Old Melrose

Fishery Rules

Fishery Rules

1. Please note that this beat is fly-only throughout the season. Spinning will not be allowed at any time.

2. On the first day of your booking, please meet the Ghillie at 9am at the fishing hut.

3. Fishing is from 9am - 6pm with the rods having an hour off for lunch between 1pm and 2pm. In the summer, evening fishing can be substituted for the afternoon fishing at the Ghillie's absolute discretion. After the clocks go back in late October it is not practical to fish after 5pm due to darkness and whilst the Ghillies will still have an hour off for lunch rods are permitted to take a shortened lunch break at 1pm before continuing to fish.

4. Prior to 14th September the beat will be fished by 3 rods sharing the entire beat. After 14th September there will be two pairs of rods fishing at any one time, one on each of the two beats, making four rods in all. Each pair will fish one of the two beats changing to the other at 1.00pm each day.

5. After 30th September there will be a ghillie for all four rods.

6. Fishing is from the right bank only. Please respect fishers from the other bank and keep moving downstream between casts. Do not enter a pool directly downstream of someone fishing from the other bank. Please ensure that you only use the access roads and parking places.

7. No more than one rod should fish a pool at any one time and, in the autumn on the bottom beat, no more than one rod may fish above a point opposite the Halidean burn unless the water level is high enough to enable two rods to fish above this point without impeding the rods who are fishing on the opposite bank. Please remember that other rods will be fishing the far bank and have equal access to the pools, so keep moving down on each cast, to allow them in behind you.

8. Gyrodactylus salaris - tenants will be asked to sign a declaration to confirm that any equipment which has been used abroad has been sterilised before use.

9. Dogs are welcome but must be kept under control at all times and not allowed to roam.

10. No prawns, worms, shrimps or gaffs can be used at any time.

11. The use of barbless hooks is encouraged, especially for Spring fishing. Flatten or remove barbs to make hook removal easier and to cause less damage and stress to the fish. Treble hooks are strongly discouraged as they can be difficult to remove.

12. All Salmon caught prior to 30^th June must be returned. All Salmon caught after this date which are not clean should be returned. Further details can be found on the River tweed Commissioners website (www.rtc.org.uk) under Spring Salmon Conservation Rules.

13. fishers are expected to follow the Tweed Angling Code as issued by the River Tweed Commissioners and found at www.rtc.org.uk

14. Details of any fish caught must be recorded in the catch book in the Fishing Hut.

15. A boat is provided but our insurance policy states that it may only be used by competent and experienced boat handlers. Do not use it unless you fall into this category.

16. Wading is potentially dangerous and life jackets are provided for all Fishers. We recommend that they are used when wading or in the boat. A wading stick is also recommended and spare ones are available to be borrowed.

Additional Syndicate Rules

1. Syndicate Fishing at Old Melrose is let through an annual licence. There is no automatic right to re-new each year.

2. The Licence to fish is person specific. It is not possible to send a replacement fisher in your absence without permission. Such permission is not automatic and is at the owner’s discretion. Any replacement Fisher will need to know the water or pay for a guide.

3. If you wish to bring a guest with you to either share your rod or watch you fish it is important to inform the owner in advance.

4. The season runs from 1^st Feb to 30^th Nov and the Syndicate fish for the entire season less six autumn weeks being weeks 40 to 45. (approx. 2^nd Oct to 11^th Nov). Up until the end of Week 37 (approx. 17^th sept) only 3 rods will be let although the house may occasionally fish a fourth rod when conditions are suitable (river height between 6 inches and 1ft 6). The house rod will not interfere with the syndicate rods. From week 38 (approx. 19^th Sept) 4 rods will be let and rods will follow a beat rotation.

5. It is expected that Syndicate rods can decide where to fish between themselves but there is a suggested beat rotation available should it be needed.

6. It is imperative that the owner knows who is fishing at any given time. Under no circumstance is anyone to start fishing without having made contact with the owner. Syndicate members must make contact by text, call or email to the owner before each visit.

7. Syndicate members must ensure that the Fishing Hut is kept tidy and take any rubbish home with them. Please lock the Hut at the end of the day.

8.It is entirely possible that someone could have an accident on the riverbank and lie undiscovered for a length of time. It is therefore important that everyone fishing at Old Melrose without a Ghillie, on every visit, has told a friend, companion or partner where they are fishing and how to contact the owner if they do not return home at the agreed time.

Booking Conditions

1. All bookings are subject to the Old Melrose Fishery Rules, all relevant laws and the relevant River Tweed Conditions as issued by the River Tweed Commissioners. Copies of these can be requested or viewed online.

2. Changes to bookings are not permitted once payment has been received.

3. Under no circumstances will refunds be given although we will try to re-let any unwanted fishing on your behalf.

4. No subletting or sharing without permission. Such permission is not automatic and is at our discretion.

5. Old Melrose Fishings reserves the right to immediately withdraw fishing without compensation from anyone breaking any of the above terms and conditions.