Scotland is one of the world’s best destinations for salmon fishing, and Southern Scotland has its fair share of excellent fishing. Fly fishing is the most accepted and traditional method of fishing for salmon and sea trout. In the Borders the River Tweed (photo above) is of course world famous for its salmon fishing and produces more fish than any other river in Britain. Rods are also readily available on the Ayrshire rivers, the Girvan and Stinchar, as the Galloway rivers, the Nith, Annan and Border Esk.

Visit FishScotland for more information and to book fishing.

There are also excellent opportunities for trout fishing in the remote small rivers and lochs of the beautiful hills and glens, or in the more sedate, lowland rivers in their lush countryside. There is also a range of excellent stocked trout fishing and some very productive grayling fishing.

Boats and guides can usually be hired from hotels and angling clubs. The statutory closed season for brown trout is from October 7 until March 14.

Sea angling can be practiced along the coast. Southern Scotland has excellent and very varied sea fishing, from both shore and boat, with stunning coastal scenery to match. Species are numerous but the skate and tope fishing off the west coast are of particular note.