Hywel Vickers getting one apiece on Tuesday and Friday respectively.

With more rain forecast for the beginning of the coming week prospects should remain good.

Prospects

On Thursday the river rose to its highest level since early Spring before dropping to a very fishable 2ft above summer level on Saturday. Two sea trout were caught on Saturday and, with the river rising again as I type this on Sunday evening, prospects should be good for the coming week when things settle down.

This is a picture of a sea trout captured (and returned) earlier in the week.

Salmon & Sea Trout Fishing at Cardrona

We've set up this blog to provide information for those wishing to fish at Cardrona and also to provide news updates for those of you who have fished with us in the past or who are intending to do so in the future.

The beat comprises 1.8 miles of fishing on the right bank of the Tweed at Cardrona, just a few miles downstream of Peebles and only 26 miles from the Edinburgh by-pass.

It's true to say that the upper Tweed is regarded as an autumn fishery but, given water (and we seem to be getting a fair bit as I type this in mid-August), salmon can appear earlier in the season. Last year was the first full season under the current ownership and 96 salmon and 4 sea trout were caught between August and the end of the season.

If you'd like to join us at Cardrona you can check availability and make bookings via Fishtweed.