Spate · Mixed · Dumfries & Galloway, GB-SCT

Nith

Autumn view of the River Nith flowing through wooded countryside near Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries & Galloway.

Major southwest spate river flowing through Dumfries with spring salmon (March–May) and strong autumn runs (October–November) — the Nith's long season (February to November) rewards patience.

Fair · Atlantic Salmon
Willie Gunn · 1 inch tube
Fairlive now
Decent — worth a look
River steady at a fishable height. A patient day. Cover water properly.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.50 mLast reading 2h ago
  • Water temp6.6°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Willie Gunn
Willie Gunn1 inch tube
Spring and back-end tube for the bigger South-West systems — orange/yellow/black shows in coloured Solway spates.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.50 m
Last reading 2h ago
Water temp6.6°C
ClarityClear
Weather4°C
WindSW 17 km/h
Pressure1011 hPa
Rain · recent0.1 mm
Rain · ahead4.7 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
Stoneflies
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 11am

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 5 active hatches hour by hour as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

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
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
Atlantic Salmon fly box

Fast-sinking Spring Tube — fished swing

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 is graded Poor (Grade 3), as it has been 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 · 5
Annan
24 km
50
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Border Esk
40 km
0
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Upper Clyde
47 km
Brown trout
River Cocker
48 km
Brown trout
River Eden
54 km
Brown trout · Grayling · Salmon
Gallery · 6
  1. Autumn view of the River Nith flowing through wooded countryside near Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries & Galloway.
    River Nith at Drumlanrig
  2. Wide upstream view of the River Nith at Auldgirth old bridge, clear water and wooded banks in late spring.
    River Nith at Auldgirth
  3. The River Nith flowing through the Friars' Carse estate, Nithsdale, open meadow on the near bank and tree cover beyond.
    The River Nith at Friars' Carse
  4. Looking upstream along the River Nith from Auldgirth Bridge in October, autumn foliage reflected in the slow pool.
    River Nith from Auldgirth Bridge
  5. The River Nith at Thornhill on a bright summer day, gravel shallows and wooded banks.
    The River Nith at Thornhill
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The Scottish Government grades its salmon Poor (Grade 3) for 2026, so every salmon must be released all season. Excellent summer sea trout in July–August. Slower response (8 hours) gives opportunity for planning — wait for suitable water conditions rather than chasing every spate. Fish spring salmon with sinking-tip and medium tubes on upper beats; autumn fish require systematic pool coverage with smaller doubles. One of southwest Scotland's most productive systems overall.

Sea trout here

Summer-autumn runs (June–September), nocturnal pattern in peak season

  • Mixed
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
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 25 February → 30 November

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingAtlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsYorkshire & SpidersNorth Country methods
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
At a glance

Nith is a spate river in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland. It sits at about 51 m above sea level. The river is described as roughly 113 km long. Species listed for this water: brown trout, salmon and sea trout. It is classed as a salmon river. The salmon season is recorded as running from 25 February to 30 November. Best window recorded for anglers: April–June (spring), August–October (autumn). Core methods listed: small double (salmon); upstream nymph; dry fly. Level and flow data for this water is linked from 1 gauge. Its Water Framework Directive ecological status is recorded as moderate. Nearby waters in our listings include Annan at 24 km, Border Esk at 40 km and Upper Clyde at 47 km.