Week beginning 8 August 2016
Tuesday 9th August. That’s all the common ridings and festivals over, the swifts are packing their bags and Sally’s 50th was on Monday but we had the party on Sunday so that’s why I was off on Monday as I wouldn’t have been any use and likely have been seasick if I’d stepped into a boat. So on my return I’m heartened to find fish splashing about in some of the pools, a mix of old and new and Olivia Fearn 13yo was the lucky young lady getting a 14lber from the Slap on a #10 gold willie gunn, her dad Jim caught up with her this afternoon getting two from the Glide and bringing up the rear was Rob who had a 3lb grilse from Learmouth stream after Graham Henderson and David had shaken two off between gin and tonic stops. So on my first day back I’m optimistic very optimistic compared to last year, glass half full and so on and I can tell you I emptied a few last week.
Wednesday 10th August. 1’1” and 58 degs clean. Not so many fish showing today and even less caught, it only takes one look at the catches page to see where they have gone. We ended the day with 1@7lb from the Slap on a sunray but it wasn’t a wasted day as Graham Henderson can now cast like a hero from the left (self preservation for me). The beat was much quieter today and spinner seemed to be catching the fish round about us, although I’m sure the 11 caught at Upper Floors would be on fly. It’s been raining off and on since lunchtime so a rise will be on the cards, no doubt another one that turns the water black and outs the fish off whereas we need a 5 footer. Got all the paths cut round the beat, grass cut in front of the hut, cleaned out the Duddo boat ready for launching, cleaned the hut windows and set mole traps as well as rowed the boat so a busy day, feeling better today helps.
Thursday 11th August. 1’1” and 58 degs cloudy, humid with rain off and on. My optimism from Tuesday has taken a battering as all the fish seem to have buggered off, I saw three in the Slap none in the Cauld and one in the Middle stream and not a pull was had. Mark from Germany called in for a visit on his way home from stalking up north so it was nice to see him and I hope the leg gets better soon. Nigel Houldsworth gave it everything this morning from wee tubes to skimmer and sunrays but we just couldn’t raise a thing, checking the lunchtime river heights it rising right enough but looking again tonight I see 2’7” at Sprouston which will be close to 3’0” with us at the lees, so tomorrow I’m expecting a very dirty river. We also had the Burgons here today but even queen of the Slap Trish Burgon couldn’t get one out today.
Friday 12th August. Wet windy day and brown water so we didn’t fish today. It’s been another shit summer all in all, if it’s going to be a wet one at least give us a flood so some fish come in and that makes up for the lack of sunshine. I have a greenhouse full of green tomatoes, my onions are getting root rot, my beetroot just stood and shivered then died, and no doubt my potatoes will be full of slug holes. Amazingly my chillies are starting to fruit but wherether they’ll mature is down to the weather need more sun for that, and to cap it all I’ve not got a pumpkin on my plant yet so I’ll not be breaking any records this year. The top gauges are rising again so we might not be fishing tomorrow.
Saturday 13th August. Well we did fish this morning but it was a slowly rising river with a very strong beery colour to it, Max hooked and lost a Seatrout in the Cauld, Ally had a pull from something in the Temple but the cat that got the cream was Mark who had a 4lb Seatrout from learmouth. It looks like a nice day tomorrow for a change so the river will drop in a bit and lose a bit of colour so by Monday it should be in good enough fettle. I’ve heard reports of plenty fish downstream along with a seal at Milne Graden so if the seal would be good enough to chase them up to the Lees that’ll do nicely.
Sunday 14th August. Warmer day with the wind gone at last, 1’9” and a bit on the beery side, just been down to river for a look and there are a number of fish showing, tomorrow should be around 1’4” and cleaner so I’m hoping for a few in the bag.
©M Campbell 2016
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