The Tweed Spring Salmon Conservation Measures and Reward scheme apply to Spring Salmon caught between the opening of the season to June 30th.

The following rules for the Measures apply. The reward area applies from the main stem of the River Tweed downstream from the old road bridge crossing above the confluence with the River Ettrick to the coastal limits of the District of the Commission; and the lower reaches of the principal tributaries downstream of the confluence with the River Ettrick as follows: on the Gala Water, downstream from the Boleside road bridge; on the Leader Water, downstream from the Leaderfoot bridge; on the Teviot, downstream from the Kelso to St Boswells road bridge; on the Till, downstream from the Twizel Cauld; and on the Whiteadder, downstream from the Newmills Cauld:-

REWARDS

One of the following rewards may be claimed by a salmon fisher returning a Springer to the water:-

* A Navy Sweatshirt with “Tweed Spring Salmon” and the year of the scheme embroidered around the Tweed logo;

* A Navy Poloshirt with “Tweed Spring Salmon” and the year of the scheme embroidered around the Tweed logo;

* A high quality enamel badge with “Tweed Spring Salmon” and the year of the scheme shown around the Tweed logo.

* Alternatively, the salmon fisher may choose not to claim a reward but to ask the RTC to make a donation of £5 to the Tweed Foundation in support of its scientific and conservation work on the river.

All reward claims must be supported in the usual way by completion of a Reward Claim Form which must be signed off as genuine by the Fishery’s representative.

WHO QUALIFIES FOR A REWARD?

Some confusion has existed in the past on the river as to who qualifies for a reward, and also in the procedure for claiming. The following guidelines apply:

* Any Tweed Springer returned to the water qualifies for a reward for the salmon fisher returning it.

* A reward is to the salmon fisher who caught the fish and IS NOT TRANSFERRABLE to another salmon fisher; even if a number of fish have been caught and released by an individual and additional rewards are not required, these rewards should not be transferred to those who have not qualified for a reward by returning a fish, including the boatmen on the beat.

* Rewards are intended as a personal token to an individual salmon fisher and as such only the first three Tweed Springers returned, unharmed, to the water in any one season should be used to claim a reward.

Tweed Boatmen have agreed to the above guidelines, and to implementing them.