In 2009 Tweed caught 12,199 Salmon, of which 10,465 were caught by rods and 1,734 by nets; 6,598 (63%) of the total rod catch was returned unharmed to the water.
All fisheries reported difficult fishing conditions during the year. For the Middle and Lower River, flows were often too great in the summer and were followed by a period of little rain in the early autumn and severe floods towards the end of the season. Nevertheless, there was a reduced run of fish throughout the season. The Lower River had a slightly increased catch on 2008 but all other parts of the River had a lower catch, the Middle River and Whiteadder being particularly poor.
Whilst Salmon catches were depressed, reported Sea-trout catches were less so with the nets fisheries showing a notable increase, and the best catch for nine years. 6,671 Sea-trout were caught, of which 1,814 were caught by rods and 4,857 by nets; 837 (46%) of the rod catch was returned.
Nick Yonge, Clerk to the Commission, said "Whilst the catch for Salmon was disappointing in 2009, it is pleasing that Sea-trout catches improved slightly. There is nothing in the monitoring of the freshwater phase of the Salmon life-cycle that indicates that the reduction in catch last year was due to any problem in the Tweed itself. As similar reductions have been seen in most Salmon rivers last year, it is likely that less favourable conditions at sea were the cause."
Andrew Douglas-Home, Chairman of the Commission, said "2009 was not that bad a fishing year; indeed, I would be surprised if any other UK river exceeded our rod catch of Salmon last year. It is also well in the top half of Tweed rod catches of the last 30 years. Almost all UK Salmon rivers suffered reduced catches in 2009. Our reduction of 25% (from our previous 5 year average of 14,000) being pretty typical."
The 2009 Annual Report of the River Tweed Commission can be read Here.
Previous years' of the RTC's Annual Reports can be found on its website.
Previous years' of the RTC's Annual Reports can be found on its website.