Freestone · Mixed · Borders, GB-SCT

Leader Water

The Leader Water flowing between wooded banks near Earlston, Scottish Borders

The Scottish Government grades the Leader Water's salmon Good (Grade 1) for 2026, as part of the River Tweed SAC.

Tomorrow · Decent — worth a look
Czech Nymph
Forecast · Tomorrow
Decent — worth a look
A patient day. Cover water properly.
70% projected
Today's fly
Czech Nymph
Czech Nymph
Conditions on the water · Tomorrow
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.12 m
Water temp6.7°C
ClarityClear
Weather5°C
WindN 20 km/h
Pressure1009 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead3.0 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Cool — slow
7°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
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · tomorrowPeak at 11am

12pm(now) — Autumn Needle Fly

Stage: Creeping nymphsApproach: Heavy nymphActivity: 32%
Also:Black Midge29%Autumn Olive22%
Peak emergence window5 food groups active

Peak activity at 11am — Autumn Needle Fly (Autumn Needle 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 trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Supporters see what else is on the menu.

Start free trial

14-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 · November 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
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Hawthorn FlyHatch
2
2
GrannomHatch
2
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
River Teviot
17 km
50
Brown trout · Grayling · Atlantic salmon
Yarrow Water
18 km
50
Brown trout · Atlantic salmon
Ettrick Water
23 km
50
Brown trout · Atlantic salmon
Tweed
16 km
30
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Blackadder Water
15 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. The Leader Water flowing between wooded banks near Earlston, Scottish Borders
    Leader Water, Earlston
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Every salmon caught before 1 April must be released by law; after that, follow the district board's and the beat's policy, and many ask for all fish to be returned. The upper reaches above Earlston are the best trout water; the lower mile down to the Tweed confluence holds some late-run salmon in the autumn. The river fishes best in May and June when the olive hatches are at their peak and the wild browns are cooperative. Day tickets through Lauderdale Angling Association. A river that teaches rather than impresses — which is often the better kind.

  • Mixed
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
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 February → 30 November
Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingAtlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsYorkshire & SpidersNorth Country methods
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
At a glance

Leader Water is a freestone river in Borders, Scotland. It sits at about 72 m above sea level. The river is described as roughly 35 km long. Species listed for this water: brown trout and atlantic salmon. It is classed as a salmon river. The salmon season is recorded as running from 1 February to 30 November. Best window recorded for anglers: April to June, September. Core methods listed: upstream wet fly; North Country spiders; dry fly. Level and flow data for this water is linked from 1 gauge. Nearby waters in our listings include Blackadder Water at 15 km, Tweed at 16 km and River Teviot at 17 km.