Week beginning 23 March 2015
Monday 23rd March After all that excitement on Saturday catching two fish on the same day we knew it couldn’t last and by lunchtime today we we’re on a blank, now at 1’8” on a Monday morning and we don’t have so much as a pull it’s not looking good. Spirits were lifted as a couple of fish had been seen in the Cauld, this was all the encouragement Paul Robinson needed and he was in that boat quicker than a Stoat on speed, once down with a black/yellow tube and nothing but we did see a fish and had it marked, on went a Sunray variant and the rest is history as they say 8lb fresh as paint and a happy rod and Ghillie. More Sandmartins today over the Cauld and more Swans at Learmouth stream who are not so welcome. Gene Godden is hitting the far bank with his new rod and line combo and Nigel Crosskell’s wig never moved (the other lads keep saying it’s a wig but I’m not so sure). Now that the river height is where we like it we should start to pick up some more fish, it’s as clear as gin with the river bed nice and clean as well, 44 degs today but no hatch of Olives or March browns.
Tuesday 24th March We nearly had two today, both in the Cauld. Nigel was in the Cauld and had a 12lb long tailed licer on an intermediate line and a cascade tube, unfortunately it had swallowed the fly and was hooked in the gills so I cut the line and let it go with the hook in, it was bleeding badly so I doubt if it’ll make it but thats the law! It’s funny as in the backend if it had been a big black flabby hen we’d let it away with the hook in it as it would be no good to eat, it just seems such a waste. Nigel’s second fish was about the same size and took a Sunray variant (same fly as yesterday)but shook it’s head the whole time and eventually shook itself off. Nigel then opted to wade the tail from the right bank tripped over a stone and fell in(which takes some doing to find a stone big enough to trip over). John Beatty was casting miles in Learmouth this afternoon when a lovely fish jumped 10 yards behind the boat showing that world record casts are not always required. I see from the websites that there were a few fish caught below us so hopefully they will take their time and stop on the Lees. 1’8” 42 degs squeaky clean with a cold north air and the odd wee snow flurry, no Trout rise today and no flies coming down
Wednesday 25th March If there was ever a day where you thought you would catch a springer on the Lees it was today, but we failed. Two fish showed in the Tail of the Cauld this morning and one in the Slap which showed a couple of times, but try as we might not a pull. Even the Sunray in all its variations couldn’t get a boil. On the plus side Nigel didn’t fall in today. There were a few Olives coming down this afternoon and the odd trout taking them but not enough to tempt me to get my Trout rod out. 1’7” today and so clear any fish in a 20 yard radius would see the fly, 44 degs with a east/north east wind. Forecast tomorrow is for rain/snow showers and a strong wind so I’m not looking forward to that.
Thursday 26th March A nice calm start to the day 1.7” and 42 degs clean. The lads thrashed their way round the beat again today and despite their best efforts nothing was caught, we saw one fish in the Cauld this morning and one splash in Learmouth this afternoon but by 3.00pm it was blowing a hoolie down the river making casting a challenge to say the least. The Swans are becoming a bit of a pest now with the Cob chasing off any other Swan that comes near the Cauldstream and it always seems to be right over the fishy bit. It was a quiet day on the river downstream of Kelso with only two fish reported, six or so above so not the best day. A few more Sandmartins about today but no sign of the Osprey yet. It’ll be better tomorrow.
Friday 27th March Frosty start followed by sunshine, still cold though, it seems to be taking an age for it to warm up a bit this spring. 1’8” and 42 degs and team Sanderson here for three days. I took Ian Lang through the Glide where I stuck a hook in my arse showing Ian how to do a “snap T” “circle C” sort of cast then Ian stuck the same fly in his head so its wader repairs tonight, I’m blaming the wind. Yesterday almost all the fish were caught above Kelso but today almost all the fish were caught below Kelso, there were only 13 fish reported but the most important one was caught on the Lees by Peter Duffield from the Cauld, not that it was a huge fish just that it was a fish caught on the Lees, a lovely liced 10lber down at the third Croy. We had a pull in the Temple and saw another fish in Learmouth so not to bad a day. The dugs had a grand time sorting out the Rats at the Glide and my little Bantam has hatched out 6 chicks which are going to get a fright as there are severe gales forecast for tomorrow along with heavy rain.
Saturday 28th March It was calm at 7.00am this morning but by 9.30 the wind was picking up and the team decided not to fish, maybe the hook in the arse and head had something to do with the decision, by late morning it was blowing a hoolie. Checking the gauges at lunchtime I see that some water is on its way, not too much but we didn’t really want any as fish were starting to stay with us and it would have been great to have at least a wee stock of residents to decoy the fresh ones into staying with us. So a much better week, “you only had 3 I hear you shout “but 3 is a lot better than none. Photos this week are some fish and fishermen for a change.
©M Campbell 2015
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