Week beginning 16 June 2014
Monday 16th June Following yesterday’s whisky drinking competition the lads were in good spirits and soon had their rods up, as we only fish two rods in the summer Richard and Graham had taken fishing on the other side at West Learmouth much to Richard’s delight as he can chuck a Toby for miles on the other side. Billy Rab a guest from America had a couple rise at a fly and a sunray in the Slap but that was the only action for the day. Well not quite as Colin Nichol who is helping out this week broke my 13’0” hardy swift which is my favourite rod casting on the Slap point but Hardys lived up to their name and are replacing it which is great as they don’t make them anymore. 1’6” and 60 degs still has a bit of colour in it which is taking ages to leave. I got some grass cut and paths strimmed and also got the bottom of the wooden boats painted but ran out of resin for the second fibreglass boat that I’m busy repairing, The Wark Ghillies were busy strimming as well which caused a bit of rubbish to come down the far bank, it didn’t bother us at the Lees but Richard and Graham spinning on Learmouth were a bit frustrated (that’ll teach them to spin at this time of year). This time of year you will sometimes get that as the lads sort out their banks. Tuesday 17th June A very humid start to the day, 1’5” and 60 degs, and still with that tinge of colour. We had the usual couple of rises at the fly in the Slap but no contact and Colin and Billy had a pull on the skimmer in the Cauld. The club had a 4lb Seatrout from the Glide last night. Spent the morning strimming until I couldn’t see for sweat, I’ve reached the Duddo and still have the Middle stream and Bags to go. Had a chat with the Cornhill lads who tell me they’ve not seen a fish for ages so it’s still a hard luck story down this part of the river, more so when you here Upper Floors had 7 salmon and 4 Seatrout yesterday with all the Salmon being fresh! There’s aye tomorrow. Wednesday 18th June Another hot humid day, spent the morning hacking my way into the Hogweed down the bottom of the beat, arrived back at the hut looking like I’d fallen in I was so wet. The lads had the usual couple of follows in the Slap and Billy had a pull on the skimmer in the Cauld. Yetholm Stobstanes rideout tonight, great night for it. Thursday 19th June Not so warm this morning 1’3” and 66 degs, the team decided to send Billy over to Learmouth this morning as he can spin over there, against my advice I have to say as you should never miss the first few casts on the Slap. Terry chucks a fly over the Slap and gets a fresh 14lber followed by another 14lber from the Cauld, I have to say that Billy’s nose was twitching when he came back as he reckoned he could smell a large rodent! The Slap has been quiet busy today but there were no other pulls apart from the 14lber. Yetholm rideout was great, apart from being there until 11.00pm, but it was still light and warm. Grant was on a flying machine of a horse and got a bollocking for passing the marshals; it ran at Kelso races and came third. Onions are doing fine Clancy. 134 horses and only three fallers one which required an ambulance. Melrose tomorrow night and Saturday so Saturdays report might be sketchy, mind you we will have ran out of water by then. Friday 20th June Another nice warm sunny day which didn’t help the fishing. We had the usual boils and follows in the Slap this morning but no pulls, in the afternoon I put on a large nymph and had a pull on that which didn’t stick. Last night’s attack on the Seatrout failed as well, we did see two or three in the Cauld and managed a pull right in the tail end. The weather forecast looks settled for next week as well so I can’t see much changing, so morning and evening look like the best chance. Saturday 21st June I’ve no idea what the river is like at Coldstream as I’ve been at Melrose all day on their ceremonial tour. Colin who was filling in tells me that nothing happened and team Harper scarpered for Yorkshire by lunchtime. The Melrose tour was interesting I must say and even included a speech from Jane Douglas-Home at Abbotsford, it finished at Melrose Abbey where Robert the Bruce’s heart is buried (my favourite royal). The tour also included cherry’s, roman soldiers, homemade wine, monks, a queen with her court, Border Reviers but no horses today. The river is very quiet and very few Salmon seem to be coming in, there are Seatrout about but they are not that easy to catch, very small flies seem to be the tactic.
Photos today are Jane Douglas Home after being in full flow at Abbotsford, Graham Whitty fishing a low Duddo stream and some random Melrose photos.
© M Campbell 2014
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