Week beginning 19 October 2020
Monday 19th October. A grey overcast start which led to a grey overcast finish, 2’1” and 48 degrees but nice and clean, Stuart Dawson and son Joe here for a couple of days as Malcolm Dutchman Smith can’t make it along with Tweed regular Bob Wigglesworth and Pete. Stuart got us up to 400 this morning landing a 9lber in Learmouth and by the end of play we were up to 403 and heading for 500. We had fish from Learmouth, Cauldstream, Glide and Annay which was a fresh 5lber. Heavy rain above us today and in the far west so it could be on the rise tomorrow, I hope not as fish are hard enough to find at this height let alone following another flood. I found a dead Cygnet at Duddo this afternoon, well what was left of a dead Cygnet, Otter prints all around it, everyone thinks they are so cute but really they’re just wet foxes. Top beats today were Junction and Boleside with 12 and 10 fish.
Tuesday 20th October. A much nicer day with the gauge sitting at 2’1” and nice and clean, temp 48 degrees. We had a blank morning despite the lads doing their best, far fewer fish showing than of late, still enough to keep the interest up though. This afternoon Stuart had a couple from the Temple, one backing it up and one on the way down, both old cocks and both on a #6 treble sort of cascade variant. The rise that was at the top was reaching us this afternoon and by 5.00pm the gauge was up a couple of inch.
Wednesday 21st October. Only two rods today as two couldn’t make it for one reason or another, the two that did turn up were from Sweden, (apparently there is an air bridge ) so no quarantine required. Kent and Soren who are regular visitors to Tweedside wasted no time in to action this morning both hooking fish in the Temple but only Sorens staying on, this afternoon it was Kents turn landing a 7lb coloured hen on an Ally shrimp conehead with the cone behind the dressing, sort of fly you build on the job depending on the pool. These guys can fish, cast miles dead straight, all the gear and know how to use it, it makes a difference. The river had a good few fish showing first thing this morning but as the wee nuisance rise reached us it went very quiet until this afternoon. 2’6” after rise and 48 degrees but still nice and clean.
Thursday 22nd October. 2’1” and 48 degrees nice and clean. Team Springham here for three days and once we got everyone matched up with lines and flies it was onto the river. Flat calm and overcast helped the casting and the lads were soon covering the water, it didn’t matter how hard they tried this morning as not a nibble was had, South wark had a couple from the Temple this morning but that was all the action. This afternoon the lucky rod was Phil MacNair who had a cracking 18lb cock from Learmouth which was cleaner than most of late. The pools apart from Learmouth are getting quiet now and it looks like a lot of fish have moved away which is good for the fish bad for the fishermen.
Friday 23rd October. Dull morning with a brighter afternoon and in fact we saw a wee bit of sun which has been scarce this backend.2’0” and 46 degrees. Not a pull in the Temple or Cauldstream this morning but Tim Springham made up for it getting into a big cock fish in Learmouth stream just on one o clock, it led him a merry dance on his 13’6” rod taking him right down to the top of the Back of the wall before Paul got the net under it, it was a fairly clean cock which would have tipped the scales at around 23lb measuring 39 inch, a quick photo and back he went, Tim also had a 4lber to go with it. This afternoon Nick in the Temple with a sinktip on and a #10 dark cascade landed a 10lb hen followed by a 2lb soaking wet wee cock, It was a lovely afternoon when the sun was out and the breeze dropped, it will not be the same tomorrow as a proper gale is forecast with a lot of rain coming in from the west as the day goes on. A disappointment today was seeing a mink at the top of the Temple; a bigger disappointment was not having the shotgun in the boat, that’s the first mink I’ve seen in years so I’ll have to look out some traps.
Saturday 24th October. A very windy morning with a few showers chucked in for good measure. 2’2” and 46 degrees. Not a touch this morning is the quick answer to the question. This afternoon the wind dropped and things took a change for the better, Phil Lazell who’d blanked this morning in the Temple landed a 40” cock fish in the Duddo stream so we gave him 25lb for it, it was a good fat fish. Tim Springham who was fishing the Temple where Phil had blanked landed 4 on his new favourite fly a gold bodied willie gunn. Duncan took the score to 6 getting a 4lber from Learmouth; from blank this morning to 6 by close of play is good going. The webpage will show 7 as I know some of you number crunchers will be saying “hold on” there’s a rabbit away but I’ve added one from yesterday that I only found out about today.
Top gauges rising tonight so it’ll ne beery at best on Monday.
As ever have a look at Tweedbeats on instagram for latest pics and clips
©M Campbell 2020
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