SPOILED FOR CHOICE AT KAILZIE FISHERY

Having a stillwater trout fishery only a few hundred yards from one of Britain’s finest game-fishing rivers might seem like carrying coals to Newcastle. Yet, as productive as the River Tweed can be, she is not always a kind soul. Prone to moods, she does not always yield her treasures – and this is where Kailzie Fishery comes into its own.

Where is Kailzie Fishery?

Nestled high in the Tweed Valley near Peebles, Kailzie comprises a two-acre, fly-only lake stocked with rainbow, brown, golden, blue and tiger trout, ranging from 1½lb to well into double figures. The current fishery record is an 18lb 7oz rainbow. There is also a one-acre bait lake, stocked with rainbows, which is popular with families and beginners, as well as a private two-mile stretch of the Upper Tweed. This offers sport for wild brown trout during the summer, and for salmon and grayling in the autumn and winter.

While Kailzie is the perfect place to bend a rod when the river is out of sorts, it has also built a loyal clientele of its own, as we discovered on an overcast day in early February.

Arriving at around 9.30am, we found the car park already filling with anglers. Kailzie Fishery is part of the Kailzie Gardens estate, which in addition to its walled gardens and exotic glasshouses boasts a putting green, pétanque rinks, a nature trail and a courtyard café.

The main lake is naturalised, fringed with mature trees and shrubs, and features a central peninsula. Fed by a burn at the upper end, it sits beneath the dramatic backdrop of the Glentress Hills – an inviting spot to while away a few hours.

What facilities does Kailzie Fishery have?

Above the lake lies the lodge and shop, equipped with comfortable chairs, a woodburner, and even a fish tank. Visitors can relax here with hot and cold drinks, soups and snacks. The shop at the front is amply stocked with flies and tackle, and fishery owner Connor Newcombe can often be found at the fly-tying bench creating his latest killer patterns for both lake and river.

Kailzie Fishery – A perfect place for beginners

Just outside the shop lies the bait lake, where rods with fixed-spool reels and float set-ups– along with sweetcorn, prawns or worms – can be hired, giving newcomers the thrill of catching and taking home their first trout. Connor is particularly passionate about encouraging young anglers and frequently runs ‘have-a-go’ days in partnership with the Tweed Foundation’s TweedStart initiative.

“I always look out for younger anglers at the fishery and help them however I can. I give quite a few lessons here, but no matter the angler’s age, if I see them struggling I’ll always go down and offer a few pointers,” he said.

Techniques and flies for Kailzie Fishery Lake

With fish moving but not obviously taking fly, the Editor and I opted to straight-line small, dark Buzzers and nymphs on floating lines and long leaders. Although the lake is well stocked, the fish were far from easy to tempt, and it was the local rods who were showing the way. Barry Little from Innerleithen landed a series of fine rainbows, topped by a superb 5lb brown trout, all taken on an Olive Snake fished on a slow intermediate line. Irish angler Michael MoHally, now resident in Peebles, was also making it look easy. Fishing Buzzers beneath a Croston’s drop-back bung to great effect, he caught steadily, including a magnificent 6lb 2oz tiger trout.

“I’m currently on my eighty-fifth trip to the lake without a blank,” he told us – an impressive achievement by anyone’s standards, especially when his Kailzie tally includes a 14lb brown, a 10lb tiger and an 11½lb rainbow.

What are Kailzie’s most productive months?

With an average depth of around 12ft, excellent water quality from its natural source, and Connor’s trickle-stocking policy, Kailzie offers consistent sport throughout the year. The most productive months are April to June, when the larger trout are feeding hard. Spring and summer also provide excellent dry-fly fishing, particularly in the early morning and late evening. Thanks to the lake’s proximity to the river, large falls of olive spinners can trigger feeding frenzies. Connor’s top flies for the lake are Apps Worms, Red Holographic Diawl Bachs, Olive Snakes, Yellow Owls, and any pattern of Grunter or spent spinner. 

Once we had located the fish’s depth, we too managed to tempt some of Kailzie’s hard-fighting trout, though nothing to match Barry and Michael’s specimens. Fishing our Buzzers beneath a simple Fario Fly bung gave us better control and improved our catch, but we were content to let the regulars showcase the fishery and photograph the action. Following a move to the lower half of the lake, Barry landed another fine trout on a black-and-green Tadpole – a striking tiger of nearly 6lb, with bold olive-gold flanks and striped shoulders.

What can visitors expect from Kailzie Fishery’s stretch of river?

Connor told us that Kailzie’s stretch of the Tweed includes 15 named pools, among them Castle Pool, Kailzie Throat, The Putts and Dog Craig. Being the upper river, the salmon run does not really begin until July, when the grilse arrive. The best sport is usually in September and October, provided there’s water… and salmon. In 2024, Connor’s friend William McAllister caught his first salmon from the beat, followed by several more on his home-tied Kailzie Killer shrimp fly. Later that October, Connor himself landed a 27lb cock fish, quickly followed by a 16-pounder, both on a Kailzie Killer aluminium tube.

He also spoke about his enthusiasm for nymphing and grayling, noting that the Upper Tweed is renowned for producing fish in excess of 2lb.

Do you fancy a go?

Despite having only 10ft, five-weight rods with us, we didn’t need to be asked twice.

We cobbled together a pair of Klink-and-dink rigs, using the same Fario Fly bungs we had hurriedly bought in Kelso the previous day, and headed across the reedy field which separates the lake from the river. A short walk of around 200 yards brought us to the high bank overlooking the beat.

Here the Tweed is fairly straight, with an even flow over pebbles and rocks. Not a wide river at this point, it can be easily covered with a switch rod. With our lighter nymphing outfits, we tackled it in halves – first probing the near water from the bank before wading out to reach the central and far flows.

Connor began in Castle Pool with his Euro-nymphing set-up, rigged with three beadhead nymphs from his immaculately stocked box. Working methodically through creases and slacks, he brought several half-pound grayling to hand, though these were mere ‘scamps’ compared to what the water is capable of producing.

Kailzie Fishery – the place to catch a huge grayling

As we reached Dog Craig, Andrew suddenly lifted into a fish, but this time there was no splashy leap or skittering on the surface, just his rod hooped against a solid resistance. The fish held mid-river, before steadily swimming downstream despite his best attempts to prevent it. Slowly he managed to lead it back upstream against the heavy flow, but again and again it turned and took line. I thought it must be a big brown trout or maybe even a salmon kelt, such was its power, but finally it broke the surface and the flash of a big crimson dorsal sent us all weak at the knees. As Andrew got the grayling on to a short line, it twice tried to get into the shallows between him and the high bank. The first time caused confusion and near disaster, but the second time he was ready and allowed it to get a little upstream, before steadily guiding it back into the waiting net. As we huddled around I couldn’t quite believe my eyes. It was certainly the largest grayling I had ever seen, pewter grey with a huge girth and thick shoulders.

Andrew said, “It took my size 14 Fario Thread Fly Nymph – my only obvious take. The indicator shot under, I lifted and it just felt solid. It stayed deep for ages and went downstream repeatedly in the heavy flow.

After lifting the McLean weigh-net, we all confirmed its reading, 3¼lb – one to live long in the memory.

Our visit to Kailzie Fishery left a deep impression. From the stunning tiger trout to that incredible grayling, it was a day packed with highlights, and proof that here was a fishery with something to offer every fly-fisher. 

Factfile

Kailzie Trout and Salmon Fishery, Kailzie Gardens, Peebles, United Kingdom EH45 9HT. Tel: 07563 203562.

Kailzietroutfishery@gmail.com

Lake

Catch and release: 2 hours, £19; 4 hours, £21; 6 hours, £23; 8 hours, £25. 

Catch and kill: 4 hours, 2 fish, £27; 6 hours, 3 fish, £31; 

8 hours, 4 fish, £36; 8 hours, 5 fish, £41.

Bait Lake

Open 9pm-5pm. Ticket, £7.50, then £4.50 per lb of trout. Rod hire, £5.

River

Salmon day ticket £35-75. 

Season: February 1-November 30.

Grayling day ticket, £25. 

Season: December 1-February 28.

Accommodation and a restaurant are available on the 

Kailzie estate. Web: kailziegardens.com