Week beginning 23 November 2020
Monday 23rd November. A lovely sunrise with the sky all sorts of red, just a wee breeze from the west and dry. The gauge reading 2’6” this morning and 43 degrees squeaky clean, no rods again this week due to travel restrictions but really it’s due to no fish as if it was stuffed with big fat silver fish we’d be double booked. A pair of kingfishers were sat on the rock at the slap croy seeing if there were any minnows for breakfast whilst an egret looked like it was waiting for its turn. Got some oil onto the bench which has turned out nice, it’ll need another coat but that’ll keep it going for a few more years. Had a brief meeting with Andrew about moving to 4 rods during the summer which makes complete sense as that’s when the fish are here nowadays. A bite of lunch then off down to Norham to pick up oars from Simpson the boat builder; I should have phoned to say I was coming as he wasn’t there, nor were the oars, have now been in touch with each other and will go back tomorrow duh! 1 fish reported off the river today at Traquair again, a 6lber, not often if ever that a 6lber has been the biggest fish off the whole river. Loads of kelts splashing about in front of the Cauld and in the Cauldstream, don’t want them all to go as they help to decoy springers into staying with us in early spring.
Tuesday 24th November. Mild morning after a very windy night, not me being windy but outside. The gauge reading 3’0” and rising 44 degrees. Off down to Norham to get the oars, took 5 down 3 condemned as not fit for purpose then it was off to Kelso to get some paint for oars. Bill Quarry of Tweed book fame and now Tweed museum fame called in for some info on Lees records for the museum and a bit of a bleather. Gave the bench another like of teak oil, it has turned out nice now the grime and old oil has been removed so it’s ready for a few more hundred bums to rest on while they decide what fly to use or what pool to tackle next, or more like have a dram whilst the world moves along.
Wednesday 25th November. 4’0” and a bit murky sunny mild day though. Not much craic today, got on with the oars, there’s about as much paint on my hands and the dogs as what is on the oars. The mole from last week still remains on the loose, its been through the trap and filled it with soil but didn’t spring it, I’ll play the long game with him.
Thursday 26th November. A lovely fairly mild day mostly due to the lack of wind I think, it won’t be this tomorrow as the gritters have been out this afternoon. 2’10” and 44 degrees. More oar burning off and repainting, it takes a while as when you are doing them outside the hut apart from stopping for a coffee or two its the amount of people walking past stopping for a chat, what you doing today? Aye are you busy? Why aren’t you fishing? Have you seen any----- fish/kingfishers/otters/egrets/mink/foxes/why do you paint them green? And many more. No fish reported today or yesterday, not even the mighty Traquair or Fairnilee can get one.
Friday 27th November. 2’6” and 44 degrees squeaky clean and calm, a perfect day really. Anyway no rods on and I certainly didn’t fancy fishing so spent the morning raking up leaves round the huts and finishing off oars. Someone must have been fishing at Fairnilee as they have reported a fish today the only one off the river. No frost this morning but the gritters are out again tonight.
Saturday 28th November. A lovely late autumn morning with frost blue skies and most of all calm. 2’6” and 42 degrees squeaky clean, perfect conditions really if anyone had been fishing. That man must have been out at Fairnilee as he caught a fish again the only one off the river. I got another bench oiled, found out there had been over 20 cormorants on the Temple first thing! Dug the chainsaw out this afternoon as there is a big sycamore tree down in the top field. That is the season over bar one day; it’s been over for several weeks really. Hopefully the river behaves for the fish now and the ones that are still to spawn get a good run at it. We ended up with 425 for the season up 133 on 2019 and we only fished June to November if you can count November, February and March were floods and storms then were missed out thanks to Covid possibly the nicest spring fishing I’ve ever known, conditions were just perfect with clean water, the right height for us and loads of fresh fat fish, more of the same next year please. Hopefully 2021 we will all be vaccinated and Covid free and life can go back to what it was albeit with cleaner hands. Plenty availability in March and at 50 quid a day I’d be having a punt at it. 424 on Fly 1 on spinner (Terry Harper tut tut) It was big water that day so your slightly excused. There we go what a year, see you all next year, ignore government advice and bide at hame for Christmas and keep the hands clean. If anyone has a cheap Hardy 13’6” syntrex for sale let me know. As ever keep looking at tweedbeats on instagram as I’ll pop a few pics and clips on over the winter
©M Campbell 2020
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