Week beginning 7 October 2013
Monday 7th The Harper party reported for duty this morning with some of them the worse for the whisky drinking competition last night, the draw was done and everyone went off to their beats, Andy Brittan was in the Cauld and managed 4 by lunchtime, Graham Whitty sneaked one out of Learmouth on a wee bottle tube, Richard Harrison snapped off more flies than Tweedside tackle have in stock, Phil Hinton had a 21lber from the Glide and a 6lber from the Iron gate, whilst Terry Harper and James Long still suffering from their hangovers blanked. Graham went on to get another two this afternoon but it was plain to see that water temps and a lack of fresh fish were going to stop it being a record day. Kelsae the dug had her first outing this morning and seemed to enjoy it so much so that she crapped in the cage in the back of the car before I could get her out, she still young so I let her off but the smell hung about for a while in the warmth. Tuesday 8th Kelsae the dug confined to the fishing hut now with a new doggie door fitted, seems to like it, well she’s no choice really. 1’1” and 56 degs 5 fish and 1 Seatrout for the day, one of the Salmon was 11oz which was caught by Andy Brittan in the Glide this morning on a Sunray Shadow which was nearly as big as the fish, he continued on this vain down in the Annay getting two parr and a Grayling and sticking on the small side he also had the Seatrout which was 3lbs soaking wet. James Long got off the mark with a 10lb hen from the Cauld; there were so many fish in the Cauls this morning it possibly breathed the fly in as it went past. Whisky sooking champion 2013 Terry Harper had one from the back of the wall and lost another dubious two. The Temple was very quiet all day and we didn’t manage a pull out of it. Only one of the fish today was fresh, well the 11ozer was fresh, but well really! Again we really need some water as most of the fleet is at anchor and I’m getting a bit bored watching from the side lines. Wednesday 9th Aye! You have to be careful what you ask for, it blew a bloody hoolie today so the rowing was a bit of a bugger, river up to 1’4” this morning and temp down to 52 degs with heavy showers this morning. We saw some fresh fish in Learmouth this morning but it was mid day before we had a pull and by 1.00pm we had 3 in the bag, Phil Hinton now has a new favourite fly which I doubt I’ll see in my box again. Richard and Graham managed a 1 ½ lber from the Cauld which has scuppered their plans of going into the catering business. James Long blanked today which is a shame as he had to leave today as a big order for candles came in from the Vatican City. Andy Brittan had two while wading the ledges but could only manage a pull in the Cauld this afternoon, again a shame, he has had to leave as well, his pet Lama has gone into labour and he doesn’t want to miss it. Terry took the afternoon off and let a mate fish his rod, wise choice given the wind howling down the Temple, and that gave Terry a chance to quality control the Whisky for the rest of us. 8 for the day and a 5lb Seatrout. Thursday 10th Another cold day with a North wind blowing making the bottom end of the beat very unpleasant. Terry decided to waddle down to the Cauld boat this morning and the effort was worthwhile as he had 3 in no time, Steve was watching in admiration from the Temple and got his turn mid morning, a change of fly did the trick bagging him a 15lb cock fish also from the Cauld, it was on a wee Ally shrimp sort of thing. Phil had a 9lb and 6lb from Duddo and Cornhill bend, but fish of the day goes to Graham Whitty who had an 18lber from the Glide, we are still on sink tips but using an intermediate now and again. 1’1” and 48 degs so the temp is going the right way, I see that Tillmouth had 25 today so maybe they will be with us tomorrow, I hope so as I can hear Terry’s belly rumbling from a lack of smoked Salmon. We had 8 for the day of which 2 were fresh/clean. Friday 11th 1’0” and 48 degs nice clean water, I went down to Learmouth stream with Terry and had a 12lb hen second cast and of course we thought we were going to bag up but up and down it twice and not another pull. Phil Hinton meanwhile was hauling them out of the Cauldstream getting 4 the best being 20lbs. Graham caught the ugliest Salmon in the river from the Glide along with another 3 from the Iron gate point. While Mike Nield travelled the long distance down to the Bags but it was worth the trip as he had a nice fresh fish as reward. We are still on floaters with wee sink tips and an intermediate with a wee plastic tube or a wee bottle tube in the deeper water (not that there’s much of that). We had a visit from a photographer from the Trout and Salmon magazine who was just in time to get Richard Harrison in full flow in the Cauld landing a lively 6lb cock, but the photographer blotted his copybook by producing a bottle of French, yes I said French malt whisky!!! It’s just not done! Anyway 14 for the day, so no complaints apart from the colour of the fish. Saturday 12th After a bit of confusion we have 16 for the day, mostly coloured fish again and one sea liced Seatrout. 10” on the gauge and 48 degs. Andrew taking a leaf out of his own book and getting 5 out of the Temple wading ( see trout and salmon magazine). The flies are getting smaller and the fish older, we did get a couple of fresh ones today but in the main they are all coloured fish. The Back of the wall which had been fishing very well now seems to be empty, Terry only getting 1 down at the Iron Gate and Graham Whitty landing a tide licer at the top. I had a few casts at the Slap this afternoon with a lightly dressed #10 double and had 3 in as many casts and a few other pulls, that takes my season total to 5, 4 of them in about 30 mins in the last two days, mind you I haven’t really tried. So that’s the last we’ll see of most of team Harper for this season, Richard and Graham are going Carp fishing in the Lake district over the winter and Terry is touring the distilleries of the western Isles. I see that Tillmouth are hauling them out again below us getting 29 today, all we need is a wee bit of water and they will be with us. 60 for the week with 43 returned is a good score but it just doesn’t seem that way as the fish are old and most of them smaller. 16 today with 11 returned. I’m off on a jolly to Dumfries tomorrow with Coldstream Burns club so I might be just a wee bit hungover on Monday as much sooking of whisky will be done. Kelsae the dug is getting on fine and chewing everything she can. Photos this week are of not much really as I didn’t take many. Mike Nield landing a fish from the Slap, Steve Hall playing his first ever fish in the Cauldstream and some lovely Chilli’s in my greenhouse which are so hot they will melt your teeth!
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