Week beginning 13 February 2017
Monday 13th February. River sitting at 2’6” and the Lees this morning and 38 degrees also carrying a lot of colour thanks to the Teviot effect so the team decided not to fish which was a wise decision as there were no fish reported off the river today on either website. The morning was spent sorting out the world in the hut and it seems a red hot poker is the answer to all the worlds’ woes.
Tuesday 14th February. Still running at 2’6” and 38 degrees on the Lees gauge and still a bit of colour about it, it’s more the unsettled nature of it that I don’t like and presumably the fish don’t like it either. Anyway it was a nice enough morning so we gave it a go but within an hour the wind had picked up and a strong south easterly at that which blows straight up the Cauld and Temple doing us no favours. I was with Clancy in the Temple but we had to admit defeat as trying to get someone’s casting going in that wind is dangerous s we had a few casts from the Slap croy but that was no safer with the fly whipping past my ear and then sticking in Clancy’s arm we decided to head for the hut. Only one fish reported off the river today at South Wark so we didn’t miss much.
Wednesday 15th February. This is the day that spinning enthusiasts can ply their trade for the first time this season and looking at the websites it made little or no difference to the catches with only 7 reported across the websites 3 of them from Junction. Spinning or not it was one of the nicest spring days you could wish for warm sun, blue skies and no wind even a Skylark was singing down the back of the wall, 2’4” and 40 degrees slight touch of beer in the colour, we had a pull in Learmouth a pull in the cauld and landed a big kelt in the Temple caught by Clancy on a toby spoon as its a height where we allow a bit of spinning and it was much safer for me and Clancy and in fact anyone standing within 15 yards to let him use a spinner.
Thursday 16th February. Blowing a hoolie from the west today but the river was in good enough fettle 2’0” and 42 degrees at the Lees and nice and clean. The team spread out and set about their duties, we kept Clancy on the spinner partly as the height allowed it and it was safer for everyone concerned. Harry Birbeck joined us for the day along with Brian Perry but even their keenness couldn’t find a fish for us, Harry managed a kelt from the iron gate, Graeme had a bit of a pull in Learmouth and that was it for the day. The rest of the river didn’t fair much better as there were only 3 fish reported on the websites 1 from the Dub and 2 from lower Birgham so that sort of shows the stock in the river at the moment as spring fishers tend to be a hardy lot and are used to thrashing away in adverse conditions so if the fish were there they’d be found. Less wind tomorrow.
Friday 17th February. A nicer day with just a wee breeze and mild for February. Team Harper left before lunch fishless but having enjoyed their holiday. Brian Perry fished hard all day and had something come to the fly as he was lifting to cast but it didn’t stick whatever it was. 2’1” and 42 degrees nice and clean. I see from the websites there were 7 or 8 fish caught today two of them opposite us at West Learmouth so there’s hope for us yet to avoid the blank week. The Skylark was singing again today and in fact mid morning all the birds were clearing their throats getting ready for the spring. I’ve yet to see a Kingfisher this year yet, the otter population seems to go from strength to strength. Forecast mild and getting warm next week but that will mean gales and rain at this time of year.
Saturday 18th February. Bit of a blowy morning but very mild, 1’11” and 42 degrees. We were joined today by Lees regular John Macleod and new to the Lees Chris Galka, we soon had them on the water along with Brian Perry who’s on his third day. John had a couple of decent sized kelts out of the Temple one which gave a very good account of itself jumping out three times before coming to the net. Brian still smarting from missing the fish yesterday sadly blanked as did Chris but both enjoyed their mornings. This afternoon John was all smiles as he hooked and landed a fresh 7lb springer in Learmouth stream, he had switched from the traditional black and yellow to a cascade and hooked the fish just opposite the point on our side of the stream. There are more kelts about this year and that suits us to a tee as it helps to decoy the springers in instead of them zooming past. The otter was enjoying a swim in the Temple right in front of the hut at lunchtime and some dog walkers found out the perils of letting your black Labradors of the lead at this time of year as they were both straight over the bank and rolled in a rotten fish, I smile every time I see it. So I’m certainly happier than I was this time last year as it’s both warmer and fishier and let’s hope it continues. It’ll be better next week.
©M Campbell 2017
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