Week beginning 30 October 2023
Monday 30th October. A damp start again today with heavy showers, the Lees gauge reading 5’3” and 46f but very dirty. Dermot Keegan and family here for two days but for them sadly no fishing. Quite a ...
The Lees
contact
Jane Douglas-Home
The Lees
Coldstream
Berwickshire
TD12 4LF
Telephone: 01890 882706
Mobile: 07597 487427
Email: theleesfishing@tweedbeats.com
tweed water camera
Farson digital provided unique live and archived HD footage of river conditions, water height and colour.
view live watercamMalcolm's Fishing Reports
Week beginning 23 October 2023
Monday 23rd October. A frosty foggy start this morning with the Lees gauge reading 2’6” and a nippy 42f. Team Stuart Andrew here for the week, they have all been before so know what they are about jus...
Week beginning 16 October 2023
Monday 16th October. A mixed week of rods this week, some have been before and some new to the beat and new to fishing for salmon. 1’8” and a nippy 42f but squeaky clean. Bob Wigglesworth and Pete Mar...
Week beginning 9 October 2023
Monday 9th October. The weekend’s rain was still making its mark this morning with the Lees gauge showing 4’1” first thing and very murky, it was also 56f which is far too warm for the time of year. T...
Week beginning 2 October 2023
Monday 2nd October. Team Sidoli/Flux here for the week. 2’4” and 50f this morning with a bit of a beery tinge. First to break cover this morning was Francis with a 4lb grilse out of the cauldstream; h...
Week beginning 25 September 2023
Monday 25th September. A complete washout today, the day was over before we even started, Michael Black and pals supposed to be on today and usually there’s something wrong when Michael come, this tim...
Week beginning 18 September 2023
Monday 18th September. 1’8” and 56f but a bit beery. Team Gould here for the week, they are regulars so have a good idea of what to do. Jeremy Gould was in the cauld with Paul and had an 8lber he also...
Week beginning 11 September 2023
Monday 11th September. Team Brymer here for three days, last year in their three days they caught 44, they’re not going to catch 44 these three days I’m afraid. 8” and 64f with loads of slime and alga...
Week beginning 4 September 2023
Monday 4th September. Team Godden here for the week and this is how fickle salmon fishing can be, last week 20 odd fish and good conditions this week out pops the sun and not a touch today despite the...
Week beginning 28 August 2023
Monday 28th August. A beery water today with the gauge reading 2’0” and 56f. The family fishing today, Nigel Houldsworth was down at the iron gate and glide where he had a pull followed a few cast lat...
Week beginning 21 August 2023
Monday 21st August. Yet again we have had another dirty rise of water, not enough to stop us fishing but enough to spoil the chances, 2’0” and 60f with a stiff westerly wind. A mixed team this week bu...
Week beginning 14 August 2023
Monday 14th August. Back to work after a week at the common riding. 1’8” 60f and very beery. A full team on and they were soon spread round the beat, Down on the back of the wall Barry Williamson had ...
Week beginning 31 July 2023
Monday 31st July. Well thats another month gone and what a month it was, we’ve went from a very dry June to a very wet July and today was a shocker, it rained then it rained some more, my jacket was a...
Week beginning 24 July 2023
Monday 24th July. Murky water faced us this morning with the Lees gauge reading 1’11” and a chilly 54 degrees. It’s team Onslow on for two days and we had a young team of various degrees of skill, we ...
Week beginning 17 July 2023
Monday 17th July. 2’1” and 58f but very beery with a stiff westerly wind blowing, two rods had decided not to travel for a one day trip and the other two are here for three days so set about the job. ...
Week beginnnig 10 July 2023
Monday 10th July. Well we have some water; 1’6” on the Lees gauge and 60f, there is a fair bit of weed floating about and a lot of particles in the water column also a wee bit murky. Stefan Paully her...
Week beginning 3 July 2023
Monday 3rd July. Team Harper here for three days. 8” and a chilly 56f well the salmon will be happier at 56f at least. There is still a very stiff north west wind blowing which made things a bit of a ...
Week beginning 26 June 2023
A fresher morning now that the heat has given way, 3 or 4” on the gauge and 60f with a west wind helping to put just a wee riffle on the surface. A mix of rods with us this week, I think they have a...
Week beginning 19 June 2023
Monday 19th June. A humid morning after last night’s rain, the gauge was reading 5 inch or so and a water temp of 62f but a very strong green colour to it. Three of the rods had decided not to bother ...
Week beginning 12 June 2023
Monday 12th June. A hot sunny day and almost flat calm, water temp 64f and 0” on the gauge, all this means it’s going to be a difficult week ahead as the forecast is for sun and warmth all week. Team ...
Week beginning 5 June 2023
Monday 5th June. The cheery weathergirl says its going to turn into the west by the end of the week, I hope she’s right as since I started on 1st April its been north/east, north east/south east and c...
Week beginning 29 May 2023
Monday 29th May. A lovely warm sunny day but just a bit of an east wind yet again. Rodger Wadsworth here with son Tom along with Paul Copson and Brian Orme. Draw done and the lads set off to their res...
Week beginning 22 May 2023
Monday 22nd May. A dull grey morning with an east wind blowing in a bit of drizzle from the coast. 10” and 58 degrees, the water was warmer than the air which I never like. Team Germany here for the w...
Week beginning 15 May 2023
Monday 15th May. A nice spring day with a slight west wind and scattered cloud, 1’1” and 52f with a wee tinge of colour. Graeme Hogg was up top and there were a few fish showing in the Slap, he persev...
Week beginning 8 May 2023
Monday 8th May. A much milder day today warm even, 1’5” 54 degrees and murky, you struggled to see your feet when wading up to your groin. Team Merrell here for three days, the lads all know the beat ...
Week beginning 1 May 2023
Monday 1st May. A nice start to the day with a bit of sunshine and a west wind for a change, this didn’t last and by lunchtime the wind was into the north yet again and the temperature plummeted. Team...
Week beginning 24 April 2023
Monday 24th April. It was cold today in the north wind and showers really cold, my hands knew about it as my arthritis was giving me some jip. Another week is upon us and there’s fish to be caught. 1’...
Week beginning 17 April 2023
Monday 17th April I have a new computer, well bits of it are new as the last one started making some very strange noises followed by a sort of growling then plink! Hopefully this one will continue to ...
Week beginning 3 April 2023
Monday 3rd April. I’m back from my wee winter jaunt, the sandmartins have beat me back as well as a swallow or two, I had a lovely time thank you. It was a bit nippy this morning especially for me wit...
Week beginning 7 November 2022
Monday 7th November. Light rain, mild and a south west wind was the order of the day, the gauge was reading 2’9” and 46 degrees, now a few years ago this height and colour in the Temple and we’d be ba...
Week beginning 31 October 2022
Monday 31st October. Another really mild day with a south wind, Lees gauge reading 2’8” and 50 degrees but rising to 3’0” by close of play. Jim Fleming turned up had a cup of coffee and I’m not fishin...
Week beginning 24 October 2022
Monday 24th October. 4’0” and brown so no fishing effort today at the Lees, we spent the morning sorting out lines and sinktips making sure everyone was up to speed for tomorrow. All being well it wou...
Week beginning 17 October 2022
Monday 17th October. It was one of those marginal days with a rising river with colour coming in 2’8” and blowing a bloody hoolie from the south. The team were mad keen or maybe just mad but we gave i...
Week beginning 10 October 2022
Monday 10th October. A lovely sunny day with a stiff westerly wind, 1’9” as the rods were arriving but rising as we were getting the draw done and puting rods together, it was up 4” by the time we got...
Week beginning 3 October 2022
Monday 3rd October. 1’8” on the gauge and 50 degrees with a strong beery tinge to the colour. Team Flux/Sidoli here for the week, we got the draw done and everyone headed off to their respective beats...
Week beginning 26 September 2022
Monday 26th September. Much colder today with a bit of a North West wind following overnight showers, Lees gauge showing 7” and 50f. Michael Black here just for the day and pals. George Fleming was th...
Week beginning 19 September 2022
Monday 19th September. A quiet sort of day with not a breath of wind and an overcast sky, 9” and 52 degrees. Team Gould here for the week, Joanna Green was on the Slap and cauld this morning and after...
Week beginning 12 September 2022
Monday 12th September. 1’4” and 60 degrees with a beery tinge, a west wind (not too strong) and some sunshine, all in all a perfect autumn day. The day was made even better as Team Brymer landed 18 sa...
Week beginning 5 September 2022
Monday 5th September. Team Godden here for the week and there’s not much change since they were last here in July, --0” on the gauge and 60 degrees water temp, the weed has not been so much of a probl...
Week beginning 29 August 2022
Monday 29th August. An overcast start with the gauge at 0” and 63f, the weed was still about but perhaps not as bad. We went straight to Learmouth and with the wee single Andrew soon had a 6lb hen hoo...
Week beginning 22 August 2022
Monday 22nd August. That’s me back after a bit of a break, one week on holiday at the start of August followed by two weeks with covid which was not a pleasant experience. Nothing much changed since I...
Week beginning 25 July 2022
Monday 25th July. The river was up 11” and full of weed right through the water column which resulted in weed on the fly from the first cast to the last, the lads struggled on through the day but real...
Week beginning 18 July 2022
Monday 18th July. Well the forecast heatwave has arrived. Norman and Stuart set off at 2.00am and we started fishing at 6.00am, I was up in plenty time as my neighbour has a bloody cockerel and it had...
week beginning 11 July 2022
Monday 11th July. A hot sunny day with the water off the gauge and sitting at 66f this morning. Team Tunmore here for three days from deepest Norfolk and other places, it was always going to be a chal...
Week beginning 4 July 2022
Monday 4th July. The gauge was reading 1’5” last night and this morning it was 1’0” 60f and a wee bit beery, all this was fine but a north west wind was blowing and it wasn’t just a breeze. Team Harpe...
Week beginning 27 June 2022
Monday 27th June. An overcast start to the day with the gauge sitting at 0” and a water temp of 58f which is a bit more like it. Nick Gurr here for a couple of days and he got straight into action on ...
Week beginning 20 June 2022
Monday 20th June. Steven Turff and pals here for three days and they will have their work cut out for them. It looks to be about 0” on the gauge but still 56 degrees which is good but that will change...
Week beginning 13 June 2022
Monday 13th June. A cloudy start and in fact it stayed cloudy all day, much less wind than last week which is a great relief. Team Harper here for the week and Richard Harrison wasted no time in getti...
Week beginning 6 June 2022
Monday 6th June. Yet again another poor day weatherwise with that bloody north east wind blowing in cloud from the coast, no wonder people go abroad for their holidays. 6” and 56 degrees. Three local ...
Week beginning 30 May 2022
Monday 30th May A cool almost cold start with the Lees gauge reading 7” and 54 degrees. A mixed party here for three days, Tom Wadsworth was on the Slap and Cauld were despite changing flies more th...
Week beginning 23 May 2022
Monday 23rd May. Team Germany are here and things took a turn for the better. 11” on the gauge and 56 degrees with a North West wind. Draw done and Martin Tewes was on Learmouth stream and he put his ...
Week beginning 16 May 2022
Monday 16th May. It rained all day today it was more like October than mid May. 7” on the lees gauge and 52 degrees. Graeme Hogg here for three days and it’s a good job he was as he caught the only fi...
Week beginning 9 May 2022
Monday 9th May. An overcast day with a south/south west wind blowing, 8” and 56 degrees with a very slimy riverbed. Team Merrell here for three days. Mark Orton was on the Slap this morning and carefu...
Week beginning 2 May 2022
Monday 2nd May. A cold and cloudy day with the east wind back again, 11” and 52 degrees with a very slimy riverbed. Team Harper here for the week, the week always begins with the usual whisky drinking...
Week beginning 25 April 2022
Monday 25th April. Grey skies and a cold north light wind, height on the Lees gauge 1’0” and 48 degrees. Jonathon Reddin finishing off his 3 day trip was into action in no time getting a 7lb licer out...
Week beginning 18 April 2022
Monday 18th April. Bit cooler today with a westerly wind, 1’2” and 53 degrees. It is getting a bit on the low side now but fresh fish are still scooting past us, I think the only way to stop them woul...
Week beginning 11 April 2022
Monday 11th April. I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned it but I really hate the wind especially an east wind or south east, in fact anything with east in it, today there was a stiff east wind. 1’5” an...
Week beginning 4 April 2022
Monday 4th April. Well that is me back from my winter jolly and back on the oars. Now it’s not that I don’t like this country but the weather is just not for me, give me sunshine and warmth any day, ...
Week beginning 13 November 2021
Monday 8th November. A nice dry mild start with the gauge showing 2’1” and clean, a fish was lost in the slap first thing but that was it for the day, rain this afternoon but no gauges showing a rise ...
Week beginning 1 November 2021
Monday 1st November. That’s another month away, 83 for October and nothing remotely clean let alone fresh. 5’1” this morning and very dirty, not much more to say about it. Tuesday 2nd November. 3’8” ...
Week beginning 25 October 2021
Monday 25th October. A mild day with a bit of a wind from the south west, 2’6” rising to 2’9” by lunchtime, 48 degrees and a bit murky. Team Andrews here for the week so we wish them luck and they are...
Week beginning 18 October 2021
Monday 18th October. A mild day with a bit of a westerly breeze, 1’11” and 50 degrees with a smidge of colour from road and drain washings, this seemed to put the fish right off with us today, or that...
Week beginning 11 October 2021
Monday 11th October. 1’9” and 50 degrees and nice and clean. A mixed team this week but they soon got the hang of the job, some had fished the Lees before but not for a few years. Charles Cook is a re...
Week beginning 4 October 2021
Monday 4th October. An overcast start but mild enough, Lees gauge reading 2’11” and 48 degrees, very beery this morning. Francis Sidoli was first into action getting a fish from the ledges which will ...
Week beginning 27 September 2021
Monday 27th September. Michael Black here for the day with pals, there is normally something wrong with the river when Michael comes and today it was heavy rain, the rain didn’t bother Crumble though ...
Week beginning 20 September 2021
Monday 20th September. Team Gould here for the week. Minus something on the gauge and 55 degrees with a very weedy slime covered riverbed, the water is squeaky clean but when wading you have a brown/g...
Week beginning 13 September 2021
Monday 13th September. A drop in water temperature made a difference today, it was down from 62f to 56f today, the weed had sunk to the bottom and some of the fish were in a mood to play. The rods tha...
Week beginning 6 September 2021
Monday 6th September. An overcast humid day with the wind veering from the east to the south and getting warmer as the day went on. Team Godden here for the week apart from Toby who got here last nigh...
Week beginning 30 August 2021
Monday 30th August. A miserable morning with grey skies and mizzle, 4” and 57 degrees. Family fishing for the bank holiday except most of the family decided not to fish apart from Andrew, Paul and mys...
Week beginning 23 August 2021
Monday 23 August A misty start and it was a slow burn sort of day as it took until mid afternoon before the sun burnt off the cloud.1’3” and 60 degrees and a wee bit murky. The Holland brothers Paul...
Week beginning 16 August 2021
Monday 16th August. An overcast start with the gauge at the Lees reading 10” or thereabouts as it’s off the gauge, 38 degrees water temp. Mixed team on for the start of the week and we soon had them s...
Week beginning 9 August 2021
Monday 9th August. Jim Worley and pals here for three days. The river was up about 4 inch and a fair bit of weed was on the move helped off the margins by a south west wind, Water temp was 60f. The la...
Week beginning 26 July 2021
Monday 26th July. Crispin Rodwell and Dave Loughlan had an early start this morning and it nearly paid off with Crispin hooking a fish in the Duddo stream on a micro tube but the hook was thin wire an...
Week beginning 19 July 2021
Monday 19th July. The heatwave continues with blue skies and water temp at 66f at 8.00am and up to 72f by 12.30pm, 4” on the gauge or thereabouts. Mark Havelock Allen and son Harry here along with pal...
Week beginning 12 July 2021
Monday 12th July. Chris Tunmore and pals here from deepest Norfolk for 3 days full of hope and optimism. Hugh was the luck rod who maybe had more optimism as he hooked and landed a 9lb from the Slap t...
Week beginning 5 July 2021
Monday 5th July. Following yesterday's monsoon type showers the river is up 6” with a tinge of colour. Team Harper here for three days. Paul on holiday so Kevin Paterson filling in, Kevin and Ken head...
Week beginning 28 June 2021
Monday 28th June. The sun shone down on us today and I caught too much of it as this evening my eyes are stinging and face burning even though I had sunscreen on, don’t think I drank enough either. An...
Week beginning 21 June 2021
Thursday 24th June. Back to work after my son's Covid wedding which went very well, the sun shone and the drink flowed and the happy couple were married. Team Brymer here for three days 6” on the gaug...
Week beginning 14 June 2021
Monday 14th June. Well it’s supposed to be summer but it’s not warm and it’s windy yet again, perfect fishing conditions you’d think except there were no fish to be seen this morning. Team Harper here...
Week beginning 7 June 2021
Monday 7th June. 1’0” and 60 degrees clean. Another warm day but overcast causing it to feel a bit on the humid side. Mick Atkinson and team here for the week. Mick was up on the Slap and Cauld this m...
Week beginning 31 May 2021
Monday 31st May. Well summer is definitely here with temps into the low 20s and not a cloud in the sky, of course all this gladdens the soul but doesn’t help the salmon fishing. 1’5” and 56f with a be...
Week beginning 24 May 2021
Monday 24th May. An overcast day with the odd light shower, a west wind for a change. The river was rising after last night’s heavy rain, on my weather app radar it looked like it was going to slide a...
Week beginning 17 May 2021
Monday 17 May A wee bit milder today but overcast. 1’7” and 50 degrees. Derek Morgan and grandson Max were here today, the last time Derek was here was 30 years ago, his opening comment was you haven’...
Week beginning 10 May 2021
Monday 10th May. Much warmer than of late and the river temp was up to 48f today and 1’8” on the Lees gauge. Ian Merrell here for three days along with pals Jonathan, Mark and Gordon. We had 4 fish to...
Week beginning 3 May 2021
Monday 3rd May. A nice start to the day but it didn’t last long, by mid morning the rain had arrived and an east wind, it was also bloody cold. Shouldn’t moan about the rain as we really need some wat...
Week beginning 26 April 2021
Monday 26th April. Overcast and a south west wind but an unusually cold one, 72 and 50 degrees. Jonathon Reddin here again along with Martin Hall and Norman. Martin was wanting to fish the riffle hitc...
Week beginning 19 April 2021
Monday 19th April. Another blue sky day with hardly a puff of wind until the heat brought an easterly breeze this afternoon. 10” and a balmy 46 degrees f. Andrew King and pals here for the day, so a q...
Week beginning 12 April 2021
Monday 12th April. A hard frost again this morning but it was soon away as there was not a cloud in the sky and the sun was doing its best to warm things up. 1’2” and a chilly 38 degrees. 3 rods on to...
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. T...
Week beginning 29 March 2021
Monday 29th March. Blowing a bloody hoolie yet again and the river big and brown, 3’7” and rising 50 degrees. The wind that has been with us for the last week and more is to finally start to drop tomo...
Week beginning 22 March 2021
Monday 22nd March. A year ago today we went into lockdown and fishing was stopped, how time flies! Anyway today 1’7” and 46 f squeaky clean with a stiff west wind. Steve Robins here along with Mike Gr...
Week beginning 15 March 2021
Monday 15th March 2021. A nice day for mid March, mild no wind although it picked up later in the day, 2’7” and 40 degrees squeaky clean. Nobody local came to fish today so Paul and myself had a go, I...
Week beginning 8 March 2021
Monday 8th March. What a great start to the week with 5 licers landed on the beat today, first to get on the scoreboard was Steve Robins who lives in Coldstream, he had a 9lber from the Lower Cauld an...
Week beginning 1 March 2021
Monday 1st March. It was a glorious start to the month, not only was the weather perfect but a fish was landed at the Lees, it was a fresh 12lber and was caught after a bit of a tussle by Paul who had...
Week beginning 22 February 2021
Monday 22nd February. 4’5” this morning and wet but it soon cleared to leave a lovely day with blue skies and calm, the fact it was calm makes me quite calm as well. Sat on the bench at the Temple wa...
Week beginning 15 February 2021
Monday 15th February. Almost tropical out there today and the snow has had a bit shift in the low lying areas, the deep stuff higher up has still to go but it is going, looking at the cheviots you can...
Week beginning 8 February 2021
Monday 8th February. 3’8” and 34 degrees with a fair bit of colour, there was also a wicked east wind and heavy snow showers making me rather pleased that I wasn’t sitting in a boat trying to catch on...
Week beginning 1 February 2021
Monday 1st February. A nice sunny day with a hard frost. Lockdown measures are still in place due to covid so we have no rods on today as it was “Team Sweden” for the first three days. We have some ve...
Week beginning 23 November 2020
Monday 23rd November. A lovely sunrise with the sky all sorts of red, just a wee breeze from the west and dry. The gauge reading 2’6” this morning and 43 degrees squeaky clean, no rods again this week...
Week beginning 16 November 2020
Monday November 16th. A mild day with a bit of a south west wind blowing this morning. No rods booked this week or next for that matter which is perhaps just as well as the gauge was reading 3’4” this...
Week beginning 9 November 2020
Monday 9th November. A grey damp misty start, 2’1” and 42 degrees squeaky clean, possibly the best conditions there has been for a week or two river wise. Only one rod on today as the rest have called...
Week beginning 2 November 2020
Monday 2nd November. A better day but the river was running at 8’0” or thereabouts as the gauge only goes up to 6’0” 46 degrees and milky coffee coloured. No fishing so we got the boats checked and to...
Week beginning 26 October 2020
Monday 26th October. A dry morning but the damage had been done over the weekend. 3’3” and rising with a lot of colour. Andy Mantle and pal Craig turned up for a cast but we couldn’t give them any goo...
Week beginning 19 October 2020
Monday 19th October. A grey overcast start which led to a grey overcast finish, 2’1” and 48 degrees but nice and clean, Stuart Dawson and son Joe here for a couple of days as Malcolm Dutchman Smith ca...
Week beginning 12 October 2020
Monday 12th October. It was raining when we started and raining when we finished, not really heavy rain just wet rain. 1’8” and 46 degrees. Team Harper here for the week, a slightly reduced team as on...
Week beginning 5 October 2020
Monday 5th October. A nice day with just the odd wee shower, river running at 3’11” at the Lees and dirty. By mid afternoon it was back up to 4’2” as the Teviot, Leader and Gala water were all risin...
Week beginning 28 September 2020
Monday 28th September. 10” and 46 degrees clean water. Team Flux, Sidoli, Evans, Andrews and Woodruff here for the week. Draw done, everyone off to their respective pools and game on. David Flux the f...
Week beginning 21 September 2020
Monday 21st September. First job of the day was to nip up to the tackle shop and get a new pair of waders and a new wading jacket plus a pair of forceps as they all went in the break in. It’s lucky I ...
Week beginning 14 September 2020
Monday 14th September. A very warm morning, overcast but most importantly no bloody wind.1’11” and 56 degrees with a beery hint to it. Team Gould here for the week and following the usual Monday morni...
Week beginning 7 September 2020
Monday 7th September. A very windy day and warmer of late, 1’6” 54 degrees and clean. Team Randall here for three days except Matt Randall wasn’t here. Edward Evans a Tweed regular pulled number 1 on ...
Week beginning 31 August 2020
Monday 31st August. Well thats another month kicked into touch with a total of 61 for the month, all in all it was a poor month with lots of low cloud and east coast haar, too humid for the fishes lik...
Week beginning 24 August 2020
Monday 24th August. It was a rather dull damp start the gauge was showing 1’9” and 56 degrees with a very heavy beery stain to the colour. Team Black here and the fact that we are fishing when Michael...
Week beginning 17 August 2020
Monday 17th August. It was a very wet start to the day, I found out my jacket wasn’t as waterproof as the man in the shop said it was. If ever you needed to use the word dreich it was perfectly suited...
Week beginning 10 August 2020
Monday 10th August. A lovely warm summer day, perhaps a bit too warm for salmon fishing. 1’2” and 60 degrees and nice and clean. Phil Fisher here with Colin Chisholm and Local rods Steve Robins and Pa...
Week beginning 3 August 2020
Right! The report has disappeared from my computer, I’ve hunted through all the wee sneaky places that thing go to but no sign of it. Now trying to remember what happened last Monday is too much for m...
Week beginning 27 July 2020
Monday 27th July. 1’3” and 58 degrees with a beery colour. It was wet in fact it was very wet, I was wet, the dogs were wet, everything was wet. Peter London and pals John and Rex were here and I gave...
Week beginning 20 July 2020
Monday 20th July. 9” and 58 degrees, bit on the cool side and a wee sneaky shower or two going through. With all the talk of millions of fish in the lower reaches of the river I was hoping a few would...
Week beginning 13 July 2020
Monday 13th July. 1’0” and 56 degrees nice and clean. Harry H Allan and pal Hugh here for a couple of days and they were both into action in Learmouth stream getting a fish each down by the gate. New...
Week beginning 6 July 2020
Monday 6th July. 3’0” and 56 degrees with a lot of beery colour, Howard Dixon was the only rod to turn up and he gave it a good go for the conditions but didn’t manage a pull, he get one next time. It...
Week beginning 29 June 2020
Monday 29th June. Well we’re back, unfurloughed and ready to go except the river is in flood and brown its also raining and blowing a fair old gale of wind. Team Harper here for three days, sadly not ...
Week beginning 6 April 2020
Monday 6th April. Day whatever it is of lockdown and its all blending into one. Good news is Sally (wife) is getting better apart from being a bit breathless; I am still symptom free but have a few mo...
Week beginning 30 March 2020
Monday 30th March. A lovely day outside as long as you were out of the bloody cold north wind, ironically this wind makes covering the Slap a piece of cake even for the duffers. 1’7” and 40 degrees as...
Week beginning 23 March 2020
Monday 23rd March. A cold frosty start giving way to a lovely sunny morning, 2’3” and 40 degrees with just a slight south breeze. John Laybourne and Steven Robins here for the day. John fished the Low...
Week beginning 16 March 2020
Monday 16th March. 3’4” and 42 degrees with a breeze first thing that turned into a gale by lunchtime, we had a couple of boats on the Temple and Richard Harrison had a chuck off the Cauld bank the re...
Week beginning 9 March 2020
Monday 9th March. An overcast start and a wee bit breezy, 3’3” and 40 degrees carrying a bit of colour. Having seen the forecast Charles Cook decided to have a day off, Ben and Peter who are both seas...
Week beginning 2 March 2020
Monday 2nd March. This week has started as last week ended with another day of flood conditions, the Lees gauge showing 5’5” and dirty, We didn’t have any rods booked in which is just as well as my sc...
Week beginning 24 February 2020
Monday 24th February. Another miserable day with the gales being replaced by wet snow and very cold temperatures. The gauge (now we can see it) reading 4’7” and dirty. Hens will be returning to the ru...
Week beginning 17 February 2020
Monday 17th February. And on it goes more floods and wind. The gauge must have been around 14’0” at the Lees on Saturday night/Sunday morning along with a gale which I thought was going to put my win...
Week beginning 10 February 2020
Monday 10th February. Well what a day that was yesterday with storm Ciara going through, by Sunday night the gauge would have been reading if you could see it 13 feet or more, as you can imagine there...
Week beginning 3 February 2020
Monday 3rd February. 2’11” and 46 degrees but blowing a hoolie again. Matthias and the lads gave the beat a good thrashing but a seatrout kelt from the glide was all we had to show for it, it’s still ...
Week beginning 1 February 2020
Saturday 1st February. It was blowing a full gale this morning with waves coming down the Temple and Cauldstream so the team was sent to the middle and lower parts of the beat. Colin Simpson and Mike ...
Week beginning 26 November 2019
Monday 26th November. The only rod booked in for the day Brian Perry very wisely decided not to come today, 2’4” 40 degrees and very murky. That is the season effectively over for us as we have no rod...
Week beginning 18 November 2019
Monday 18th November. 2’10” 40 degrees and a bit murky but the skies were blue and the ground was white with frost so no rain for a change. Brian Perry had decided not to fish today and keep his powde...
Week beginning 11 November 2019
Monday 11th November. 2’3” and slowly rising, 42 degrees and windy from the North West add in a bit of rain and it was a bit of a miserable morning. John and Liz Macgregor here for a couple of days al...
Week beginning 4 November 2019
Monday 4th November. A dry start but it soon turned to rain. 3’0” on the Lees gauge and very murky. Stuart Andrews and team here for the week. I’ll introduce you to the other characters of the team as...
Week beginning 28 October 2019
Monday 28th October. A cold frosty start with blue skies, the Lees gauge reading 1’6” and 42 degrees squeaky clean. Margie and John Tucker here for a couple of days and with Andy Mantle and Craig Scot...
Week beginning 21 October 2019
Monday 21st October. 2’5” and 46 degrees, still settling down after Sundays flood. Harry H Allen here along with Michael O’Neill who last fished the Lees about 34 years ago when even I was a laddie, t...
Week beginning 14 October 2019
Monday 14th October. It was a lovely day on the river with the sun shining down keeping temperatures on the pleasant side. 2’7” and 50 degrees which is a bit higher than I’d like it especially as it w...
Week beginning 7 October 2019
Monday 7th October. A damp morning with the Lees gauge showing just under 6’0” and very dirty. Charles Cook who is here for the week sent a text or two to confirm it was no use today, Ritchie Gallaghe...
Week beginning 30 September 2019
Monday 30th September. Team Sidoli here for the week, which consists of David Flux, Neil Andrews, Francis Sidoli and his sons Chris and Dom. Francis was soon into a fish in the Temple and in fact he h...
Week beginning 23 September 2019
Monday 23rd September. A much nicer day than I thought it would be weather wise, 1’7” and 56 degrees. Team Black here just for the one day led by the team captain Michael Black who is a Lees regular, ...
Week beginning 16 September 2019
Monday 16th September. 1’4” and 50 degrees nice and clean with a westerly breeze. Team Gould here for the week. Angus was the first into action getting a wee fresh grilse from the back of the wall he ...
Week beginning 9 September 2019
Monday 9th September. 1’4” and 54 degrees nice and clean. Matt Randall with pals Edward Evans, Stephen Marsh Smith and Clive Roberts here for three days. 7 fish landed for the day none of them brand n...
Week beginning 2 September 2019
Monday 2nd September. Team Godden here for the week and it was bloody windy again, its wearing me down now. 1’6” and 56 degrees. Mike Cook was on the Slap and cauld this morning and lost two decent si...
Week beginning 26 August 2019
Monday 26th August. An overcast start but this soon gave way to blue skies and heat again; luckily Nick D Home was into a fish before it got very hot as that was it for the day. Andrew had a pull in t...
Week beginning 19 August 2019
Monday 19th August. 26 56 degrees and very very beery, it was also blowing a hoolie. The team decided after some advice to use a spinner (yes we do spin in high coloured water) due to water colour and...
Week beginning 12 August 2019
Monday 12th August. 8’6” or there about’s as it was off the gauge. It’s what it needed but it’s a shame for all the rods looking to fish for the next two days, it will likely fish on Wednesday but the...
Week beginning 29 July 2019
Monday 29th July. A very warm humid morning with black tea coloured water, the Lees gauge was reading 1’8” and 63 degrees. These conditions are not what the fish or angler wants. Peter London was in t...
Week beginning 22 July 2019
Monday 22nd July. It was blowing a hoolie today and it has smashed my garden to bits, hanging baskets all torn and my dahlias are snapped. 1’0” and 62 degrees this morning but it is rising above us. N...
Week beginning 15 July 2019
Monday 15th July. It was roasty toasty this morning with the gauge showing 8” and 63 degrees. There were fish showing in the Slap which is nothing unusual on a Monday morning, what was more unusual wa...
Week beginning 8 July 2019
Monday 8th July. A warm sunny start to the day, 4” and 60 degrees on the gauge. Chris Tunmore here for three day with a couple of pals, Phil Birnham and Will Sly, Will was on the Slap and soon had the...
Week beginning 1 July 2019
Monday 1st July. Bit of a wind blowing this morning from the North West but this wasn’t enough to stop Ian Gregson getting a fly across the Slap and hooking a fish on his very first cast of the trip. ...
Week beginning 24 June 2019
Monday 24th June. Travelling home from deepest Englandshire and still receiving counselling after having to pay £1.53 for a litre of diesel, I asked the girl at the till if it was a misprint but she r...
Week beginning 17 June 2019
Monday 17th June. 1’5” and 56 degrees with a light breeze from the south west which turned into a hoolie by mid morning. Margie, John and Brian here for three days, we soon had the rods up and flies t...
Week beginning 10 June 2019
Monday 10th June. Team Blobby here for the week and Yorkshire's top Spey caster Graham Scott was soon on to the Slap croy and with a wee bit of help from a North East wind his fly landed just in the r...
Week beginning 2nd June 2019
Monday 2nd June. It was windy then it became really windy a near gale in fact, regular readers will know how much I like the wind so I wasn’t a happy bunny. 1’3” and 56 degrees with a slight tinge. Mi...
Week beginning 27 May 2019
Monday 27th May. An overcast day with a slight North east wind, 4” or there about’s and 54 degrees. Phil Fisher and team here. Draw done tackle sorted out and everyone off to their respective beats, V...
Week beginning 20 May 2019
Monday 20th May. The German international team are here for the week and were soon into action. Peter Lohse was on the Slap this morning and managed to tweak the fly away from the first fish to come a...
Week beginning 13 May 2019
Monday 13th May. The cheery weather girl got it right, it was warm and sunny and a west wind for a change, it’s been weeks if not months since we have had a west wind. 9” and 50 degrees this morning. ...
Week beginning 6 May 2019
Monday 6th May. A grey dull damp morning and cold, 10” and 48 degrees. Ian Merell and team here for three days. We saw fish in the Slap, Learmouth and one in the Glide but couldn’t get any interest fr...
Week beginning 29 April 2019
Monday 29th April. A foggy start which soon cleared to give us a lovely day. 1’3” and 50 degrees on the Lees gauge. Team Harper here for the week and Terry as ever leading from the front soon had a fi...
Week beginning 22 April 2019
Monday 22nd April. Another lovely day with wall to wall sunshine. Jonathan Reddin here again for another go along with Jonathan Pearce, the family retaining the other two rods as its Easter. 1’0” and ...
Week beginning 15 April 2019
Monday 15th April.It was very windy from the east and it was really, really cold. Waves were blowing up the Cauld and Learmouth, but it takes more than a bit of wind-chill to deter Jonathon Reddin who...
Week beginning 8 April 2019
Monday 8th April. A dull cold day with no sign of the sun and there never was with a very cold east wind blowing in low cloud off the North Sea. 2’0” on the gauge and 42 degrees with just a slight tin...
Week beginning 1 April 2019
Monday 1st April. Thats another month that I don’t like out of the way and we march on into April when once it warms up things start to happen. 1’4” and 42 degrees which is a fair drop in temperature ...
Week beginning 25 March 2019
Monday 25th March. A sunny calm, yes calm start and the Lees gauge reading 2’0” and 42 degrees. John Okell and Steve here along with Phil Odling and Tony. Flies and lines sorted out and I took Phil do...
Week beginning 18 March 2019
Monday 18th March. 3’11” and 40 degrees with enough colour in it to make it very unappealing, Terry Ward’s pals turned up for a look but decided they were better off up at Mertoun. Ian Bennet had a ch...
Week beginning 11 March 2019
Monday 11th March. A nice enough start to the day with a bit of sunshine but a rather cool wind. Only two rods on today which is just as well with the gauge showing 3’0” and 42 degrees and a wee bit o...
Week beginning 4 March 2019
Monday 4th March. 2’0” and rising and carrying a fair bit of colour, One rod had called off due to illness and the other decided that a wine tasting was a better option than fishing. Some of the beat...
Week beginning 25 February 2019
Monday 25th February. What a glorious day, it was warm sunny calm, an amazing day for February and in fact the warmest February day ever. 1’8” and 45 degrees on the Lees gauge. Colin Hewitt and Jim Go...
Week beginning 18 February 2019
Monday 18th February. It blew a hoolie today as the cheery weather girl forecast; this made trying to get a fly across the pools a bit of a challenge to say the least, rowing a boat was no fun either....
Week beginning 11 February 2019
Monday 11th February. It was a lovely day on the river with blue skies and no wind, the Lees gauge was showing 2’6” and 36 degrees. There was a bit of murk to the colour of the water so Team Harper ha...
Week beginning 4 February 2019
Monday 4th February. A nicer morning today, the grue has gone and it is a lot milder, no rods booked in today so we got on with the toilet for the hut which will be a great addition to the Lees. ...
Week beginning Friday 1 February 2019
Friday February 1st A wintery start to the 2019 season with grue filling the river this morning and the Lees gauge reading 1’3” and a water temp of 0C or 32F. The ice was melting back as the morning...
Week beginning 26 November 2018
Monday 26th November. There were two fish caught on the river today and we had one of them, well Brian Perry did it all himself really wading the lower cauld. The fish was a 5lb purple hen which gave ...
Week beginning 19 November 2018
Monday 19th November. A dull morning with an east wind starting to blow up the river, 1’11” and 44 degrees. David Easty here for three days and he is the only rod on so he is spoilt for choice as to ...
Week beginning 12 November 2018
Monday 12th November. A nice mild calm start to the day but with a rising river. 2’9 and 46 degrees with a beery tinge, two of the rods decided not to fish and two gave it a go this morning and packed...
Week beginning 5 November 2018
Monday 5th November. No fireworks on the Lees today with the river running at 2’5” and very beery/murky, 46 degrees flat calm and mild. Stuart Andrew and the team were keen to get on and at them so on...
Week beginning 29 October 2018
Monday 29th October. A very frosty foggy morning and -5 degrees. The gauge at the Lees was reading 10” and 40 degrees. Paul Holland, Andy and Craig Scott here for three days. The lads soon got spread ...
Week beginning 22 October 2018
Monday 22nd October. A nice start to the day, 1’4” and 46 degrees with a gentle breeze from the west. A mixed team with us for first three days one of whom had fished with us before but not for a long...
Week beginning 15 October 2018
Monday 15th October. Team Harper here for the week and it looks like they have hit it right weather wise and river height wise. 2’10” this morning and very dark beery water but this will improve as ea...
Week beginning 8 October 2018
Monday 8th October. 8” and 50 degrees with a fair wind blowing. It was a quiet morning but Andrew managed 3 from the Annay, one was fresh but weighed in at a mighty 1lb. Richie Gallagher had 5 good pu...
Week beginning 1 October 2018
Monday 1st October. A nice calm start with the Lees gauge showing 1’0” a water temp of 46 degrees and nice and clean. Francis Sidoli here along with David Flux, Neil Andrews and the two Sidoli boys Ch...
Week beginning 24 September 2018
Monday 24th September. 1’5” and 46 degrees with just a touch of beery colour. We had 12 today making it our best day of the season, almost all river fish apart from two of them being slightly clean in...
Week beginning 17 September 2018
Monday 17th September. 1’9” and 54 degrees but carrying a mucky colour, not brown but that grey murky colour. Team Gould here for the week and once we got rods and lines sorted out it was off round th...
Week beginning 10 September 2018
Monday 10th September. A windy start to the day with the gauge showing 7”, well it would show 7” if it reached the water but it stops at a foot so it guess work or get the tape measure out. Anyway onl...
Week beginning 10 September 2018
Monday 10th September. A windy start to the day with the gauge showing 7”, well it would show 7” if it reached the water but it stops at a foot so it guess work or get the tape measure out. Anyway onl...
Week beginning 3 September 2018
Monday 3rd September. It was a dreich morning and in fact dreich all day. I wasn’t expecting the rain to hang around all day or to be as heavy this morning. It has put a couple of feet into the Teviot...
Week beginning 27 August 2018
Monday 27th August. A nice enough day with just enough wind to keep the midges away. 10” and 56 degrees, nice and clean. Nick lost a wee grilse in Learmouth stream this morning and we had another pull...
Week beginning 20 August 2018
Monday 20th August. A warm humid day with the water temp back up to 60 degrees, it was a little bit murky, a sort of road washings colour but we’ve caught fish in a lot worse. I was with James Long in...
Week beginning 13 August 2018
Monday 13th August. A wet very humid morning with the gauge sitting at 8” at the Lees and a water temp of 60. Steven Robbins with us today along with Jonathan Reddin and Dave Walker. Dave had a pull i...
Week beginning 30 July 2018
Monday 30th July. The rain had done its job to a degree at least, 1’1” and rising with a lot of weed right through the water column making fishing very frustrating with weed on the hook every cast. Ma...
Week beginning 23 July 2018
Monday 23rd July. Team Onslow here and it was warm and humid. -1” maybe -2” and 68 degrees this morning. What is there to say, the team fished their way round the beat and caught nothing, I saw one in...
Week beginning 16 July 2018
Monday 16th July. An overcast humid day, water temp 64 and about 2” on the gauge or thereabouts. John Okell and Graham Nicol here for two days, the last time they were here they were frozen off then f...
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 ...
Week beginning 2 July 2018
Monday 2nd July. A cloudy start and a good bit cooler, 6” on the gauge at the Lees and still clean, we don’t seem to get the blanket weed problem now that we did a few years ago, due to the nitrate bu...
Week beginning 25 June 2018
Monday 25th June. Norfolk’s finest with us for three days in the shape of Paul Grewcock and wife Linda accompanied by Fliss Atherton. The gauge was sitting at 1’0” and 62 degrees with not a cloud in t...
Week beginning 18 June 2018
Monday 18th June. The day started off well enough with Steve Turff and Brian Cook who are new to the beat turning up. Colin’s never caught a salmon before so on a Monday morning there was only one pla...
Week beginning 11 June 2018
Monday 11th June. An overcast start but warm and humid, the Lees gauge showing 1’3” and a bit beery but thanks to social media we knew it was going to colour up as the day went on. Team Harper here fo...
Week beginning 4 June 2018
Monday 4th June. A nice sunny day with a north east wind blowing, 1’9” and very dirty, the lads gave it a go but the odds were always against them. It was really a day to enjoy the view. Tuesday 5th ...
Week beginning 28 May 2018
Monday 28th May. Another cracker of a day depending on what you are doing, hill walking, golfing, gardening, day on the beach for the bank holiday all great but not if you are fishing for salmon. Arou...
Week beginning 21 May 2018
Monday 21st May. Another warm sunny day with the Lees gauge showing around 9” and 56 degrees this morning. I say around 9” as the gauge stops at 1’0” but the Cauld is starting to dry on the left side ...
Week beginning 14 May 2018
Monday 14th May. It was a belter of a day, sunny calm for most of the day until after lunch when an east wind picked up. 1’7” and 54 degrees, clean but a bit of the stone dirt is starting to lift off ...
Week beginning 7 May 2018
Monday 7th May. It was a lovely day, warm sunny and just a wee breeze to stop me boiling. 1’3” and 56 degrees still nice and clean. Team Merrell here for three days and its a fairly strong team. Paul ...
Week beginning 30 April 2018
Monday 30th April. 1’6” and 46 degrees and squeaky clean. Team Harper here for the week and they set about their duties with a spring in their step. There was a north wind blowing and it was on the st...
Week beginning 23 April 2018
Monday 23rd April. Bit windy today not a gale but it made me swear a couple of times. 1’10” and 50 degrees water temp. Jonathan Reddin got into a fish with his first cast of the day in the slap but sh...
Week beginning 16 April 2018
Monday 16th April. Well it’s only taken us 2 months but we’ve finally caught one, a fresh 16lber on a fast sink line in Learmouth stream, the successful fly was a cascade tube. It wasn’t all great tho...
Week beginning 9 April 2018
Monday 9th April. Well I nearly hung the flags out today as Christopher Scott had a hold of a fish; it took just behind the boat in the Cauldstream pulled a couple of yards of line off the reel jumped...
Week beginning 2 April 2018
Monday 2nd April. Another shocker of a day weatherwise with east winds rain and snow all day. The Lees gauge was sitting at 2’0” this morning and nice and clean. We gave the Temple and Cauld a quick r...
Week beginning 26 March 2018
Monday 26th March. It was a lovely day out today with the sun shining and no wind. It was an even lovelier day if you were fishing around Kelso as that’s where all the fish were caught so well done th...
Week beginning 19 March 2018
Monday 19th March. Another cold day with a North east wind blowing across the river. 2’6” and 36 degrees but at least we were fishing for the first time in 3 weeks. James Henderson was the top rod tod...
Week beginning 12 March 2018
Monday 12th March. 4’6” and 38 degrees with a lot of colour. No fishing today, even chucking a toby off the bank would be a lost cause. It’s going to take a long time to get this river down to a decen...
Week beginning 5 March 2018
Monday 5th March. Well the thaw has set in on the lower lying ground and the river is starting to respond to the snow melt by taking on a mucky green colour. James Henderson was the only rod to show u...
Week beginning 26 February 2018
Monday 26th February. A cold day with a few snow showers, the river was in good order apart from the water temperature which was down to 34 degrees, 1’11” and squeaky clean with a easterly wind making...
Week beginning 19 February 2018
Monday 19th February. A damp start combined with a rising river doesn’t make for a good start to the new week. 2’11” at 9.00am and 4’4” late afternoon. Richard Harrison and Clancy chucked a Toby off t...
Week beginning 12 February 2018
Monday 12th February. A very cold frosty morning with a wind that could cut you in half. 2’9” and mucky so the team decided not to fish which was a wise decision looking at the catch returns tonight. ...
Week beginning 5 February 2018
Monday 5th February. 2’5” and 36 degrees meaning it only dropped one inch over the weekend and it was cold, bloody cold. Howard Watson with us today for the first time and Lees regular Harry Birkbeck....
Week beginning 29 January 2018
Thursday 1st February. Well here we go again, what will this spring bring? Today it brought us 3’0” on the Lees gauge with a touch of colour to the water from yesterday’s rise. It wasn’t very warm eit...
Week beginning 27 November 2017
Monday 27th November Well here we are into the final straight at last; this month has lasted two months it seems with each day getting worse than the last. Fully booked for the last four days but tod...
Week beginning 20 November 2017
Monday 20th November, conditions were as good as you could bet for a Monday in late November apart from the bloody rain. 1’42 and 39 degrees but squeaky clean. Stuart Andrew and team here for the week...
Week beginning 13 November 2017
Monday 13th November. A very cold day with light snow showers in the morning, water temperature down to 38 degrees in old money. Only one rod this morning Perry and he managed a bit of a pull in Learm...
Week beginning 6 November 2017
Monday 6th November. A very frosty morning but nice and calm. 1’4” on the Lees gauge and 40 degrees. Team Sidoli here for the week who were all about as keen as the frost to get in about the fish. Roy...
Week beginning 30 October 2017
Monday 30th October. A cold frosty morning, the first proper frost of the autumn which gave us water levels at 1’7” at the Lees and a temp of 44 degrees and of course cold steady water is always clean...
Week beginning 23 October 2017
Monday 23rd October. A mild morning warm even. 2’8” and 48 degrees water temp and a lot cleaner than of late. Team Godden here for three days and they were soon on the water and thrashing away. It did...
Week beginning 16 October 2017
Monday 16th October. It was a strange day with hurricane Ophelia approaching. We started off with a flat calm and mild, warm even then by mid morning the sky turned pink with a dull yellow tinge to it...
Week beginning 9 October 2017
Monday 9th October. 1’10” and 52 degrees and nice and clean, now if you were/are a Lees regular you’d be licking your lips and rubbing your hands together, or even doing things that might bring you to...
Week beginning 2 October 2017
Monday 2nd October. It blew a hoolie today and the catches on the river reflected the strength of the wind, it was a north west which blows straight down the Temple and Cauld and straight up the Bags ...
Week beginning 25 September 2017
Monday 25th September. 1’5” and 54 degrees, water clean first thing. Looking at the levels on the websites we knew water was coming and receiving a photo text from Ian Farr at Bemersyde which showed t...
Week beginning 18 September 2017
Monday 18th September. 1’10” and a bit on the beery side but that was the good news as by lunchtime it was brown and the rest of the day was casting practice really. It will hopefully get washed out o...
Week beginning 11 September 2017
Monday 11th September. A cloudy morning with a stiff westerly blowing, the Lees gauge was sitting at 1’6” first thing but was rising slowly up to 1’9” by 10.00am, water temp 52 with a beery tinge. Tea...
Week beginning 4 September 2017
Monday 4th September. The day started off warm and humid and slightly delayed as Tim had left everyone’s fishing rods at the guest house in Kelso. Tim eventually arrived back from Kelso looking slight...
Week beginning 28 August 2017
Monday 28th August. If you were a betting man and you were going to put money on where the only fish of the day was going to come from on a Monday at the Lees, the last pool you’d bet on would be the ...
Week beginning 21 August 2017
Monday 21st August. A lovely day out on the river, one of the nicest days this summer in fact. That said it didn’t help the fishing being warm, flat calm almost humid. The Temple had a good number of ...
Week beginning 14 August 2017
Monday 14th August. Well that’s summer over and we are into the autumn fishing. Jonathon Reddin landed 3 this morning from the back of the wall area the best being 15lbs. Gerald Kitchen had two from t...
Week beginning 31 July 2017
Monday 31st July. A breezy day down at the Lees today. Team Onslow here for two days and they were all keen as Ferrets at a rabbit hole. Jamie and Uncle Denzil were on the Slap and Cauld and although ...
Week beginning 24 July 2017
Monday 24th July. Team Jameson here for three days. Rob Jameson knows the beat well and pals Chris Hill and Mark Giffkins have both fished the Lees before so I was expecting great things. Mark was the...
Week beginning 17 July 2017
Monday 17th July. A cracking summer day, no use when trying to catch a salmon but a cracking day just the same. John Okell and Graham were first to arrive and I got them signed in and did the usual ta...
Week beginning 10 July 2017
Monday 10th July. A wet day yet again, not enough to flood the river but enough to make it a miserable day. Paul on duty till Wednesday, I was going to get the grass cut and all the paths Strimmed ...
Week beginning 26 June 2017
Monday 26th June. Paul Grewcock, Linda Grewcock and Fliss Atherton here for three days, they’re all keen fishers so I was expecting great things. 10” and 60 degrees with an overcast sky so conditions ...
Week beginning 19 June 2017
Monday 19th June. A lovely hot day if you like lovely hot days. 1’2” and 67 degrees at 8.30am with a summer tinge to the water. Harry Stollard here for three days with his pals Paul and Davy. The lads...
Week beginning 12 June 2017
Monday 12th June. A very windy day for the time of year and with a few more inches coming down this morning two of the team decided to try and put a toby spoon through the wind whilst Graeme Whitty st...
Week beginning 5 June 2017
Monday 5th June. Around 4”on gauge and getting weedier by the day. Mick Atkinson and pals here for three days. The lads have fished the Lees a few times so know their way around so it was myself that ...
Week beginning 29 May 2017
Monday 29th May. An overcast day with the odd shower. The Lees is now on summer lets so the reports might be a bit sketchy, also it’s sometimes a day late when you find out about a capture. Today up ...
Week beginning 22 May 2017
Monday 22nd May. The river is a much better colour today and showing 1’2” on the Lees gauge. Brian Omer on his first trip to the Lees was on the Slap and as soon as he made the distance he was into a ...
Week beginning 15 May 2017
Monday 15th May. Rain! Rain at last but it’s nothing like enough, it’ll help the farmers but it’s not enough for the river. The Teviot has a couple of inches at the top gauge and that would be worst c...
Week beginning 8 May 2017
Monday 8th May. Yet again another cold grey day with the wind blowing from the north east. River is down to 8” on the gauge and 50 degrees. Michael Bax on his first visit to the Lees drew the Slap and...
Week beginning 1 May 2017
Monday 1st May. That’s another month over and it didn’t break any records, 10 for the month. 4 Slap, 4 Cauld and 2 Back of the Wall (Iron Gate really). 11” and 50 degrees with an East wind all day as ...
Week beginning 24 April 2017
Monday 24th April. The day started off a bit cold then got colder with the wind picking up from the North West and the odd snow flurry it was more like early March than late April. Team Harper here f...
Week beginning 17 April 2017
Monday 17th April. A much nicer day because the wind has buggered off at last, I’m sure it’ll be back but today was calm, cold but calm. 1’4” 46 degrees and squeaky clean. Alex Faber who fell in last ...
Week beginning 10 April 2017
Monday 10th April. A nice sunny day again but a bit of a chilly breeze. 1’7” and 48 degrees and squeaky clean. Antony Hajimitsis was top banana this morning getting a cracking 8lb fresh seatrout from ...
Week beginning 3 April 2017
Monday 3rd April. A nice enough day for a Monday and the water has started to drop at last. 2’5” on the Lees gauge. Ron Charlton, John Wilkinson, Jeff Popplewell, Christopher Scott and James Auld her...
Week beginning 27 March 2017
Monday 27th March. It was a nice enough day with some nice company, once we got the company sorted out as two lads arrived a day early, Rob and Howard don’t start until tomorrow so we sent them to Col...
Week beginning 20 March 2017
Monday 20th March. The old sayings are never far wrong are they? March comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion is certainly true this year as the wind is going to blow all week, the weatherman i...
Week beginning 13 March 2017
Monday 13th March. It was an almost perfect day for spring fishing, 2’1” and 44 degrees with the water very clean. Chris Elcock here along with Dean MacAlister and mum Sue and local rod James Henderso...
Week beginning 6 March 2017
Monday 6th March. It looks like we are going to have another frustrating week ahead of us with fluctuating water levels. 3’0” at the Lees this morning with a tinge of colour, it wasn’t the colour but ...
Week beginning 27 February 2017
Monday 27th February. Looks like it’s going to be a short report this week. 7’0” plus and very dirty, mostly Teviot effect. Had a tidy up round hut and got some wood sawn up for kindling A fair bit o...
Week beginning 20 February 2017
Monday 20th February. It was rather warm for the 20th but the price to pay for all this warm weather was a gale blowing from the North West. 1’11” and 46 degrees, I can’t remember the water temp ever ...
Week beginning 13 February 2017
Monday 13th February. River sitting at 2’6” and the Lees this morning and 38 degrees also carrying a lot of colour thanks to the Teviot effect so the team decided not to fish which was a wise decision...
Week beginning 6 February 2017
Monday 6th February. Bit of a wake up for me as on Saturday morning I was sunning myself in warmer climes with a water temp of 78 degs and blue skies and this morning it’s -5 and a water temp of 38de...
Week beginning 21 November 2016
Monday 21st November. A bit of a shock this morning when I looked out the front door as everything was white over with frost and a hard frost at that. Team Baker on the Lees this week and the conditio...
Week beginning 14 November 2016
Monday 14th November. I didn’t think we’d catch anything today and we didn’t 2’6” this morning and a toasty 44 degrees, the river has risen and with it rising it’s carrying a murky grey colour but the...
Week beginning 7 November 2016
Monday 7th November. It’s as feared worst case scenario as far as I’m concerned, 2’10” and very dirty, it’s only the bottom of the Teviot and the Leader that have any real water in but the colour is a...
Week beginning 31 October 2016
Monday 31st October. Well that’s the arse kicked out of October and it was our best month this season but you can’t polish a turd and in the age of the internet and instant news everyone knows what’s ...
Week beginning 24 October 2016
Monday 24th October. A damp morning with heavy showers from the east. 1’4” and 44 degs nice and clean. Team Godden here for three days and after the usual chaos getting everyone sorted as to where the...
Week beginning 17 October 2016
Monday 17th October. I wasn’t expecting the wind this morning but there it was and it was from the south south/west making casting in learmouth stream a bit of a bugger more so when you put a sink tip...
Week beginning 10 October 2017
Monday 10th October. A much colder start than of late with showers from the east but these gave way to a sunny day by mid morning. The Lees gauge was showing 10” and 48 degrees squeaky clean but lots ...
Week beginning 3 October 2016
Monday 3rd October. Well! That’s a bit more like it 18 landed today, it might increase as there’s still a couple of rods out there fishing. The fish were well spread out round the beat but sadly were...
Week beginning 26 September 2016
Monday 26th September. Well after the flood warning from SEPA on Saturday the river is up all of 6”, it has moved the fish around a wee bit and shifted some up river as far as Boleside it seems. Drygr...
Week beginning 19 September 2016
Monday 19th September. I’m writing this on Tuesday night so I’ve forgotten what happened yesterday. 1’1” and 56 degs a nice day for hill walking; golfing, sitting outside a pub with a pint watching th...
Week beginning 12 September 2016
Monday 12th September. A very warm day with a south wind, 1’9” and 56 degs with a light beery tinge. Expectations were high but we were soon knocked back into our place as by lunchtime we’d only had ...
Week beginning 5 September 2016
Monday 5th September. Another warm dry day, overcast with a light south wind, 1’1” and 58 degs. Team Godden here for the week and they arrived with a smile or maybe that was a grimace; anyway we did t...
Week beginning 29 August 2016
Monday 29th August. A bright sunny warm day (why wasn’t it like this in June/July?). 1’1” and 58 degrees with clean water at last. It was always going to be a difficult day but Rory Douglas Home was u...
Week beginning 22 August 2016
Monday 22nd August. A cloudy humid start to the day with the Lees gauge showing 1’7” and 58 degs also very beery. James long Lees regular and candle maker to the Pope was in the Cauldstream with Paul...
Week beginning 15 August 2016
Monday 15th August. A cracking day at last with blue skies and its hot, too hot to be encased in waders really but a sunny day which I’ve been longing for, not for the fishing but for purely being a s...
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 ...
Week beginning 25 July 2016
Monday 25th July. A blustery day with overcast skies and the odd shower. 1’2” and 60 degrees. Francis Sanderson and Vicky here for the day, They have both fished the Lees a few times and know what the...
Week beginning 18 July 2016
Monday 18th July. A much warmer day in fact the warmest day this year by a distance but with the warmth came some really heavy downpours from lunchtime onwards by 6.00pm it was wall to wall sunshine ...
Week beginning 11 July 2016
Monday 11th July. A sort of muggy humid start to the day with the odd sunny spell. 1’8” and 60 degs but very black water, I thought the lads might pick up a seatrout as this can be the water you get t...
Week beginning 4 July 2016
Monday 4th July. A nice warm calm dry start, 1’2” and 58 degs with a strong beery colour to it. We had a very aggressive charge at a sunray in the Slap not a touch in the Cauld and just for a change...
Week beginning 27 June 2016
Monday 27th June. Paul and Linda Grewcock here for three days and Paul was into action straight away in Learmouth stream landing one and losing two others, one being lost in a branch that had come dow...
Week beginning 20 June 2016
Monday 20th June. What a difference a day makes in fishing, couldn’t go wrong last week apart from Graham shaking them off to today when we couldn’t get a pull. We did see fish in some of the pools bu...
Week beginning Monday 13 June 2016
Monday 13th June. A dull damp start to the day with team Harper in attendance, it started off badly with Terry losing a fish first cast in the Cauldstream but he made it all up getting a nice fresh 10...
Week beginning 6 June 2016
Monday 6th June. Another cracking morning for those of us that like the sun, me being one of them, but not much good for those who like dull conditions for fishing. It didn’t stop John though as once...
Week beginning 30 May 2016
Monday 30th May. A cold dull start to the day with that north east wind yet again. We’re onto summer lets now so the reports will not be as usual. I could make something up of course and sometimes may...
Week beginning 23 May 2016
Monday 23rd May A lovely day on the river nice and sunny depending on your point of view of course, I for one am loving the sun as its been a long cold spring. Phil Fisher and pals here for three days...
Week beginning 16 May 2016
Monday 16th May. The German international fly fishing team are here for the week so I’m expecting catches to be huge. Stefan who drew number one this morning was first onto the Slap croy and fish were...
Week beginning 9 May 2016
Monday 9th May. A lovely sunny warm day at last, maybe not great for the fishing but good for the soul. Team Evans here for three days and it’s going to be a bit of a challenge unless some more fish ...
Week beginning 2 May 2016
Monday 2nd May. 2’2” and 47 degs. Team Hepple on for 3 days, there was a south west wind today instead of the north East making it much milder, but the water was beery and unsettled so it was going to...
Week beginning 25 April 2016
Monday 25th April. There was high drama at the Lees today as team Harper started their week, not only did Graham Whitty catch a fish from Learmouth Stream and Paul lose one as it ran through the Slap ...
Week beginning 18 April 2016
Monday 18th April. Well it was warmer today than of late and the sun was out for a change, but and theres always a but it was blowing a bloody hoolie down the river. 20 and 44 degs. 3 new rods on the ...
Week beginning 11 April 2016
Monday 11th April. It was like going back a month this morning, going back into winter. 2’3” 44 degs and cold with a north east wind blowing and grey skies, full winter clothing back on and a reluctan...
Week beginning 4 April 2016
Monday 4th April. The crappy weather continues with cold damp and even wet conditions all day today that along with a north east wind made it very unpleasant and back to full winter gear on to stay wa...
Week beginning 28 March 2016
Monday 28th March. A nice sunny day but the river was running at 3’6”and brown so nobody was going to bother fishing, mind you I know some that would fish all day. Now it was always going to be a bit...
Week beginning 21 March 2016
Monday 21st March. A brighter day than of late and backs better which is a relief. Team Godden here for 4 days and the noise level has increased 10 fold. 1’6” and 44 degs, nice and clean. We saw one f...
Week beginning 14 March 2016
Monday 14th March. It was just perfect, 1’10” 42 degs squeaky clean, calm, mild even warm by 10.30am, new rods on who were keen as mustard, thrashed the beat to a foam and we never had a touch, not a ...
Week beginning 7 March 2016
Monday 7th March. A lovely day on Tweedside with a touch of frost but blue skies all round and most importantly no wind, even Kelsae the dug was strangely wind free for a change. 2’4” and 38 degs with...
Week beginning 29 February 2016
Monday 29th February. That’s the last of February thankfully, not a month I’m keen on I have to say, 4 for the month for us which is what we caught last year. 1’10” and 36 degs and squeaky clean. ...
Week beginning 22 February 2016
Monday 22nd February. 3’2” and 40 degs clean with lovely blue skies above us. Team McLaren here today who were rather successful this time last year getting 3 Springers and they didn’t let the side do...
Week beginning 15 February 2016
Monday 15th February. Well the spinning didn’t make a jot of difference to us or to many other beats it seems, it was maybe the touch of grey colour in the water or the unsettled nature of it followin...
Week beginning 8 February 2016
Monday 8th February. Team Harper here for ten days, now that’s dedication for you in February, but they need more than dedication today as its 4’4” and rising with wind and rain forecast but it looks ...
Week beginning 1 February 2016
Monday 1st February 2016. And off we go again except it’s a false start as its 4’6” and rising so nothing worth fishing on the Lees. It’s been flood after flood all winter since the end of last season...
Week beginning 23 November 2015
Monday 23rd November. Well just when I thought it was game over for the season we get 7 for the day which is the second best day this season, after saying that it’s the first time the Temple has been ...
Week beginning 16 November 2015
Monday 16th November. Another big water day with a fair wind blowing across the river, about 7’0” and filthy, I say about 7’0” as the gauge stops at 6’6” so it’s guesswork after that. First job of the...
Week beginning 9 November 2015
Monday 9th November. A wild and windy day, Lees Gauge showing 5’3” and very dirty. 3 of the rods turned up to say hello and have a look at the river. Its a day for catching up with things today so its...
Week beginning 2 November 2015
Monday 2nd November. A very foggy start to the week and a strong team on this week who are all Lees regulars. 1’6” and 46 degs. We got everyone sorted out on tackle and did the draw and set off, it to...
Week beginning 26 October 2015
Monday 26th October. We have been visited by aliens it seems and they have nicked all our fish. I sat watching my rod fishing through the Glide and it was an hour and a half before I saw a fish and by...
Week beginning 19 October 2015
Monday 19th October. Dentist was open this morning and waiting for me so it was a scale and polish first thing which wakes you up I can tell you. Team Godden on for three days with two new members, on...
Week beginning 12 October 2015
Monday 12th October. The day started nervously as I had a dental appointment at 9.00am but when I got there it was closed as my appointment is next Monday! Anyway back to the river and it’s a new week...
Week beginning Monday 5 October 2015
Monday 5th October A different day today the sun and calm has been replaced by light rain and wind, an upstream wind at that. 4” and 48 degs. Team Harper here for the week and it was a slow start as n...
Week beginning 28 September 2015
Monday 28th September. This is going to be a long week, not because of the company but the weather, with not a drop of rain forecast and the super dooper huge red moon giving us the biggest tides this...
Week beginning 21 September 2015
Monday 21st September. Now then I’m writing this on Tuesday night as I forgot last night and I’ve forgotten what happened yesterday! Just had a look and we had two fish but I can’t remember where we c...
Week beginning 14 September 2015
Monday 14th September. A dreich sort of day but at least the south east wind has stopped, 1’0” so up 4” from Saturday and 52 degrees. New team on as they’re all keen to be at them. Edward was on the ...
Week beginning 7 September 2015
Monday 7th September. A glorious autumn day on Tweedside, with not a puff of wind and clear blue skies contrary to what the weatherman said it would be. BBC weather said it would be a cloudy day with ...
Week beginning 31 August 2015
Monday 31st August. First of all I must correct a mistake in last week’s report, I reported 48 fish for the month when it’s actually 46, I’m sure some of you sharp eyed readers would have noticed this...
Week beginning 24 August 2015
Monday 24th August. Still very beery this morning, 1’11” and 60 degs so we stuck on the X Raps, yes we do spin when conditions are like this. The Macintosh brothers were at the top end and managed a ...
Week beginning 17 August 2015
Monday 17th August A lovely sunny day on Tweedside which did nothing to help the catches, this however didn’t deter Mike Firth and Neil Wilson who both scored on the Lees, Mike with a 6lber from Duddo...
Week beginning 10 August 2015
Monday 10th August I’m back! Did you miss me? Slightly less than toothache I hear you shout. Civic week over, sweating 100% alcohol today as it was a tad humid and bloody windy, so not a great first ...
Week beginning 27 July 2015
Monday 27th July It was the kind of morning where staying in bed would be the preferred option with north winds and rain hardly weather for the end of July. Francis Sandison and Vicky Jager fishing to...
Week beginning 20 July 2015
Monday 20th July 2’0” and 56 degs carrying a very dark beer colour, John Okell and Graham Nicol here for two days, neither have brought spinning rods with them and prefer to fish the fly anyway but wi...
Week beginning 13 July 2015
Monday 13th July Unlucky for some they say but not for Mark Redhead as he landed a 11lb liced cock from the Cauld this morning on his first ever trip to the Lees, he took the fish on a #8 sort of “wil...
Week beginning 7 July 2015
Monday 7th July I’m writing this on Tuesday night as I deleted the original which is bloody annoying and I can’t find it in the recycle bin which is more annoying. Anyway 1’2” and 61 degs with a fair ...
Week beginning 29 June 2015
Monday 29th June Paul and Linda Grewcock here for a couple of days all the way from deepest Norfolk, fed up of wading through sugar beet all day they have turned their hand to chasing salmon on the T...
Week beginning 22 June 2015
Monday 22nd June Well the nights are fair drawing in now, actually the nights are fine it’s the weather, it’s cold dull and been raining half of the day but not enough rain to help the river heights. ...
Week beginning 15 June 2015
Monday 15th June A better day for fishing weather wise as it was overcast and not as warm, we had 5/6 follows/bow waves in the Slap but no pulls, Terry then waddled into the Cauld boat and we gave it ...
Week beginning 8 June 2015
Monday 8th June A much better day than all weekend and I feel a lot better as well, 1’4” and 56 degs more or less clean. Mick Atkinson was first at the Slap for the Monday morning fish but failed, he ...
Week beginning 1 June 2015
Monday 1st June It’s more like mid October than 1st June with very strong winds and showers even worse in the west I hear so I’ll have to check the gauges later on. 1’5” and 50 degs this morning slig...
Week beginning 25 May 2015
Monday 25th May Another week upon us and good conditions but no fish, 1’4” and 54 degs clean. Phil Fisher and pals here for three days and they set about the job with a spring in their step, we saw fi...
Week beginning 18 May 2015
Monday 18th May The other two German international team members turned up today and immediately got stuck into the fishing, Martin Tewes drew the Slap and Cauld so the others congratulated him through...
Week beginning 11 May 2015
Monday 11th May. 2’6” and rising along with a near gale blowing down the Temple didn’t make for easy fishing. Edward Evans and pals here for three days so they got stuck into it. The only action was...
Week beginning 4 May 2015
Monday 4th May 3’2” and 46 degs but broon! James Hepple and mates here for three days so not the best start, the lads stayed for the day chucking Toby spoons off the bank and a brown trout was the res...
Week beginning 27 April 2015
Monday 27th April Team Harper were here yesterday afternoon for the April whisky drinking competition, it’s a good job they have a designated driver, much colder than last week and hail/snow about wi...
Week beginning 20 April 2015
Monday 20th April A lovely sunny day with a light north wind, 1’4” and 48 degs. Dr Pearce Jnr here along with Nick Revill and team, so if there is a medical emergency we’re ok. We saw fish in the B...
Week beginning 13 April 2015
Monday 13th April We’ve got the Northern Ireland international team with us for the next three days along with tour guide Martin Ritchie from Tay salmon flies so we can’t fail. The river was up about...
Week beginning 6 April 2015
Monday 6th April What a difference a week makes this time last week bloody cold, rain and blowing a hoolie, today its blue skies and hot! 1’10” and 48 degs. Whilst the rest of the population are off r...
Week beginning 30 March 2015
Monday 30th March Well it looks like March is going to go out like a lion as well has having came in like one, it was another very windy day on the Lees making casting the fly a difficult and sometime...
Week beginning 23 March 2015
Monday 23rd March After all that excitement on Saturday catching two fish on the same day we knew it couldn’t last and by lunchtime today we we’re on a blank, now at 1’8” on a Monday morning and we do...
Week beginning 16 March 2015
Monday 16th March Well some fish did come charging inbut unfortunately went charging straight past us to the Kelso area again, it has been the best days catch on the river this year with both Junction...
Week beginning 9 March 2015
Monday 9th March Here we go again another week and it’s blowing a bloody gale yet again, my shoulders are still sore from last week’s fun and games with the weather. 2’10” and 41 degs this morning alo...
Week beginning 2 March 2015
Monday March 2nd As I said last week that’s February out of the way and I’m always glad to see the back of it. March has started off with a bit of a flood 3’6” this morning and dirty with a raw wind t...
Week beginning 23 February 2015
Monday 23rd February Well the wind certainly caught up with us today, it blew a hoolie all day from the south west turning to the south, but Rory McLaren is not the sort of rod where a wee breeze woul...
Week beginning 16 February 2015
Monday 16th February 1’7” and 40 degs a calm sunny start and fish showing in the Cauldstream, Quentin McLaren was in there like a rat up a drainpipe but despite his and Pauls best efforts they never ...
Week beginning 9 February 2015
Monday 9th February A cracking day weather wise, it was actually warm, it fact too warm when you have neoprene waders on but I’m not complaining. Team Harper were slow to get going apart from Graham w...
Week beginning 2 February 2015
Monday 2nd February Here we go again, 2’1” and 34 degs squeaky clean and a sunny very cold day. The lads were keen as mustard and were soon thrashing their way round the beat, but it wasn’t long befo...
Season Review 2014
February Following the mildest warmest winter on record it was always going to be a struggle with the water height on the Lees hovering around the 3’10” for the whole month. The first fish came on ...
Week beginning 24 November 2014
Monday 24th November A nice sunny start to the week and the Jeep is away in for a service so more expense. 2’4” and 42 degs nice clean water though. Only 3 rods today as one is stuck in Norway and the...
Week beginning 17 November 2014
Monday 17th November Another damp start with some very heavy showers, we got caught out a bit this morning as the gauges showed the river steady but it was rising at the Lees by lunchtime they showed...
Week beginning 10 November 2014
Monday 10th November. A foggy start, in fact so foggy I thought we might have to have foghorns fitted to the boats as we don’t want an international incident with the other side. 2’8” and 42 degs but...
Week beginning 3 November 2014
Monday 3rd November 2’10” on the gauge and 46 degs and a far bit of a beery colour to it, all the rods fishing at the top end in the Temple and Cauld. 1.00pm and its lunchtime but there’s nothing to r...
Week beginning 27 October 2014
Monday 27th October Salmon are just like buses! They have to be, we have caught 3 Salmon in the Glide in the last 2 months and today we get 4, now just why are they there today or more importantly why...
Week beginning 20 October 2014
Monday 20th October What a long day that was 3’10” and dirty, Gene and Nigel headed for home straight away knowing what the forecast is for tomorrow with hurricane Gonzalo bearing down on us. The oth...
Week beginning 13 October 2014
Monday 13th October Well I’m disappointed, only 13 for the day, now I can hear some of you saying “only 13” what a greedy bugger! The first day of decent water after a flood, a Monday as well, perfec...
Week beginning 6 October 2014
Monday 6th October Team Harper here, I missed the whisky drinking competition in the hut yesterday as I was at Kelso races, great day as I had 5 winners. 2’6” and 48 degs blowing a hoolie, I only saw...
Week beginning 29 September 2014
Monday 29th September A new team in and they are all keen to get at the fish, pity the fish are not too keen to join in the fun. That said Francis Sidoli had two from the ledges in double quick time ...
Week beginning 22 September 2014
Monday 22nd September A bright calm warm start to the week and team Germany is here still celebrating their world cup win, these lads have fished the beat in May for years and I was hoping that thei...
Week beginning 15 September 2014
Monday 15th September A wet start and in fact it stayed wet for most of the day, not wet enough to put any water into the river though. The same old fish were splashing in the same old places but toda...
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 ...
Week beginning 1 September 2014
Monday 1st September A nice day on the river 1’5” and 58 degs with a wee tinge of colour, there were a few fish showing in the top half of the beat whilst the bottom half was much quieter although Nig...
Week beginning 25 August 2014
Monday 25th August As I write this I’m not sure about today’s catches as all the Ghillies had the day off which was very nice. I met Perry at lunchtime and he told me he had two about 12lbs both from...
Week beginning 18 August 2014
Monday 18th August 1’4” and 56 degs clean, a better day on the river still not that many fish showing round the beat but we managed 7 the best being a nice 13lber from the back of the wall, all on th...
Week beginning 11 August 2014
Monday 11th August Normal life resumes after last week but I still need to sleep, great week and that’s the common riding season over I’m getting too old for it. Anyway 1’4” this morning and 56 degs w...
Week beginning 28 July 2014
Monday 28th July Another hot Monday, no rods today as Tony elected not to come which was a wise move. 66 degs and about 7” on the gauge. Stuart arrived this morning to have a walk round the beat as h...
Week beginning 21 July 2014
Monday 21st July Following all the weather warnings over the last few days the Lees gauge this morning is showing 11” so hardly a flood situation, James Long with us for a couple of days, he couldn’...
Week beginning 14 July 2014
Monday 14th July After a hectic weekend it’s back to the fishing and team Tunmore are here, Chris (Norfolk’s finest rat catcher) has fished the Lees as long as I’ve been there and is still us...
Week beginning 7 July 2014
Monday 7th July Team Harper here for three days (well two of them) and despite their best efforts we blanked again, we did see a Seatrout in the Slap and maybe a Salmon but couldn’t move them, b...
Week beginning 30 June 2014
Monday 30th June The last day of June and we had a fish to help with the figures, that puts us on 26 for the 5 months, what a thought 4 rods for 6 days a week and only 26 fish! We can do that in one...
Week beginning 23 June 2014
Monday 23rd June Well the nights are fair drawing in! Monday morning a new team on and a fish from the Slap first thing for Phil on a wee sinktip and a #10 treble, it was a lovely fresh 5lb Grilse I s...
Week beginning 16 June 2014
Monday 16th June Following yesterday’s whisky drinking competition the lads were in good spirits and soon had their rods up, as we only fish two rods in the summer Richard and Graham had taken fishin...
Week beginning 9 June 2014
Monday 9th June Sobered up after the weekends activities and looking at a brown river, 2’3” or something like that I can’t remember, anyway gave it a miss this morning and went up to Kelso to get new...
Week beginning 2 June 2014
Monday 2nd June A new month and a fish in the book! 10lbs Cornhill bend liced, perfect! 1’3” and still a tad beery, Neil Wilson and John Leatham on duty, a boil in the Slap and a couple more rises typ...
Week beginning 26 May 2014
Monday 26th May 2’2” 55 degs and very brown water so I didn’t hold out much hope in fact I wouldn’t of fished but the lads have nothing else to do so they gave it a bit of a go just to fill in time r...
Week beginning 19 May 2014
Monday 19th May A lovely calm start and warm maybe too warm, 1’4” and 59 degs. Team Germany reported for duty and were soon on the water, Peter drew the Slap and the Cauld and had a fish up at the fl...
Week beginning 12 May 2014
Monday 12th May. 1’11” 52 degs and a very dark beery colour. Team Evans here and ready for action, the first of which was a Brown trout on a Sunray from the Slap and that was it for the day! I ...
Week beginning 5 May 2014
Monday 5th MayOvercast start 1’5” and 50 degs the air was thick with the smell of honey from the oilseed rape fields which are in full bloom team Collinson are here for three days but Paul Collinson i...
Week beginning 28 April 2014
Monday 28th April A nice calm start but a bit dull and damp, 1’6” and 50 degs, water has a bit of a tea stain to it. Team Harper reported for duty and we soon got the lines and flies sorted out, Gr...
Week beginning 21 April 2014
Monday 21st April Another weekand much the same as we left last week, sunshine and an east wind, 1’5” on the Lees gauge and 50 degs. There were fish showing in the Slap again one older one which sho...
Week beginning 14 April 2014
Monday 14th April A lovely spring morning, still a nip in the air when you’re out the sun and in the wind though 1’10” and 46 degs and squeaky clean, perfect for the Lees but we failed again it’s bec...
Week beginning 7 April 2014
Monday 7th April 3’4” 46 degs and very dirty just like milky coffee so not much good today, also it’s been raining off and on all day so not looking good for tomorrow either, at least the wind is sti...
Week beginning 31st March 2014
Monday 31st March Perfect height and the temp’s fine, nice and clean but we just can’t hold the fish on the lees at the moment although I did get quite excited as I saw several fish in the Slap this...
Week beginning 24 March 2014
Monday 24th March A lovely calm frosty start to the day, in fact the hardest frost we have had this winter and we have only had about 5 or 6 at that. Water nice and clean, 2’4” and 42 degs. Team Godde...
Week beginning 17 March 2014
Monday 17th 1’11” and 46 degs nice clean water. Team Battersby reported for duty and after a bit of confusion sorting out fly lines and reels we got them onto the water. John had a hold of two ...
Week beginning 10 March 2014
Monday 10th March A lovely sunny start to the week, bit frosty first thing but soon warming up and no wind either ( which is a surprise after the weekends curry) 2’9” 44degs and clean, it is rising a...
Week beginning 3 March 2014
Monday 3rd March A lovely sunny day and warm for the time of year so all was well in the world apart from the river which was at 4’3” this morning at the Lees and carrying a lot of colour. Two rods h...
Week beginning 24 February 2014
Monday 24th Not a lot going on, 7’0” and rising filthy brown but at least it was sunny. Still not caught the Mole, he’s got more lives than the proverbial cat, seals gone, no rods turned up can’t b...
Week beginning 17 February 2014
February 17th 3’8” and just a tinge of colour but clean enough for a Monday. Terry Harper has finally fallen by the wayside after eating 1000’s of Oysters they caught up with him on Saturday nig...
Week beginning 10 February 2014
Monday 10th February A nice sunny start but the river at 3’11” on the Lees gauge and a bit coloured so team Harper decided not to fish which pleased the Ghillies no end as the strain on the en...
Week beginning 3 February 2014
Monday 3rd February 4’6” and 40 degs with a fair bit of colour and a healthy wind from the south east, no fishing today as it’s too big. Tuesday 4th A nice sunny start and calm for a change, the rods ...
Saturday 1 February 2014
Well here we go again, another season upon us. Christmas and Hogmanay a distant memory and several Burns nights attended which also meant several hangovers. Put the boats on yesterday and fell in the...
Week beginning 25 November 2013
Monday 25th November A cold frosty start but nice and sunny, water temp down to 36 degs and 1’6” on the Lees gauge. John Macleod opened the scoring with an 8lb liced hen from the Cauld and it was ni...
Week beginning 18 November 2013
Monday 18th November 1’5” and 42 degs squeaky clean, the Baker party turned up or duty (no they don’t make bread) 3 fish was all we could manage which is a bit disappointing after last week but that’s...
Week beginning 11 November 2013
Monday 11th November Alovely autumn morning 1’9” on the gauge and 40degs just the sort of day we like on the Lees. The team pitched up 9.00am did the draw sorted out lines flies, usual chaos ensued. I...
Week beginning 4 November 2013
Monday 4th November. Nice calm start, touch of frost. 2’9” and 40 degs a bit bigger than I would of liked but that’s what it is. Got the draw done and everyone sorted out. 3 fish for the morning but ...
Week beginning 28 October 2013
Monday 28th Flooded off today 4’2” and dirty. Tuesday 29th 2’10” 46 degs and much cleaner ended the day with 5 4 of which were fresh/clean biggest 15lb. It was a tad on the windy side and I have to sa...
Week beginning 21 October 2013
Monday 21st October A calm mild start to the day but the river was rising and already murky before we got going, I took Paul Robinson (Northampton’s finest stone mason) up to the Ledges and quicker ...
Week beginning 14 October 2013
Monday 14th My morning started slowly after yesterdays trip to Dumfries to visit places of interest concerning Robbie Burns, mostly the Globe Inn where much whisky sooking was done, anywayteam Scully...
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 Br...
Week beginning 30 September 2013
Monday 30th September. A south east wind blowing 10” and 50 degs squeaky clean water so let’s get at them, we had the draw and nobody was sure if they’d had a good draw or bad as with these condit...
Week beginning 23 September 2013
Monday 23rd Team Williamson reported for duty and after a scuffle with the car parking attendant we did the draw and got everyone sorted. I sort of knew what kind of day it was going to be with the ...
Week beginning 16 September 2013
Monday 16th September. A bit of a gale blowing this morning and the river up to 2’0” on the Lees gauge, still clean at 9.30 but the colour was on it’s way, Patrick had a wee 5lber from the ledges firs...
Week beginning 9 September 2013
Monday 9th September Well the water over the weekend made a bit of a difference with 23 landed for the day all on the fly and the best being 15lbs, there was a few fresh one in the bag but mostly the ...
Week beginning 2 September 2013
Monday 2nd September. A warm sunny start with a stiff north westerly blowing down the river with the gauge sitting at 4” or there abouts as it’s off the gauge it was going to be a struggle, anyway Gen...
Week beginning 26 August 2013
Monday 26th Misty start but the sun was never far away, 10” and 62 degs still clean with no blanket weed floating about yet. Nick had a couple of bow waves and boils in the Slap first few casts, the...
Week beginning 18 August 2013
Monday 19th Team Taylor reported for duty this morning and young Will 13 years was soon into his first ever Salmon on the fly which he promptly lost, but honour was soon restored as he had an 11lbe...
Week beginning 11 August 2013
Monday 12th August. Back to normal life but what a week that was, 458 horses rode through the town and out to Flodden on Thursday, the whole area was in gridlocked for ages, and my laddie was at the ...
Week beginning 29 July 2013
Monday 29th River at 2’0” this morning which made it look huge compared to the last few weeks, it was a bit murky and when we had a go in the Cauld from the boat it was weed every cast, The lads did g...
Week beginning 28 July 2013
Monday 22nd July A hot humid day, James long had decided not to fish, I gave the Slap a couple of casts and had the Monday morning bow wave but no pull, water temp this morning was 66 degs and still c...
Week beginning 21 July 2013
Monday 15th July Another hot sunny dayand the river at 3” roughly as it’s off the gauge and 66 degs this morning. Chris Tunmore and Andrew reported for duty, Chris has been lucky the last few years wi...
Week beginning 8 July 2013
Monday 8th July You beauty it’s a scorcher! Misty start with water at 66 degs, a rise at a wee silver stoat first cast at the Slap then nothing, gave the Cauld a go but it’s just a load of streams goi...
Week beginning 1st July 2013
Monday 1st July Well that’s June out of the way, it’s a pity that February and March didn’t pass as quickly, I was saying last week that we had no Seatrout but one was caught on Saturday night in the ...
Week beginning 24 June 2013
Monday 24th Overcast start to the daybut the river up to 1’3” and 58 degs, nothing doing in Slap first thing but Harry Stollard got a 12lb river fish from the Cauld on fly, he also got 1@13lb from the...
Week beginning 17 June 2013
Monday 17th June. Team Harper turned up Sunday afternoonwhen I was feeding my hensand the usual Whisky drinking competition ensued in the hut, it ended up in a draw. Anyway Monday morning, warm, calm ...
Week beginning 10 June 2013
Monday 10th June Overcast start to the day and nice and mild just a slight easterly breeze, Tom first up on the Slap which was bouncing with fish, lost one and another two pulls then into the Cauld wh...
Week beginning 3 June
Monday 3rd June Another cracking day weather wise, warm calm sunny. 1’2” on the Lees gauge and 57 degs at 8.30am I just love it! Not so good for the fishing but in usual summer fashion we had a nice f...
Week beginning 27 May 2103
Monday 27th Just when we thought summer was on the way having had two lovely days on Saturday and Sunday we are back to crap weather today, with a very strong south/south east blowing all day. 1’5” 54...
Week beginning 20 May 2013
Monday 20th 2’3” and 52 degrees a bit on the beery side but looking ok. Gave the Temple a go as it had enough flow but nothing was interested, mind you we didn’t see anything either. Into the Cauld wi...
Week beginning 13 May 2013
Monday 13th Well there’s no need for me to attend the gym tonight as I had enough exercise today to last me a month, blowing a hoolie all day with rain, hail showers every half hour. We had a 3lb Seat...
Week beginning 6 May 2013
Monday 6th May Went up to the bakers this morning to get my bun for lunch and it’s shut, what’s going on? A bank holiday! It’s my lunch I want not an overdraft, I thought bank holidays were Christmas ...
Week beginning 29 April 2013
Monday 29th Never mind the fishing, I got my onion plants delivered from Yorkshire yesterday so they are now in the raised beds and I’ve followed instructions to the letter, they came from John Clancy...
Week beginning 22 April 2013
Monday 22nd What a great start to the week 6 fish by lunchtime and a couple lost, but that was a far as our luck went; as by 2.00pm it was blowing a full gale with a big wave blowing down the Temple w...
Week beginning 15 April 2013
Monday 15th-- 4’1” and looks like milky coffee also blowing a gale, water temp has jumped to 48 degs so that should shift a few fish upstream along with the flood, more rain forecast tonight and Wedne...
Week beginning 8 April 2013
Monday 8th Back to east winds and even worse there’s a touch of south in it, so it’s blowing right up the Temple and Cauld, 1’9” 39 degs and clean. It’s just as well that there was a lot of snow as n...
Week beginning 1 April 2013
Monday1st A day off for the Ghillies which was lovely got lots done, although the garden is still way behind with this prolonged cold spell, and driving down to the fishing hut this afternoon I reali...
Week beginning 25 March 2013
Monday 25th Another bitter cold day with wind chill and snow flurries, 1’9” 34 degs and squeaky clean. Gene, Paul and Nigel the rods for the next four days were reluctant to leave the warmth of the ...
Week beginning 18 March 2013
Monday 18th Snow bitter east wind and a rising river was our Monday morning, had fish on in the first hour in the tail of the Cauld but after that it was a lost cause with the river starting to colou...
Week beginning 11 March 2013
Monday 11th March. Looked out of the bedroom window and thought I’d rather go back to bed than be out on the river but duty calls. The ground was white over with a vicious wind blowing from the north...
Week beginning 4 March
Monday 4th another calm startapart from the swearingfrom myself as I caught my thumb in a Mole trap I was setting, anyway 1’5” 42 degs and squeaky clean fish showing in the Cauldstream or were they ge...
Week beginning 25 February 2013
Monday 25thA nice frosty sunny startwhich made a change from yesterdaywith a snowy damp Sunday which is always the way when you only get one day a week to get things done, anyway 1’8” and 38 degs sque...
Week beginning 18 February 2013
Monday 18th A lovely day for February sunny with a touch of frost, we covered the whole beat and had 10 Kelts for our efforts all on spinner though we did give the fly a go. Didn’t see a Springer but ...
Week beginning 11 February 2013
Monday 11th 2’5” 38 degs and clean with a bad south/south east wind which is the worst direction we get at the Lees, blowing upstream it makes casting very difficult, we had one Kelt but that wasn’t...
Week beginning 4 February 2013
New Season We didn’t fish on the first or second of the month as it was just too big and coloured at the Lees. Monday 4th Gale force winds and snow, rain bitter cold. Fished all day and managed a K...
End of season round up
Seeing as some of you have been asking here’s a roundup of the 2012 season Spring- Well what I can say about the spring, I’m not really a lover of early spring cold, flooded, blowing a gale, load...
Week beginning 26th November
Monday- started much the same as Saturday past had finished with a big dirty river so no fishing, two of the rods had decided not to travel and two had, so Monday was spent trolling round the ta...
Week beginning 19th November
Monday- Blowing a bit of a gale water 2’2” and 44 degs but clean, fished all day but only saw one clean fish, river started to rise with us by lunchtime and the fish stopped showing, not that th...
Week beginning 12th November
Monday- 2’0” and 38 degrees squeaky clean and overcast its perfect but after flogging away all day we only had 2 to show for our efforts and a couple lost they just didn’t seem to be there, may...
Week beginning 5th November
Monday- started with a heavy frost but soon gave way to a lovely Autumn day with the river at 2’2” on the Lees gauge and water temp at 38 degs and squeaky clean, the trees along the temple bank in...
Week beginning 29th October
Monday- Nice day slight wind, on the river not me. 2’2” 42 degs and squeaky clean but only 5 landed and didn’t see all that many expected more given the conditions. Tuesday 2’0” and loo...
Week beginning 22nd October
Monday- very foggy start, could hardly see other bank, plenty fish showing and a nice clean river 2’10” which is a tad on the big side but should of produced more fish, 11 for the day was good, bu...
Week beginning 15th October
Monday started with a frost and clear blue skies but the river was still suffering from the flood the week before and was on the murky side, the catches reflected this not only on the Lees but on th...
Week beginning 8th October
Almost there, Back of the Wall Monday morning. Usual chaos in the hut, where am I going? what line? water temp? Height? Is it clear? How many last week? Where’s my bloody waders, Have you an...
Week beginning 1st October
Neil Andrews about to return a nice hen in Cauldstream 3’6” on the gauge fair bit of colour 3 landed and a couple of other pulls, should be a lot bett...
Week beginning 24th September
Monday was the sort of day that you wouldn’t put a wheelie bin out with rain and gales all day, but Lees fishers are a hardy bunch and the lads struggled on all day and managed 9 fish, the...
Week beginning 17th September
Looking upstream from Cauld into Temple Saturday 22nd September Aye life goes on, we find the Otter dead outside our hut on Friday morning (very sad) but this morning I’m no sooner into Cau...
Week beginning 10th September
A busy week with two new teams coming to the Lees for the first time in autumn we always hope new rods get amongst the fish. Ian Jardine’s team had the first three days and on the Monday we struggled...
Week beginning 3rd September
Monday morning a fresh team in and 2’0” on the gauge 56 degs with a slight tinge to the water but looking good. Fish of the day was a 24lber from the Glide to Nigel crosskell who was rather pleased wi...
Week beginning 27th August
Monday 1’9” 58 degs Water clean which is a good height for the Lees , in the morning we had a visit from a seal. We also had a very strong south wind which hindered the casting/rowing and ended the da...
our twitter feed