Week beginning 5 April 2021
Monday 5th April. That was some day, it blew a hoolie all day but it wasn’t the strength of the wind it was the wind chill, it was like standing in the door of a blast freezer. 1’7” and 40 degrees. The Sloss family joined us today, Dad Robert and two sons Angus and Fred along with two dugs a black lab and a wee white terrier that had been pre muzzled before it got out of the car, after I’d heard a few stories I was quiet pleased it was but it behaved all day. This morning Angus lost a fish in the Slap first thing and his dad Robert did the same and beat him with another pull, no fish for three weeks then we lose two in minutes. The only sheltered pool on the beat was the Glide and I did see a decent sized fish showing as it came into the Glide as Robert was casting over it but it was like the rest, it was on the move. No fish reported caught below us and not that many above us, one of note was a nice wee fresh fish caught at Lower North Wark by Jackie Manson, it does of course help when you’re hubby is the Ghillie on the beat, well done Jackie. There were a few Sandmartin flitting about and Paul tells me he saw a Swallow on Saturday which is early, the poor wee thing will be wondering why it came so early having to find something to eat when there are snow shower going on and -3c tonight.
Tuesday 6th April. There was less wind today but it was colder if that was possible, the sun was out but the odd squall brought snow/hail with it. Jonathan Reddin and Steve Robins here again, we did the likely bits both morning and afternoon, Jonathan decided after lunch that enough was enough as we’d never seen a fish all morning and wading in 39f or so in a North wind was no fun. The Osprey gave us a visit this morning which is the first one I’ve seen this year. Another frost tonight, my birdbath was frozen solid this morning again and I’ve all my heaters going in the greenhouse and polytunnel as I’ve too much stuff too lose in there. It’s to be a cold week maybe a touch warmer on Thursday but back to cold winds and snow/hail showers on Friday which is a bugger as I’m getting new back windows put in to the house so it’ll be like a bloody fridge when I get home. 6 fish reported off the river today the nearest to us being 1 at Sprouston.
Wednesday 7th April. Lees cold today but not warmer just the biting wind had dropped, 1’5” and 39f. Steve Robins here for the day and he gave it his all but sadly no pulls. We saw a couple in the Slap about 6 hours apart but that was all. Catches on the river low again with just 5 fish reported 4 at 7lb or less and 1 at 16lb at Bemersyde, the other fish were from Tweedhill and Ladykirk then 2 at Junction. I saw one trout rise today and there were very few flies on the water maybe just enough to give the martins a lunchtime feed. There is a Bluetit in the box outside the hut and he was very busy in and out of the box it looked like he was carrying little insects but I should think its far too early to be feeding young, he is maybe feeding his wife if they do that. No rods on tomorrow so the Ghillies will be pressed into service, I’ll have to find a bit where I don’t need to wade. I’ve lots of new kit which I need to try out (not left in hut anymore) lesson learned. Looking at forecast this wind is to build again and it looks like we are way into next week before temperatures start to lift to season average.
Thursday 8th April. Windy again and it got stronger as the day went on. 1’4” and 40 degrees but warmer than of late, sadly its to turn back into the north tomorrow and a lot colder. Mike Gregory here for the day(forgot he was coming) and he covered some good water but the fish were not at home, they are still scooting past us, not that there are loads but you’d think we’d bump into one sometime. Paul took the boat into the cauld with a larger anchor to do top end but not a pull was to be had. Maybe tomorrow.
Friday 9th April. Much less wind but still cold, 1’4” and 40 degrees. Michael Black here with James Herriot (nothing to do with vet) also here today was Paul Mitchell, the three lads fished their way round the beat but not a pull was to be had, if there was a fish on the beat we’d have had it but they are scarce to say the least, only 2 fish reported off the river on the websites tonight but I did hear of another 2 off a beat below us that doesn’t report on websites. Last year it was mid/late April before we started seeing numbers of fish so the wait goes on, in the meantime I’m debating puting a sheet of weldmesh across the Slap to hold them back for a day or so, well at least until the cauld is full of fish. There was a decent hatch of March browns and Olives this afternoon and a few trout were up at them it only lasted 20 minutes so tomorrow I’ll have troot rod set up and ready for them. Another frost last night is keeping the temperatures below the seasonal average and it is to continue over the weekend.
Saturday 10th April. No wind, aye that’s right no wind! 1’4” and 40 f and water as clean as you’ll ever see it, a frosty start again though. Steve Robins and Jonathan Reddin here again and joined by Alex Scott. The excitement of the day was the Osprey fishing in the Bags and catching the same as us nothing. We did see some fish today and in fact I saw more fish today than I’ve seen in last 5 weeks, actually more than I’ve seen all season, I saw 6 fish today which is a lot in one day at the moment, sadly not a pull to be had from anything. Only two fish reported again today, 1 at Middle Mertoun and 1 at Sprouston. I see the other side puting their boats on so I assume they will be in them on Monday with the slight relaxing of the Covid rules, but I don’t think the 2 meter rule has been relaxed, a blunt instrument this lockdown, you can get a haircut but can’t go in a boat, I also reckon there will be a lot of fishermen on Tweed come Monday that will not exactly be “local”. The forecast is for frosty nights over the weekend (costing me a fortune to heat my polytunnel) then to start to warm up from mid week. It’ll be better next week.
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©M Campbell 2021
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