CONDITIONS OF LET on the QUEENSBERRY ESTATE

Fishing with the Drumlanrig Castle Fishings can be booked through the Sporting Office on Tel. 01848 600415, by email at sporting@buccleuch.com, by using the Contact Us form or online.

PERIOD OF LET
The fishing season starts on 25th February to 30th November. Fishing is not permitted on the river on a Sunday.

RUNS
Providing weather conditions are favourable, Salmon will run early in the year, with greater runs throughout the season up to and including November. Sea Trout also run early and can be expected in quantity from May onwards.

CATCH RECORDS
Please visit www.fishnith.com or contact the Sporting Office for up-to-date catch records.

BOOKING
On confirmation of the booking a non-refundable deposit of 50% must be submitted to the Sporting Office. The balance is payable no later than 4 weeks prior to commencement of the let.  If a Tenant is unable or unwilling to fish, the rent will not be returnable unless 4 weeks prior written notice of cancellation is received by the Sporting Office and then only if an alternative booking can be arranged. To cover re-letting costs a minimum charge of £25.00 will be levied. The Buccleuch Estates Ltd or Buccleuch Sportings Ltd cannot accept any responsibility for the cancellation of bookings due to bad weather. It is therefore recommended that Tenants, particularly those booking in advance, should obtain appropriate cancellation insurance cover as no refund of rent will be issued.

RESERVATIONS
Permits should be carried by rods whilst they are on the water and must be shown on request. If the maximum number of rods on a beat is not allocated, Buccleuch Sportings reserve the right to assign these rods. Drumlanrig Castle Fishings reserve the right for two rods to fish at any time. This is exercised only occasionally, and every effort will be made to contact the fishing Tenant(s) should this intention be known beforehand.

RENT (2010)

All prices are inclusive of VAT.
No River Board Rod Licences or any other charges are required in Scotland.

EVENING SEA TROUT PERMITS
Evening Sea Trout tickets are available from the Sporting Office during the season, from 1st April to 30th September. This will entitle Tenants to fish from 6.00 pm until 6.00 am at a cost of £20.00 per rod per night.

LOYALTY CARDS
The loyalty card entitles one Tenant 6 reduced cost fishing trips within the location and dates as detailed above, please note this is not transferrable or refundable and cannot be carried over the agreed location or dates.  If you would like to purchase a card please contact us directly at the Sporting Office.  Please make cheques payable to Buccleuch Sportings Ltd, debit and credit payments can be accepted by phone.

CHILDRENS TICKETS
For Juniors aged 6 -16, £10.00 tickets are available to purchase however children must be accompanied by a paying adult.

SUB-LETTING AND SHARING OF RODS
Tenants are permitted to assign their rods to other fishermen provided they inform the Sporting Office in advance so that the Water Bailiffs know the identity of the rods. NB: It will be the responsibility of the original Tenant for payment and to ensure that the other rods with him are aware of the rules and regulations.

FISHING BY ESTATE EMPLOYEES
By tradition employees of the Queensberry Estate are permitted to fish on all beats on Wednesday evenings after 5.00 pm and Saturdays after 12 noon. Fishing Tenants have priority on the pools and employees are requested to move if a Tenant arrives to fish a particular pool.

CATCH LIMIT
Anglers are not permitted to kill more than 2 Salmon (including Grilse) and 2 Sea Trout (including Herling) per day. Any Sea Trout over 3lb must be returned. Thereafter all fish should be returned as quickly as possible with the minimum of handling. It is strictly prohibited to take, destroy or injure smoult and fry of Salmon.

METHODS OF FISHING
Fly-fishing is preferred. Spinning is not permitted when the gauge at the Drumlanrig Bridge registers below 1’ (except in the deeper, slower moving pools). Otherwise, it is at the discretion of the Ghillie, depending on water conditions. Worm fishing is only permitted on the Castle Beats when the river is running above 21/2' at the Drumlanrig Bridge gauge and is permitted in the Linns at all heights throughout the season. The weights used by fishermen shall not exceed two pieces of No. 1 shot. Fishermen may not use more than 2 hooks when worm fishing and only then if the hooks are tied in close proximity on a single strand of line. Hooks shall not exceed 13 mm in length and 7 mm gape. Natural minnow, artificial or natural prawns or shrimps may not be used as bait or carried on the water at any time.

FLIES, LURES ETC
A good choice of fly for Salmon would be Red or Orange Ally’s Shrimp tied on a double hook in sizes 8, 6 or 4. Other suitable flies are Stoat’s Tail, Hairy Mary, Yellow Dog, Blue Charm and Brown Turkey. These should be mostly around size No 6. In high water a 2” Yellow Dog is suggested. For Sea Trout, a reasonable selection would be Peter Ross, Greenwell’s Glory, Medium Olive and Black Spider. The usual size being No.12 and 14 but, at night up to size 10 may be required. For spinning, a Devon or Blue Silver Minnow is recommended.

GAFFS
The use of a gaff is prohibited

STALE FISH
During the whole season, all gravid or stale fish must be returned to the river immediately with as little damage as possible.

ACCESS
Access and parking facilities are shown on the large scale plan supplied to fishing Tenants on request from the Sporting Office. All gates are to be closed and roads must be unobstructed. Vehicles may not be driven across agricultural land.  Fishermen must comply at all times with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

FISHING HUTS
A fishing hut is available for each beat and the key is obtainable from the Sporting Office at Drumlanrig Mains. Goods left in the huts during the course of the day are left at the owner's risk. Please ensure huts are left in good condition. Any damage to the huts should be reported to the Ghillie or Sporting Office.

ACCIDENTS
Fishing Tenants will use the stiles, crossing places, access routes, parking spaces and paths at their own risk and no responsibility will be accepted by The Buccleuch Estates Ltd or Buccleuch Sportings Ltd for any loss, damage, accident or injury which may be sustained and which may be due to the use of the above facilities. If an accident occurs, Tenants are required to inform the Sporting Office and an incident form must be completed.

DOGS AND FIRES
Dogs will not be permitted to accompany fishermen except by prior arrangement with the Sporting Office, and only then if they are kept under close control at all times. This is necessary because of the presence of sheep and cattle in the majority of fields adjoining the river. No fires may be lit. Please do not leave any litter anywhere.

GHILLIES
The Estate employs a full-time Ghillie/Bailiff, Rab Kerr, who will be on hand to answer any queries or offer advice on the beats. He can be contacted either through the Sporting Office or on Mobile 07765 002142. If a fishing Tenant wishes the services of a Ghillie (at an extra cost), then this should be organised through the Sporting Office in good time to ensure availability. If a fishing Tenant is unfamiliar with the river and wishes to be shown the pools for a short time at the beginning of his fishing let, he should ask for this facility at least three weeks beforehand when the necessary arrangements can be made. If a Ghillie is retained, then there is no such necessity as he will be fully familiar with the water.

RETURN OF CAUGHT FISH
Fishermen must record all fish caught (including fish returned) on the back of the Fishing Permit and should return this to the Estate Office within 2 weeks of the let at the latest. It is a statutory requirement to record accurate returns of fish caught and so Tenants are particularly requested to be punctilious in making these returns. All permits will be numbered to ensure a complete record is obtained.

GYRODACTYLUS SALARIS
In an effort to prevent introduction of the Gyrodactylus Salaris parasite to the river system, Tenants are required to thoroughly clean and treat tackle, waders and fishing equipment, in accordance with the Scottish Executive Guidelines before taking access to the river. A Certificate of Confirmation to this effect will require to be signed by Tenants. An information leaflet can be obtained from the Sporting Office or:
SEERAD, Pentland House, 47 Robb’s Loan, Edinburgh, EH14 1TW. TEL: 0131 244 6225. WEB: www.scotland.gov.uk
DEFRA, Fisheries Division II A, Room 106, Whitehill Place East, London. SW1A 2HH. TEL: 020 7270 8826. WEB: www.defra.gov.uk
Welsh Assembly Government Agriculture and Fishers, Policy Division 2, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ. TEL: 02920 823567.

THE NITH FISHINGS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
The Nith Fishings Improvement Association (NFIA) was formed in 1934 to foster the development of the Nith and its tributaries for angling for Salmon, Sea Trout and Trout. The Association’s efforts over the years have helped establish the river as one of the few in Scotland which has consistently improved in habitat and the quality of its fishings over the last 50 years.  Membership includes Angling Associations, riparian owners and individual anglers. There is an annual fee which is open to individuals with an interest in angling. Applications for membership or further information may be obtained from local fishing tackle shops in Nithsdale or by visiting the website www.rivernithfishings.co.uk. If Tenants of the Drumlanrig Castle Fishings wish to make a donation, their contributions may be paid to Buccleuch Sportings Ltd. who will forward it on to the NFIA treasurer. 

FURTHER INFORMATION
For further booking information and availability, please telephone the Sporting Office (Tel: 01848 600415 - Fax: 01848 600244). If we are unable to accommodate your requirements, we are glad to place names on a waiting list to fill cancellations.

Fishing with the Drumlanrig Castle Fishings can be booked through the Sporting Office on Tel. 01848 600415, by email at sporting@buccleuch.com, by using the Contact Us form, or online through Fish Nith.

back