Detailed advice on fishing tackle will be determined by the time of year and the location of the beat. When confirming your booking, the details will include the gillie's name and telephone number and he will be pleased to give you specific advice on tackle, in order to maximise your valuable fishing time on the water. The following more general guidance on tackle may also be a help and has been provided in conjunction with the Anglers Choice Tackle shop in Melrose, one of the best Tweed tackle shops.

Fly Rods: Should be carbon fibre from 14 to 16ft with an action suited to a double taper 10 or 11 line. A 15ft rod with a double taper 10 or 11 line rating would be ideal, unless you are fishing the Upper Tweed, when slightly smaller tackle could be sufficient.

Fly Lines: Are the most important autumn item and irrespective of other considerations bring all your fly lines with you including a floating, an intermediate density and a full sinking density of the Wetcel 2 or Hardy Wetfly 2 type. Some weight forward fly lines are used on Tweed, but generally double tapered lines are preferred due to their spey and roll casting ability. Very fast sinking lines and shooting heads now fall foul of the Tweed Angling Code, owing to some misuse in foulhooking fish.

Cast/Leader: Thickness is determined by the size and weight of the fly, and as a guide: 12lb leaders for size 8 flies and smaller, 15lb for size 6 & 4 flies, 2" Waddingtons and medium weight tubes, and 20lb for anything bigger or heavier.

Flies: Are always a contentious talking point and in the late spring and summer, patterns in use on the major Scottish rivers work just as well on Tweed in sizes 6 to 12. In the bigger colder flows of autumn, flies from 1.5" to 2.5" overall with Waddingtons and medium weight tubes are preferred in the following patterns: Garry; Comet; Gordons Fancy; Willie Gunn; shrimp variations; White Wing and Yellow Dog. For the tube flies, out point trebles in sizes 4, 6 and 8 are strongly recommended. Click here to view the most popular flies.

Waders: Should be chest high with studded or felt soles and a wading staff is also considered a necessity. Most beats will provide a buoyancy aid or life jackets and must do so if they use boats.

Hiring Tackle: Most tackle shops will hire out equipment for those without and will also send a suitable selection of Tweed flies by mail order.

Broken Tackle: If some mishap occurs, such as leaking waders, missing tip rings, broken rods, or reel malfunctions, again most tackle shops will help.

Please remember that the general summary of tackle requirements cannot be definitive, as your sport is determined by the prevailing or changing weather and water conditions that meet you during your fishing week. Your gillie knows his water better than any other person, so solicit his advice, and then take it!


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