Week beginning 9 July 2018
Monday 9th July. A cloudy start and it was even trying to drizzle but it wasn’t even enough to wet the dust. It’s sitting around 3” on the gauge and the water temp this morning was a rather toasty 68 degrees. Chris Tunmore had decided that it was a long drive up from deepest Norfolk to fish in these conditions and had decided to give it a miss. We had a few casts at Cornhill bend and Duddo but nothing was showing, I had the compulsory Monday morning cast into the slap and had the usual bow wave which followed the sunray for 6 yards before sinking back into the depths.
Tuesday 10th July. An overcast morning and much cooler than of late, water temp 66 degrees. I gave the Slap 3 casts and not a thing stirred so got on with some strimming down the Cauld bank. A family of half grown Goosanders were sitting on the cauld when I arrived this morning but pushed off as soon as I pulled up. I’ve not seen the Osprey for a few weeks now as there’s nowt to eat I presume. The pea field behind the hut has been cut so the Jackdaws have decided that it’s safer to eat peas than try and nick my grain for the chickens. Following my strimming session I had to power hose my boiler suit as I found a rather large dog poo which attached itself to the boiler suit, asking Sally to run it through the washing machine was not an option. Still no rain on the forecast.
Wednesday 11th July. Another overcast start to the day. 2” on the gauge and 65 degrees but surprisingly clean. Perry was fishing early doors and had a couple of good pulls before breakfast in Learmouth stream. This stirred Andrew into action and he tried Learmouth as well as Perry had came out before reaching the point, He got a hold of a decent sized fish off the point which was played for about 5 mins before coming off unseen. All this action spurred me into action and I had my first casts of the season in the Glide and Cornhill bend/Duddo stream but I never saw or touched a thing. I have been hearing conflicting reports of fish further downstream but the catches do not reflect the stories.
Thursday 12th July. Overcast all day and much cooler, 64 degrees and 2” on the gauge. Chris Ladley and Rodger Oxtby here for two days. Chris had a run through the cauld in the boat which now takes all of 5 mins whilst Rodger had a cast at the Slap, neither had any interest. Just before lunch I put a #12 cascade over the Slap and had a very slow bow wave and a pull but it didn’t stick. I went back along to lock up the hens and tried the Slap again and had two bow waves but no pulls. Still no rain on the forecast for us. No trout to be seen rising this evening yet again. One of the drift nets had a 30lber on 11th July so there are some big fish out there; well there was one but its dead now, pity it didn’t make it to the river.
Friday 13th July. A warm and humid morning with no change in the river. I haven’t heard any reports from the rods so presume nothing caught. I see West Learmouth opposite had another two fish today so well done them. There has been some heavy showers tonight, just enough to dampen the dust and keep the grass alive, the whole place has a smell like rain forest tonight, and this will mean I’ll be out after dark on slug patrol.
Saturday 14th July. Another roasty toasty day on the Lees Rob Jameson and friends here for the day. Mark Giffkins had a pull off something this morning in the Glide but that seems to be all the action today. There are reports of fish down in the tidal reaches of the river and Tweedhill has reported 9 for today so they are coming, we just need the river temps to drop and a lift of water and we’ll be in action. Still not showing any proper rain on the forecast.