Week beginning 20 March 2017
Monday 20th March. The old sayings are never far wrong are they? March comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion is certainly true this year as the wind is going to blow all week, the weatherman is telling us it’s going to snow and pour down mid week and there will likely be a plague of frogs or kelts maybe. So today, 3’3” and 44 degrees and it would have to be an extremely sharp eyed and enthusiastic salmon that bit a fly or toby today should anyone of been daft enough to chuck one in. The gauges were rising again at lunchtime and are rising again tonight, not a big rise but enough to screw it up. Gene Godden and team checked in this morning had a coffee then headed off to the hot spots of Kelso.
Tuesday 21st March. The March lion was roaring again today with the wind howling down the river and the gauge sitting at 2’11” and a strong beery colour. Team Godden were not to be discouraged by this and the prospect of another day visiting every tackle shop in the borders didn’t hold any more appeal, so armed with their shiniest twenty gram toby spoons they set off round the beat. Things were as expected and we didn’t see or touch a thing all day, it’s like going back a couple or three weeks when we were fishing in water that was too big for a realistic chance, but you always hope there will be a very enthusiastic sharp very eyed salmon. I often say to the rods “when you see the Ghillies getting excited you get excited” as something’s going to happen or there’s a serious chance at least. No sign of the sandmartins this week they’ve maybe buggered off back down south. The forecast for tonight is for a hard frost which should drop the levels a bit but more rain tomorrow.
Wednesday 22nd March. Today was the sort of day that seriously makes you think about a change of career, it rained all day and blew a hoolie from the north east. I spent the first hour and a half in the Cauld with Gene putting out a very long wind assisted line, too long in fact, and with the rain trying it’s hardest to find a weak spot in our clothing we decided to head to the fireside in the hut. The Temple was next and whilst it was sheltered from the wind the rain never stopped and the fish kept themselves well hidden. Lunch was a very steamy affair with all the coats hanging up to dry then it was back into the temple with John and a 20gram toby spoon but even that couldn’t tempt a fish. There were 10 fish reported across the websites today, the nearest to us being at Lower Birgham with the other 9 being Kelso and above. If it doesn’t rain for a month I will be delighted.
Thursday 23rd March. Well all that rain had to do something and the gauge was showing 7’0” plus, the colour was a deep red/brown. Team Godden headed for home having blanked but it was always going to be a challenge this week, it might fish Saturday but that’s a big might and we’ll just be going through the motions. The forecast is for a much improved situation over the weekend with high pressure taking control (for a long time I hope).
Friday 24th March. It was a nice day today weatherwise but the river was around 4’0” and still very coloured so no fishing down at the Lees. There was one fish caught today on the river at Junction and a seatrout at one of the Mertoun beats, we’ll be giving it a go tomorrow but I’m not holding my breath. The otter was busy fishing outside the hut this morning and the kingfisher made an appearance at last, thats the first one I’ve seen this season, Kevin from Milne Graden text me to say there was a seal heading upstream which had just taken a fish down there.
Saturday 25th March. Another cracking day weatherwise and the river was down to 3’0” and 42 degrees but still a bit too beery first thing. Russell Sanderson and pals here for the day who gave it their best but the odds were against them at this height so the total catch by end of play was zero. The kingfisher gave us another couple of flypasts and the otter was having a great time in the cauld they were the only two to catch any fish on the Lees today. The weather is set fair for a few more days so the sooner this river drops a foot the better. It’ll be better next week.
©M Campbell 2017
our twitter feed