Week beginning 15 March 2021
Monday 15th March 2021. A nice day for mid March, mild no wind although it picked up later in the day, 2’7” and 40 degrees squeaky clean. Nobody local came to fish today so Paul and myself had a go, I had two pulls in the Lower Cauld in two consecutive casts in the very same place so I imagine it was same fish, we’ll never know, Paul tried the Temple out of the boat which is fine until you hook a fish then it gets a bit complicated trying to land it, net it from the boat with all its hazards like getting round the anchor rope or head for the shore with the rod between your knees, he has managed the later 4 times and not lost one. We put the gates and fences up at the hut today to stop the constant stream of people walking past asking if they can use the toilet or asking if we do coffees whilst peering through the windows. As the week goes on the fishing will improve as the levels drop back to 2’0” and under and we have a few local rods coming to fish.
Tuesday 16th March. It was a lovely day out on the river, the sun was beating down and it was fairly calm this morning. 2’2” and 42 degrees squeaky clean. Paul Nate joined us for the day and thoroughly enjoyed his day even though he blanked, the nearest reported fish to us were two at Upper North Wark , a 19lber was landed at Hendersyde which is a good sized springer. I tried the Cauld from the right bank with the boat anchored but not a nibble was had whilst Andrew waded the Lower cauld in the hope we’d get one in a pincer movement but he also blanked. Looking back it was 4 years ago on this day that a sandmartin appeared so any day now.
Wednesday 17th March. It was another lovely day on the river with blue skies and just a light north wind, 2’2” and 43 degrees. J Reddin and S Robins were here for the day but despite giving it a good go not a nibble was to be had, looking at the websites it seems all the fish were in the Junction as they had 6 for the day and not a fish posted from anywhere else. Forecast is same tomorrow and dry away into next week so the levels are going to come right in for us, just need another wee push of fish. Got a nice new rod rack made at the hut and made a start on a set of steps in the Bags as the banking there is getting higher each year with more and more sediment settling on it. Great excitement tomorrow as well as I’m away to get my vaccine.
Thursday 18th March. Well that’s the vaccine into the arm this morning and no side effects so far apart from wanting a dram but thats nothing to do with the jag. Another nice day warm in the sun when it was out but a bit of a chilly wind from the north/north/ east. John and Liz Macgregor here for the day and we did see some springers only in the Slap but they were there and didn’t want to touch anything, it looked like 2 or 3 of them maybe 4, all small sort of 6lbers showing constantly but wouldn’t pull which is unusual for fresh fish. We also fished Learmouth and the Iron gate and Glide this afternoon and I followed John through them in case he missed anything but he hadn’t, It’ll be better tomorrow. 2’0” and 44 f today.
Friday 19th March. Well I know I’ve had the jag today, sore head/joints, feels like a bad hangover and now tonight feel nauseous but all worth it as better than Covid. A cloudy overcast day with a cold north east wind, 1’11” and 46 degrees. Mike Gregory and Nigel Houldsworth joined us today and down in Learmouth stream Mike got into a decent fish off the point, it was almost in the net when ping went the nylon and it was away, it had to be a nick in the nylon as Paul said he wasn’t playing it too hard, it was a good fish in the upper teens of pounds. Nigel despite casting to the far bank didn’t get so much as a pull, nor did David Foreman who fished this afternoon. The odd trout was rising this afternoon in the Temple which was sheltered from the cold breeze but I’ve yet to see a Sandmartin, any day soon they’ll be here. My foray into the horse racing world and betting didn’t pay off as I backed Frodin in the Gold Cup who led most of the way but ran out of steam two from home and finished fifth. The weather is to improve tomorrow and the sun is to reappear so that will put a spring in all our steps and help us to fish a bit harder and I might feel better.
Saturday 20th March. A lovely day out with blue skies and a cool west wind. This was just as well as I think half the town was queued along the high street to get their vaccine at the community centre. I’m still a bit rough with mine been feeling a bit sick all day. 1’10” and 46 degrees, Jonathan Reddin and Richard Onslow here today to see if they can find an elusive springer, Richard fished from the Back of the wall to the Middle stream with myself following on and neither of us had a pull or saw a fish, Jonathan who was on the Cauld and Temple Slap area did no better but at least he managed to avoid the rock in the Lower cauld and didn’t fall in today. This afternoon Richard had to leave so I pressed Sally (wife) into action in the Cauld as we could use the boat as same household, she had two on the toby spoon a couple of weeks ago and now wants to clear her name and honour and get anymore on the fly. Two lots of brand new kit from the fly to the rods and lines even the leader is new after last years break in but even all that new kit couldn’t tempt a fish. (We have never found out who did the break in or recovered any of the kit, Bas###ds!). Springers being springers are doing what they do every year and scooting straight up river, I don’t think there has been a fish caught on the river below Learmouth stream this year, as it continues to drop and warm up they’ll start to lie with us. There was a brief rise of trout at midday likely to Olives as no March Browns were seen. We have rods on everyday next week and conditions will be perfect for us so if they’re about we’ll get them.
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©M Campbell 2021
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