Week beginning 16 May 2022
Monday 16th May. It rained all day today it was more like October than mid May. 7” on the lees gauge and 52 degrees. Graeme Hogg here for three days and it’s a good job he was as he caught the only fish of the day which was out of the Bags, he was using a floater with a inter sinktip and a wee bottle tube. The only other catch was Max Morgan who stuck a treble in his head which we removed in the hut using the nylon loop technique. It was much quieter today fish wise with not many showing, the Slap was busy and there were a few seatrout showing also but nothing was pulling.
Tuesday 17th May. A bit of sunshine today and much warmer along with a south wind, 9 inch on the gauge with a wee bit more creeping in as the day went along. Graeme Hogg was in Learmouth stream and hooked a fish but couldn’t keep it hooked, up on the Slap and Cauld Michael Bax had a fish splash at his wee cascade in the Slap but no pull, he also had a couple of boils in the Cauld at his skimmer, it was quieter than yesterday fish wise, perhaps the wee rise had put their heads down. More rain in the west tonight but it looks like the worst of it is going north. We have a Sedge warbler nesting on the Cauld bank which is the first I’ve ever seen, well I’ve maybe seen one before but didn’t know what I was looking at, there was a ornithologist happened by this afternoon and he confirmed what it was. The instagram account is still in the hands of some arsehole in some far off land so don’t pay any attention to it.
Wednesday 18th May. A nice day sunny but a south wind that was causing a problem or two with the casting in places, this didn’t bother Graeme Hogg who on his second run down the Bags hooked and landed a liced 6lber on a sinktip with a wee bottle tube on the end. Fish were scarce today and keeping their heads down if they were there, the river was up 3” and had a bit of a green tinge to it. Team Godden here tomorrow for 3 days so they will be as keen as it comes depending on the usual hangover on the first morning. The forecast is sunshine but getting cooler which is fine as find a licer and it will take and it’s always a nicer day to catch a fish when the sun is shining. Our instagram account has changed name so log onto instagram and follow tweedbeatsfishing all one word and all lower case, we have lost all our old photos and clips but I will be puting up new ones on a almost daily basis.
Thursday 19th May. Team Godden turned up this morning looking bright eyed and bushy tailed the reason being Emma Toby’s wife is here to keep them in order and she’s doing a grand job. Draw done then off to their beats, Toby was in Learmouth and thought he was in the pound seat but failed, Nigel was down at the Iron gate and Glide was on form and soon had a fresh 10lber on the hook and landed he also lost another. Christian Bryce was on the Bags, Annay and Middle stream but couldn’t find one to take, team captain Gene was up top and tried a few flies and patterns but again no action, we saw a fish in the Slap and a wee fresh one that head and tailed through the Cauldstream. Fish were not in abundance I have to say but the water although clean was carrying a bit of suspension from the recent lift. 1’2” and 56 degrees with a South west wind. David Foreman who was fishing down the bottom of the river had a brand new 15lber and saw a few others, Kevin Wright at Milne Graden texted to say he’d seen 20 plus running this morning so hopefully some of them will hang about on the Lees for us tomorrow. Remember to log onto tweedbeatsfishing for latest clips and pics on instagram.
Friday 20th May. A cool westerly blowing not strong but certainly cool, 1’0” on the Lees gauge and 56 degrees. Fish sightings were scarce and catches even scarcer on the Lees today, the only action was two pulls for Christian Bryce this afternoon, one in the Iron gate and 1 in the Glide, he is fishing on this evening so that might change, he might also change his mind about fishing on as it’s now started to rain 7.00pm. Up on the Slap and Cauld only one wee seatrout was seen all day, further down in the Bags a nice 8lber cleared the water in front of Toby as he was fishing down giving him some hope but it didn’t pull. In the Glide two or it might have been the same one twice jumped and it was brand new flashing silver as it went back in. The dog walkers made me mad today, two times they went walking down with their dogs unnoticed or uncared by the owner running into the shallows chasing ducks and ducklings which scatter everywhere, the mother then has to try and gather them up again before crows, gulls, herons and the like get them whilst the owner wanders on not caring, one time I’ll be in the right place to tell them. The forecast is for much of the same for the rest of the month it seems, not enough rain to flood the river but enough for the garden/farmers/wildlife.
Saturday 21st May. Another day much the same as yesterday with overcast skies and a westerly wind that didn’t help with the casting in places. The lads gave the fishiest bits a go this morning then headed home at lunchtime apart from Christian who pitched up at lunchtime to fish the rest of the day until dark I’ve not heard any reports from him as yet at 9.00pm. Bob Jewels Head Ghillie at Upper Hendersyde text to say they’d had two 7lb licers this morning so some are scooting past us. Catches were low again on the river and worrying low below us with nothing reported. I’ve never been out of an evening yet apart to see if there are any goosanders about (which there aren’t round here), if it was a bit warmer I like to go out for a cast, well take the wee rod for a walk really and thats often when I see what’s going on as the fish tend to show more in the gloaming and the wind drops away as it has tonight. Team Germany on next week so I’m sure catches will improve.
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© M Campbell 2022
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