Week beginning 15 July 2019
Monday 15th July. It was roasty toasty this morning with the gauge showing 8” and 63 degrees. There were fish showing in the Slap which is nothing unusual on a Monday morning, what was more unusual was fish showing right down the bottom of the Cauldstream, they were in two foot of water in bright sunshine. Now we’re not talking about hundreds here but certainly enough to get interested about. Graham Nichol was on the Slap and soon had a fish around the 7-8lb mark on a #12 cascade, The fish ran straight towards him with Graham hand lining in to try and keep up with it, it then decided to go the other way, the line jumped up from the Croy round the back of the reel and snap it was gone. After some swearing and muttering from us both another fly tied on and right on the lip another fish took hold, no mistakes this time and a fresh 4lb grilse was in the net. When Graham went down to fish the tail he had a big boil at the fly and another bow wave but no connection. There were a number of fish showing at the cobble point and up through the Temple for the first time this year, so it looks like grilse are at last coming into the river and with more rain mid week we might get a rise to get things going.
Tuesday 16th July. Went out last night and fished the tail of the cauld, first with a gold head nymph which produced a bow wave when lifting to cast, changed to a wee sunray which really brought the place to life the fish mostly seatrout were chasing it but only one pulled it, I lost count of how many fish were in the tail and right down into very shallow water, great to see. Today 6” and 64 degrees this morning with a west breeze at times. Mark H Allen was on the Slap and had a fish on in no time which was off again in even less time (knot tying refresher course held). New fly tied on and a 10lber was soon in the net. Andrew walker down on the Glide and Iron Gate saw a number of fish one of which was big but he couldn’t entice any of them. Mark is back out tonight so score could increase.
Wednesday 17th July. 5” and 64 degrees and humid start. Tony Darby here with pals for a couple of days. Alan was on the Slap first thing and by the time I’d got back from showing the others the pools he’d hooked and lost a decent fish, It wasn’t anywhere near tired out when he lost it so my absence didn’t make any difference. That sadly was the only real action of the day apart from a wee splashy pull in Learmouth stream. By lunchtime the rain was with us and it’s been raining all afternoon and evening not heavy but wet enough, more rain next two days so just maybe it’ll put some into the river. Six reported caught below us and talk of many grilse showing down the river. Had to get a couple of new lines today so popped into Border gunroom at St Boswells and after a wee root about found a Hardy Mach line 55’ head which I love for using the sunray/skimmer so that was into the bag along with one of the newer ones plus other odds and ends, it’s a well stocked shop and worth a visit if you’re in the area, (other tackle shops are available) just for PC sake.
Thursday 18th July. River up a couple of inch this morning and 60 degrees, a stiff west wind blowing with some showers along with it. No pulls today and not so many fish showing. Not really much to say so I’ll leave it at that, I could of course make something up or slaver on about my garden but I won’t. It’ll be better tomorrow! Friday 19th July. No rods on today for the first time this year. Paul had a cast at a pool or two as he went round cutting the grass and Andrew had a cast at Learmouth, both blanked. I popped round to the Glide on the English side to cut and spray the hogweed which is now starting to seed, I called into see Bruce and met his two rods who were Alla Rechenberg and Uillie (sorry about the spelling) there were sitting enjoying the sunshine but not the harvest lice that were everywhere. The rain has started at 6.30pm as I write this, whether it’ll make any difference remains to be seen as the cheery weather girl keeps biging it up but we never seem to get it.
Saturday 20th July. Nothing to report, sunshine and showers.
our twitter feed