Spate · Mixed · Dumfries & Galloway

Annan

View upstream along the River Annan from Hoddom Bridge, the broad tree-lined river channel in Dumfriesshire.
Poor · Atlantic Salmon
Ally's Shrimp · smaller in warm low water; larger in higher / colder water
Poorlive now
Slow going — better windows ahead
Low and clear — careful approach country. Stale fish in low clear water spook easily — pick your hour.
90% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.38 mLast reading 4h ago
  • Water temp21.2°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Ally's Shrimp
Ally's Shrimpsmaller in warm low water; larger in higher / colder water
River-specific pack, filled from the regional salmon default.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.38 m
Last reading 4h ago
Water temp21.2°C
ClarityClear
Weather21°C
WindW 19 km/h
Pressure1017 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead0.8 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
Warm — slow
21°C est.ideal 10–14°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
Water at 21.2°C. This is the line where catch-and-release kills atlantic salmon. Do not fish for them today.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6pm

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 8 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · August 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
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
Beats · 3

The Annan is the best mixed-species river in the south-west and should be read as a four-lane river, not a salmon beat. It is open 52 weeks of the year, and the right answer depends on the season: spring brown trout, summer sea trout, autumn salmon, winter grayling. Trout and grayling are first-class here, not filler — the river is well known for large fish of both, with no grayling close season (but avoid targeting them during the April–May spawning). Access is unusually practical: most beats sell a salmon/sea-trout permit that also covers trout and grayling, with FishPal, association and estate routes. Scotland has no rod licence, but you still need the right permit. Confirm seasons and beat rules before fishing.

Newbie BeatDay tickets
The cleanest mixed-species import on the lower Annan toward the Solway — well known for large trout and grayling as well as sea trout and salmon.
Upper Beat / Applegarth & Hoddom watersMembers
The middle-river association and estate water around Hoddom and Applegarth — mixed salmon, sea-trout, trout and grayling fishing with FishPal, association and estate booking routes.
Annan winter graylingMembers
A distinct seasonal lane rather than a place: through the colder months the Annan is one of southern Scotland's better grayling rivers, with strong fish on safe, clearing water.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Cooler water nearby · 2
Probably above the Atlantic Salmon safety line — these are likely cooler, but carry a thermometer.
Border Esk
25 km
~18°C
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Eden
41 km
~19°C
Brown trout · Grayling · Salmon
Gallery · 6
  1. View upstream along the River Annan from Hoddom Bridge, the broad tree-lined river channel in Dumfriesshire.
    River Annan from Hoddom Bridge
  2. The River Annan flowing through open Annandale countryside southwest of Lockerbie in late-summer low water.
    The River Annan, southwest of Lockerbie
  3. Confluence of the River Annan and the Water of Milk in autumn, the broad meeting of both rivers with Annandale beyond.
    Confluence of River Annan and Water of Milk
  4. The River Annan at Hoddom Bridge, fast clear summer water over gravel with wooded banks.
    River Annan at Hoddom Bridge
  5. The River Annan running past the confluence of the Mein Water, mature trees lining the bank near Hoddom.
    River Annan near the Mein Water
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
  • Chemical: Unknown
What this classification means

SEPA WFD 2022 — Annan: Moderate status. Corrected 2026-06-18 (was recorded Poor). Source: SEPA WFD 2022 classification (spatialdata.gov.scot / SEPA Aquatic Classification Hub).

SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC010642

The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 90%
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 → 15 November

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

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Booking & contacts