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 new but more of unpolished silver, all on floaters with various sinktips, best fish 14lbs from the Cauld. We saw just enough fish to keep it interesting round the beat. I’m writing this on Tuesday night so have forgotten what all happened yesterday, it’s an age thing I presume.
Tuesday 10th September. Up 6 inches to 1’11” and 56 degrees. This is just the sort of rise that can put them off and today it did, Stephen lost a fish in the back of the wall this morning and that was the only action this morning. This afternoon Matt Randall who’d just arrived jumped in to the Cauld boat and promptly had a 5lber on the end and landed in no time, we didn’t see a fish in the Cauld so we moved to the Slap and Temple where we saw the odd fish but no pulls. Edward Evans was lucky as well getting a 6lb grilse from Learmouth stream, two fish for the day is not great but I had my doubts that we’d get any so no complaints. For my gardening followers I’ve been lifting my spuds for the show on Saturday coming, I need 4 round white, 4 round coloured, 4 kidney white and 4 kidney coloured, setting up my onions tomorrow night which I think could be show winners. (I hope).
Wednesday 11th September. My old friend the wind was back today but manageable. 1’6” and 56 degrees with a bit more of a tinge to it. Stephen and I fished the Cauld, Slap and Temple, we had a boil at the Sunray in the Lower Cauld, saw a fish in the upper part of the temple and that was it for us. Paul and Clive had more luck down at Learmouth getting two fish 1@10lbs and 1@14lbs. Edward didn’t see a fish and that was the picture for the day very few to be see. Andrew braved the wind this evening and had a grilse and a seatrout from the Ledges area this evening. There is a wee rise coming down tonight, not going to be big but enough to spoil things. I didn’t get my onions done as I’ve spent the night moving things from one phone to another, well I didn’t I had to get local expert to do it.
Thursday 12th September. A warmer day but with light steady rain until 5.00pm 1’11” and 56 degrees, Paul Colinson and team here for three days. There were very few fish showing today maybe due to the wee rise that put their heads down or maybe there was none there. Paul had a big boil at his sunray in the Slap whilst Philip managed to get one to grab his fly down at the gate in Learmouth. Catches on the river as a whole were low but encouragingly there were fish caught downstream of us so there might be more about the Lees tomorrow.
Friday 13th September. A Friday 13th is supposed to be unlucky for those who are of a superstitious nature but superstitious or not we didn’t land any fish today, Philip Beal did lose one at the Iron Gate but that was the only action. Fish sightings were scarce also, I only saw the one fish all day and catches on the websites were also on the low side. On the bright side Lower Birgham had a fish with long tailed lice on it. 1’11” and 52 degrees with a beery colour to it.
Saturday 14th September. Up at daybreak to get produce ready for the show and it paid off as I won. Back to the river, it was quiet on the Lees this morning and in fact I saw more otters than salmon, this didn’t worry Chris major or Craig Scorer as they both had a fish this morning one from the Iron Gate and one from the Glide both were coloured. This afternoon Chris was in to them again getting a fresh 12lb hen from the Iron Gate, that is the first fresh fish we’ve had for a while and it would be good if it were a sign of things to come. The wind really picked up this afternoon that and the fact Chris and Craig both had wet legs due to leaky waders it was time for home.
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