Week beginning 2 September 2019
Monday 2nd September. Team Godden here for the week and it was bloody windy again, its wearing me down now. 1’6” and 56 degrees. Mike Cook was on the Slap and cauld this morning and lost two decent sized fish, one from the Slap which was a foot away from the net when it pinged off, it looked about 12-13lbs the other was in the Cauld which we never saw but it had a good bend in the rod and was pulling well. Toby had a 10lber from the Iron Gate and had another couple of pulls, Nigel Crosskell lost a fish in the Duddo which managed to snap 18lb maxima which takes some doing, there must have been a nick in the line as you could pull a boat in with that stuff. This afternoon battling the gale Mike had a 4lb grilse in Learmouth whilst Gene Godden had two Grilse from the Slap, 5 for the day with as many lost. We are on floater with inter or fast sinktips depending where you’re fishing. More gales tomorrow and Wednesday so I’m looking forward to that.
Tuesday 3rd September. Well there was less wind today so I was less grumpy, 1’32 and 56 degrees with just a slight tinge. I was down in learmouth with Gene and it took a while but down by the gate we hooked and landed a 12lb hen on a wee brass bottle tube that was all the action from the whole team this morning. This afternoon Gene was at it again this time in the Iron Gate getting two 12lbers and a fresh 4lber from the Glide. Not wanting Gene to stretch his lead too far Nigel Crosskell had a couple at the top end 6lb and 8lbs both old cocks, he was also lucky not to end up in the river as with one lapse of timing in the wind his bottle tube smashed the right lens on my glasses, (always have your sun/safety glasses on). Tim Poole lost a fish at the top of the Back of the wall, there was an inch of fresh water on the gravel this afternoon and I see the Teviot and Ettrick rising at the top end, if that’s all there is we’ll hardly notice it down here.
Wednesday 4th September. Not as windy as they forecast so I wasn’t too grumpy. 1’7” but rising. Toby Kemble was on the Slap and Cauld this morning; he had a wee tug in the Slap where we saw a couple of grilse as we were fishing it. Into the Cauld and a wee bottle tune I tied last night was put on the business end, we were half way down the fly hit the water and a 10lb seatrout grabbed it, it zipped around the pool for a while a couple of jumps and it was in the net, It had been a while since it had tasted salt water. Tim down on the Back of the wall and Glide was on form getting two fish so was happy. By lunchtime the gauge was showing 2’2” and the fish put their heads down, down in Learmouth with Toby we fished a fast sinking line but had no luck, a clap of thunder was too close heavy rain started so it was back to the hut. Hopefully this wee rise will stay wee and run through us overnight and normal service will be resumed tomorrow. The Osprey gave us a fishing lesson this morning in the Cauld getting a trout about the pound mark, good luck to it finding a trout the cormorants have missed.
Thursday 5th September. Aye of course it was windy again, 2’4” and a very strong downstream wind, the water temp was down to 52 degrees this morning that’s the coldest since the last time as I can’t remember. Mike Cook fresh back from his day trip to London was wading the Lower cauld and caught the first of the day, he followed them up with two from the Ledges. This afternoon Gene Godden showed the young pups how to do it getting a 20lb clean hen from the Temple which was returned it equals his biggest fish, he also had a 4lb Seatrout from the Cauld. Nigel Crosskell had a 13lb hen also from the Temple which gave me a break from the oars as he played it. It’s nice to have the Temple working again as it’s been out of sorts for the last couple of years; of course big colder water is what it likes. Tim Poole lost a fish in the Glide whilst Toby despite casting 100s of miles today only had one wee pull this morning, I’m sure he’ll catch up tomorrow. Less wind would be good. Friday 6th September. Yes it was windy again; I’m beginning to sound like a broken record. 1’9” and 52 degrees but dark beery water. Nothing from the Temple until late afternoon, one wading the lower Cauld for Tim and a disaster whilst netting it as I was filming Tim playing the fish to put on instagram put the phone into my pocket forgetting that my coat is falling to bits and the phone dropped straight through and into the river, so if you are trying to get in touch with me you’re out of luck as I am. I rowed Nigel through Learmouth this afternoon but blanked, in fact we never saw a fish. We ended the day with six fish unless Perry gets one this evening, the best was 8lbs despite Tim’s protests that it was 10lb or over, (shouldn’t have shown me the photo). The cheery weather girl is saying that the wind is to lessen and go round to the north tonight, I really really hope so.
Saturday 7th September. 1’8” and 54 degrees just a slight beery tinge and there was no wind, yes thats correct no wind, and when the sun keeked out it was warm. Mike had a 7lber from the Slap which was silver which is always nice to see. I was down in Learmouth with Tim and we covered it all but only saw one wee coloured fish and it’s about perfect conditions there. Toby and Nigel fishing the IGP/Glide down to the Bags didn’t have anything to report but Toby is now casting a mile with a snap T. Gene gave the Cauld a good run through with Paul but again nothing doing. Andrew wading the Upper Temple had three fish, two older ones and a 12lb fresh hen. After lunch the team headed for home as it’s a long drive, Perry will be sneaking about tonight so scores might increase. I will hopefully have a new waterproof phone by Monday/Tuesday so instagram posts and contact should be back up and running. 30 fish for the week is not too shabby nowadays, bad weather with the wind but good company.
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