Freestone · Mixed · Borders

Yarrow Water

A wide, shallow stretch of Yarrow Water flowing over gravel with a stony bank in the foreground and hills rising beyond.

The Yarrow Water is a declining Atlantic salmon system where declining Atlantic salmon populations are Category 3 under Scottish Government classification; every fish returned matters.

Marginal · Atlantic Salmon
Marginallive now
Marginal — persistence required
River dropping into shape after a lift. A short window. Work the obvious lies and move on.
85% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.25 mDropping after lift
  • Water temp18.0°C
  • ClarityClear
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.25 m
Dropping after lift
Water temp18.0°C
ClarityClear
Weather18°C
WindNW 9 km/h
Pressure1019 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead0.9 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
18°C est.ideal 1014°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 18°C — above the atlantic salmon caution line (18°C). Fish dawn or dusk only. Land it fast, wet hands, no air shots.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6pm

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 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 4 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
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
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.

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 18°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
Gallery · 2
  1. A wide, shallow stretch of Yarrow Water flowing over gravel with a stony bank in the foreground and hills rising beyond.
    Yarrow Water running over a gravel bar through the Yarrow Valley in the Scottish Borders.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The Yarrow Water is a declining Atlantic salmon system where declining Atlantic salmon populations are Category 3 under Scottish Government classification; every fish returned matters. Mandatory catch-and-release applies. It is the smaller and quieter of the two Ettrick Forest rivers, and the valley itself is so beautiful that you could go without catching a fish and still feel the day was well spent. The fishing is best for wild brown trout in the upper reaches above Yarrowford, and for salmon on the lower beats closer to the Ettrick confluence. The Yarrow is essentially single-handed-rod water throughout its length — even for salmon, a 12ft switch or a powerful 10ft single-hander handles it better than a proper double-handed outfit. Day tickets through Yarrow Angling Association and Selkirk & District.

  • Mixed
The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 85%
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
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 February30 November
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts