The beat is fished as a 4 day a week syndicate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays throughout the season, with the remaining days being retained by the co-owners. The price of a rod for the 2017 season is £675 and there is no limit to the number of days - subject to the two days retained weekly - which can be fished during the season. This leaves the angler with a great degree of flexibility as to how they prefer to fish over the course of the season; some will fish regular days per week or sessions at short notice and others will visit for a few days at a time.
The beat map
Turning to the fishings, the beat comprises some of the lowermost fishable stretches of the Tweed and so naturally benefits from the lowest of waters. Being the right bank fishing, opposite the lower part of the Tweedhill beat, Tweedhill's catches can be used as an indication of the spread of catches throughout the season. With all Tweed fish other than those destined for the Whiteadder having to pass through the beat, low water at any stage of the season will give an angler a chance; however, usually the river has dropped in enough for fishing proper to start in April or May, with September traditionally being the best month and Autumn spates signalling the end of the fishing usually in October.
The river is shared with Tweedhill which fishes the left bank, although normally they do not fish any further downstream than Waltham Croy.
The top-most pool, the Squire, is the first real holding pool on the Tweed and can hold great numbers of fish when the river is at Summer low. Below this, there are lies at the Boat Hole, Red Rock and the Wheel, before a nice stretch of fly water with pool names the Waltham Croy and Kirk End. Moving downstream, there are the Goose, Gas House and Nose End pools, which are large, bottom-river dubs, before another shallower streamy section just upstream from Paxton known as the New Water Stream. The greatest numbers of fish come from the Squire, the Waltham Croy and New Water Stream.
The Squire - a very productive Summer low holding pool.
The boat mooring at the Wheel, with Waltham Croy in the background.
An angler fishes Kirk End, downstream from Waltham Croy which is in the foreground
A fish from the New Water Stream in very low conditions
Being only 4.5 miles or so from Berwick Bridge, the beat is tide-affected for periods of the day and so attention must be paid to the tide tables, with the latter stages of the ebb being a productive time for the beat. One consequence of being positioned right on the tide is that the beat benefits from a very high proportion of very fresh fish - around 95% of fish caught are sealiced. Another benefit is that the beat is capable of producing huge fish; a fresh 31lb fish was caught here in 2013 and 29lb fish was caught in 2005.
Most fish caught are sealicers
Perfect condition
The beat is well-maintained with good access to all pools and parking adjacent to the well-equipped hut which looks onto the Waltham Croy.
There is a hut with sofas, a fire and a WC
As with all Tweed beats, 2016 was one to forget, but this is a good opportunity for someone looking for regular, midweek Tweed fishing to get in on the act at very good value for money. Enquiries should be made to Jack on 07782101103 or Martin on 07885820680.
Fished this water from 1977 when Dr Fraser had it. Remember 1986 when huge catches were made in Sept& Oct of big autumn fish.
ReplyDeleteDr Fraser was worn out catching them.He had days of 10,8,6 in cons days...all fresh averaging 14lb..The seatrout fishing around 1988-1992 was excellent...I had a night of 10,4,3.5,3lb and lost another bigger than the 10 pounder...happy days.