Week beginning 8 September 2014
Monday 8th September 1’1” and 54 degs clean. An overcast start but the sun was soon out, but John Wallace had a fish on the bank before it was out, a 12lb cock from the Cauld, not the freshest but a fish just the same Not to be outdone Ian Jardine had a wee liced grilse from the ledges, that along with a couple of other pulls was the only action for the day. I did see a couple of nice clean fish in the Slap this morning but couldn’t tempt them. Tuesday 9th September Another warm sunny day, but, we had two liced fish 1@14lbs and 1@15lbs from the Cauld and Duddo so happy days for John Wallace and John Martin, there was also a 6lb Grilse from the Slap which was coloured, apart from that there was nothing doing but we did hear of a bigger catch on a beat below us which doesn’t report on the websites, so let’s hope these fish are with us tomorrow.
Wednesday 10th September The sun was blazing down today which is not great in low water conditions and that was reflected in the catches as we never had a touch. Not much more to say really but the veggie show is on Saturday and my carrots are looking braw, the long ones in the drain pipes are about two foot long and straight as a die so I’m well impressed, stump carrots are nice and stumpy, lifting long Parsnips tomorrow night, they might as well give me the cup now! Oh aye the fish below us, they didn’t show up on the Lees I’m sorry to say but there’s always tomorrow.
Thursday 11th September. A glorious autumn day, misty start followed by blazing sunshine and not a puff of wind, but no bloody use for fishing. Craig Scorer hooked and lost a wee Grilse in Cornhill bend and Phil landed a wee 3.5lb Grilse in Learmouth that was the only action for the day, by mid day the lads put the white flag up and decided the BBQ was the best option followed by a snooze and fishing in the evening. Looking back through my books at other low water years none has been as bad as this apart from 1996 when we only had 4 for the whole of September that was due to the river being full of blanket weed. 2003 it was 1foot lower than it is now and we had 60 this week, so it’s not the water level, but it doesn’t help. Parsnips have not lived up to expectations, so grow them in pipes next year not dustbins. Been very busy washing my beetroot and selecting the best 6 and they are looking good.
Friday 12th September. Misty start and river down 1”. The Cauldstream is almost unfishable with weed from the Swans and Geese who pull it up it comes into the Cauld and goes round and round in the backwaters. Chris Major had a hold of a fish for a few seconds in Duddo and the swears were heard in Cornhill when it got off. The sun was soon through and the lads who had an early start this morning decided to have a snooze this afternoon and fish this evening, I haven’t received a text to say they have scored so I presume its a blank today. Been very busy tonight getting everything ready for the show tomorrow 39 entries so its an early start tomorrow.
Saturday 13th September Quite a day! Up early to get all my produce into the hall for the show which caused a bit of stress as forgot things and lost things which meant several trips back to the house. The fishing was nearly a big day as well, nearly because we nearly landed 4 fish. 1 lost in Duddo stream for Paul Collinson when his leader snapped, he was using a famous brand of fluorocarbon which I don’t like, and 3 lost for Chris Major who also lost one due to his leader snapping using the same fluorocarbon. Losing all 4 that were hooked was a bit of a disaster as it ended up a blank day, mind you it was quiet on the whole river with only 23 fish reported on both websites. The forecast looks a wee bit more unsettled for next week but showers are not going to be enough to sort things out. Meanwhile back at the show. I know you’re all wanting to find out, I had 6 first place, 12 second place and 8 third place winning me a lovely silver trophy for most points in the veggie section so I was a happy gardener. Sally also was a winner in the cooking section getting two firsts and three seconds and retaining her throne as Gingerbread queen for another year. No nets and no spinning so will we see more fish on the beat tomorrow I hope so.
Photos this week are Chris Major losing on the Slap, it’s lucky there’s no sound! The swans that are pulling up all the weed. Swallows getting ready for the off. And a few veggies.
our twitter feed