Week beginning 24 February 2020
Monday 24th February. Another miserable day with the gales being replaced by wet snow and very cold temperatures. The gauge (now we can see it) reading 4’7” and dirty. Hens will be returning to the run tomorrow and I hope I don’t have to move them again, they are digging machines, the soft soil in my polytunnel beds is about a foot lower as it is now on the path. I shouldn’t wish my life away but I’ll be pleased when it’s about mid April and everything has calmed down.
Tuesday 25th February. A much better day with just the odd heavy shower this afternoon, the Lees gauges showing 4’3” but still mucky. Spent most of the day clearing the track down at the Babyhouse which had a fair bit of flood debris on it and managed to find the Iron Gate Point and Duddo Stream signposts so that saves having to make new ones. There’s to be a hard frost tonight so that should help to drop the levels a bit. Also moved the hens back this morning so they will get a bit of a fright with the frost instead of sunning themselves in the polytunnel.
Wednesday 26th February. The sun came out today and it didn’t rain or snow all day, we didn’t fish either, 3’9” on the gauge this morning with a greyish colour to it. It was another day clearing up the banks, South Wark were chucking a toby off the bank but had no action and I dare say there will be one or two beats above the Teviot that might of had a go but there’s no fish reported across the websites.
Thursday 27th February. Another decent day with a frosty start followed by sunshine all day until it got dark. 3’3” on the Lees gauge and 38 degrees and clean enough. We put a couple of boats back on the river as J Reddin is threatening to come and fish tomorrow. Upper Hendersyde reported a fish today and I heard of a Kipper with lice caught at Junction. Took a trip down the beat to reinstate all the beat posts so you don’t get lost on your way round, whilst the farmer was busy with a digger clearing the track so we can all get through. The way it’s going if we’d started on the first of March that would have been quick enough.
Friday 28th February. A much colder day with all over cloud cover and a stiff breeze by lunchtime. J Reddin here for the day and he was soon into action getting a liced 7lb seatrout , a salmon kelt and a long thin brown trout, all from the top of the temple on fly. 2’11” on the gauge and 38 degrees but clean at last. The only other fish reported were from Sprouston who had 3 springers, seems they caught the whole shoal. Forecast from the cheery weathergirl is for gales and rain yet again so Monday could be a washout.
Saturday 29th February. And on it goes, another flood along with gales, more rain tonight, Lees gauge sitting at 6 and a half feet this afternoon. Never have I been so happy to see the back of a month as this one, February and March are the two worst months of the year and I hate them both with a passion. The pigeon shooters have been out in force today and its been bang bang bang all day it must be one of the organised days. Nothing else to report I’m afraid, I could make something up but can’t be arsed. The weather looks like it might just stop raining next week sometime; I’m not holding my breath.
As ever see instagram for photos and clips
©M Campbell 2020
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