news/editorial

14 August 2016 News/Editorial

The River Tweed Commission has just issued the following statement with respect to the Tweed’s salmon catch numbers for Spring 2016:

“After some disappointing catches in recent years, the 2016 Tweed Spring Salmon rod catch continued to improve with 2464 fish; this was the fifth largest in the last 30 years and the best for four years. The majority of fish reported to date were, as usual, caught in the Lower River (1,536), with the Middle catching the bulk of the rest (685). Overall, the Lower Tweed catch was 23% higher than in 2015 although those on Middle river averaged only a modest 5% increase. The greater part of catch was in the later Spring months of April, May and June. Of the tributaries, the Whiteadder showed the biggest increase on last season with a catch two and a half times that of 2015 (72 in 2015; 176 in 2016), although these were mostly reported from the lower beats.

The Tweed has a catch and release policy for Spring Salmon for conservation and in accordance with good management practice.”

That this is good news is indisputable, showing an increase in the strength of Tweed’s weakest stock of salmon, but the figures remain low in absolute terms and certainly are not any sort of indication of any reason to relax the mandatory catch and release policy for rods until 30th June, and for nets until 15th June, annually.

--00--

So what of August fishing so far?

Last week the Tweed had two more small rises, but still no proper flood. The forecast for the coming week shows settled, warm and sunny weather to start with followed by a gradual cooler, and possibly wetter, thundery breakdown over the second half of the week.

As August 2016 goes on, the weekly numbers of salmon caught is gradually rising, but no really big catches so far. It is early days for the Tweed, and the second half of August is usually that much better than the first.

If it doesn’t get too hot and sunny, which it might, this coming Monday and Tuesday should be good for catches, as the river settles down after last week’s rises and dirty water.

Should be, but will they?

We will soon find out.