Week beginning 28 July 2013

Monday 22nd July A hot humid day, James long had decided not to fish, I gave the Slap a couple of casts and had the Monday morning bow wave but no pull, water temp this morning was 66 degs and still clean, there is a fair bit of rain for mid week it looks like but we’ll wait and see. Tuesday 23rd Well big thunder storms down south but not a drop here by 9.00pm; it’s been a very humid day I tried a fly over the Slap but not a boil or a bow wave today, weather forecast keeps saying we’re going to get some and looks wet here all day Thursday so it’s a waiting game. Wednesday 24th Boy did it thunder last night but only put the river up a couple of inches and still 68 degs. Team Burgon are here for a couple of days and Queen of the Slap Trish was on the end of the Croy quicker than a rat up a drain pipe, 15 minutes later she stomped past to get another fly being passed on the other side of the Jeep by hubby John who sneaked on to the Croy and promptly hooked and landed an 8lb Salmon, it had been in a while so was duly returned and John should be able to see from his left eye in a day or two. There were only two fish on the web sites tonight down to lack of effort I should think. It rained cats and dogs here for a couple of hours tonight but that’s the wrong place we need it in the west. We’ll see if Trish can regain her throne tomorrow and I’ve got the dentist so will be writing this with fat lips tomorrow, which will be nothing to do with Trish by the way unless I let John onto the Slap first. Thursday 25th River up about 5” with us a bit greener and 67 degs, it was monsoon rain at 9.00am and off and on all day with quick very heavy showers so we’ll see what that does, there’s a wee bit in the Teviot but not much. Team Burgon had a wee squabble over the first cast at the Slap which Trish won again, but it was all in vain as not a touch to be had, then tried the Cauld with a normal fly and a skimmer again nothing. So it was off to the dentist (bonny blonde wee thing from Poland) anyway she went easy on me and after promising her a few tomatoes for her upcoming BBQ she let me go. Langholm Fair tomorrow which is a great day out apart from the 4.30am start yet again, it’s a really old fashioned fair with everything in it from Dog trailing to horse racing to wrestling highland dancing foot races for big prizes much drinking and singing all in all a guid day! Then Kelso union show on Saturday so this report might not be as full as it could be after tonight. It will be me that’s fu!
Friday 26th Off to Langholm at silly o clock but what a great day it is the sun shone all day burning the top of my head big style, and that was after the forecast said rain. Sally (wife) was in attendance today and has decided not to back horses at the flapping anymore as the first horse got shot after a bad fall and the next one didn’t reach the last bend, I managed a first and second. The Ewes water which joins the Esk at Langholm was dry! No reports of fish from The Lees today.
Saturday 27th Another lovely hot sunny day and off we jollied to Kelso show which is another great day out, lots of red faced farmers and that was with the price of a dram at the bar not the sun. Horses Coo’s, Hens, Sheep, Tractors, Beer, more men in checked shirts than you can shake a stick at, but it’s a great way to spend a Saturday. Forecast for rain tomorrow and quite a bit of it over the borders so you never know. River was up about 4” and had a fair green colour to it, needs a good flood now to change things.