Week beginning 22 April 2019
Monday 22nd April. Another lovely day with wall to wall sunshine. Jonathan Reddin here again for another go along with Jonathan Pearce, the family retaining the other two rods as its Easter. 1’0” and 54 degrees this morning and all was well until the heat built and with it the east wind picked up making the Cauld all but unfishable. There were a couple of fish showing in the Slap and we saw one in the Cauld but that was it as far as fish sightings go. The catches on the river were very low today with only 4 fish reported this evening. We now need the rain as the pools are becoming very small and it doesn’t take long to go through them. We are now on summer tactics using a floater with an inter tip and a small fly, might start using the Collie Dug a bit more as well but the east wind doesn’t suit it or the skimmer as it gets blown upstream and drowned.
Tuesday 23rd April. A bit cooler as forecast and the east wind is still with us and horror I looked at the longer range forecast and it is out the east for the next 10 days. 1’0” and 54 degrees. Colin joined us for the day and was on the Slap this morning, he put his position to good use and once mastering the snap T soon had a 10lb licer to the net, the fish took a wee Willie Gunn bottle tube on an intermediate tip line, Colin also had a good pull in the Cauld and this afternoon a solid pull in the Duddo. Jonathan Pearce was on Learmouth wading up to his armpits in his now repaired and dry waders and also had a 10lb fresh fish. Nathan Lowes and Billy also joined us for the day and gave it their all but failed to catch, that’s the way it goes sometimes. Catches were on the low side again but I’ve seen more fish today than all season and they all looked fresh. Kevin Wright down at Milne Graden had a nice 8lb seatrout amazingly on the fly showing it can be done, let’s hope there are more like that about.
Wednesday 24th April. A dull overcast day with a cold east wind. Only one rod on today as the other three didn’t turn up, they’ve not been in touch either which makes me think that they think they are starting tomorrow, we’ll find out tomorrow no doubt. Only the one fish today and surprise surprise I caught it. I went down to Cornhill Bend and Duddo at 11.30 as no one had turned up, pulled a Collie dug over both and in Duddo a fish splashed at it, back to the top with a #6 green butt cascade and a 7lb licer grabbed it, and very welcome it was. Jonathan and Paul saw a couple of fish in the Slap but there were no other pulls. I’m off tonight to give a talk to Cornhill women’s institute so that’ll be fun I hope.
Thursday 25th April. A calm start but the east wind soon got up yet again. Duncan Brymer and pals joined us today which was nice as they forgot to come yesterday as Duncan had his days mixed up. It worked out for Duncan as they fished Milne Graden and Duncan caught a fish. Duncan nearly caught a fish this morning in the Slap and it looked like a chunky thing as well but it spat the hook out after a couple of minutes, Jonathan Pearce had a splashy take in Cornhill bend on a sunray and Tim had a 8lber from the Duddo so it was a action packed morning. This evening the lads fished on for an hour as the wind had dropped and it was worth their while as another two fish were landed and one lost, One for Dave Harris from the Duddo and one for Duncan in the Glide, Tim lost the one in the Slap. There has been some light rain this afternoon but it’ll take a lot to put the river up as the land is very dry. All the fish were caught using a floating line with a inter tip and #6 or #8 flies.
Friday 26th April. Another successful day at the Lees with two landed and one lost and another one that attacked a sunray but didn’t stick on. Duncan was right on the money in Cornhill bend getting a 5lb licer from the sweet spot, Jonathan Pearce had a 8lber from Learmouth stream opposite the bench and Tim managed to shake one off again this time in Cornhill bend. The day started off fairly calm but the old east wind was soon with us and by lunchtime it turned full into the south east making the Cauld unfishable at this height due to wind and backwaters. Again all the fish were on floaters with inter tips and either bottle tubes or #8 dressed flies. 1’0” and 50 degrees this morning. On the wildlife front we saw the first clutch of ducklings this morning along with Chris Packam’s friends the Carrion Crows having a good look at them, don’t know what that man is about but I hope everyone has signed the petition that is on the go to get rid of him. Rain forecast tonight and it looks like a fair bit but I doubt not enough to flood.
Saturday 27th April. It was the nicest day of the week today, still an east wind but less. The sun was shining and it was almost warm just that east wind cooling it down. Michael Black and pals were here today and Michael being the ever generous host caught the only fish of the day, (it often works that way). Jonathan Pearce had a long range release in Cornhill bend and that was all the fishy action for the day. Catches upstream were very quiet, Pud from Junction tells me of the two fish they had one was a 14lber with lice on showing how they can travel when they want, Tillmouth were the golden boys getting 5 today. The smolts are continuing to build in numbers and at the moment there are no goosanders here to scoff them as they’ve been scared off. A wee cock robin has set up home in the side of the old hut and was busy going in and out with his beak full of flies and bugs. Another two clutches of ducklings were on the water today, how many will make it past the herons, crows and otters remains to be seen. And in that vein sign the petition that’s going round and put that bawheid Packham in his place. As ever see instagram for latest pics and clips. ©M Campbell 2019
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