Week beginning 31 October 2022
Monday 31st October. Another really mild day with a south wind, Lees gauge reading 2’8” and 50 degrees but rising to 3’0” by close of play. Jim Fleming turned up had a cup of coffee and I’m not fishing in that and headed home. Andy Beaumont new to the Lees and much keener stated that if you haven’t got a fly in the water you won’t catch a fish, Andy kept his fly in the water all day and caught a brown trout, so there we are those old sayings have some truth to them. South Wark caught a couple further up and Carham had three much to Lee’s delight, you have to go up another 40 miles before another fish is reported. I saw one fish all day which was a big head and tail in the Temple this morning, lots of leaves in the river and we caught a fair few of them.
Tuesday 1st November. Well into the last bit of the season, it’s not over till the fat lady sings goes the saying, she’s not singing yet but she is busy clearing her throat. 2’10” and a stiff south west wind, the river was slowly rising and colouring as the day went on. The only bit of action apart from taking leaves off the hook was Andy amazingly getting a 2lb seatrout out of the Glide, not a record breaker by any means but Andy was very pleased. I didn’t see a fish all day and the nearest fish reported was at Boleside. 96 salmon for October, not that long ago that would be a good score for a week let alone a month but we are where we are.
Wednesday 2nd November. 2’11” and 46 degrees a calm start but gales forecast by lunchtime and the cheery weathergirl was spot on today as by 1.00pm it was blowing a hoolie. Dave and Andy had fished all morning in the Temple but had nothing to show for their efforts apart from a lot of leaves. This afternoon Andy decided he didn’t fancy casting into a gale and Paul and myself certainly didn’t fancy rowing a boat, Andy headed for home but Dave set off for the Glide and returned about 4.30pm windswept but fishless. A lot of rain has come with the wind as the Peebles gauge is showing over 4 foot along with the Ettrick and Teviot gauges all rising so no fishing tomorrow I should think.
Thursday 3rd November. 5’5” and 46 degrees but filthy brown water, that could well be the death knell down here for any fishing for the rest of the season as any fish that are left will take full advantage of this water, a few seatrout kelts have been showing themselves last few days and after this flood I should think there will be a few salmon kelts as well. It was a lovely warm morning and the trees were looking lovely, yesterday’s gales didn’t take all the leaves off but a likely frost tonight will no doubt finish them off. No fish reported anywhere off the river today.
Friday 4th November. A nice frosty morning which was a big change, the car windscreen was white first thing and the birdbath had a skin of ice on it. The sun soon melted it away and it turned into a lovely morning, Colin and Michael turned up for a cast or some casting practice at the least as the gauge was reading 3’4” very beery and a nippy 43 degrees. It was 10/10 for the lads as they fished all day with various flies but nothing was to be had, they are moving up to the top of the river so might have more luck tomorrow. The kingfishers were busy today and the otter who has been absent for a few weeks gave us a cheery wave as he went past and a wee flock of goosanders had to be sent on their way, there is always something going on if you keep your eyes open. It’ll be better tomorrow or maybe not as Michael Black and his lurcher dog Crumble are coming and if something is going to go wrong it’ll go wrong when Michael is here, Crumble is a grand dog as her hair is perfect for tying my “Gotcha” and “Crazy Charlie” flies which I’ll soon be needing.
Saturday 5th November. No fireworks at the Lees today more of a bit of a wee sparkler as Sandy Lang caught our first fish in 12 days; it was an 8lb old cock which came from the Upper temple. 2’10 on the gauge and a nippy 42 degrees with a slight beery tinge. I didn’t see a fish today until late afternoon when something made a splash between the boat and the bank, it was a fish of some kind I just didn’t get a good look at it. The top gauges are rising on Tweed and Teviot and there is more rain on the forecast so it will be challenging fishing come Monday at best going by the forecast, let’s just hope for the best.
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©M Campbell 2021
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