Sunderland Hall is unique in having fishing on both the Tweed and the River Ettrick down to their junction. This very attractive beat has over a mile of fishing on the South Bank of Tweed down into the famous Meetings Pool and there is also nearly half a mile on Ettrick (half of it double bank) also down into the Meetings pool.
The two stretches are run as one beat. Having fishing on both rivers is often an advantage in times of heavy rainfall, when, due to their different speeds and catchments, one river may be fishable when the other is too coloured.
Likewise, as most of the spring and summer fish on theTweed run the Ettrick water, having part of the beat on Ettrick, there is an opportunity to catch a spring or summer fish before the main run up Upper Tweed.
There is no ghillie, but the beat is easy to get to know. There are directions about where to fish and a detailed map in the fishing hut. The pools have posts at the start and finishes with numbers on.
As much of the beat is situated on the outside of a bend in the Tweed, the banks are often eroding and can be steep in places, and therefore a certain amount of clambering around will be necessary. Storm Arwen caused many hundreds of trees to fall along the river, and one of the fishing route paths will remain quite rough until the license comes through to finish the forestry work. However routes have been cleared to the start and finishes of each pool and it remains a beat that will reward the adventurous.
The beat is best fished by wading.
It is run on an informal and friendly basis. Tenants are expected to be friendly and help each other.
For a comprehensive list of places to stay whilst in the Borders visit the Where To Stay section on FishTweed.
