Salmon Fishing on the River Annan
The River Annan is a spate river flowing southwards for 35 miles past Moffat, Johnstonebridge and Lockerbie, joined on its way by several tributaries such as Moffat Water, Evan Water, Kinnel Water, Dryfe Water, Water of Milk, Water of Ae and Mien Water before entering the Solway at Annan. The Annan is one of the top salmon and sea trout rivers in the south of Scotland. The river Annan, given sufficient rainfall, will see runs of salmon and grilse from June onwards but the months of September, October and November produce most of the annual salmon catch, around 1000 fish per year up to the last decade, although recent seasons, in common with many Scottish salmon and sea trout rivers, have seen a dip in numbers.
The Annan has also been historically one of the most productive sea trout rivers in the south of Scotland, with catches in excess of 1000 per annum as recently as 2002, although, like the other Solway rivers, the Annan has seen a very concerning decline in sea trout stocks in recent seasons. A variety of fishing is available, including estate, hotel and club waters. The Upper Annandale Angling Association has some ten miles of good water on the river between Moffat and Lockerbie, which is available to the visiting angler and there is a very good stretch at Hoddom Castle, accessible at reasonable cost, to name but two of the many beats throughout the length of the river available to the visiting angler.
River Annan Map
Tap or click on the map below to view full size image
Note: the maps on this website are extracts from the Bartholomew “Half Inch” map series dating back to the middle of the twentieth century. There have been many changes since the maps were made, and much of the human detail, e.g. buildings and roads, will have changed over the period. It is to be hoped, however, that the unique character of our Scottish rivers, and the trout and salmon in them, will not have altered too dramatically over the years and that they may still offer the wonderful fishing prospects of days gone by. Bearing the above in mind, anyone planning a fishing or walking trip in Scotland is advised to equip themselves with a compass and the appropriate up-to-date Ordnance Survey map, the most useful for the angler probably being the Landranger series, scale 1:50,000. For Annandale, see O.S. map number 78 and 85.
For further information about the fishing on the Annan see River Annan Fishing
For information about the trout fishing in the area see Trout Fishing Scotland