Week beginning 2 March 2020
Monday 2nd March. This week has started as last week ended with another day of flood conditions, the Lees gauge showing 5’5” and dirty, We didn’t have any rods booked in which is just as well as my sciatica has kicked in and I can hardly walk, it looks like I have or I’m about to crap my pants when I walk. The good news is, and it’s hard to find good news at the moment is that the forecast is mostly dry until Saturday so we will get a go this week.
Tuesday 3rd March. A nice day out for a change, the gauge is now showing 3’9” and a grey colour rather than brown, my back is slightly better and I’ve heard a rumour that a fish was caught at Upper Floors today, 8.00pm and no sign of it on tweedbeats website yet but I’ve seen a photo on instagram so must be correct. There’s hope for us all, unless corona virus gets us all. It’ll soon be gardening time then I’ll have something to write about.
Wednesday 4th March. 3’2” and 40 degrees with a frosty start to the day. Andrew and Paul had a go this morning and had a salmon kelt to show for their efforts from the Ledges. I managed a mole a rat and a squirrel. Some fish were reported 3 from Upper North wark, 1 from Upper Hendersyde and 1 from Upper Floors which makes it seem you have to be on a beat that starts with Upper. The farmer has been round and is shifting all the rubbish round the beat which is a shame as there are some lovely limbs in amongst it which would be great for my fire. Looking at the gauges it is 2’11” tonight so will be 2’9” tomorrow morning so it is heading in the right direction.
Thursday 5th March. Another frosty start followed by blue skies and sunshine, for those that caught one of the 8 fish I’ve heard of it was a perfect day, meanwhile down at the Lees it was a lovely day out but no fish were had, it’s still a bit on the big side for my liking at this time of year, combine that with the springers annoying need to be “up” the river then we sometimes struggle a wee bit. Back in the day when it was a spring river it wasn’t a problem so it’s all down to numbers of fish really. 3 rods on tomorrow so it’ll get covered a bit more seriously. 2’10” and 38 degrees nice and clean.
Friday 6th March. Another nice day with the gauges reading 2’8” this morning and 38 degrees. Colin Hamnet here for a couple of days with pals Graham and Malcolm. We fished the Temple and Cauld and had 4 kelts and a couple others on which acted like kelts before they fell off. 8 fish reported off the river that I know of and as far up as Bemersyde so well done all those rods that were lucky today. SEPA have issued another flood alert today but I hope they are just covering their backs as a flood is the last thing I want. The kelts that we have been catching are in really good condition and this big water is helping them on their way, I’m just amazed that they have not been washed out to sea ages ago; with the amount of water we’ve had I’m surprised they are not off the coast of Norway!
Saturday 7th March. 2’5” and 38 degrees nice and clean. A couple of kelts was the score for today, South wark were the lucky boys especially Ginge Palmer who landed 3 springers two of them from the Temple. River rising tonight so will be coloured on Sunday/Monday. One of these weeks it’ll calm down and get to a fishing height for us.