Week beginning 16 March 2020
Monday 16th March. 3’4” and 42 degrees with a breeze first thing that turned into a gale by lunchtime, we had a couple of boats on the Temple and Richard Harrison had a chuck off the Cauld bank the result of the combined efforts was nowt. Lunch was had then a repeat of this morning’s efforts which resulted in the same score. There were a few flies coming down this afternoon and the wagtails were making the most of them, nice to see as the sandmartins will be here next week or so. The corona virus pandemic goes from strength to strength and the latest announcement from the government is to keep away from each other not so easy when you’re both in a boat, the huts have been cleaned/sprayed with disinfectant as have I. What’s going to happen I don’t know as it changes almost on a daily basis but someone out there on their own fishing hardly constitutes a threat to the general public.
Tuesday 17th March. No coughs yet. 2’11” and 43 degrees with a stiff breeze, nice and clean though. The breeze stiffened into a near gale again by lunchtime but this didn’t stop Graeme Whitty getting a fresh 5lb seatrout from the Ledges, it was caught unusually on a Toby spoon, I say unusually as we rarely spin and to see Graeme with a spinning rod in his hand is even rarer. There were 7 other fish caught on the river today with Sprouston being top dog with 3. As I write the top gauges are rising yet again so it’ll likely be broon again tomorrow. The latest from the government is not to travel unless absolutely necessary, you are aloud out for shopping and for a walk/jog so I reckon fishing should be ok, this will no doubt change as the days go by. Very heavy rain tonight.
Wednesday 18th February. 6’0” on the gauge and 40 degrees it is also the colour of milky coffee. Sadly that’s Team Harper away home yet again with just the one seatrout to show for it, all down to conditions rather than a lack of fish, we just can’t get at them with all this water. The virus continues to reach out across the country but after some discussion we are still open for business. You can fish on your own or with one of us, the hut is being disinfected twice a day or more as is the loo, we have hand cleaner in both huts or you could sit in your car for lunch, even outside as the weather is to improve. If the hotels close there is always the option of self catering cottages. I can’t see the fishing being much good for the rest of this week as we still need to lose a lot of height. No sign of the sandmartin today but the otter was on land and running about near the grid this afternoon. Keep washing your hands.
Thursday 19th March. 3’7” and 42 degrees still carrying a fair bit of Teviot colour. No rods on today as they went home yesterday. There were fish caught at Birgham Dub, Junction, and Upper Floors, another frost tonight so hopefully that will drop it in a bit more. The sun was shining today and it was CALM so I was a much happier bunny. Tonight the Blackbirds that frequent my garden were singing their heads off sorting out territories for the upcoming nesting season, one in the holly tree and one on the tv ariel. I’ve just been to the local supermarket, no bread, pasta, bog roll, wipes, kitchen roll plus a few other shelves empty so came back with rice and two bottles of wine which will make a strange breakfast. Cut the grass outside the hut today and the smell was fantastic, it’s has to be one of the great smells of spring/ summer. Two rods on tomorrow so we’ll see if there’s anything about, it’ll still be bigger than I’d like but you never know.
Friday 20th March. Hang out the bunting and hoist the flags as we’ve caught a fish at last and in fact nearly had two. Mark Orton was the lucky lad getting a 9lber from the top of the wall in the Temple this afternoon, his pal Mike Woods lost one about 7lbs this morning down at the grid. 2’11” and 40 degrees this morning along with a sunny day but cold east wind. As far as I can see there were 15 fish or more landed today as the river continues to drop back to a better height for most beats. Not all beats are open and those that are have restrictions due to Corona virus in place, so if you are in my boat and start coughing or sneezing you are on your own on the bank. The government has just announced that all pubs/restaurants/clubs are to close from tonight so I don’t know if any hotels will be open from now on which will have a serious effect on travelling rods. Fish of the day was a lovely springer from Upper Floors (see tweedbeats on instagram for photo) Colin Bell the head ghillie tells me its 20lbs but I thought it looked more like 19 and a half in photo, you decide. This virus is having a serious effect of life round the country but out in the open fishing you are keeping your social distance. At the Lees you can go off wading on your own, you don’t have to use hut, you can lunch in your own car or outside now that weather has improved, we have lots of disinfectant and hand cleaner, disposable cups for drinks and coffees, so fishing is one sport we can still enjoy. Looking at the weather forecast there is no more rain for a while so the river is going to steadily drop to near perfect heights and we are coming into peak spring season shortly.
Saturday 21st March. 2’8” and 49 degrees with a bitter cold south east wind blowing straight up the Cauld/Temple making casting the fly a bit of a challenge. We never had a touch today despite fishing it fairly hard with breaks to warm up the hands and feet. The virus continues and our rods had to settle for an Indian last night but from now on it has to be a carry out or a chippy. Fishing is now going to be difficult for travelling rods with no hotels open, self catering cottages and some bed and breakfasts are still open although I’m not sure if they will be allowed to do breakfast, you are going to have to check, its fine for local rods of course as they have a home base. The Lees has become busy with walkers now isolating in the fresh air, they need to keep their dogs under control as I had to impart some words of advice today to a couple of arseholes and their fluffy pooch after my hens were attacked. Hens very important now as local shop has ran out of eggs. See instagram for photos/clips Mind wash your hands and keep your distance
©M Campbell 2020
our twitter feed