Week beginning 11 April 2022
Monday 11th April. I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned it but I really hate the wind especially an east wind or south east, in fact anything with east in it, today there was a stiff east wind. 1’5” and 42 degrees and squeaky clean. Team Golding here today along with Vincent York. Marcus was getting excited before he even had his rod up as he’d seen a nice fish in the Cauld and after the Monday morning draw he was in the Cauld, we went into the Cauld and saw another two fish but couldn’t get a pull of one if they were still there. Liz Campbell Golding was in Learmouth and wading the stream had a lovely fresh 10lber and lost another, Rodger down on Middle stream and Bags didn’t see so much as a scale, even the rod on the other side who’d opted to spin first thing on a Monday seemed to be fishless. This afternoon Vincent had a good pull in the Bags on a fast sinktip and a black and yellow tube. The catches were much improved today up and down the river with at least 30 that I know of. A dozen or more sandmartins were over the Cauld this afternoon picking up a fly of two then they were away again heading north. It’s still cold out there too cold, the cheery weathergirl keeps saying it’s going to warm up but I wish it would hurry up.
Tuesday 12th April. A mild overcast start with the Lees gauge reading 1’3” and 44 degrees, the forecast was for rain and cold east winds which by lunchtime proved to be correct. This morning Marcus was in the Bags and Middle stream, he had a pull in the Bags and lost a fish in the Middle stream, we saw the fish show in the Middle stream and carefully fished our way down to it, Marcus hooked it almost exactly where it had shown but after a few tugs and a head shake it was off. This afternoon the weather really turned awful with a very cold east wind and rain but the to counter that the fish turned up. Liz Campbell Golding opted to fish the Cauld letting her pal Rodger Tyrer have a cast at the Slap, I was just getting the boat into position in the Cauld when Rodger shouted I need some help. The fish led him a merry dance almost going down through the Slap but Rodger had upmost faith in his tackle and hook hold for that matter and pulled it back up, we got it netted off the croy, hook out, tagged, quick photo and away, estimated at 15lb and with long tailed lice. Liz fished the Cauld then opted to wade the tail, Rodger came in the boat for a float round the Cauld but not a pull was had, he headed back to the Slap and soon had another on the line around 10lb this time also with long tailed lice. Both fish came to a Black Frances, Liz came to congratulate Rodger and said she was really pleased that he’d two and her none, well I think thats what she said. Vincent York down in Learmouth had a 10lb licer from the stream so came back wet but very happy. Hopefully the rain will not affect the river and we can get Marcus into a fish tomorrow, one that stays on.
Wednesday 13th April. A bit milder today as that horrible easterly has been replaced by a light westerly and it stopped raining.1’4” and 46 degrees nice and clean. Marcus Richards on the Slap and Cauld this morning and seeing a fish in the Cauld we were both fairly excited, tried the Slap first but nothing doing so it was into the Cauld thinking Richards fish was just a few casts away, an hour and a half later with no pulls and several flies tried with the fish still showing we retired for a coffee, after coffee Richard back on the Slap hooked a fish on a black n yellow tube, a couple of shakes of the head then a leap forward and it was off. The rest of the team fared no better but fish were seen in Learmouth and the Glide. After lunch Liz being the caring mother let Richard take her place on the Slap and he was rewarded with a fresh 9lber, that is one of mum’s duties. The river was creeping up during the day only inches but it maybe had an effect on the scores today as very few reported tonight. The bankside is now starting to show a hint of green with the willows in leaf and the buds on other trees just starting to open; as longhursday
Thursday 14th April. A much milder day at last with the weather from the west taking control. 1’6” and 46 degrees and sque as it stays in the west then it will continue. I’ve yet to see a swallow but have heard reports of odd ones on the river. Taky clean, there is a fair bit of stone dirt on the bottom and it’s starting to get a bit slippy especially for those wearing rubber soled waders, I find felt stud mix to be the best for all conditions. Vincent York was on the Slap Cauld area and gave it a good going over but not a pull was had. Down on the Glide Craig Foster hooked into a fish within minutes of starting but it didn’t stay on for long, we saw some good fish in the Glide but none wanted to play. Fish were also seen in the Bags and Middle stream giving the rods some hope that they were in with a chance. The height is good as is the temp and weather but the fish have to want to play. No hatch of fly to speak about today, I imagine the March browns will be about finished by now. The Cauldstream continues to disappoint, it looks great and we see the odd fish in it or going through it but not a pull in there since a week past Friday. Easter tomorrow so two let rods and two family rods so we’ll see what happens. Catches were down a shade but well spread up and down the river.
Friday 15th April. 1’4” and the magic 50 f, with a good bit of cloud cover and no real wind to speak of it was the perfect fishing day I thought. To cut a long story short we fished all the fishy bits twice and saw a good few fish for the spring fishing of late but not a pull was had. We saw fish in every pool we fished some of them a wee bit off silver and looking like residents others brand new. The Slap had its usual draw that when a rod is fishing it, after 15 minutes they start to think about going to the Cauld, then a fish shows and they have to give it another 15 minutes or another fly, sometimes it works today it didn’t. The Mink that was up at the Slap/ Cauld area was seen today down at the Glide it will likely be the same one as there are so few of them, so traps will have to be set. The catches on the river were low and with the texts I received everyone was saying the same thing seeing fish but struggling to get a pull, maybe its the lift in temp and they’ll come on again after they have got used to all this “heat”, thats the best excuse I can think of for the time being. I’ve still to see a swallow but there are plenty martins flitting about. Forecast tomorrow is same as today so I might be tempted to break out a big Collie dug. On the garden front, do I put my onion sets in or leave it another week or two, problems, problems.
Saturday 16th April. Arrived at the hut usual time looked at river and thought we’re bound to get a fish or two today, calm, mild, misty and clean water. We fished the Glide, Duddo, Iron Gate and only saw the one fish which was at the Iron gate, it was just as quiet up at the top although they did see a fish in the Cauld. After lunch Richard Summers hooked a fish in the Slap which managed to shake the hook as that’s all it did from being hooked was shake its head, I did get a glimpse of it and it was a nice silver fish. Catches were well spread over the river; the best I heard of was Sprouston with 4 licers this morning, Learmouth managed one from the Glide on a Rap. Not too shabby a week with 5 landed and a few lost plus pulls. I took the risk and put in my Stuttgarter onion sets tonight, everyone will be a show winner.
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©M Campbell 2022
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