Salmon and the River Tweed

The months of October and November mean just one thing when you live alongside the River Tweed: salmon. The famed autumn run of this most majestic of fish – the culmination of an epic journey from spawning ground to sea and back again – attracts anglers from around the world.

And it’s easy to see why. The river is a beautiful place to be at this time of year, particularly in the upper sections around Peebles where the heavily-wooded banks and surrounding hills provide a wonderful backdrop. There’s other life here too – heron, dipper and otter are frequently seen – which only adds to the experience of fishing at this time of year.

But, on a river that is considered one of the world’s great salmon fisheries, it’s the fish that are the main draw. At 98 miles long, and with a vast catchment that covers some 1,500 sq miles, the Tweed is the second longest river in Scotland. It’s also said to produce more fish caught to the fly than any other river in Britain.

And it’s now that this celebrated waterway can be full of migratory fish heading for the upper reaches of the river system to find a mate and spawn. The autumn runs begins in September, with the upper Tweed traditionally seeing good numbers of salmon (and sea trout) moving through the beats through much of October and November.

As we explored in a previous blog, the river is now a very different place to when its waters were once harnessed by the textile industry. The work of Tweed Forum and fisheries biologists at Tweed Foundation has brought significant improvements in water quality and habitat, giving salmon and other species every chance to thrive.

Even if not fishing, do keep an eye out for salmon when down by the river. On our regular walks along the banks of the Tweed, we often see salmon leaping high above the water as they travel upstream. It’s always an exciting sight – and a reminder of just how big some of these remarkable fish are.

Further info

The Tontine has long been a popular base for visiting fishermen. Check our availability online or call us on 01721 720892 to book.