Our most famous back-end fishery is unquestionably the Tweed, and the best fishing on this river is both sought after and expensive. The Tweed valley can be very beautiful in the autumn as the leaves change colour and is without doubt a great place to be at this time. There will be a good stock of fish in the pools with new fish coming into the river on each tide and moving up the river when conditions are suitable. There is good fishing to be found on other rivers in the autumn and a little research will reveal some great fishing at attractive prices. Start your search at www.fishpal.com – be aware that the best fishing disappears quickly. The tackle recommendations below are given with the Tweed in mind but apply equal to other larger borders rivers that stay open into October and November.
A beautiful autumn salmon caught in NorthumberlandFly Rods Just a few years ago the standard double-handed fly rod for back-end fishing would have been a 15’ model casting a 10/11 weight line. Recent advances in both rod & line design and manufacturing technology have allowed shorter and lighter rods to be used. It is now common to see rods down to 13’ in length used matched with modern fly line systems. In normal conditions they cast nearly as far as longer rods and make much lighter work of a day on the river. The longer rods still have a place for more extreme conditions however, and are still an important tool in the salmon angler’s armoury. Ideally it works well to have a couple of rods set up with different lines to allow tactical variation without having to break down your tackle.
Fly Reels A perfect salmon fly reel needs a smooth disc drag system, line capacity to carry a spey, skagit or shooting head line plus 200yds of backing, plus the correct weight to balance the rod nicely in your hands. My preference is for a large arbor design although some prefer a traditional design with a loud click check. The most important things are that the drag yields line smoothly regardless of the amount of drag being applied and has enough line capacity.
It's important to select the best tackleFly Lines Unless you hit a period of low water you should expect to fish with sinking fly lines of one type or another. Precisely which densities of lines you use will be determined by the depth of water and the power of the flow. However, like all things in salmon fishing there are plenty of exceptions to disprove any rules that we think exist, so it always pays to keep an open mind and have a range of options at your fingertips. Years ago, a very wise and well-travelled angler told me to always carry a fast-sinking fly line on any fly fishing trip anywhere. This is excellent advice and has, on occasion, caught me the only fish of the day when the water is high and coloured. There are quite a few options today with the style of line you choose - spey, skagit or shooting head. All are good options in the right conditions and have their own pros and cons. If you are fishing from a boat a skagit line is a great choice – they are very easy to cast from a sitting position. If you want an easy casting sinking line set up a shooting head system is easy to handle and easily adaptable to suit conditions. They also work well with shorter lighter rods. Spey lines are perfect for those that prefer a longer bellied line that does not have to be retrieved so far in before recasting. Your final choice will be one of personal preference, but please feel free to call any of our stores for advice before making your decision.
Choose your autumn salmon flies carefully!Flies As you will be returning most or all of the fish you catch it’s best to use either single or double hooked flies. Trebles are best avoided. Take a range of tube flies tied on tungsten, brass/copper, alloy and plastic tubes. This will give you good tactical variation. Choose tried and trusted patterns – cascades, willie guns etc. plus some change patterns like the red francis, sunray shadow and snaeldas. These can be fished close to the bottom or stripped back quickly (particularly the sunray) to provoke an aggressive response from the fish. If the water is lower remember to take a box of singles and doubles down to size 10 for use in lighter flows. If it’s cold and there are lots of fish in the pools red can be a killing colour for your fly.
If you need any further advice for autumn salmon fishing or indeed have any top tips of your own, please leave your comments below! It’s great to share & chat. You can also share with all your friends via our social sharing buttons below.
The final few months of the salmon season can provide the most prolific sport of the year as large autumn fish enter our rivers, hopefully in good numbers. On rivers with a true autumn run this time represents the pinnacle of the season’s sport and salmon anglers travel from far and wide to enjoy this marvellous fishing. Being correctly prepared will make the most of your time on the river as the days get shorter.
Our most famous back-end river is unquestionably the Tweed, and the best fishing on this river is both sought after and often priced higher. The Tweed valley can be very beautiful in the autumn as the leaves change colour and is without doubt a great place to be at this time. There will be a good stock of fish in the pools with new fish coming into the river on each tide and moving up the river when conditions are suitable. There is good fishing to be found on other rivers in the autumn and a little research will reveal some great fishing at attractive prices. Start your search at www.fishpal.com – be aware that the best fishing disappears quickly. The tackle recommendations below are given with the Tweed in mind but apply equal to other larger borders rivers that stay open into October and November.
An Autumn Salmon Being LandedAs a salmon fisher there are several things to think about that will be important both to the success of your fishing and comfort on the river bank.
Autumn Salmon Fly Fishing Tactics
We are ideally looking for improved water heights in the autumn, the hot ‘dog days’ of summer are a distant memory now and tackle needs to be beefed up to cope. It pays to have a selection of sinking flylines now, and in a range of densities to allow for tactical variation during changing temperatures and water levels. This can be achieved with a multi-tip fly line or a selection of shooting heads to suit your preference. Flies will increase in size as the temperatures drop and a range of tube flies in a variety of sizes and weights (plastic, alloy, copper and brass) will come into play. I have always found red to be a very good colour at this time of year – matching the salmon’s own colours as they near spawning. Please return as many of the fish you catch as possible – autumn fish are not at their best for the table and will serve a greater purpose in the river.
As ever, the best fishing will always be as the river fines down after a flood, although you may find that the first flood after a long dry period is disappointing simply because so much accumulated matter is purged from the river system as it cleanses itself. Sometimes fish are not keen to run in this dirty water and even less keen to take. You may also find that catches improve as water levels settle a day or so later; and this all depends on the river you are fishing. There are no hard and fast rules in salmon fishing, just general principles.
A beautiful autumn salmon caught in NorthumberlandFly Rods
Just a few years ago the standard double-handed fly rod for back-end fishing would have been a 15’ model casting a 10/11 weight line. Recent advances in both rod & line design and manufacturing technology have allowed shorter and lighter rods to be used. It is now common to see rods down to 13’ in length used matched with modern fly line systems. In normal conditions they cast nearly as far as longer rods and make much lighter work of a day on the river. The longer rods still have a place for more extreme conditions however, and are still an important tool in the salmon angler’s armoury. Ideally it works well to have a couple of rods set up with different lines to allow tactical variation without having to break down your tackle.
Fly Reels
A perfect salmon fly reel needs a smooth disc drag system, line capacity to carry a spey, skagit or shooting head line plus 200yds of backing, plus the correct weight to balance the rod nicely in your hands. My preference is for a large arbor design although some prefer a traditional design with a loud click check. The most important things are that the drag yields line smoothly regardless of the amount of drag being applied and has enough line capacity.
It's important to select the best tackleSalmon Fly Lines
Unless you hit a period of low water you should expect to fish with sinking fly lines of one type or another. Precisely which densities of lines you use will be determined by the depth of water and the power of the flow. However, like all things in salmon fishing there are plenty of exceptions to disprove any rules that we think exist, so it always pays to keep an open mind and have a range of options at your fingertips. Years ago, a very wise and well-travelled angler told me to always carry a fast-sinking fly line on any fly fishing trip anywhere. This is excellent advice and has, on occasion, caught me the only fish of the day when the water is high and coloured. There are quite a few options today with the style of line you choose - spey, skagit or shooting head. All are good options in the right conditions and have their own pros and cons. If you are fishing from a boat a skagit line is a great choice – they are very easy to cast from a sitting position. If you want an easy casting sinking line set up a shooting head system is easy to handle and easily adaptable to suit conditions. They also work well with shorter lighter rods. Spey lines are perfect for those that prefer a longer bellied line that does not have to be retrieved so far in before recasting. Your final choice will be one of personal preference, but please feel free to call any of our stores for advice before making your decision.
Choose your autumn salmon flies carefully!Salmon Flies
As you will be returning most or all of the fish you catch it’s best to use either single or double hooked flies. Trebles are best avoided. Take a range of tube salmon flies tied on tungsten, brass/copper, alloy and plastic tubes. This will give you good tactical variation. Choose tried and trusted patterns – cascades, willie guns etc. plus some change patterns like the red francis, sunray shadow and snaeldas. These can be fished close to the bottom or stripped back quickly (particularly the sunray) to provoke an aggressive response from the fish. If the water is lower remember to take a box of singles and doubles down to size 10 for use in lighter flows. If it’s cold and there are lots of fish in the pools red can be a killing colour for your fly.
Fishing Clothing
Staying warm and dry is vital at this time of year – you may encounter the first cold frosty mornings or a stormy day with heavy rain, either way your fishing clothing’s performance needs to be a match for the conditions. You need to have a layering system for your clothing, allowing you to remove layers as the day warms up. The outer layer will be of breathable fabric, both for your chest waders and your wading jacket. This outer shell’s purpose is to windproof and waterproof you, warmth will come from fleece and base layers underneath. Today’s technology allows these to be lightweight and durable ensuring your comfort in the worst conditions our climate can throw at you.
Also don’t forget basic safety kit:
- A lifejacket is essential if you are fishing from a boat or wading.
- Please have a wading staff handy at all times – it could get you out of trouble and in extreme cases be a lifesaver.
- Don’t forget eye protection – casting heavy tube flies in windy conditions can be extremely hazardous.
Five Top Tips for Success with Autumn Salmon
- Change the depth and speed the fly is presented at, you will often find conditions evolve as the day goes on and what works in the morning may not be so successful after lunch.
- Carry a range of fly patterns tied on tubes as well as some more traditional doubles so you can offer a range of options to the fish.
- Turn your stockingfoot waders inside out and dry overnight – warm, dry waders are much nicer to put on the following morning!
- Use the strongest leader material you can get away with – a lot of the fish will be coloured at this time of year so you need to play them hard so they are not returned exhausted to the water.
- Enjoy every moment by the river – an autumn day when conditions are good and the salmon are running is a precious thing. Make the most of it!
If you need any further advice for autumn salmon fishing or indeed have any top tips of your own, please leave your comments below! It’s great to share & chat. You can also share with all your friends via our social sharing buttons at the top of the page.
PLAN YOUR NEXT SALMON TRIP
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