Week beginning 14 October 2013
Monday 14th My morning started slowly after yesterdays trip to Dumfries to visit places of interest concerning Robbie Burns, mostly the Globe Inn where much whisky sooking was done, anywayteam Scully pitched up for their week all the way from the USA along with a couple of token Englishmen. 8” on the gauge and 48 degs but a bad east/north east wind blowing which is the worst wind for us, not that I like any wind at all. The Back of the wall and the Glide area was almost unfishable with a wave running upstream. Dick Stebson got the ball rolling with a 3lb black grilse from Cornhill bend and lost another, John Scully had a 4lb Seatrout from the Bags plus a couple of other pulls, John’s son Benny had a nice fresh 7lber from the Cauld and that was it for the morning. We fared slightly better in the afternoon with Billy Davenport getting a 14lber from the Temple on a #14 Editor, myself getting a 14lber from the Slap and Dick hauling out an 8lb fish from the Cauld. We did see some fresh wee Grilse moving in the Glide this afternoon but couldn’t get a pull from them.
Tuesday 15th Well a calm day for a change, but of course this does not suit the Temple which resembled the proverbial mill pond, but Stebbie did his duty and thrashed away for half the morning but to no avail, we had a wee coffee break then attacked the Slap first with a sink tip, nothing doing, then an intermediate on a 13’ rod with a #8 line so as not to get down too fast, along with the same wee double that did the biz on Saturday and yesterday and wouldn’t you know it they wanted it again, so that was 2 from the Slap again with another lost. Nick Davenport got into 3 in the Cauld and John had 1 from Iron Gate, along with quite a few pulls round the beat that was the action for the morning. The afternoon was a different game with the only action coming from Cornhill bend and Duddo where Stebbie had 5 pulls but landing none of them, the rest of the beat was dead as far as pulls went, some fresh fish showing but we just cannot get them interested. I see the weatherman is talking rain again and this time it looks a bit more serious for Wednesday night, it’ll be too late for this week as it might just ruin it as there is more rain forecast later in the week.
Wednesday 16th Another slow start to the day with only John Scully managing to get his name on the scoreboard with 2 from the Slap and 1 from the Cauld, the bottom end of the beat was very quiet. Billy Davenport who won second prize in a John Wayne lookalike competition at Butlins this summer had a nice fresh fish from Learmouth, but was totally eclipsed by Ben Scully who scooped 4 from the Cauld on the old faithful Skimmer. Now at 46 degs “Too cold” I can hear you shouting, just goes to show you have to ring the changes and you have to fish it correctly. I see Birgham Dub had a great day again and I heard that Upper Pavilion has had a great 7 days with 77 landed. The wee Dipper kept us entertained this morning in Cornhill bend which is just as well as there were no fish pulling. The rain that the weatherman was talking about arrived right on time and it’s to rain all night so possibly no fishing tomorrow, but if there’s not too much we could be full of fish on Friday.
Thursday 17th The day was over before it began, with the river rising and full of weed and rubbish off the river bed. The lads gave it a go but within minutes it was plane to see that fishing was not going to happen. There was a flurry of fish moving in the first part of the morning but then it all went quiet, normally we would see fish running the face of the Cauld but not today, maybe too much crap in the water column. The lads hung about till lunchtime which was the best part of the day then off to Kelso to hit the tackle shops. Highlight of the day will be the Pumpkin show tonight, if anyone beats me they deserve to win as I reckon mine must be pushing 300lbs so the problem will be getting it to the pub, mind you getting it home again after a scoop of drams could be funny. I’ll let you know tomorrow.
Friday 18th Well it’s a new club and Scottish record!!!!!!!!!!! 323lbs and I grew it. There might be bigger ones but they are grown in polytunnels, second place came in at 150lbs. Many drams were scooped so the pumpkin is still in the pub and I was not bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning, anyway to the fishing, 1’11” and 48 degs very murky so the senior part of the team were not too keen to fish but Nick and Ben were so they tried the Ledges and the tail of the Cauld. Ben who won the rodeo competition at the Calgary stampede last year thrashed the water to foam but not a touch was had. Stebbie let the jet lag take over and spent the morning snoozing. By 2.00pm the water had cleared a bit so we launched the fleet and gave it a go. We ended up with 5 landed and a couple lost. 3 from the Cauld, 1 from the Ledges and 1 from Learmouth, only one of them fresh. Fish were seen moving at the top of the Temple and the tail of the Cauld and that’s where they were caught in the thinner water where the fish had a chance of seeing the fly, with no more rain it could be good tomorrow but as I write this its raining again.
Saturday 19th Guid height but still coloured 1’8” and 50 degs which is far too warm for time of year also humid, I was in the Temple with Stebbie this morning but new before we set off it was a long shot, we fished it down until 11.00am without a pull, but I had a cunning plan for the Cauld. In to the Cauld with a full floater and a large skimmer, “too big for it” I hear you shout but in the thin water down the tail we rose one but didn’t hook up, the plan was lots of surface disturbance and fish look up the way you know. Changed to an intermediate and a #3 double dressed silver and black and had a fish first cast then another and lost one all down the tail. John Scully who normally is taking part in a re-enactment of the gun fight at the OK Corral at this time of year had a nice fish from the Back of the wall, and that was it for the morning. In the afternoon Ben (of rodeo fame) was top dog getting 3 from the back of the wall and that wearing ear defenders as well to fend off the swearing from the other side. So 33 for the week was a good enough score, would like more but I always like more. The USA team left for the long flight home and Billy Davenport who wanted to stay another week had to leave as he is judging the Cheshire cheese competition at Cheddar Gorge on Monday, it’s a hard life Billy.
Looking at the forecast (now wish I hadn’t) there is a serious amount of rain about from tonight onwards in the central borders so next week will have it’s problems for the rods, but its good for the fish. Photos this week are of the Pumpkin of course, Kelsae the dug and low water in Duddo.
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