Week beginning 13 May 2019
Monday 13th May. The cheery weather girl got it right, it was warm and sunny and a west wind for a change, it’s been weeks if not months since we have had a west wind. 9” and 50 degrees this morning. The team fished there way round the beat and at this height it doesn’t take all that long to fish it. We did see some fish but not so many as last week and sadly we didn’t have so much as a pull form anything. Lower North wark had a couple of fresh ones and Carham the same, right place right time comes to mind.
Tuesday 14th May. It was roasty toasty by 10.00am and the water was flat calm. 8” and 54 degrees. There’s not a lot to say really apart from we caught nothing and in fact never had a pull, we did see some fish but nothing that looked like it had just left salt water. Forecast is for a hotter day tomorrow so the struggle continues. Got some hogweed sprayed and the grass cut so at least something was done. Might try an evening cast for a seatrout as there are a few showing.
Wednesday 15th May. Michael Bax started early to beat the heat and sun on Learmouth stream but his early rise was in vain as he didn’t get a touch, Graeme Hogg who started at the usual time was on the Slap and we had high hopes for him, he did hook a fish and could see it flashing silver in the sun but the fish had other ideas about being caught and was soon off the hook and away back into the depths. It was the hottest day of the year so far by a distance and the fish were having none of it. I got some hogweed sprayed and the landing areas at Learmouth sprayed prior to strimming, its an easier job if you spray back the comfrey a couple of weeks prior to strimming otherwise when you are strimming you are in a green wet cloud of comfrey juice and sap. Looking at the scores tonight there are only 2 fish reported by 7.30pm that might increase as I should imagine rods will go back out this evening. I didn’t take my rod last night I went to count any Goosanders that were there but I’m going to take my trout rod out for a walk tonight.
Thursday 16th May. Another lovely sunny day but that f@##ing east wind is still blowing, 7” or there about’s on the Lees gauge and 58 degrees this morning. Gene Godden and team here for three days, draw done and John Beatty was on the Slap, with fish showing so you’d think it was game on but it wasn’t. Gene fared better down on the Duddo getting a 7lber which was a river fish for a change; I think that’s the first river fish this season. I didn’t bother to have a look at the Seatrout last night thanks to the east wind but Ritchie Gallagher did and he was rewarded with a fresh 6lber from the Bags. Bit of cloud tomorrow and still that Fu##ing east wind. Late news- Christian Bryce had a nice fresh fish from the Slap in near dark last night on a wee black and yellow tube.
Friday 17th May. Well my old friend the east wind is still here and I’m well sick of it. 6” on the Lees gauge and 58 degrees. Gene Godden was on Learmouth stream this morning, we stuck on a wee lightly dressed double and had a hold of a fish opposite the bench, we never found out what it was as it was off and away in 5 seconds. We saw fish in the Slap, Cauld and Duddo but no more pulls were had. 7 fish reported caught below us this evening on the websites but only 4 above us which is fine as once they are above us they are history.
Saturday 18th May. Ah! No east wind this morning, the weather is still coming from the east but it was north east this morning making casting on the Slap a piece of cake. It was a piece of cake for Gene Godden as he hooked a fish on his first cast of the day just unfortunate it wasn’t hooked well enough so wasn’t landed, his second cast produced a bow wave at the fly, third cast blank but the fourth cast gave him a brand new 12lb cock fish, he followed this up with a 10lb fish from the Cauldstream all on a #8 Bann Shrimp. 6” and 56 degrees with a light rain/drizzle all day. John and Nigel fished the rest of the beat without any success but did see Cornhill lose two in the Duddo, so quite a bit of action today, the highlight being getting one of Mr Packam’s Carrion Crows which was a very long shot and very pleasing as it’s been hunting the waters edge for several days now looking for eggs and ducklings. Christian will be down for a cast this evening so the score could increase.
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©M Campbell 2019
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