Can anyone tell me what the name of the river that runs alongside the A7 from Galashiels is ?

Also is it any good and if so where do you get a permit from, looks nice in parts.

I pass it most days just now and keep swerving all over the road trying to see look at it !!

Driving south on the A7 - down the gala water into Galashiels then upstream on Tweed then Ettrick to Selkirk.

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I believe it is the Gala Water a tributary of the Tweed. Sorry have not fished it.
Tight Lines

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"The Future's Bright The Future's Wet Fly"

Cheers guys, if anyone knows anything about it I would be very grateful

There is a Gala Angling Association but no contact details I am afraid.
Tight Lines

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"The Future's Bright The Future's Wet Fly"

http://www.gala-angling.com/

Wonderfull thing Google

Top stuff, might have to have a crack at it soon !

I have lived overlooking it and fished it for over 20 years.The Gala Angling club control the lower 5 miles to where it joins the Tweed. From Torwoodlee golf course upstream it is pretty much a free for all. The riparian owners must own the fishing rights, but there seems to be no control and anyone can fish it. I have never heard of anyone being stopped. The kids from Galashiels learn to fish there. It is a great local asset. The Gala is like all small streams best fished at the right time. It comes into its own in May (hardly worth fishing before then) with good hatches of Dark Olives and Pale Watery's. In June we even get a hatch of real Mayflies. It's comical to see the smaller Trout having to have several goes at drowning a big Mayfly before they can eat it. From June on if fly fishing, late evenings through into the dark are best. The average trout would be around 2-3 ounces. There are much bigger fish in it lying safe in the deep holes and undercut banks. I have had trout of 2-3lbs on the dry fly by being in the right place at the right time. (very rare!) You will occasionally see some very big trout in the 5-6lb class hammering into the minnow shoals. Fishing the worm in a flood can bring some of the better trout that you will never see rising.
Later in the season. The great Red Sedge and Daddy Long Legs can bring up some good trout. Sadly as far as I know, there are no Grayling in the water. I have never caught one or heard of any caught. Which is odd as the Tweed has them. They don't seem to like the Gala for some reason? Which is a great pity.

A 3 to 5 weight rod of 7 - 8ft will be ideal for the water. A shorter rod can be an advantage as a lot of it is very overgrown and overhung with trees and bushes.

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