Prospects

(Last updated: Monday 13th May)

Ian Wilson of Borders Gun Room - Prospects for week ahead.

The River today (Sunday) is carrying a slight tinge of colour following overnight rain on Friday which rose river levels by 6" on Saturday morning and is now steady and reading 1ft on the Boleside Gauge. This is a good fishing height and I would expect this level to drop slightly, but we are forecast some heavy showers from mid week onwards which may lift levels again.
Last weeks water temperature was into the low 50f`s, and I would expect this to stay about this temp or drop slightly due to cooler air coming from a Northerly direction on Monday and Tuesday. We are forecast to have a moderate to strong wind from a NorthWesterly direction for the start of this week, which may make casting at times difficult.

Fly Patterns to try are Cascade, Allys Shrimp, Wullie Gunns, Gledswood Black and Yellow or Blue Shrimp, Posh Tosh, Munro Killer, Editor and Monkey and these should be on 1"or 3/4" copper tubes or Dressed Doubles/Trebles size 6, 8, or 10`s depending on which part of the river you are fishing.
Spinning is another option to try and the likes of Devon Minnows, Flying `c`s, Tobies, Rapalas and X Raps are all likely to be productive.
There are fish spread throughout the river system, but have been reluctant to take, hopefully with warmer water temperatures and the threat of some rain later in the week this will change, and there is an increase in catch returns
The weather for the week is currently forecast as follows:-

Monday: A bright day with some sunny spells and showers these occasionally wintry on higher ground with snow on the hills. Fresh to strong west to southwest winds increasing to gale in places later. Maximum Temperature 10 °C.

Tonight:
Staying windy with gales in exposed areas and with further showers these more frequent to the west of Edinburgh, fewer reaching Berwickshire. Minimum Temperature 5 °C.

Tuesday: Another day of sunshine and scattered showers, with a band of more prolonged showers clearing south through the day. Strong to gale southwesterly winds easing during the day. Maximum Temperature 10 °C.

Wednesday: Bright with showers, some thundery showers possible in the afternoons Maximum Temperature 10°C.

Thursday: Bright with showers, some thundery showers possible in the afternoons Maximum Temperature 10°C.

Friday: mainly dry with sunshine and isolated light showers. Lighter winds, risk night frost. Maximum Temperature 13°C.

Saturday: Partly cloudy in the morning, with rising temperatures and becoming bright with a light north, northwesterly air. Maximum Temperature 13°C.

The tides at Berwick are falling this week with 4.4 at 16:37 GMT on Monday falling to 3.8m at 20:44 GMT on Saturday.

As always care should be taken when casting and eye protection should be worn at all times to protect eyes from an errant cast - it can happen to the best of anglers so please don't be complacent. Also on the safety note, a wading staff is useful, especially after floods may have moved gravel and boulders round the river bed and a flotation device should always be worn when in the river.

All anglers are requested to complete and sign the G.S Declaration document before they begin to fish. This is crucial if they have fished outside of the U.K.

In the interest of adding more detail to these reports, if any rod/boatman/gillie etc. has any details of catches, anecdotes, pictures or experiences whilst fishing Tweed could they please contact us by e-mail at info@fishtweed.co.uk

Good Luck and Tight Lines for the week ahead.
Iain Wilson

Don't forget you can also get reports direct from the beats now by selecting Beat Reports in the left hand menu.