Week beginning 25 September 2017
Monday 25th September. 1’5” and 54 degrees, water clean first thing. Looking at the levels on the websites we knew water was coming and receiving a photo text from Ian Farr at Bemersyde which showed the river big and brown, we knew that by the afternoon we’d be in trouble, and so it was. New rods to the beat David Jones, Steve Roux and Chris Harden joined Lees regular Michael Black and they set off about their quest for a fish, the only rod to have any sort of luck was Chris who lost a fish on the Duddo stream on his 5th cast of the day. That was all the action for the day as by 2.00pm the rise was with us and the river coloured up rapidly with all sorts of weed and leaves in the water column. Fishing tomorrow looking doubtful.
Tuesday 26th September. 2’9” and 54 degrees also very brown water. The lads decided to save their efforts for tomorrow. Some beats were having a chuck but it was more like casting practice than any sort of proper fishing. After a fogy start the sun soon peeked out and a lovely autumn day was upon us, so it was a trip to Kelso to pick up some fittings for the boat seat then fitting them to both boats to stop the office type seats from wobbling about and people falling off them on top of me when I’m trying to get across the top of the Cauld, I can tell you it’s bloody painful when someone lands on your legs when your rowing across the stream. So at 7.30pm there were 6 fish reported off the river 5 if you deduct the one from the Till. I’ve just had a walk round the beat and its dropped to 2’3” and clearing, it’ll still have a fair beery tinge tomorrow but will be fishable.
Wednesday 27th September. The river was in much better fettle apart from the bloody wind which was blowing straight up the Cauld and Temple like it’s mission in life was to blow us up to Kelso, this did not help the casting, rowing or my mood which was as dark as the clouds. The catches on the river were nothing to shout about, nor were they with us as we only had the one fish which was an old hen from Learmouth stream around the 10lb mark, Steven Roux being the lucky rod. The pools seemed quieter today apart from Learmouth which had fish splashing about all over the place but not keen to take. Heavy rain over the catchment again tonight so it will likely be rising again tomorrow.
Thursday 28th September. 1’10” and 54 degrees but clear enough this morning, sadly the websites showed the gauges rising and a text or two from further up river told me that some colour was also coming down. By 3.00pm the rise was with us and the colour was coming in, it’ll not be a big rise but with the colour it just put the fish right off (not that they were really on anyway). We fished all day and never had a pull but it was a lovely day out with warm sunshine all day and no bloody wind. There were fish showing especially in Learmouth, so maybe tomorrow we might have a bit of luck as the height should run off overnight but will the colour still be there. Forecast for rain tomorrow morning along with a wet and windy weekend. Only 5 fish reported off the river today.
Friday 29th September. 2’3” this morning and still with a fair beery colour, normally not that much colour to stop us catching fish but normally there are loads of fresh ones that are always keener to take a fly. With the water temp still sitting at 54 degrees and with the beery water we never seem to be able to tempt the older fish; what we need is a frost. Last year this weekend we had just that when the water temp dropped from 54 degrees to 46 degrees over Saturday night and Sunday, on the Monday the fish came on and we had 59 for the week, all coloured and all returned but the rods had a decent weeks sport. Today I didn’t see any silver fish but I did see some that were not as brown as the rest. The colour will be better tomorrow for us but the interesting thing today was the lack of catches in the middle river, in fact from Wark up to Lower Pavilion there were only a few fish reported, most beats having one or two and some none. The sun came out this afternoon after a wet morning which lifted everyone’s spirits and this evening a fish was lost in the Cauld and Ian Cadzo had a pull in learmouth so hope for tomorrow. Forecast for the weekend is wind and rain with gales on Monday so I’m really looking forward to that.
Saturday 30th September. That’s another month out of the way and I’ve known better. Today 1’10” and 51 degrees. Ian Cadzo was on the Slap first thing and he wasted no time in getting into a fish, his second cast to be exact, it was a 12lb old hen which took a wee’ish conehead tube as he was fishing the Slap there seemed to be a fair few fish running through, none of them looked fresh but numbers of fish just the same. Ian followed that fish with a 17lb cock from Learmouth stream this afternoon which wasn’t in the first flush of youth I have to say but it charged around Learmouth stream in good style. Golden boys today were Hendersyde who had 8 and Boleside who had 6, so well done to them. It’s been a difficult week with the water up and down and the colour to contend with as well. Forecast for a bit of rain tonight and tomorrow morning but it look like we are going to miss the worst of it as it seems to be moving further north. The wind on Monday could be a problem though.
As ever see photos and wee film clips on instagram
© M Campbell 2017
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