Week beginning 18 August 2014
Monday 18th August 1’4” and 56 degs clean, a better day on the river still not that many fish showing round the beat but we managed 7 the best being a nice 13lber from the back of the wall, all on the fly, floaters with wee sink tips being the lines of choice. 3 of the fish were fresh which was nice to see. I’m kind of busy tonight so its just a brief report today. Tuesday 19th August Team Taylor here again today along with a couple of house rods, young Will Taylor opened the scoring with a 12lber from Learmouth on a #6 posh tosh followed shortly after by mum Kai who had a liced 11lber on the same fly high up in the stream, Dad Kevin could only manage to shake one off today. It was a much quieter day today with very few fish showing and even less pulling, we ended the day with 4 landed and a couple lost, highlight of the day was (depending who you are) was Andrew (boss) taking a swim in the Temple whilst wading, he made it out ok but just shows you have to be careful. We were on floaters and wee tips again as it’s down to 1’3” and 54 degs and clean, I gave the Sunray a swim today but not so much as a nose came out to look at it.
Wednesday 20th August. 1’3” and 54 degs sunny spells. Top of the beat very quiet apart from a few older fish in the Temple sploshing about. Kevin Taylor was playing catch up today getting a couple from the Back of the wall one of them a 15lber which looked like an old springer and that was it for the morning apart from Craig Scorer who lost one on his 3rd cast in the Slap, Craig made up for his blunder in the afternoon in Learmouth stream getting two liced Grilse 5lbs and 6 1/2 lbs both on a wee cascade treble on a floater and wee sink tip. Stewart came back from the bottom end telling us tales of great shoals of fresh fish going through Duddo but when pressed for more detail scaled the run down to 7 or maybe 8 which is more like it. I’m not expecting much change tomorrow apart from the weather as rain is forecast.
Thursday 21st August 1’2” 54 degs clean. Only one this morning and it weighed all of 2 1/2 lbs so didn’t break any records, I was at the top end and only saw one fish all morning. In the afternoon we had some really heavy showers in fact it pissed down, but it didn’t stop Kevin as he managed a 12lber from the back of the wall. I did see a fish in the Glide this afternoon, a nice fresh one at that which might have tipped the scales at 3lbs. It’s just really quiet at the moment and until we get the flood not much will change I fear. I consoled myself this evening by getting some of my onions set up for the show and found that I haven’t got enough small ones (less than 12” circumference) the same size. The show produce is going tits up at the moment as it’s all going to be ready too soon or sally will have turned it all into Chutney. There’s a lot more rain coming on Monday it appears, so lets hope their right, ( sorry if your fishing on Tuesday).
Friday 22nd August A much nicer day to be on the river, the wind has died down and the monsoon showers have stopped. Tim Pilcher here from Tweedside emporium of fine fishy things. Now Tim’s not fished since he had a stroke 5 years ago so it was going to be a challenge or fun depending how it went, as he has very little mobility in his left arm so has a reel that winds in with a lever so can be used one handed. Anyway we sailed off down to the back of the wall and had a pull in no time which didn’t stick on. Looking down the pool to the Iron gate we could see a few fish moving so we set sail for there, a few casts later and a yelp from Tim the fish was on, he pulls the lever and it brakes! A few swears from Tim and a “well this is going to be interesting “from me, we get the boat to the shore and Tim uses the rod whilst I use the line to play the fish, luckily it’s not a monster but a liced 6lber and a few minutes later it’s on the bank, Tim is now smiling like a dug with two Tails, a great achievement. In the Cauld Alex had a 8lb hen but that was it for the day, the only other excitement was getting Tim up the bank from the Duddo boat and both of us fell over rolling about in the grass, I imagine the other side though we were pissed. It was a much quieter day on the river as a whole with far fewer fish being caught so we really need that rain on Monday but looking at the latest forecast it now looks like it might miss us. Saturday 23rd August A bit more sunshine today but it didn’t improve the fishing, only one fish off the beat today which was an old one at 10lbs from Learmouth stream, there are plenty showing in the Temple but are not keen to take, Think we need Andy Britton here to cast a Sunray for a mile over them and strip it back, and he’s here next Tuesday so guess what you’re doing on Tuesday Andy. On the brighter side of things my Maran chicks are getting on fine and will soon be going along the Lees to dodge all the bloody walkers’ dugs and my Pumpkin is now growing at an alarming rate. The rain that was forecast for Monday looks like it’s going to miss us which is a bugger but there you go, I’m sure that big run will start to come in over the weekend. Photo this week is Tim Pilcher with his fish and a big smile. And a random family who were coming to Scotland for the first time.
© M Campbell 2014
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