This is the official site of the Newbie & Distillery Beat on the River Annan. The Newbie beat is the first beat above the tide, where the River Annan meets the Solway Firth. It runs from Annan town bridge to Rabbit Island, approximately two miles upstream. Our beat is mostly double bank and being just above the tide and at times in part tide-affected, can produce fresh fish in even the lowest of waters.
We have a well-maintained river and banks, a car park, rod-room, toilet facilities and a hut with heating, hot and cold water, a fridge, oven, microwave and kettle and room to make yourself comfortable.
Newbie and Distillery Beat’s fishings was timeshared in the mid 1980’s and is divided into 3 beats, split over 10 rods. The rods are split into three groups each group fishing the beats in rotation and changing beats at lunchtime (13.00 hrs) for the 36 weeks of the fishing season, giving 360 rod weeks in all. Some owners hold multiple rod weeks, giving a current total of around 140 individual owners.
Situated just 7 miles from the Scottish border and the M74, Newbie Beat is readily accessible to most centres of population, with London just over 4 hours away.
Our season lasts from the 25th of February until the 15th of November. There are a maximum of only 10 rods per day (Mon-Sat, with no fishing on a Sunday).
Fishing is available either by purchasing a rod and thereby owning your week in perpetuity (see rods for sale page), or by renting a rod through Fishpal. (Click here to go to Fishpal’s page for rod-rentals on Newbie Beat).
Easy to access and productive, Newbie is a must for the serious salmon and sea trout angler alike.
