Freestone · Mixed · Borders

Yarrow Water

Yarrow Water venue image
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The Yarrow drains St Mary's Loch and flows through the Yarrow valley to join the Ettrick near Selkirk — which means it joins the Tweed system and shares the Tweed's late autumn salmon season.

Species

Decent — worth a look

Low and clear — careful approach country. Low water tactics — small singles, riffling hitch in the smooth glides.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Cool — slow
6°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
Conditions
Level
0.23 m
Water temp
5.6°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
5°C
Wind
W 16 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1003 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
2.7 mm
Light rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

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.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May 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
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1

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

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Directions
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About this water

The Yarrow drains St Mary's Loch and flows through the Yarrow valley to join the Ettrick near Selkirk — which means it joins the Tweed system and shares the Tweed's late autumn salmon season. It is the smaller and quieter of the two Ettrick Forest rivers, and the valley itself is so beautiful that you could go without catching a fish and still feel the day was well spent. The fishing is best for wild brown trout in the upper reaches above Yarrowford, and for salmon on the lower beats closer to the Ettrick confluence. The Yarrow is essentially single-handed-rod water throughout its length — even for salmon, a 12ft switch or a powerful 10ft single-hander handles it better than a proper double-handed outfit. Day tickets through Yarrow Angling Association and Selkirk & District.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 February → 30 November
Other water nearby · 5