NEWBIE BEAT - RULES OF FISHING CONDUCT
A. Scottish Government Wild Fisheries Reform and Annan Fishery Board
Newbie Beat follows the Scottish Government Wild Fisheries Reform grading of rivers, which currently grades the River Annan as Grade 3 and necessitates the return of all Salmon and Grilse. The beat also adopts the River Board regulations.
B. Sporting Conduct
- All kelts and gravid fish, all salmon fry, all migratory fish that are foul-hooked (i.e. hooked otherwise than in the mouth) and all migratory fish under 10" long must be returned the river immediately with as little injury as possible;
- Fisherman must not fish in a manner whereby fish are likely to be foul-hooked. No excessively wighted fly or bait may be used. There should be no fishing upstream (other than dry fly);
- A fisherman must move downstream as a reasonable pace if another fisherman is fishing down the pool behind him, or is waiting to fish that pool from either side of the river;
- No gaff may be used at any time
C. Restrictions on Bait Fishing
- Fishing with a worm / worming may only be practiced in red / chocolate flood water but only as a last resort on the following stretches of the river. Beat 1 from the Jubiliee Bridge to Milnby Cauld (the Black Pool). Beat 2 between Annan by-pass bridge and the former Cuthbertson Bridge (Mill Pool). Beat 3 on the Island Pool, but only from opposite the gate at the southern end of the Warmanbie Wood down to the Jubilee Bridge
and only provided the are permitted by the Fishery Board;
- Other natural baits (including prawn and shrimp) cannot be used on these or any other part of the beat in any circumstance whatsover.
D. Restrictions on Spinning
Fly fishing is encouraged whenver possible and especially when the river is low
- Spinning is allowed at all times only on Beat 1, Beat 2 and Beat 3 as per descriptions given above under Bait Fishing Restrictions below and on Howes Corner on Beat 3.
- On the remainder, spinning is only permitted when the water height is 1ft 3" or above, taken from the Newbie marker reading
- All spinning lures may only have one set of hooks and a maximum hook size of size 4.
E. Cauld Pool and Cauld Stream
No fly or spinning bait may land above the white marker on the wall on the right bank immediately below Milnby Cauld. This rule applies to all heights of water.
F. Beat Rotation
Owners will rotate beats at 1pm daily. The beats are;
Beat 1 - Black Pool (from Jubilee Bridge down), Cauld Pool, Cauld Stream and Pats Bridge
Beat 2 - Craigdale, Mill Pool, Kingswell and The Flats
Beat 3 - Island Pool (down to Jubilee Bridge), Violetbank, Howes Corner and The Spittal
G. Returning Fish
- In accordance with the Scottish Government regulations, all Salmon and Grilse must be safely returned to the river throughout the season
