Week beginning 11 February 2019
Monday 11th February. It was a lovely day on the river with blue skies and no wind, the Lees gauge was showing 2’6” and 36 degrees. There was a bit of murk to the colour of the water so Team Harper had a leisurely start and didn’t bother to fish this morning. After lunch Tony Bosomworth and Graeme Whitty ventured out whilst Terry and Frank Smith stayed back to read the papers, stoke the fire and do some quality control on the whisky, all very important jobs. Graeme up in the Temple managed to land 5 kelts which showed he was doing something right but top rod today and getting us off the mark was Tony. Paul and Tony fished carefully down the far side of the Cauld and picked up a fresh 7lber just off the middle croy, it took a black and yellow cone head tube fished on a fast sink line. So well done the pair of them and let’s hope it’s the first of many. It is nice to have a few kelts about as I always think they decoy a few springers in to staying with us, the last few springs we have had next to no kelts. Puppy Jock is growing well and is now 7 months old, he is building quite a list of things chewed including- 4 pairs of shoes (not all mine), 2 table lamp cables, 1 Alexa cable, 1 seatbelt (rear), 1 fire side rug and whilst we were on holiday he knocked over the dog sitter and broke her hip, but he is a bonnie wee dug!
Tuesday 12th February. So much for the cheery weathergirl saying it was going to be a settled week with high pressure dominating; it blew a bloody hoolie today. 1 salmon Kelt this morning was the score for us and the score off the river was only one springer which came from the Junction, a few rods had kelts up and down the river but no more springers. 2’2” and 38 degrees nice and clean.
Wednesday 13th February. 6 fish reported off the river today but more importantly 1 was from the Lees, Tony Bosomworth was at it again getting a 10lb licer from Learmouth, funny thing was he wanted to fish the Cauld not Learmouth. He was using the same set up as Monday. 2’0” and 42 degrees today, it was also nice and mild so all was well apart from the bloody wind. No rain on the forecast so the heights are going to be perfect for the Lees all week just hope more fish stay with us. The Great White Egrets are still with us but I haven’t seen the Crane for a couple of days, the otter family also made its daily appearance. As for puppy Jock add a garden hose to his list of things chewed.
Thursday 14th February. Another windy morning 2’0” on the Lees gauge and 42 degrees. We had a couple of Kelts from the Cauld, Glide and Learmouth but no springers today, the wind did ease in the afternoon and if there had been a fish about I’m sure we’d have caught it. I heard my first Skylark of the year today, being fooled by the mild weather no doubt and the kingfisher gave us a couple of flypasts. The catches on the river were low again with fish coming from South Wark, Carham and Upper Mertoun. Puppy Jock behaved for most of the day only letting the side down when he ate an old smelly Kelt down the Back of the Wall. No rain on the forecast so the beat remains at a perfect height.
Friday 15th February. It was a lovely day out on the river with blue skies and not a lot of wind and in fact it dropped right off this afternoon. No springers off the beat today but the Kelts kept the lads interested in the job; Ken Brown had 9 Kelts landed lost two and had a good few other pulls good going for his first trip to the Lees, OK they were Kelts but it shows you are fishing it correctly and you never know your next pull could be a springer. 6 fish reported off the river today 2 from Upper North Wark which were brand new, 1 at Lower North wark, 1 at Lower Birgham and 2 at Hendersyde, surprisingly nothing above Hendersyde which has to be unusual. I presume the low water and having a few Kelts about is decoying the fish in rather than them running straight through. 1’10” 40 degrees and squeaky clean. Add to Puppy Jocks list one shoulder sling for my shotgun.
Saturday 16th February. Another nice mild day, bit of a south wind at times but not enough to spoil the day. Terry Harper was into action in the Cauld this morning getting a 14lb licer on a black and yellow conehead and followed it up with a 12lb licer this afternoon also from the Cauld, he had two dips at the Cauld as Graeme decided to fish Learmouth stream this afternoon rather than the Cauld. Ken Brown had a salmon Kelt from the Temple and Graeme had a salmon Kelt from the Back of the Wall this morning. What a difference to last year having some fish about the place, low water and Kelts will do me for the rest of the month. Puppy Jock behaved for most of the day until he found an old smelly Kelt half of which he ate and the rest he rolled in, don’t you just love puppies! I have heard of fish from South Wark and Upper Floors today but at the time of writing this that is all I know of.
As ever see instagram or Tweedbeats on facebook for latest photos and clips, the photo of Terry’s first fish didn’t make it on as he took a selfie.
©M Campbell 2019
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