Tweed Angling Code

for Salmon and Sea Trout
 
A guide to legal restrictions and good practice when fishing on
Tweed and its tributaries

[REVISED 2010]
 


CONTENTS

Introduction
Implementation of the Code
Spring Salmon Conservation Measures
Handling Fish
The Need For Rules
General Conduct


INTRODUCTION


As more people fish for salmon, as the many environmental pressures on salmon increase, and as exploitation continues to make high demands on wild stocks, it becomes increasingly important for the salmon angler to set a good example in standards of sportsmanship and in care for wild stocks, the environment, wildlife and fellow anglers.
The purpose of this code is to encourage such standards and to avoid behaviour which may bring the sport into disrepute.
This Code consists of two sections:
Section A Statutory regulations.
Section B Regulations to be imposed by beat owners including the new Spring Salmon Conservation measures.
In addition there are advisory notes on handling fish and on general conduct.


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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE


Owners, managers, associations and clubs should ensure that the principles of this code are applied to their beats and are expected to withdraw permission to fish from those who contravene Sections A and B.

Section A: The Law

Legal regulations contained in statute, a breach of which could lead to criminal proceedings.

  1. The season starts on 1st February and ends on 30th November.
     
  2. There is no fishing on Sundays.
     
  3. Before February 15th and after September 14th fishing is with fly only.
     
  4. IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL ROD-CAUGHT FISH.
     
  5. It is illegal to fish without legal right or written permission from the beat's owner or his representative.
     
  6. It is illegal to use prawns or shrimps throughout the catchment and throughout the year.
     
  7. It is illegal to use either worms (by any method) or lures with multiple hooks (other than a lone double, or a lone treble, hook) at any time of year on the whole of the Ettrick and Yarrow and their tributaries; the whole of 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.
     
  8. It is illegal to attempt deliberately to foulhook fish.
     
  9. It is illegal to use anything other than a net as auxiliary to land a fish.
     
  10. It is illegal to kill kelts, smolts and parr.
     
  11. It is illegal to take unclean or unseasonable fish which includes baggots, kippers and fish about to spawn or in the process of spawning.
    All caught fish must be recorded in the beat’s record book except:-

    12. a) kelts (any Salmon that have already spawned) and,

    b) in the Spring only, sexually mature Salmon from the previous year that have not yet spawned (ie. full of spawn or milt).

    [Salmon in this context means Salmon or Sea-trout.]

  12. It is illegal to buy or sell wild salmon roe or to fish with any form of salmon roe.
     

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Section B: Tweed Rules

Regulations which the Commission expect beat owners to impose

  1. In order to minimise the risk of spreading Gyrodactylus salaris to Scotland, all anglers’ equipment which has been used outside Britain and Ireland within the preceding seven days must be cleaned either by:

    a) Drying at a minimum temperature of 20 C for at least 2 days, OR

    b) Heating for at least one hour at a temperature above 60 C, OR

    c) Immersing in a suitable solution. Virkon (at 1% solution); Wescodyne (at 1%); a 3% solution of common salt (Sodium Chloride) or a 0.2% solution of Sodium Hydroxide OR

    d) Deep freezing for at least 1 day.
     

    2. Anglers will be required to sign a Declaration to this effect and the Gyrodactylus Declaration form can be downloaded - please follow this link to the Gyrodactylus page

  2. Artificial prawns or shrimps should not be used.
     
  3. All foulhooked fish (ie those not hooked in or around the mouth) should be returned.
     
  4. In order to help prevent deliberate foulhooking, the following fly fishing rules have been agreed :-

    a) Maximum cast/leader breaking strain - 25lbs.
    b) Hooks or tubes should be properly dressed, ie with coloured body and a reasonable quantity of hair/fur/feather in proportion to the hook size - not a bare treble with a few feathers tied on.
    c) Maximum tube treble size - No 4.
    d) No weights or swivel devices that are not part of the body of the fly are permitted.
    e) Unless fishing with a floating line, casts should be made downstream of square.
    f) Unless fishing with a floating line, no retrieve, other than slow hand lining or reeling in to be made until the cast has been fished out.
    g) Continue to move steadily through the pool, normally at a rate of 1 metre between casts.
    h) Anglers to remain at least 20 metres apart.
     
  5. The Tweed Spring Salmon Conservation Measures should be applied throughout the catchment as specified in the following section.

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SPRING SALMON CONSERVATION MEASURES


    These Measures apply from 2010 for the period 1st February to 30th June each year on the whole of the Tweed catchment regardless of whether beats have a full-time boatman to verify rewards.
     
    There are significant changes to the rules regarding Spring Salmon from the 2010 season onwards. These are laid out in a separate leaflet.

    Please ensure that you are familiar with these rules before you start fishing and read the new rules on the Spring Conservation.
     

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HANDLING FISH

  1. Outside the period of the Spring Salmon Conservation Measures there are no catch limits, but anglers are expected to keep only fish which they can sensibly make use of.
     
  2. Fish to be retained should be promptly and efficiently dispatched with an appropriate priest.
     
  3. Fish to be returned should be released as quickly as possible, the hook being removed with suitable forceps. Such fish should be handled as little as possible and returned carefully into running water facing upstream.
     
  4. Ripe/darkly coloured fish, particularly hens, are not suitable for eating fresh or for smoking and should be returned. It is not possible to lay down precise criteria for determining what is a keepable fish. Common sense and discretion should be used, taking into account all the circumstances; for example a fish which was the angler’s first fish or his only fish for the week might be considered keepable whereas a fish in the same condition should be returned when fresh fish are plentiful. IF IN DOUBT, PLEASE PUT IT BACK!

THE NEED FOR RULES


The River Tweed Commission expect all proprietors to implement the rules in Section B and to withdraw permission to fish from those who break them.

The rules have been carefully drafted to ensure their effectiveness  whilst minimising any disruption to the legitimate fisherman. We hope that the latter will understand the need for action and accept any inconvenience to them as their part in ensuring that the Tweed as a whole is sensibly fished.


The statutory responsibility for enforcement of Tweed law, as set out in Section A, has been vested in the River Tweed Commission by Parliament and is implemented by their water bailiffs who have powers to prosecute offenders.
 


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GENERAL CONDUCT


Angling as a sport and recreation can easily be disrupted by external interference. Water space is in great demand, both from anglers and other activities, and therefore its enjoyment has to be shared. The following points should be observed by every angler.


    - if the equipment has been used outside Britain and Ireland, it is vital that you clean and treat your equipment in one of the approved ways described at Section B.1 in order to prevent any risk of spreading Gyrodactylus salaris to Tweed. 

    - observe the bounds of any beat to which you have been assigned.
     - give consideration to anglers on the opposite bank.
     - anglers fishing with spinners should give precedence to fly fishers..
    - make sure you can recognise kelts, baggots & kippers so that you can comply with the legal requirement to return them to the water.
     - acknowledge considerate behaviour by other legitimate water users.
    - follow the Country Code, particularly in relation to control of dogs, the risk of fires and fastening gates.
    - do not park vehicles so that they obstruct gateways or cause a hazard on the road.
    - avoid damage to the waterside or disturbance to wildlife; no tackle or litter should be discarded, particularly nylon which is a hazard to wildlife.
    - be safety conscious, wear a life jacket or buoyancy aid and eye protection, be aware of overhead electric lines, stop fishing in electric storms and wade cautiously.

    - support The Tweed Foundation and other organisations which safeguard your sport.


The Commission would like to thank the Salmon & Trout Association for permission to include some items from their own angling code, which is recommended as an excellent general code.

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