Week beginning 26 September 2022
Monday 26th September. Much colder today with a bit of a North West wind following overnight showers, Lees gauge showing 7” and 50f. Michael Black here just for the day and pals. George Fleming was the rod on form getting two this morning, one from the Slap which he landed in the Cauld after it ran through the Slap it would have tipped the scales at around 16lb, the other fish was out of the Cauld and was in the 6lb range both fish were old river fish and both took a gold #7 salar double sort of willie gunn affair. Down on the rest of the beat it was quiet with just the odd fish showing at the Iron Gate and Glide. This afternoon it was up to George Fleming who scored again with another 6lber from the Bags this time. Ladykirk topped the scoreboard yet again getting ten puting them at 486 for the season well in front of any other beat so it’s good luck to them, every beat needs a bit of luck now and again, I wonder if/how many have been caught for the second time. The forecast is now for some light rain Wednesday, heavy rain Friday and next Monday, the worry is the fish will leg it west at speed which is good for the fish but not so good for the rods still to come. Time will tell. Latest- Mark had a fish from Learmouth this evening.
Tuesday 27th September. Phil Odling joined the fray today along with Tony Smith and Gay with Mark H Allan making up the four rods. 7” and 48f on the gauge, Phil was first into action getting a 12lber from the Glide, Mark nearly had one from the Slap but there was a bit of a knot issue (should have gone to specsavers )and Tony had a fish out of the Slap but it didn’t test the tackle, Phil also lost one in the Bags and there was another one caught but at the moment I can’t remember where it was caught or who caught it, I think it was Phil again but I’ve no idea where, I think I have covid fog in my brain. It was very quiet round the beat, I didn’t see a fish in the Cauld this morning and only saw one in the Slap; there was the odd fish showing in the Glide and Iron Gate. The beats above us are getting one or two but I mean one or two. It became quiet cold this afternoon with a sharp shower from the North that sent Gay and myself running to the car down at the Glide, autumn is definitely with us with more north winds and rain on the way. Ladykirk were hauling them out again getting 23 today, it would be very interesting to know how many have been caught for the second time.
Wednesday 28th September. I’ve remembered, Phil caught a 6lber at the Iron Gate. Today it’s 6” and 48 degrees with a overcast start. Mark H Allan was the rod on form getting two from the Glide an 8lber and a 6lber both older fish as is the norm, Phil, Tony and Gay all blanked but not for the want of trying. Again the catches were down the bottom round Ladykirk. The cheery weathergirl got it spot on today and the rain started at 2.00pm with some heavy spells in it, 8.30pm it still raining I know this as I’ve been round the garden on a slug and snail hunt. The Teviot is rising at Hawick but that is the only gauge which has been updated since 3.15pm so not a lot of help.
Thursday 29th September. Team Cadzow here for the rest of the week, 7” and 50 degrees but the river rising a wee bit upstream. Ian Cadzow lost a fish early on in the Slap it was close enough to get a look at it and was around 10lb-11lb old cock, he made good in the Cauld though and landed a 7lb coloured hen that took a wee tube after we’d been through with a #8 double. Tim Springham was top banana getting five this morning, two from the Iron Gate and three out of the Glide, Mark Newstead not wanting to be left out had a brace from Learmouth stream and the jolly reverend Jonathon got some brownie points by getting a fish from the Bags, by 5.00pm we had 10 on the scoreboard and the rising water was with us going up to 11” this seemed to put the fish down as it was very quiet this afternoon. Fish have moved as Tillmouth had 22 yesterday but only 3 today and Ladykirk a paltry 10 compared to recent catches. SEPA have issued a flood warning due to tomorrows forecast of heavy rain and gales.
Friday 30th September. 1’3” and 50 degrees but just a wee tinge of colour which seemed to put the fish off a bit as we only managed two this morning. On the brighter side of things though the fish were on the move, down at the Glide there was a constant splashing right in the tail of the pool on the far bank as they came through the shallows, up on the Cauld some of the fish were running over the face of the Cauld. Jonathon managed one from Learmouth and Ian had one from the Iron Gate. By lunchtime the rain and gales were with us and it came down in sheets, I took Mark into the Cauld and fished it from the far side which was sheltered from the south wind (a wee bit), we never had a pull, down in Learmouth stream Paul got one and lost a couple while Tim was resting his sore shoulder (it got better quite quickly seeing the fish come on), the lads added another three after five all from Learmouth. Paul said there were fish everywhere in Learmouth four or five in the air at the same time; they are definitely on the move now. We had a visit from a seal this morning in the Duddo just a small young one but unwelcome just the same. The rain had the gauges rising and the top of the Ettrick made 5’7” and there is 4’0” in the Teviot so fishing will be out tomorrow. The fish have moved out of Ladykirk at last as they only had 6 today, where will they stop or will they head straight to the top of the river and thats season over down here, we hope not but the fish will really want to be off after being stuck down below for months in all that heat and algae.
Saturday 1st October. Yesterday’s rain has brought the week to an early close with the Lees gauge showing 3’8” this morning, prospects for Monday could be good as long as the fish haven’t all buggered off upstream. 155 for September but only the one fresh fish which might have pulled the scales down to 1lb.
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©M Campbell 2022
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