Week beginning 11 November 2013
Monday 11th November Alovely autumn morning 1’9” on the gauge and 40degs just the sort of day we like on the Lees. The team pitched up 9.00am did the draw sorted out lines flies, usual chaos ensued. I was off to the bottom end and gave it a good thrashing but one pull at the Iron Gate was all we had to show for our efforts. The lads up the top fared better getting two from the Cauld and one from the Temple, but that was all we had for the morning. Two first timers on the beat today were Jamie and Andrew from Stirling who made me raise my eyebrows as they fish with droppers! And that on a sunk line, anyway anything to please, so they fished with droppers on, tube on the point and a double on the dropper. Jamie lost a fish in Learmouth this morning and Andrew had his leader and flies disappear with a fish this afternoon so read into that what you will. 8 was the score for the day along with a couple of pulls and a fish lost. Ian Thorpe had an 8lb cock fish from the Back of the wall just as he was beginning to think his intermediate line wasn’t getting down enough. There were very few fish showing but I see from the web that Tillmouth had 15 today so we might get a few more on the beat tomorrow. Tuesday 12th 1’10” 42 degs and squeaky clean, started in the Cauld with Nick from Stirling who won a Boris Johnston lookalike competition whilst on holiday in Greece, (he really does look like him and acts like him as well) wet 2 tip and a bottle tube but it took us an age to get a fish, in fact it was the only one I saw and that was down at the 3rd Croy. Olivier Devictor had one from the Temple and the other lads had 4 from the back of the wall and Iron Gate, so 6 for the morning and very little showing, we increased the score by 3 in the afternoon, the home colours bottle tube doing the biz yet again, I have a wee stock of them but can soon make some more as the orders come pouring in. It seems like the whole world is using multi tip lines nowadays and I have to say I like the Ian Fairgrieve ultraspey more tips with it and two belly’s (how’s that for an ad) I/we saw very few fish today and conditions were perfect, the fish they had at Tillmouth have either buggered off of they don’t have any friends with them.
Wednesday 13th A calm start but that wasn’t to last it blew a hoolie this afternoon. Today was a case of right place right time; well it was for Jamie McCaig who had 7 fresh fish from the Cauld this morning 5 of them with lice on, we also had 1 from the Slap and 1 from the Temple, so two of the rods caught all the fish, Jamie capped it with another 3 from the back of the wall this afternoon earning his place on the roll of honour. All the other pools were quiet, a couple of pulls in Learmouth where they saw the fish moving through but couldn’t touch them, we managed another from the Cauld in the afternoon and one from the Annay. 14 for the day almost all fresh, but nothing big. 1’9” and 40 degs so we are on intermediate lines with copper tubes or wet 2 type in places like Learmouth. Forecast gales tomorrow so not looking forward to it as have headache tonight from wind today which isn’t like me, dram time I think.
Thursday 14th Another lovely autumn morning on the Lees, a new team on duty who were as keen as a Polecat heading down a rabbit hole. 1’8” 40 degs and squeaky clean. By 10.30 am we knew it wasn’t going to be record breaking day, even with Jim Reid casting over the horizon not so much as a pull was had in the Cauld. John Lloyd first time on the Lees was the top dog getting two for the day 1 from the back of the wall and 1 from the Glide; in fact it’s a good job he was here as he caught the only two fish of the day. We had another couple of pulls but it was a very quiet day for us and on the river as a whole, apart from Hendersyde who had 10, so we know where yesterday’s fish ended up. At 1’8” we thought we were going to bag up but that’s November fishing for you. Ok there were no fish wanting to play today but the sunset was fantastic, see photo.
Friday 15th 1’8” and still 40 degs bit of a south west wind and the fish were up for a bit of fun, well that sort of depends where you were fishing. Jim Reid of huge salmon fame 2012 had 3 from the Glide all in the bottom end and a couple of other pulls, I tweaked one out on my first cast just before lunch and had another pull on my second and all on my wee rod with the Ultraspey line on, it casts for miles with a south west wind, no need to kill yourself with big stuff, and there were a pair of dippers to watch all the action. 2 from the Temple and 1 from the Slap for John. Andy Britton who has left his wife to look after the Llama with its babies while he goes fishing had a couple from the Cauld but could only manage a Seatrout Kelt this afternoon. Phil Hinton had 1 from the Glide this afternoon to add to the score but he can hold his head up as he takes the honours for the day with the biggest fish at 18lbs, although he did say it looked more like 25lb. After only getting 2 yesterday it was a great relief to be back into double figures again with 17 landed. We are now using intermediate lines with a bit of a sink tip added and those wee green/yellow flashy bottle tubes or #6 gold trebles are still doing the biz. That’s us on 697 so we must break the 700 mark tomorrow and the average is only another 20 away after that.
Saturday 16th Another good day for November with 11 landed, strange thing was nothing from the Temple or the Cauld, we have an excuse in the Temple as it was Simon Wood who was fishing and had to cast straight into the wind so not great fun on the Temple. The rest of the rods all managed a fish or two, some more than others it has to be said but that’s the luck of the draw. Phil Hinton who had to be marched down to the Babyhouse at gunpoint had two, one from Duddo and one from the Babyhouse so he might be a bit keener to go there in future. Jim Reid blanked this morning (put more water in it) but came good this afternoon with three from Learmouth, Jim left the beat early as he has tickets for strictly come dancing tonight which after fishing is his favourite pastime. John Lloyd was amongst them again today bringing his total to nine for the three day trip and will be singing all the way back to the valleys boyo! Andy Britton international Llama Breeder had three cracking tide licers from the Glide along with a 3lber so was a happy wee bunny, so will be mucking them out tomorrow with a smile on his face. So 57 for the week and a good few fresh ones amongst them is good for the time of year, the water levels staying low had helped but I see rain on the forecast for Sunday/Monday but hard frosts after that. We are on Intermediate lines and bits of sink tips with #6 trebles and those wonder flies that are available from yours truly. 708 for the season so the average is in sight and a month ago I thought we’d never get there but November has been kind this year. For the Dog lovers who read this, Kelsae is getting on fine and has doubled in size, coming back to the whistle, hasn’t killed any chickens yet so looking good. Photos this week are That fantastic sunset, Jim Reid playing a huge Salmon in the Glide and the wonder flies!!!!!
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