Week beginning 13 September 2021
Monday 13th September. A drop in water temperature made a difference today, it was down from 62f to 56f today, the weed had sunk to the bottom and some of the fish were in a mood to play. The rods that were coming for three days had called off so Paul, myself and Andrew had a go this morning. Paul had a couple from Learmouth on a #14 silver stoat plus lost one and had other pulls, I hooked one on a plastic micro tube in Duddo which crashed around the pool then got itself under a rock and wouldn’t budge which resulted in the leader breaking. In the Glide right down in the tail several old grilse were following a #14 black frances but wouldn’t take it. Paul buoyed by his success in Learmouth had a chuck in the Slap on his return and had another fish around 4lb this time, his other two fish were both 5lb all older river fish. I popped out after tea and it paid off as I had a 15lb old cock on a wee skimmer (hitch) from the Duddo which went ballistic, and this time didn’t find the underwater rock/snag, had another pull in the Cornhill bend and two in the Glide. The gloaming doesn’t last long enough as by 8.00pm its dark when it’s a cloudy night. The family of otters didn’t help much either as they went down through the Glide scattering fish as they went whistling to each other.
Tuesday 14th September. Another overcast calm day, about -0 on the gauge and 58 degrees. Paul had a 10lber out of the Slap and a few follows to the sunray, I tried the Glide and Duddo area which was much quieter than yesterday, I didn’t rise a fish this morning, Cornhill nipped one out of the Bags first thing and Tam at South wark with all three ghillies (as no rods) fishing amazingly had 2 out of the Temple. Sprouston were top banana with 9 today showing where our fish have likely gone. I popped back along this evening and the busiest place was the Cauld with a number of fish showing in the back water and right up against the Cauld. I skated a wee skimmer over them and had 6 chasing it, two pulled it but none stuck (I’ll have to stop using those rubber hooks). Still no sign of rain for the catchment, it rains everywhere else but not here, there was heavy rain down south and in fact as far as North Yorkshire but bone dry here. The way it’s going we’ll be catching kelts before it rains. On the brighter side though at least there is no more whirly birly stuff going on, as from tomorrow it’s fly only.
Wednesday 15th September. Another lovely day, an overcast start but by lunchtime the sun was out. This morning I tackled the Bags, Duddo and the Glide and saw a total of 2 fish, Paul went to Learmouth and saw 4 or 5 neither of us had a pull or boil, in the Slap just before lunch Paul had a follow to his sunray as he was winding in but although the fish was keen it wasn’t keen enough. Catches across the websites were down on yesterday and the bad news being there were only 8 fish below us from Tillmouth down to Horncliffe. Another nice day tomorrow is forecast and we’ll have a full team on, let’s hope they’ve brought some light tackle.
Thursday 16th September. Team Collinson here for three days and they can all put a line out. This morning Paul Collinson lost a fish in the Bags which he’d had on for about a minute, it took a #10 double on a inter tip. Chris Major at the Iron Gate lost a fish due to leader breakage, Chris said it was a bigger fish but even so 12lb nylon should deal with bigger fish, I think it got over the rocks some 30yards below the point which are only inches under water at this height. We had a fish follow a wee skimmer in the tail of the Glide and that was all the action for the day unless the lads have had one this evening, it did get warm and sunny this afternoon which lifted a bit of the green gunge off the river bed and made fishing the Cauld a bit frustrating. Some light rain supposed to be coming through tonight, it’ll keep the dust down at most.
Friday 17th September. Minus something on the gauge and 58 degrees and we even had a wee shower of rain this morning which didn’t even wet the ground. Mark was the lucky rod this morning getting a 15lber out of the Duddo on a sunray after Paul had advised its use, I enquired if it had a tag in it as I tagged a 15lber in Duddo on Monday but it didn’t, plus it was a hen and mine was a cock. Chris major was on fire this afternoon getting 2 up top, one from the Cauld a 10lb hen and one from the Slap a 6lb cock, both on a home tied fly which would sort of resemble an editor, it was tied on a #8 double so quite a big fly for the conditions. The website reads four for the Lees today but one was from last night as I didn’t find out about it until this morning. The catches across the websites are only 11 fish for the whole river which is shocking yet again. I took a walk along this evening just on darkening and it was warmer than it’s been all day, there were a few fish sploshing about in the Temple and Slap, some deer out for a munch in the fields and the owls were very vocal tonight.
Saturday 18th September. A very dull cloudy day, mild and calm. Minus something on the gauge and 59f. Paul, Phil and Mark had started early and went through their respective pools then headed home. Chris and Craig are made of sterner stuff and are fishing until dark, Chris defiantly fishing on as his waders were leaking this morning and his feet were soaking so by dark he’ll have trench foot. In the Cauld this afternoon Craig had something have a go at a fast stripped sunray which was all the action for the day unless they connect tonight, apart from a young trout angler Chay who hooked a fish about 10lb in Cornhill bend on his nymphing gear with the usual result as it ran down into Duddo, his 4lb breaking strain leader couldn’t hold it and snapped. A wee bit of rain going through overnight but nothing like enough, the cheery weathergirl is bigging up rain for midweek but I’m not holding my breath.
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©M Campbell 2021
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