Stoneflies
Caddisflies
Gammarids
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC010610
Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal16°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Fair conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Likely species
Caddisflies
- Net-spinning caddisMost likelyLower confidenceNearest relative#12–14–16 · PupaWidespread riffle net-spinner; evening emergence.
- CapererAlso possibleLower confidence#10–12 · AdultBig autumn sedge; fish dry at last light.
- Green SedgeAlso possibleLower confidenceNearest relative#10–12–14–16 · NymphFree-living green caddis larva; fast stony riffles.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 12:00
12:00(now) — Heather Fly
Stage: Terrestrials on topApproach: Dry flyActivity: 61%
Also:Reed Smut51%Autumn Dun32%Cinnamon Sedge27%
Peak emergence window11 food groups active
Peak activity at 12:00 — Heather Fly (Heather Fly, Peak emergence window)
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 3 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence
Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.
Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Fly box · Atlantic Salmon
Beats · 3
Don't read the Nith as a second-tier salmon river — it is a four-lane mixed fishery where brown trout, grayling, sea trout and salmon each take their turn through the year (spring trout, summer sea trout, autumn salmon, winter grayling). The salmon is the headline name but not the headline opportunity: the Nith has been Category 3 since 2020, which means 100% catch-and-release — no salmon may be killed anywhere in the catchment. Access is unusually practical for an ordinary angler: Dumfries Burgh Common Good water is council-controlled, and there is association and FishPal-bookable beat water besides estate beats. Scotland has no rod licence, but you still need the right permit. Confirm the current Nith DSFB conservation policy and beat rules before fishing.
Dumfries Burgh Common Good FishingMembers
The ordinary angler's anchor on the lower Nith: council-controlled common-good water through Dumfries, with day permits and genuine value for a town-centre salmon and sea-trout river.
Friars Carse BeatGuide / lodge
A middle-river hotel/estate beat near Auldgirth — bookable as a day beat or with a stay.
DGAA Cairn & Cluden tributariesMembers
Association water on the Cairn and Cluden tributaries — the club/membership lane for ordinary anglers, with trout and sea-trout potential and some migratory fish on the rise.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 4
Gallery · 6
River Nith at Drumlanrig 
River Nith at Auldgirth 
The River Nith at Friars' Carse 
River Nith from Auldgirth Bridge 
The River Nith at Thornhill Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal0.0
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftNot Applicable0.0
Water temperatureCool To Moderate0.0
Time in seasonOpening Period0.0
ClarityClearing0.0
Hydrology base0.0
Legal gate: Unknown Check Local Rules
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon 25 February → 30 November
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Nith
Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal16°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Fair conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Likely species
Caddisflies
- Net-spinning caddisMost likelyLower confidenceNearest relative#12–14–16 · PupaWidespread riffle net-spinner; evening emergence.
- CapererAlso possibleLower confidence#10–12 · AdultBig autumn sedge; fish dry at last light.
- Green SedgeAlso possibleLower confidenceNearest relative#10–12–14–16 · NymphFree-living green caddis larva; fast stony riffles.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 12:00
12:00(now) — Heather Fly
Stage: Terrestrials on topApproach: Dry flyActivity: 61%
Also:Reed Smut51%Autumn Dun32%Cinnamon Sedge27%
Peak emergence window11 food groups active
Peak activity at 12:00 — Heather Fly (Heather Fly, Peak emergence window)
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 3 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence
Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.
Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Fly box · Atlantic Salmon
Beats · 3
Don't read the Nith as a second-tier salmon river — it is a four-lane mixed fishery where brown trout, grayling, sea trout and salmon each take their turn through the year (spring trout, summer sea trout, autumn salmon, winter grayling). The salmon is the headline name but not the headline opportunity: the Nith has been Category 3 since 2020, which means 100% catch-and-release — no salmon may be killed anywhere in the catchment. Access is unusually practical for an ordinary angler: Dumfries Burgh Common Good water is council-controlled, and there is association and FishPal-bookable beat water besides estate beats. Scotland has no rod licence, but you still need the right permit. Confirm the current Nith DSFB conservation policy and beat rules before fishing.
Dumfries Burgh Common Good FishingMembers
The ordinary angler's anchor on the lower Nith: council-controlled common-good water through Dumfries, with day permits and genuine value for a town-centre salmon and sea-trout river.
Friars Carse BeatGuide / lodge
A middle-river hotel/estate beat near Auldgirth — bookable as a day beat or with a stay.
DGAA Cairn & Cluden tributariesMembers
Association water on the Cairn and Cluden tributaries — the club/membership lane for ordinary anglers, with trout and sea-trout potential and some migratory fish on the rise.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 4
Gallery · 6
River Nith at Drumlanrig River Nith at Auldgirth The River Nith at Friars' Carse River Nith from Auldgirth Bridge The River Nith at Thornhill Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC010610
The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal0.0
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftNot Applicable0.0
Water temperatureCool To Moderate0.0
Time in seasonOpening Period0.0
ClarityClearing0.0
Hydrology base0.0
Legal gate: Unknown Check Local Rules
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon 25 February → 30 November
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts