Week beginning 30 May 2022
Monday 30th May A cool almost cold start with the Lees gauge reading 7” and 54 degrees. A mixed party here for three days, Tom Wadsworth was on the Slap and Cauld were despite changing flies more than the weather all we had was a half hearted follow at a sunray, the rest of the team fared no better and in fact for Harry it was even worse as brushing up on his spey cast first thing he stuck the double into his head close to his eye, normally Paul or myself would have it back out in a jiffy but it was in deep with both hooks so it was off to hospital for Harry. This afternoon Tom had a nice fresh 8lber from the learmouth stream on a floating line with an intermediate head, Brian Orme lost a fish in the Bags, Paul Copson had a brief hold of something in the Duddo. Some of the lads are going back out after an early dinner so scores might increase.
Tuesday 31st May. Another cool start and some very heavy showers today, 7” and 54 degrees on the gauge. Paul Copson was the lucky and not so lucky rod this morning as he hooked and landed a lovely fresh fish in the Bags but also broke his rod in the process. Rodger had a pull in the learmouth stream where there were a good few fish showing, his son Tom who had the fish yesterday couldn’t get a pull today despite covering a lot of fish in the Glide. This afternoon prudently waiting until the downpour finished Paul Copson wandered down to the Slap croy and had a fresh 7lber on his second cast, Brian and Mike had fished it all morning for not a pull, right place right time as they say. I’m tempted to go out for a cast at the troots tonight.
Wednesday 1st June. That’s another month kicked into touch with 23 landed for the month, all on the fly and only one casualty. Today the water was up a couple of inch which is better than dropping. 9” and 54 degrees with an overcast start and that north east wind but much lighter today. Tom Wadsworth was on the Slap and gave it about 20 changes of fly which produced nothing, we then stuck on a sunray and that woke them up with several chasing it but no pulls. We left them in peace and went into the Cauld for a float about for an hour followed by a coffee then back to the Slap this time with a micro tube which did the trick with Harry getting an 11lber which gave a fair scrap, it was a river fish but still clean enough, he followed this up by hooking another about 5 casts later but it didn’t stick. Rodger Wadsworth pitched up before lunch and had a go with the same fly and soon had one on the end, this one ran down into the Cauld and dropped the hook. Brian Orme had a 12lber at the Iron gate point which was also a river fish, it nice to have some hanging about with us at last instead of heading west at speed. Last night I popped along for a reconnaissance sortie in the Lower Cauld, there wasn’t a trout to be seen and just the one seatrout followed a hitch across the pool staying about 2 foot behind the fly and never making any effort to take it, it’s still too cold of an evening. The sun at last came out this afternoon and it’s to be warmer for next few days so that might bring on the seatrout.
Thursday 2nd June. Team Burley here for three days, there was the usual chaos getting kit sorted out and last dressed got the leaking waders. One boil at a sunray was the sum total of the days action, we did see plenty fish especially at the Iron Gate and Glide, there were a few in the Slap which kept the Slap rod going but no pulls to be had. Some silver fish turned up this afternoon down the beat but didn’t want to know, perhaps they’ll hang about overnight and be keener to take a fly tomorrow.
Friday 3rd June. Another cold cloudy day with winds from the North again, 9” and 56 degrees on the gauge. The lads covered the pools several times but not a pull was to be had, we couldn’t even get a fish to boil at the sunray in the Slap, maybe tomorrow.
Saturday 4th June. The sun has eventually decided to shine on the Scottish Borders and very welcome it is, perhaps not so welcome for the salmon fishers but good for the soul. The low water didn’t bother the fishers at Carham as they had two cracking fresh fish; the rest of the river didn’t fare so well along with us who didn’t have as much as a nibble. It is a case at the moment that if a fresh fish stops on your beat you are in with a chance other than that it’s a bit of a struggle as the river fish are not interested. This morning (Sunday) the cool north east wind is still here and the sun has been replaced by cloud again, forecast going ahead is for light rain on Tuesday and possibly heavy rain on Thursday, that would be good.
Follow us on instagram for latest pics and clips tweedbeatsfishing is the site you need to look for.
For accommodation in the Coldstream area checkout “The Bothy” on airbnb or ring 07786598475.
©M Campbell 2022
our twitter feed