26 August 2018 News/Editorial
Another “better” week produced 235 salmon and 44 sea trout for Tweed rods, making cumulative totals for the season to 25th August 2018 of 1,920 salmon and 398 sea trout (within 90% accuracy).
That things are markedly different already, to last year, is evident.
With 5 fishing days to go, this August looks like being the first month of 2018 with a higher catch than 2017; not only that, there are many more grilse and salmon... and generally more fresh fish coming off the tide in late August than there were at the same time in 2017.
“Is it going to continue, with fresh salmon and grilse coming in right into the autumn, as they did pre 2014?” I hear you cry.
Now you’re asking.
They said it would rain all day today, Sunday, instead of which there has been the odd “spit”, but little more than that. And with nothing remotely wet enough in the forecast for next week, we are, it seems, doomed to another comparatively benign week with consequent dropping water levels.
Unlike 1976 when the drought broke this August bank holiday weekend, and it never stopped raining for the following 8 weeks, the 2018 forecast for the next 5 weeks is for more of the same, with high pressures building north over Europe and pushing any serious low pressure systems up towards Iceland and away from the UK.
The last time we had a proper 6ft flood here on the Tweed was at the beginning of April, well over 4 months ago. Another is long overdue, and crucial for good early autumn fishing, but not going to happen any time soon, it seems.
If the weather forecasters are to be believed.
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With apologies if the above is a little routine and dull, I have not been myself this last week following a most charming and impossibly skilful surgeon wielding a knife to remove part of what was me...the purpose being that I might, thereby, inhabit this earth for a little longer than might otherwise have been the case.
It will be a month before I am allowed to fish, play golf, or even do some gardening….but perfect timing to sit quietly at my desk and complete the annual Tax Returns chore before the deadline.
So after you reading the above about the fishing and lack of water, and me not feeling quite in mid season form, both of us need, and deserve, a little cheering up.
It is an essential part of what follows, for even a modicum of success, the slightest titter of a laugh, that you do not skip to the end...or at least not until you get there in your own good time.
After all, in my current condition there is no rush for me, so why should there be for you?
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“Mummy, mummy are you REALLY sure I am polar bear and not a brown bear?”
“Yes, my boy, I am quite sure you are a polar bear and not a brown bear”
“Mummy, mummy are you REALLY REALLY sure I am a polar bear and not a black bear?”
“Yes, my boy, I am quite sure you are a polar bear and not a black bear”
“But mummy, mummy, are you REALLY REALLY REALLY sure I am a polar bear and not a grisly bear?”
“Yes, my boy, I am REALLY REALLY REALLY sure you are a polar bear and not a brown bear, a black bear or a grisly bear.....why do you ask?”
“Because I’m fucking cold”
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