Week beginning 4 May 2015
Monday 4th May 3’2” and 46 degs but broon! James Hepple and mates here for three days so not the best start, the lads stayed for the day chucking Toby spoons off the bank and a brown trout was the result for their efforts. I got the paths cut and saw the first clutch of ducklings down at Learmouth, which is typical as it’s going to pour with rain again tonight and tomorrow with gales so the little ducklings are in for a hard time. The Swans nest on the middle Croy has been washed away and now they appear to be building another further up the bank. I got some mole traps set down the track, its been a really bad year for moles, or a good year if you’re a mole I suppose, Graham I got the one at Learmouth. I thought there might be a Trout or two taking flies today but I never saw a rise, the gulls were feeding hard at something at the top of the Temple so there was a hatch on.
Tuesday 5th May The weatherman got it spot on, he always seems to get it right when its shity weather and it was. 2’2” 48degs and very beery, a cold east north east wind blowing along with driving rain, that and the complete lack of fish make it difficult to get out of bed in the morning. Even the Osprey failed to catch one on his daily fly past over the Cauld this morning, the lads struggled on regardless and at 4.30 David hooked and lost a Seatrout in the Tail of the Cauld on a 28gram Toby as that was the only thing that would go into the wind which had changed into a gale from the south west, and you all know how much I love the wind! In between gales from various directions there was a huge hatch of fly on the Temple with 1000’s coming down along with some cracking Trout taking them, but as soon as the wind picked up the flies stopped as did the trout. I see Junction had 7 today so well done them; the lowest fish on the river was at Birgham Dub, nothing caught round about us. It’s becoming a bit tedious now; lots of effort bugger all to show for it, I’m sure it’ll be better someday maybe tomorrow but its to be windy!!!!!!!!
Wednesday 6th May A better day weather wise but the damage was done yesterday , 3’2” and coffee brown so the lads waved the white flag and headed for home, they were on a three day trip and very unlucky in May to lose all three days although they did fish yesterday it was more in hope than a serious fishing effort. On the bright side I saw the first pair of Swifts today now that really makes me think the better weather is just round the corner. Got some strimming done so it wasn’t a wasted day. Looking at the gauges tonight its still rising at Sprouston so tomorrow will be a difficult day, a day for a Toby spoon me thinks.
Thursday 7th May A more difficult day than I expected as the gauge was showing 3’5” and very mucky. Two rods turned up neither of whom had looked at the gauges last night this morning, Sandy had a coffee then headed home whilst Mark stayed for a couple of hours chucking a Toby about but eventually waved the white flag. There was another huge hatch of fly with just the very odd trout taking them but the ducks and black headed gulls were having a beano. I spent the morning spraying Hogweed and Paul attacked the grass cutting, after lunch I went along to the polling station and fought my way through the crowds to cast my vote. Its been dry all day so fishing tomorrow is looking like a better prospect, there were some fish caught on the river today all but one above the Teviot.
Friday 8th May It’s amazing what a bit of water can do, it certainly shuffled the pack as 33 fish were reported across the websites tonight so thats a bit more like it. 2’6” and 44 degs with a strong beery tinge to it. We only had two rods today so the lads had plenty space to play around. Alan Clarke lost a nice Salmon in the Cauld just a couple of feet from the net and John Macleod had a couple of lovely Seatrout one of which was covered in sea lice and took a Sunray in the Tail of the Cauld. We never saw a fish all day until 5.00pm when John was walking back up to the hut from the Slap one showed as it came through. There was another good hatch of fly today but no trout were bothering to take them. As I write this it has started to rain and the forecast is for rain most of the night so I’m hoping that its not heavy enough to rise the river as the flood we’ve just had will do us for the next month.
Saturday 9th May A rather cold start to the day with wind from the north east and dull. 2’2” and 48 degs with a beery tinge, this however was not to last as the Teviot was rising and was with us by mid morning. The lads fished their way round the beat but nobody had a touch or saw anything, by lunchtime the gauge was showing 2’11” so the lads pulled stumps and headed off. It’s not been a great week by any standards apart from the Seatrout which were lovely to see. The fish are still running through the lower beats without pausing for breath is seems, so the sheet of weldmesh needs to be dropped into the Slap! Clancy your Onions are coming on but could do with it to warm up, the sparrows have attacked the beetroot so its been netted over, the spuds are sticking their heads above ground so things are happening. Forecast for more rain tomorrow then warming up on Monday. It’ll be better next week. Photos are a nice liced 4lb Seatrout, one of the biggest moles I’ve seen and the ledges on Friday morning.
© M Campbell 2015
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