Hawick teenager hooked on fishing after landing 'HUGE' salmon on River Teviot

Hawick teenager Mikey Smith was presented with his prize by local MP John Lamont.

Author: Ally McGilvrayPublished 26th May 2025
Last updated 26th May 2025

A complete beginner to salmon fishing has flown in from his home in New York City to pick up the Bemersyde Trophy - for catching the biggest fish on the River Tweed last year.

Michael Smith revealed he took 45 minutes to reel in the 35 pounder on a visit to the Scottish Borders in August.

"We had eight of us on the water on the first first day; all rods in the water and not a single fish," he recalled. "We weren't very optimistic but found a nice little spot, and ended up catching three fish."

Michael Smith is pictured with his 35lb salmon at a prize-giving ceremony at Bemersyde House.

Michael's prized catch was one of the biggest fish caught in Scotland last year.

He was presented with the trophy by local MP John Lamont during a special ceremony at Bemersyde House on Friday, courtesy of the Haig family.

The trophy honours the largest salmon landed on a fly on the River Tweed, and its tributaries.

Picking up the junior prize was Mikey Smith, from Hawick, who was just 13 when he landed a 25lb salmon on the River Teviot in September.

He was introduced to fishing by TweedStart - an educational programme from the Tweed Foundation, which aims to encourage more young people to take up angling and learn more about the ecology of the river.

Hawick teenager Mikey Smith is pictured with his 25lb salmon on the River Teviot.

Recalling his catch, Mikey said: "I didn't expect it at all. It was my first time salmon fishing on the fly. I thought I had hanked on a rock, but no, the rock started moving - and it was a huge salmon!

"It took about half an hour (to reel it in) and I was absolutely shattered by the end of it." But he added: "I've been hooked ever since."

The Duchess of Roxburghe gives the traditional blessing to the River Tweed to mark the start of the new salmon-fishing season in February. And, below, a fisherman casts a line from a boat on the River Tweed.

The 2024 fishing season on the River Tweed saw its highest rod catch of salmon since 2013, with 9,947 salmon caught by rod and an additional 483 by nets.

Mr Lamont stressed the importance of fishing to tourism and the wider Borders economy cannot be underestimated.

"Today is a great opportunity to celebrate the success of these fishermen, both internationally and locally," he said.

"I think it's an important reminder of just how important the Tweed is to the local economy. It brings tourists and fisher people from all around the world, and supports local businesses - hotels and restaurants. And it's an industry we should be recognising and investing in."

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