Week beginning 26 March 2018
Monday 26th March. It was a lovely day out today with the sun shining and no wind. It was an even lovelier day if you were fishing around Kelso as that’s where all the fish were caught so well done them. 2’1” on the Lees gauge and 40 degrees and squeaky clean. We did see some fish today at least so even though we didn’t get a pull it gave us some hope. The first Sandmartins arrived today and there’s not much fly life about for them to eat and with the forecast they are in for a hard week. It’s to start raining during the night and most of the day tomorrow so no doubt it’ll be away again tomorrow sometime.
Tuesday 27th March. A wet morning, dreich in fact but the river was in good order sitting at 2’0” on the Lees gauge. I took Phil Odling down to Learmouth stream whilst Tony Smith stayed up in the Cauld, despite their best efforts they both blanked. Rodger Rayner and Andrew fished the rest but sadly also blanked. We didn’t see a fish all day despite there being 14 reported off the river all upstream. These bloody fish just will not slow down and stop with us at the moment, one was caught at Upper North Wark so they are getting closer but the river is rising again tonight, not a big rise but enough to spoil things again.
Wednesday 28th March. 2’5” on the Lees gauge with just a tinge of colour. The last thing I wanted was the river to rise but there we go. The team fished through the likely spots but didn’t see anything or touch anything. On the websites I see that 7 fish were caught above Kelso so they seem to be pushing on upstream with two from Dryburgh Lower and three from Lower Makerstoun, 1 from Rutherford and 1 from Lower Floors. It’s got to settle down sometime but it’s a long wait. On the chicken front my young Maran Cockerel has moved down south to a new home with Phil Odlng, it’s just as well as the old Cockerel was going to kill him or I was as he’s been rodgering everything in sight, Phil told his wife on the phone that he was bringing home a nice surprise, I’d like to see her face when he lets it out the box.
Thursday 29th March. 2’0” on the Lees gauge and a frosty calm start to the day which was very pleasant. Two new rods to the beat today in the name of Jeremy Henderson and long term fishing buddy Andy. We did the Cauld and Learmouth this morning and actually expected to catch a fish as conditions were spot on but we were to be disappointed yet again. I’ll keep it short, we didn’t see so much as a scale all day; it’s maybe because I wasn’t looking in the right direction as the fish headed and tailed their way past us. 10 fish caught upstream of us today. By midday an East wind had picked up and a bit of cloud cover was building and the temperature dropped like a stone. On the brighter side, the first Daffodils have opened their petals and there was a hatch of olives this afternoon which had the ducks quacking and scuttling about trying to catch them, no trout were brave enough to show on the surface yet. Phil Odlyn sent me a photo this morning of the Cockerel in his new home with 10 hens to keep him busy so he’s a lucky boy. Forecast for tomorrow look pretty dreich with an east wind and rain/sleet showers so I’m looking forward to that.
Friday 30th March. A wet dull dreich day with a bloody cold east wind to cool it down even more. 1’11” on the Lees gauge and 40 degrees. We had a run through the Cauld and Temple this morning, didn’t touch anything or see anything for that matter and that was all for the day. 6 fish reported off the river today the closest to us coming from Lower Birgham. Tonight after some really heavy showers the Teviot and Leader are rising so it could be carrying some colour tomorrow.
Saturday 31st March. It was a wet windy morning the rain turned to snow and with the east wind blowing it was very unpleasant, luckily the rods didn’t want to fish which was a shame as Paul and myself were so keen to get out there. So that’s a record March for us zero, nought or bugger all take your pick. It’s been conditions rather than a complete lack of fish, we’ll soon catch up once the weather improves and the levels drop in to what we like along with a lift in water temp. Spent the afternoon pricking out my seedlings and getting them into the greenhouse, the heaters have been on all day. 6 fish reported off the river today 3 of them from Upper Floors so well done them. Sunday is to be a reasonable day the cheery weathergirl tells me but Monday is going to be a howler with wind snow and rain yet again.
©M Campbell 2018
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