- Valid tickets give permission to fish with rod and line on waters controlled by Dumfries and Galloway Council (the council) in compliance with the following rules and regulations and the law (please see map for boundaries). The fishing season opens on 25th February. The salmon season ends on 30th November.
- The council reserves the right to close any/all stretch of fishing waters by erection of an appropriately worded notice.
- Fishing may be restricted in line with public health advice at short notice.
- In line with Scottish government conservation assessment, the Rivers Nith and Cairn are mandatory catch and release for all salmon. One sea trout or herling may be retained per day provided that it is not under 10 inches in length or over 3 lbs in weight. All sea trout and herling caught after the 6 October must be returned. All rainbow trout must be killed.
- When fly-fishing, no lead lines or leaded hook are permissible. When using Rapala type lures the maximum length should not be greater than 90mm with no more than two treble hooks attached. The treble hooks should be no greater than size 4. When fishing with Rapala type lures no additional weight shall be allowed to be fixed to the line.
- Bait fishing is permitted from 15th March onwards one hook shall be used.
- Any water bailiff is authorised to forbid the use of any hook or tackle considered unsuitable and impound a ticket for unsporting or illegal practice.
- Float fishing is not permitted.
- All pools should be fished in rotation, with anglers moving one metre downstream between
casts. - Fishing during the hours of darkness is not permitted until after 1 April.
- All ticketholders must make statutory return of fish data by the end of the fishing season using the form, or online at www.dumgal.gov.uk. Failure to return fishing data (including NIL returns) may lead to a fine or declining your application in future years. To find the online form access www.dumgal.gov.uk and search under “fishing in Dumfries” thereafter follow the instructions.
- Fish, fishing tackle, fishing ticket and identity card must be shown to any police officer, council official or water bailiff when requested. Identification and tickets (including digital) must be carried at all times when fishing.
- Unsporting behaviour or foul/abusive language will be considered as a breach of regulations.
- The use of natural prawns and shrimps (whether fresh or preserved dyed or natural colour)
and any part thereof including any artificial guise of the same are banned as bait when fishing rod and line for salmon and sea trout in relation to the council controlled waters on both the Rivers Nith and Cairn upstream of a line drawn across the River Nith from the house situated at 28 East Riverside Drive, Dumfries and the northeast corner of Kingholm playing fields, Dumfries. - Fishing tickets are issued subject to compliance with the adopted Nith District Salmon Fishery Board conservation policy, Dumfries Common Good fishing regulations and other regulations made by the council from time to time, whether during the currency of the ticket or otherwise.
- Sunday fishing for brown trout and grayling is only permissible when legal to do so and during salmon fishing season. Season ticket holders are permitted to Sunday fish with a season ticket. The Sunday fishing beat is identified separately on the fishing map.
- After 30th November a Grayling Only Permit is available to fish for grayling on the waters controlled by the council and as identified separately on the fishing map.
- Disqualification and penalties:
A) Any police officer or water bailiff is authorised to impound a ticket for practices which are unsporting, in breach of these regulations or illegal. This shall have the same effect as council officer suspending the ticket. The Nith District Salmon Fishery Board shall thereafter forward a complaint in terms of section b below.
B) Where a ticketholder is charged with a criminal offence relating to fishing or wildlife crime, and/or where two water bailiffs agree that a ticketholder has breached the regulations the Fishery Board shall inform the council within five working days of the incident. Upon receipt of a complaint a council officer shall investigate the complaint within ten working days. If the complaint is upheld by the council officer, the council officer shall issue a notification to the ticketholder concerned informing them that their ticket is suspended as at the date of that notification. The investigation of any complaints made by the Fishery Board to the council reported after the stated five working days shall be at the discretion of council officers.
C) The notification of suspension shall inform the ticketholder that they have a right to lodge an appeal against the suspension within ten working days of the date of notification. A meeting of the Dumfries Common Good Fund Sub Committee shall be convened within 20 working days of such appeal being lodged for the purpose of considering the suspension further and deciding as to any period of disqualification or penalties. The ticketholder shall be issued with a letter informing them of the date of the appeal no later than 15 working days before the date of the appeal hearing.
D) A suspended ticket shall not be returned to the ticketholder until the Dumfries Common Good Sub Committee considers the complaint and any appeal.
E) At the appeal hearing the Dumfries Common Good Sub Committee shall consider the complaint and the appeal and thereafter shall either:
i. revoke the suspension and return a proportion of the fee for that ticket, relating to the period of suspension; or
ii. uphold the suspension and disqualify the ticketholder; or
iii. continue the appeal hearing until the outcome of any related criminal prosecution is known.
f. Disqualifications shall be in accordance with the following tariff:
i. A first disqualification will result in a minimum ban of the remainder of the portion of the current ticket, up to a maximum of five years.
ii. A second disqualification will lead to a ban for a further between five and ten years.
iii. All third disqualifications would lead to a ban of a further 15 years.
F) From February 2020 there shall no longer be any ban for a period more than 15 years. Any outstanding bans for a period more than 15 years may be reconsidered, by the Dumfries Common Good Sub Committee on a recommendation to the council by the Director of the Nith District Salmon Fishery Board and the committee of the Burgh Anglers Association, following an application from any banned individual.
G) The decision of the Dumfries Common Good Sub Committee is final. There shall be no further appeals process.
Fishing may be restricted in line with public health advice at short notice. .
Dumfries Common Good Grayling Regulations 2024
The salmon fishings and Graylings Sunday fishings have slightly different permitted areas to fish. Please check the fishing map.
- Permit holders must fish only waters controlled by Dumfries Common Good and respect adjoining Fishing. NOTE: The permitted areas differ from those available to Salmon fishing and are outlined on the Fishing Map.
- Anglers must show permits when requested by Bailiffs, Police and authorised personnel acting on behalf of Dumfries Common Good.
- Tickets for Grayling Fishing are available from 1st December to 24th February.
- Fly and Bait fishing only - no ground baiting.
- Maximum breaking strain of line is 4 lb.
- Bait fishing maximum hook size, no larger than size 12s barbless single hooks only, maximum 3 SSG splitshots or equivalent to 5 grams, maggots or small worms only ( around 1 inch long ) bait must be kept moving at all times.
- Fly Fishing; flies no larger than size 12s single barbless hooks only.
- Only one rod to be used and to be held at all times
- Catch limit – only 2 Grayling to be retained each day. Catch and release is promoted.
- No shuffling allowed.
- No deep wading allowed.
- Be aware of and avoid salmon reeds
- Always fish in a sporting manner and respect fellow anglers
- Fishing from daybreak until dusk.
- Grayling close season 15th March to 16th June.
- Dumfries Common Good accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage to any property or motor vehicles while on any part of fishings controlled by Dumfries Common Good.
- Catch return data must be provided, including catch and release and nil returns.