Week beginning 29 June 2015
Monday 29th June Paul and Linda Grewcock here for a couple of days all the way from deepest Norfolk, fed up of wading through sugar beet all day they have turned their hand to chasing salmon on the Tweed this week. 9” and 62 degs overcast skies. After a tour of the beat I got Lynn into the Slap boat as the wind was hindering a cast from the Croy we did see a couple of fish but nothing moved to the fly. A change of venue required so we moved down into the Cauld with a #10 Cascade followed by a Sunray but nothing so there was only one option left which was the skimmer and it didn’t let us down, I had just said I don’t think there’s anyone at home today when there was a wee splash and a 7lber was on landed and safely returned. The river went up 4” at lunchtime so I’m going back along tonight to see if it brings in a huge run of fish from downstream. Later that night, lots of bow waves but no takes, the club lads managed a couple of Seatrout from the Duddo.
Tuesday 30th June A hot day the hottest day this year by a distance, two big follows on the Slap to a Sunray and that was it for the daytime fishing, the dogs enjoyed/needed their swim and a couple of locals had a swim round the Cauld this afternoon as well, we fished all the likely spots but didn’t see any fish showing, it’s not too much of a surprise really as the water temp was up to 70 degs this afternoon. Team Grewcock are going to leave it until tonight and have a go at the Seatrout. Its forecast to be hotter tomorrow so I fear thats the last of the fishing unless it breaks down into a big thunderstorm.
Wednesday 1st July A hot humid day, water temp at 8.30am was 67 degs. Mike Firth here along with Jim and Eoin Fairgrieve who was brushing up their Speycasting and snap “t”. River back down to 8” on Lees gauge and has that summer tinge to it. There are a few fish moving in front of the hut but no pulls were had this morning not even a follow in the Slap. I was at Galashiels this afternoon and it was 29 degs thats hot for round here. Big thunderstorms are forecast for tonight but with thunderstorms you never really know where they are going to hit. 15 Salmon for June and 21 Seatrout which is considerably better than last year.
Thursday 2nd July Spectacular thunder and lightning last night but nothing in the river height wise, not as warm today and a west wind. No fish reported off the Lees yesterday in fact there was only one off the whole river which isn’t a surprise as the water temp in the evening must have been in the mid seventies. Heavy showers this afternoon and this evening but it’ll take more than that to put the river up. Nothing to report really so I’ll leave it at that.
Friday 3rd July Nothing to report from last night from either team. Today 8” and 62 degs and nice and sunny but not the oppressive heat of the last two days. Mike fished the Slap and Cauld but didn’t have a pull, I got on with a wee bit of strimming with the wee strimmer but it’s not got the guts to tackle the beat so waiting for the big one to return from the strimmer hospital as it’s blown a gasket. The inside of the wooden boats need to be pitched and painted but with more heavy rain coming I’m not going to turn them over as its a bugger of a job and when their over I need a dry spell. Heavy rain forecast tonight so I hope it puts a couple of feet through the system. My garden is at last starting to show signs of life as its way behind where it should be at this time of year, greenhouse and polytunnel are fine and tomatoes are looking good so are the chilli’s so there will be a good supply of hot tomato relish for your BBQ’s. Redeswire rideout tomorrow so haud on.
Saturday 4th July American Independence Day today so I’m sure my American friends will be having a party. I was off to Redeswire rideout this morning and it was torrential rain for 3 hours but the land has soaked it up as there’s only about an extra 8” at the Lees and not much to come but thats better than nothing, it should bring something forward to us for Monday. Alan Smith fishing today and he managed a Seatrout from the Slap and lost another two fish in the same place Paul tells me. The rain was over by lunchtime and the sun was back out giving us a nice warm evening, bit of a breeze blowing though. I’ve tied up some small Sunrays and skimmers so they will get a swim next week and hopefully surprise a fish or two. So 1 for the week, better than nowt.
Photo this week is a happy Linda with her fish from the Cauld
©M Campbell 2015
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