Returns

We're approaching the end of September and catches have been a little disappointing over the last few weeks with a few notable exceptions. Cardrona, along with all the other Upper Tweed beats, has suffered as a consequence of the dry spell of weather that is only now coming to an end. However, we've not had returns from all who have fished with us and I'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that it is important that they give us details of any catches (including nil returns and whether fish were retained or released). We have to give a full catch return to the River Tweed Commissioners at the end of every season and without your returns we can't do this. Please send your returns to the email address on our FishTweed page and feel free to add any other information you'd like us to hear about (flies, techniques, pool in the case of catch returns).

September 2008 saw 17 fish caught for the month including the one pictured here which went back safely after the photograph was taken.

It's Raining!

The last week has seen a continuation of the unseasonably dry weather but despite that Hywel Vickers caught a 15lb fish last Thursday. We believe it to be our largest fish so far this season and Hywel is to be congratulated for returning it safely.

There have been showers at Cardrona most of the day and more rain is forecast over the next few days. The gauge at Peebles is now down at just 4" above summer level but, with luck, the expected rain will give us the rise in river levels that we've been waiting for.

Pray For Rain!

The gauge at Peebles is currently sitting at 6" and, unless the rain that is currently moving in from the West pushes levels up, this coming week will be challenging for anglers on the upper river. Returns for last week show most catches concentrated on the lower and middle beats, I fear that this may not change significantly over the coming days if we do not get a rise in levels.

Floating lines and small flies will probably give the best chance of a fish. With the strong winds forecast anglers should also exercise caution when casting - try to keep the fly downwind when casting and always wear some kind of eye protection.

Fly Fishing only from 15th Sept

Just a reminder that - as of tomorrow - we, along with all other beats in the Tweed catchment, are fly only. Cardrona's runs and pools are ideally suited to fishing the fly and even before the 15th September the overwhelming majority of our fish are always fly-caught so, in reality, this ruling makes very little difference to those fishing with us.

It's probably also a good time to remind anglers that they should always read and sign the Gyrodactylus declaration before fishing and also abide by the Tweed Angling Code.

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.

Falling water

It's been an up and down week - quite literally. Water level has been like the proverbial yo-yo, but there may be a glimmer of hope for rods fishing at the weekend on the upper river. One of the regular rods managed to winkle out a 3lb sea trout in a brief window of opportunity between spates earlier in the week. Now sitting at 3' 6" this Friday morning and falling, prospects could be good if we get no more wet stuff today. Upside is that most of the rain is in the east, what we do not need (well, at the moment) is rain sweeping in from the west which affects the western Tweed catchment.

Anyway, prospects could be good tomorrow, as the water up here falls in, fines down and clears very quickly.

Featured 'Pool of the week' is the Castlehaugh Cheek, Cardrona's uppermost pool and pictured here in early spring with about 1' 2" on the guage. If you are not a speycaster, watch the overhead wires on the back cast. The pool name is derived from Nether Horsburgh Castle, a 16th century tower house, the ruin of which sits on the haugh on the north bank. These tower houses are regular features in border country.