Week beginning 17 June 2013
Monday 17th June. Team Harper turned up Sunday afternoonwhen I was feeding my hensand the usual Whisky drinking competition ensued in the hut, it ended up in a draw. Anyway Monday morning, warm, calm not a ripple on the Slap but that doesn’t matter when there are fresh fish in it. First cast and a boil at the fly, second cast and it’s taken it, a #8 Cascade treble almost at the net, a nice fresh fish about 10lbs, one last run and “Bugger” it’s off! Had a few more casts, nothing, so switched to a Sunray which produced a huge boil but no connections and that was it for the day.
Tuesday 18th Another warm calm start, straight to the Slap and a boil first cast and that was it, tried the Temple with a Toby but no reaction, then the Cauld, same in there and that was it again. There are fish jumping in the Slap all the time but after the first 6 cast if you haven’t got him you’re not getting him! It doesn’t half put the rod under pressure, “make your first cast the best of the day mind” I encourage from the bench; and you can see them bristle up. Went out for a cast last night which is the first time this year, water in the mid 60’s but I thought there might be a Seatrout about, it was a lovely night warm calm and the light never really left. I fished right down through the Cauld into the shallows but didn’t see a thing fish wise, two Otters joined me later on and with both legs in my waders leaking I left them to it. Wednesday 19th Overcast start but warm, Graham Whitty with his new all singing and dancing line pulled one out of the Back of the Wall on a wee Gold Cascade it was an old fish about 7lb, we also had a wee pull in the Cauld. The Slap is still stuffed with fish but today we didn’t even get a rise from them. BBQ at lunchtime which was lovely then stripping and painting oars this afternoon,, I know it’s no good for fishing but this weathers braw!
Thursday 20th Another hot sunny day until 4.00pm when it clouded over and an east wind picked up. No action today apart from a 2lb brown trout from the temple, still loads of fish in Slap and the hole in front of the hut, also a few showing in Learmouth stream but there’s so little water now that some of the pools have no flow in them. Went off to the Dentist for my 6 monthly check up and passed with flying colours after lots of poking about with a wee sharp thing so just the scale and polish next month and that nips a bit, at least the dentist is a bonnie wee blonde thing from Poland, takes your mind off what’s going on. Then picked up son from his latest common riding night out. Set about repairing waders this afternoon filled them with the garden hose after turning them inside out and found 6 wee holes, some where they had worn and others which could have been a thorn or similar, all areas covered with Stormsure/Aquasure we’ll find out tomorrow if it’s worked. Now I’m not going to single out any one brand as they are all about as useless as each other, I’ve worn these ones for no more than 4 months and thats about the norm for breathables, the old Ocean type were/are the best for value and durability but they are just so hot and sweaty in the summer. The garden is looking braw and the Chilli plants are coming on fine in the greenhouse so hopefully lots of Sally’s famous hot tomato relish this autumn which is always in big demand, in fact its top prize in a golf competition in Wales? This side of the Cauld is now dry and only about an inch going over south side, there is some rain forecast over the weekend but it will have to piss it down all day to make much of a difference. Friday 21st Well the repairs held on the waders and no wet feet, went down to Cornhill Bend which is my favourite pool on the beat, it only takes 5 mins to fish but it’s a lovely intimate wee pool. I put on a Sunray about 6 inch long (See photo) and near the tail a great splash and it was on, a couple of shakes and it was off again but great fun just the same. Meanwhile Graham Whitty (Ex world ploughing champion and Spey caster of note) had landed an 18lb fish from the Cauld on a wee bottle tube; he’s only used the tube two times and had big fish both times! Coincidently I made the tube and can make to order, proven killer! (See photo)Took Grant (son) to Melrose ball and on the way back at 7.30pm the light looking down over the borders was just fantastic it just lit the whole countryside up, what a place to live so green, and we have Salmon! You can stick the city where the sun doesn’t shine. Only 5 fish on the websites tonight, better than last night’s 2. Peebles Beltane festival tomorrow during day then Galashiels Braw lads Ball at night. Onion fans (Clancy) your plants are doing fine and enjoying the heat. (See photo) and the Duck is treble the size it was and getting on fine, I reckon it will soon be release time for it , maybe next week sometime. Saturday 22nd North West wind and a wee bit cooler but that didn’t help the fishing with only 8 fish being reported on the websites and all 8 from just two beats neither being the Lees; anyway team Harper flew the white flag at lunchtime and headed for home. Showers today (Sunday) and the forecast is for the next week to be dry and cloudy so apart from the wee rise at Crook inn this morning there doesn’t seem to be much of a change in water levels on the way. A few Seatrout coming forward would help as It would give us something else to target and extend the fishing day as the pools are small and it doesn’t take long to go through the beat at this level. There’s aye tomorrow!
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