Week beginning 24 October 2022
Monday 24th October. 4’0” and brown so no fishing effort today at the Lees, we spent the morning sorting out lines and sinktips making sure everyone was up to speed for tomorrow. All being well it would be good if it was below 3’0” on the gauge tomorrow. It is way above the seasonal average temperature wise and the river was 51 degrees, 44 degrees would be better.
Tuesday 25th October. 2’11” and beery, we’ve caught fish in worse but today we didn’t, I only saw two fish all day but it was a very pleasant day on the river. Richard and Edward spent the morning on the Temple swapping at lunchtime with Dermot and Sarah who had tackled the middle part of the beat Iron Gate and the Glide mainly as the rest too big. Catches were quiet on the river with one wee grilse at Lower North wark and one at Birgham Dub being the nearest fish to us, nothing reported below us apart from a couple of seals at Boathouse and Canny. The river only dropped one inch all day so there must be some water lying about upstream; also the plants and trees are not taking up any water now and no evaporation at this time of year. It’ll be better tomorrow.
Wednesday 26th October. 2’7” and 52 degrees which is too warm for the time of year, it was also sunny this morning with a light south wind more like a June day than the end of October. Richard and Edward were up the top this morning but not a pull was to be had, I did see a couple of fish but nothing to get excited about. By lunchtime the wind had really picked up and the river had started to rise, Dermot and Sarah are fishing on the Tyne tomorrow so decided an early finish was in order as wise move really. Richard and Edward are made of sterner stuff and went down to the Glide and Iron Gate for a cast where the wind would be more in their favour, Richard managed to hook himself instead of a fish, he’d stuck a #6 double in the side of his hand so he arrived back at the hut looking for a bit of TLC, I soon had the hook out and Richard let out a wee sweary, better than bothering the doctors and nice nurses just for a wee hook. I always say it strengthens the case for barbless hooks. With a lot of the gauges rising fishing tomorrow is looking unlikely.
Thursday 27th October. It was warm today again very warm for the time of year; this didn’t affect the fishing as it was 4’0” on the gauge and beery brown. Phillip and Steven Morgan arrived to start their three days on the Lees or not as was the case. No rain today round here but there must have been some at the top of the river as it is rising at the top of the Ettrick, it might fish tomorrow morning but really we’ll just be going through the motions I fear, also they are talking about a gale again in the afternoon. I hear from the top of the river that kelts are being seen jumping and splashing about. Friday 28th October. 3’0” and very beery but the clincher was a very strong south south west wind, the lads decided that enough was enough and decided to head for home, the top gauges rising yet again also helped to make the decision. So not the best of weeks with nothing landed.
Saturday 29th October. Another very mild day for the end of October, 3’0” on the Lees gauge and 50 degrees. I had a walk round the beat but didn’t see a splash. Bit of an unsettled forecast ahead, good for the fish bad for the angler.
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