One of the questions we get asked most often at Dod Mill is about fishing. It makes sense: one of our cabins is literally called the Fishing Hut, it sits right on the bank of the Boondreigh Water, and this part of the Scottish Borders happens to be surrounded by some of the finest fly fishing rivers in Britain. Cat Thomson, writing in The Times, stayed in our Fishing Hut and described learning to fish for the first time on a Borders river as a “zen-like” experience. We think that captures it well. With the season getting underway right now, it feels like a good moment to pull together everything we know.

Here are the key dates to bear in mind. The Leader Water trout season opens today, 15 March 2026. The Tweed trout season opens on 1 April, celebrated this year with the Tweed Trout Festival at Kailzie Estate on 4 April. Salmon and sea trout on the Tweed run from 1 February all the way through to 30 November (no Sunday fishing permitted for salmon and sea trout), one of the longest seasons of any river in Scotland. In short, from February onwards there is excellent fishing available within a short drive of Dod Mill.

Start With the Little River at Dod Mill

The Boondreigh Water runs right through our grounds and we have fishing rights on it. Otters live in these parts which is a great sign of a healthy watercourse, and on its banks, we sometimes find the remains of the otters’ salmon or trout catch of the day! It is a very small river, only just bigger than a burn if we’re being honest, but it is a lovely, gentle place to practise a cast without any pressure. It’s also great for kids having a first go at fly fishing – it’s free for our guests and has a few little banks to stand on. Our children also use the river for skimming stones, swimming, and just for wading through on a warm day.

The Leader Water: A Bargain on Your Doorstep

About ten minutes from us, the Leader Water is a beautiful local river for fly fishing, with brown trout and grayling. A season ticket is just £10, available from the Spotty Dog Deli in Lauder, which has to be one of the best value sporting permits in Scotland. The season runs from 15 March to 4 October.

The Teviot: A Step Up

The River Teviot is a wonderful tributary of the Tweed and offers excellent trout, grayling and salmon fishing through the season. It is the river on which Cat Thomson got her introduction to fly fishing for The Times piece mentioned above, and it is easy to see why. It flows through gorgeous Border countryside, the fishing is less pressured than the main Tweed, and it is very manageable for those who are relatively new to the sport. The Border Gun Room in St Boswells can advise on permits and beats.

The Tweed Needs No Introduction

The River Tweed is one of Scotland’s great salmon and sea trout rivers. The Tweed is predominantly a fly fishing river and attracts anglers from all over the world. Permits and local advice are available from the Border Gun Room in St Boswells, who are knowledgeable and genuinely helpful to visiting fishermen. More information at Fishpal.

Something Different: Whiteadder Reservoir

Up in the Lammermuir Hills, Whiteadder Reservoir is a beautiful and peaceful spot for reservoir fly fishing. Season and day passes are available at whiteadderwatersports.co.uk. If others in your group are not fishing, Whiteadder also offers sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding and open water swimming, so nobody needs to feel left out.

Never Fished Before?

This is a welcoming part of the world to learn. The Border Gun Room in St Boswells can point you in the right direction for tuition, and the Tweed Trout Festival each spring is a brilliant introduction, with casting demonstrations and plenty of experienced anglers who are happy to help beginners. If you are staying in the Fishing Hut and want to try your luck on the Boondreigh, just ask us and we will get you set up. It is one of those sports where a quiet afternoon on a Borders river is enough to understand why people do it for a lifetime.

Dod Mill is a collection of unique holiday retreats near Lauder in the Scottish Borders, including the Fishing Hut, an off-grid cabin sitting right on the bank of the Boondreigh Water. Find out more at dodmill.com.