Week beginning 10 February 2014
Monday 10th February A nice sunny start but the river at 3’11” on the Lees gauge and a bit coloured so team Harper decided not to fish which pleased the Ghillies no end as the strain on the engine room would have been too much, the Whisky drinking competition ended in a draw again yesterday so a rematch will be held next time we’re flooded off. The day wasn’t wasted as much slavering was done about lines and flies and days gone by, moles traps set and squirrel traps set, steps repaired and a general tidy up round hut took place, we should fish tomorrow but it will still be on the high side but with more rain/snow coming we have to take every chance. Tuesday 11th 3’3” and 38 degs clean water and a fairly calm start, Richard Harrison brushing off his hangover from the whisky competition was into the Cauld boat like a rat up a drainpipe and had 4 Kelts in 3 casts, well it looked that way from the top of the Temple where I was with Graham Whitty. Graham in his usual gracious self wished Richard all the best through gritted teeth( well it was cold) Frank Smith was wading the Ledges and got lost in a cloud of steam from his own e fag decided that his waders were not long enough and headed for the hut to regale Terry with some more stories of dering do when he painted York minster ceiling, Graham caught up with the Kelts at the bottom end of the Temple getting one which would of tipped the scales at 2lbs, very next cast another pull, it’s bigger, but it’ll be a big Kelt, after 15 mins or so we had a look at it and it’s a nice Springer about 11/12lbs which shot off downstream shaking its head and out comes the hook. 6 Kelts for the day and a nearly. Wednesday 12th 3’0” on the Lees gauge and a chilly 38degs but an east/south east wind picking up all morning along with the rain. Graham Whitty managed a wee Kelt from the Cauld as we were rowing in to finish, and Richard Harrison mentioned that he would of been able to throw a Toby for miles in this wind(not until Saturday Richard). Frank Smith gamely tried a cast in the Cauld after lunch against all advice and returned to the hut 10 mins later with his tail between his legs, the lads then settled down in the hut for the afternoon and enjoyed Frank’s tales of big game hunting in Africa. River is rising tonight so I doubt if there’ll be any fishing tomorrow. Thursday 13th 4’9” and coloured so fishing buggered right from the off, the wind also picked up as the day went on. So it was another day in and around the hut with more tales of dering do from around the world, Frank shot an Elephant or two with an air rifle in South Africa, Graham told tales of catching a Crocodile with his bare hands, Richard worked out how far he could cast a 28g Toby into a 50mph wind and Terry cut up slabs of beef whilst pondering which part of the beast it came from. We also sorted out Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday and what the meaning of them is, nobody had a clue but Google is a great thing, also discussed the population of Greenland and the capital city which is Nuuk by the way, we also practiced tying a few knots which we will likely never use so along with a few drams we sorted the world out, if only we could sort out the rain. Friday 14th Nice calm mild start to the day but it wasn’t to last. We gave it a go this morning for an hour but it was more filling in time than serious fishing, 3’9” and a fair bit of colour in it. By lunchtime everyone had packed in and the beef rolls were calling which was the best part of the day as it turns out. Split a few logs to keep the fire roaring and filled in some potholes in the road which will be washed out again by now as it’s chucking it down now (5.00pm) so fishing tomorrow is looking unlikely. Saturday 15th Water, water and more water. No fishing today again big and brown. 5’0” and rising, Richard headed for home while Terry and Graham headed for the Borders gunroom for a look around, there’s not much you can do on a day like this with everything wet. It’s to be a nice sunny day tomorrow so we should get a cast on Monday but there’s always a but, it’s to rain again on Monday so Tuesday could be out. Thats February fishing for you some years low and frosts and the next wet and windy. On the wildlife front the Kingfisher is still flitting about and the Egrets are giving us a fly past now and again and of course the company Otters are with us every day. Photo this week is the gauge where you don’t want to see it.
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