Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2011 7:37:49 GMT
Fished Upper Floors on 14 and 15 February with underghillie, salmostalker and my friend Larry. The aim was to try to catch a spring fish or several.
Larry and me arrived at the Roxburghe Hotel about 7pm on Sunday evening. underghillie and salmostalker were coming down first thing on Manday and we would meet them at the Hut. They missed a really good breakfast which set us up for the day!
The conditions were less than ideal. River was about 3ft on the guage with threats of further rain. However, after a chat with Colin, the Head Ghillies, hope was not totally extinguished as he thought we would be able to get a few casts in during the day.
One weird thing was that it felt like a summer's night that evening. More like August than February. Incidentally, every time I have fished the Tweed in Early to mid-February, it has been unseasonably warm at some point during the day or trip; even to the extent of flies hatching!
underghillie and salmostalker had already arrived by the time we reached the Hut on Monday morning. The ghillies arrived and we tackled up. It was great to catch up with Colin and Ritchie again and I really was looking forward to fishing with them again. Only Larry was using a floater with a fast sink tip, the rest of us were using Intermediates or faster sinking lines. We all were using large copper tubes though as the flow of the water was really strong and the fish would tend to be at the side of the main stream.
The Hut at Upper Floors
From the left, underghillie (stopping excessive camera flash!), salmostalker, myself and Larry
It was six of one and half a dozen of the other as to who fished where. So underghilleand salmostalker went to the Top end while me at Larry fished the Bottom end for the morning.
I started fishing the run down from the Slap while Larry fished the bottom end corner.
After a few casts with my 16 ft Merlin, I was getting warmed up, so much so, that the Wading Jacket and jesrsey came off and I fished in my shirt sleeves until Lunchtime.
The run I was fishing was quite deep at the edge - you could not get in the water which is a pain for Spey Casting but not impossible. Thank god, I had at least had a wee warm up out at the DTX Demo on Sunday otherwise it would have been a waste of prime fishing time.
I was fishing a Temple Shrimp (courtesy of forum member, tynetone in a recent Forum Fly Swap). It looked to be just right for the prevailing conditions of high water with a bit of colour. A really nice looking fly.
By the time had reached the corner without even a hint of a touch, it was time to try something different so on went the Black and Chartreuse job. Ritchie popped along to see how I was doing. He's not a bad caster at all is Ritchie and easily fired out the whole of my Mach 2 intermediate about 40 yards on his first cast with the rod! Ach well, it is something for me to aspire to this season.
Larry went across the river in the Boat while I fished down the corner. Again, the prefect weather did not result in anything concrete, despite several Kelts starting to show late morning.
Back to the Hut for Lunch, we all met up again. underghillie and salmonstalker had managed three apiece. All kelts, rawners and baggots. Nothing fresh. I had managed to forget my flask so no Pot Noodle for me. Maybe that was a mixed blessing
The weather turned during lunch and it became a few degrees cooller - not usually a great sign. We all swapped over from top to bottom etc and Larry and I went to the Top end where I was dropped of at the Pumping Station to fish The Weetles. It is a great bit of water - very fishy - but, being a real townie (ie soft these days), I have to confess I did find it a hard wade given the flow of water and the lumpiness of the bottom. Felt as if my ankles being given a right good going over by a sadistic physiotherapist.
The Weetles
After fishing as well as I could, I clamboured out about 150 yards down, tired but knowing I had really tried to cover the water as well as I could.
I rested out of the wind at the Pumping Station and called Colin. Larry had managed a Kelt. I was chuffed for him.
We swapped over and it was my turn in the Boat. Not a flipping touch despite the kelts all poking their heads up with a few yards of the boat. They were having a laugh all right.
I was even doing Double Speys with my left hand up due to the strong downstream wind. it tooka while for me to figure out why my Single Spey was collapsing! But the Double Spey solution did the business.
Larry was soon ito his second Kelt and we landed to help him unhook and relaease it.
When we gathered at the Hut, we found underghillie and Steve had had a few more Kelts but nothing fresh as yet.
Back to the Hotel for a freshen up (certain parties - who will remain nameless took longer than others to get to the Hotel and found it necessary to go "shopping" at the Queen's Head) and then back to Kelso for our meal at the Cross Keys which was good value and just what the doctor ordered on a Monday night in Kelso.
On to the Queen's Head again for a wee bit chat etc with poshtoshman, Lee from Carham and James and Tim who were fishing Hendersyde. In no time at all, it back to the Hotel courtesy of a lift from Lee, the Ghiillie at Carham and a good night's kip. The fresh air must have been getting to me as I only woke once (and, no, it wasn't the Chainsaw-like snoring of Larry! What a noise. He's going wear out his nose one day)
After the usual excellent breakfast at the Hotel, we checked out and got ready for Day 2.
Water was down 6" but still a bit high. Sacre Bleu, we could spin. And on such good fly water. In reality, it is just as appropriate a method as fly at this time of year and in the prevailing conditions.
I fished The Slates with my vintage 18g Gold Toby while Larry persevered with fly.
Despit fishing really hard and covering every bit of the water, I only managed one Kelt
Ritchie releasing my Kelt
It was really bizarre as you would have thought the fish would have been really going for a Toby in such water and conditions. None the less, I was pretty chuffed with myself as I had not fished with a spinning rod in Spring for nearly 30 years. I was also delighted to keep up my record of christening my new rod with a fish - something I have maintained every since I started fishing for Salmon in the Spring. The new UglyStik Lite 2.7m I was fishing with is an ideal rod with a fixed spool and 18lb Maxima. It fishes very effectively and I really prefer the shorter handle on it for ease of use.
Lunchtime and we find out that underghillie has managed a Springer! Fantastic.He is first into the new 2011 book for the Beat. Great achievement and the ghillies are equally pleased that he has managed it. He and salmostalker had a few other Kelts etc as well during the morning.
We swap over again and we fish the bottom end. Colin has me sussed out and tells me to persevere with my spinng rod! ( iam not in the same league casting wise as the other three. And certainly not in underghillie's who, I was reliable informed, was casting 10 yards further than the rest of us. He seems to be quite good at the old casting lark, apparently.
Meantime, I am boated twice down a nice run on the south bank. first with the Spinning rod then with the fly. Again, it is a mystery to Colin why nothing takes. I get two tugs - and that is my lot.
I am sent to fish the run opposite and down from the Slap with my spinning rod. Again I give it my best shot. Only point of interest is I managed to somehow snag my lovely Toby. I improvise and make an Otter from driftwood lying on the bank. It works and I manage to retrieve my Toby. The hook is bent but who cares? I find I am almost as chuffed at catching a Kelt! That Toby is an old friend of mine and I am so happy to get it back.
Swap over to a Silver Toby and fish the whole stretch down to thhe bottom of the South Bank. Nothing, only see one Kely all afternoon and that is when the east wind drops for a wee while arond the back of three pm.
Before I know it, it is 5pm and I am off the Hut to pack up and depart for home.
Lovely water, great craic, excellent Ghillis and fishing partners. Hotel also was top end stuff and could not fault it.
Return home knackered but full of good experiences and memories. So close and yet so far. That's fishing for salmon.
Definitely a case of same time, same place next year.
Just for the record, here is a picture of the flies I was using over the two days. First three on Day one and the Gold Willie Gunn on Day two.
tweedbunnet
Larry and me arrived at the Roxburghe Hotel about 7pm on Sunday evening. underghillie and salmostalker were coming down first thing on Manday and we would meet them at the Hut. They missed a really good breakfast which set us up for the day!
The conditions were less than ideal. River was about 3ft on the guage with threats of further rain. However, after a chat with Colin, the Head Ghillies, hope was not totally extinguished as he thought we would be able to get a few casts in during the day.
One weird thing was that it felt like a summer's night that evening. More like August than February. Incidentally, every time I have fished the Tweed in Early to mid-February, it has been unseasonably warm at some point during the day or trip; even to the extent of flies hatching!
underghillie and salmostalker had already arrived by the time we reached the Hut on Monday morning. The ghillies arrived and we tackled up. It was great to catch up with Colin and Ritchie again and I really was looking forward to fishing with them again. Only Larry was using a floater with a fast sink tip, the rest of us were using Intermediates or faster sinking lines. We all were using large copper tubes though as the flow of the water was really strong and the fish would tend to be at the side of the main stream.
The Hut at Upper Floors
From the left, underghillie (stopping excessive camera flash!), salmostalker, myself and Larry
It was six of one and half a dozen of the other as to who fished where. So underghilleand salmostalker went to the Top end while me at Larry fished the Bottom end for the morning.
I started fishing the run down from the Slap while Larry fished the bottom end corner.
After a few casts with my 16 ft Merlin, I was getting warmed up, so much so, that the Wading Jacket and jesrsey came off and I fished in my shirt sleeves until Lunchtime.
The run I was fishing was quite deep at the edge - you could not get in the water which is a pain for Spey Casting but not impossible. Thank god, I had at least had a wee warm up out at the DTX Demo on Sunday otherwise it would have been a waste of prime fishing time.
I was fishing a Temple Shrimp (courtesy of forum member, tynetone in a recent Forum Fly Swap). It looked to be just right for the prevailing conditions of high water with a bit of colour. A really nice looking fly.
By the time had reached the corner without even a hint of a touch, it was time to try something different so on went the Black and Chartreuse job. Ritchie popped along to see how I was doing. He's not a bad caster at all is Ritchie and easily fired out the whole of my Mach 2 intermediate about 40 yards on his first cast with the rod! Ach well, it is something for me to aspire to this season.
Larry went across the river in the Boat while I fished down the corner. Again, the prefect weather did not result in anything concrete, despite several Kelts starting to show late morning.
Back to the Hut for Lunch, we all met up again. underghillie and salmonstalker had managed three apiece. All kelts, rawners and baggots. Nothing fresh. I had managed to forget my flask so no Pot Noodle for me. Maybe that was a mixed blessing
The weather turned during lunch and it became a few degrees cooller - not usually a great sign. We all swapped over from top to bottom etc and Larry and I went to the Top end where I was dropped of at the Pumping Station to fish The Weetles. It is a great bit of water - very fishy - but, being a real townie (ie soft these days), I have to confess I did find it a hard wade given the flow of water and the lumpiness of the bottom. Felt as if my ankles being given a right good going over by a sadistic physiotherapist.
The Weetles
After fishing as well as I could, I clamboured out about 150 yards down, tired but knowing I had really tried to cover the water as well as I could.
I rested out of the wind at the Pumping Station and called Colin. Larry had managed a Kelt. I was chuffed for him.
We swapped over and it was my turn in the Boat. Not a flipping touch despite the kelts all poking their heads up with a few yards of the boat. They were having a laugh all right.
I was even doing Double Speys with my left hand up due to the strong downstream wind. it tooka while for me to figure out why my Single Spey was collapsing! But the Double Spey solution did the business.
Larry was soon ito his second Kelt and we landed to help him unhook and relaease it.
When we gathered at the Hut, we found underghillie and Steve had had a few more Kelts but nothing fresh as yet.
Back to the Hotel for a freshen up (certain parties - who will remain nameless took longer than others to get to the Hotel and found it necessary to go "shopping" at the Queen's Head) and then back to Kelso for our meal at the Cross Keys which was good value and just what the doctor ordered on a Monday night in Kelso.
On to the Queen's Head again for a wee bit chat etc with poshtoshman, Lee from Carham and James and Tim who were fishing Hendersyde. In no time at all, it back to the Hotel courtesy of a lift from Lee, the Ghiillie at Carham and a good night's kip. The fresh air must have been getting to me as I only woke once (and, no, it wasn't the Chainsaw-like snoring of Larry! What a noise. He's going wear out his nose one day)
After the usual excellent breakfast at the Hotel, we checked out and got ready for Day 2.
Water was down 6" but still a bit high. Sacre Bleu, we could spin. And on such good fly water. In reality, it is just as appropriate a method as fly at this time of year and in the prevailing conditions.
I fished The Slates with my vintage 18g Gold Toby while Larry persevered with fly.
Despit fishing really hard and covering every bit of the water, I only managed one Kelt
Ritchie releasing my Kelt
It was really bizarre as you would have thought the fish would have been really going for a Toby in such water and conditions. None the less, I was pretty chuffed with myself as I had not fished with a spinning rod in Spring for nearly 30 years. I was also delighted to keep up my record of christening my new rod with a fish - something I have maintained every since I started fishing for Salmon in the Spring. The new UglyStik Lite 2.7m I was fishing with is an ideal rod with a fixed spool and 18lb Maxima. It fishes very effectively and I really prefer the shorter handle on it for ease of use.
Lunchtime and we find out that underghillie has managed a Springer! Fantastic.He is first into the new 2011 book for the Beat. Great achievement and the ghillies are equally pleased that he has managed it. He and salmostalker had a few other Kelts etc as well during the morning.
We swap over again and we fish the bottom end. Colin has me sussed out and tells me to persevere with my spinng rod! ( iam not in the same league casting wise as the other three. And certainly not in underghillie's who, I was reliable informed, was casting 10 yards further than the rest of us. He seems to be quite good at the old casting lark, apparently.
Meantime, I am boated twice down a nice run on the south bank. first with the Spinning rod then with the fly. Again, it is a mystery to Colin why nothing takes. I get two tugs - and that is my lot.
I am sent to fish the run opposite and down from the Slap with my spinning rod. Again I give it my best shot. Only point of interest is I managed to somehow snag my lovely Toby. I improvise and make an Otter from driftwood lying on the bank. It works and I manage to retrieve my Toby. The hook is bent but who cares? I find I am almost as chuffed at catching a Kelt! That Toby is an old friend of mine and I am so happy to get it back.
Swap over to a Silver Toby and fish the whole stretch down to thhe bottom of the South Bank. Nothing, only see one Kely all afternoon and that is when the east wind drops for a wee while arond the back of three pm.
Before I know it, it is 5pm and I am off the Hut to pack up and depart for home.
Lovely water, great craic, excellent Ghillis and fishing partners. Hotel also was top end stuff and could not fault it.
Return home knackered but full of good experiences and memories. So close and yet so far. That's fishing for salmon.
Definitely a case of same time, same place next year.
Just for the record, here is a picture of the flies I was using over the two days. First three on Day one and the Gold Willie Gunn on Day two.
tweedbunnet
