Week beginning 23 March 2020
Monday 23rd March. A cold frosty start giving way to a lovely sunny morning, 2’3” and 40 degrees with just a slight south breeze. John Laybourne and Steven Robins here for the day. John fished the Lower Cauld and Steven fished the Temple, neither had a pull although South Wark did get a springer behind Steven in the Temple. John had a cast at the top of Learmouth then headed for home. Steven after lunch tried the Ledges again then the left bank of the Cauld where he landed a lovely wee springer around the 6lb mark, he also had a pull has he was lifting to cast. Some 21 fish reported off the river with Junction having a bonanza getting 8 of them. It’s just getting to a height for us now but it looks like Corvid-19 will take it all away from us The prime minister is to address the nation at 8.30pm.
Tuesday 24th March. Well that’s it, the river is effectively shut down due to the virus, it had to come. It’s a shame as it is now at a perfect height for us and there seems to be a few fish about. I went down today to feed my poultry and walk the dogs it was 2’1” and squeaky clean as well as being flat calm. All the beats are closed down that I know of but there was one near Coldstream that couldn’t help themselves and had to fish. Although there is no fishing I will be walking the dugs and feeding my chooks so will post a wee clip on instagram so you can see what the river looks like. Let’s just hope we all get through this ok and are back on the river as soon as safely possible.
Wednesday 25th March. A lovely sunny day and warm this afternoon 2’0” on the gauge so dropping very slowly, cut up a couple of loads of logs.
Thursday 26th March. Take Sally up to work at Hospital, down to Lees to feed chooks and walk dugs Karl Head Bailiff was there and confirmed the river is effectively closed and no one should be fishing at all. 1’11” on the gauge and squeaky clean, the sunshine of yesterday had been replaced by low cloud and missel (misty light rain) and a very cold north wind, there were a few sandmartins flitting about over the Cauld. Spent the afternoon on a spider hunt around the living room window as it’s got bits of fine web all over window and I’ve hovered it and sprayed it but the wee bugger is still there, so today it was spray all the cracks with a noxious substance and poke about in all the cracks and gaps with a cocktail stick to try and winkle it out, I didn’t find it but I maybe squashed it. The town is very quiet now as people realise how bad this thing is and are staying home, the local shop now has stock that seems to last all day rather than the shelves being empty, or it’s more like I’m now going there at a different time of day rather than after the fishing when the shelves are bare. A fish did head and tail in the Slap this morning but I didn’t see anything thing in the Cauld, I’m sure when we start again it will be stuffed full.
Friday 27th March. A dull damp day with a north wind, 1’10” and 40 degrees squeaky clean. Did some shopping for my elderly neighbour and another old lad at the top of the town, getting the important thing in like medicine, paper and drink. Took dugs down to Glide along with chainsaw and got a load of logs from the flood debris. Saw a couple of fish in the Cauld or it was the same one twice, about a dozen sandmartins flitting about the cauld. Hens are laying away getting about 6-7 eggs a day. Rain came in this afternoon which stopped outside play so retired indoors to watch crap daytime telly.
Saturday 28th March. 1’9” and 40 degrees still squeaky clean, a north wind with the odd wintery shower coming in. No fish seen during my daily walk round the beat. Went up to Kelso midday to deliver some supplies and it was like a ghost town just a few people waiting to get into the chemist. Garden all ready for warmer weather, pricked out the tomato seedlings and a few flower seedlings. See instagram for latest photos and clips as long as I’m allowed to walk round. ©M Campbell 2020
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