Freestone · Mixed · Borders

Whiteadder Water

Whiteadder Water terrain map

The Whiteadder is a tributary of the lower Tweed that joins just above Berwick, draining the Lammermuir Hills through Duns and Chirnside.

Poor · Brown Trout
Elk Hair Caddis · 12-16
Poorlive now
Not the day for it
River temperature is the limiting factor today, not the flow. This is not the day to push it. Check the thermal advice above before you head out.
90% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.29 mLast reading 9h ago
  • Water temp22.4°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Elk Hair Caddis
Elk Hair Caddis12-16
High-confidence seasonal pick
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.29 m
Last reading 9h ago
Water temp22.4°C
ClarityClear
Weather25°C
WindSW 20 km/h
Pressure1019 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead3.0 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Brown Trout
Warm — slow
22°C est.ideal 1016°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Brown Trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Water at 22.4°C. This is the line where catch-and-release kills brown trout. Do not fish for them today.
Likely species
Mayflies
  • Anglers curse mayfliesMost likelyLower confidence
    #20–22 · Spinner
    Go tiny: 20-22 spent spinner, single fly, long tippet.
  • Blue-winged oliveAlso possible
    #16–18 · Dun
    Duns are up; a sherry spinner fall may follow.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6pm

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 9 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds 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
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1

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

Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box

A balanced Scottish river profile. Early season nymphs and spiders, then more dry-fly and emerger fishing as hatches strengthen on steadier glides and richer water.

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 22°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
About this water

The Whiteadder is a tributary of the lower Tweed that joins just above Berwick, draining the Lammermuir Hills through Duns and Chirnside. It is one of the best small-stream wild trout rivers in the Borders — underrated next to the Tweed itself but arguably more rewarding for the angler who enjoys intimate water and willing fish. The river above Duns is proper small-stream water: pockets, short runs, overhanging willows, trout that rise to a dry fly with enthusiasm. Below Duns it broadens out and starts to feel more like its parent river. Whiteadder Angling Club and Duns Castle permits cover most of the fishable water and are cheap and accessible. The trout are not large — six to ten ounces is the average — but they are wild, numerous, and beautifully marked. A fine antidote to the pressure and price of the Tweed itself, and a perfect river for teaching somebody to fish.

  • Mixed
Water quality (WFD)
  • EcologyModerate
  • ChemicalUnknown

SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC005101

The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 90%
How the 8 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature4 × 28%1.1
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time60 × 13%7.8
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity58 × 12%7.0
Limiting factor: Water temperature (22.4°C) is outside Brown Trout's preferred range (10–16°C)= 56
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
What would change the calculation
Cooler water — back toward the 10–16 °C ideal band — would lift the score and ease welfare.
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts