Get Involved
Feel like getting involved?
The River Tweed Commission & the Tweed Foundation are always looking to engage with more people about the river and the work that we do. One way in which we do so is by giving you the chance to get involved and take part in some of what we do, and there are various ways in which you can do so!
How to get involved
Sponsor a smolt
As part of a four year study, the Tweed Foundation have been running a smolt tracking study to monitor smolt in river survival. This is quite a costly project, and so the Tweed Foundation are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a smolt tag. Please get in touch if you would like to sponsor a smolt and follow it's journey out to sea... you never know, you may receive the reward for sponsoring the fastest smolt!
Tweed Start
Tweed Start is the Tweed Foundation's angling initiative aimed at getting more people fly fishing. With Tweed Start days involving an introduction to freshwater ecosystems, studying entomology, fly tying and casting instruction, we are always grateful for volunteers to help out on days. If you would like to get involved with Tweed Start - whether you are an angling instructor or just have an interest in fishing - it would be great to hear from you.
Electro-fishing
Each year the Tweed Foundation carry out electro-fishing surveys, monitoring the health of juvenile fish stocks at hundreds of site throughout the Tweed and Eye catchments. If you would like to help with this monitoring - or even just experience some electro-fishing in your local area - then please do get in touch.
Invertebrate Sampling
Have you ever wondered how healthy your local river is? Invertebrate sampling is a great way for you to find out. Alongside various angling associations, the Tweed Foundation are working to carry out more invertebrate sampling throughout the Tweed and Eye catchments as part of the Riverfly Partnership. If you would like to help out, then please get in touch.
Trout Log Books
Since 2006, trout anglers have been filling in catch log books, recording their angling effort, how many fish they catch and their sizes. This information is then crucial for the Tweed Foundation to better monitor the health of the Tweed's Trout stocks. We are always very appreciative of any catch log books that get returned to us.
Trout Spot Pattern
Are you a Trout angler who regularly fishes in the Tweed catchment? Or even just on the odd occasion? Then we want to hear from you. Each individual Trout has a unique spot pattern on their gill cover which the Tweed Foundation can use to identify individual fish. By using pictures sent in from Trout anglers, we are building up a data base of the Tweed's Trout. If you are catching trout and would like to contribute to this study, we are always grateful for pictures of Trout being sent to us.
Scale Reading
Much like the growth rings on trees, the growth rings (or the circuli) on a fish scale can tell us the age of any individual fish. Scale reading provides the Tweed Foundation valuable insight into the demographics of the different stocks of fish throughout the Tweed catchment. If you would like to learn how to read fish scales, or even have some scales that you would like read, then please get in touch and come along to one of our training days.
Bird Counts
Each year, the Tweed Foundation carry out several bird counts along the main stem of the Tweed to help in monitoring the levels of fish predation in the river. These are carried out at different times of the year and involve people walking sections of the river at the same time recording the numbers of goosanders and cormorants. If you would like to start your day off with a walk along the river while helping us in monitoring the numbers of these birds, then please do get in touch.
