The Lees 2014

[Mon The Flee]

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 Cauldstream in the process which I hope is the last time I fall in this year. 3’7” and 40 degs this morning with a fair bit of colour and a south east wind getting stronger all day, the lads who had the first day booked decided not to come which was a wise decision. With the river being so big all winter and the weather being mild any early running fish could be anywhere in the system, I have seen the odd Kelt splashing about but I can’t say that I’ve seen anything that resembles a Springer. Saw an Oyster Catcher along with an Egret so it must be February. Checking the boats this morning there was a big flock of Golden Plover displaying over the Cauld and the resident Otter munching on a Kelt on the Slap Croy, that’s the earliest I’ve seen Golden Plover on the Lees. Walking round the beat I can’t say I’ve noticed any chances but it’s been so big it’s hard to tell. Anyone who took gate keys home with them make it a new years resolution to send them back or you’ll be walking up and down the beat! I have been in touch with a few lads up and down the river and there are no reports of any Springers being caught, that might change as I’m at home watching the rugby and writing this at half time. Photos of the gauge and some nice single iron flies for you to try this season.

[Mon The Flee]

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 keen to have a go but at 3’6” there’s not a lot of the beat to go at just the Temple and the Cauld with fast sinking lines, anyway we set sail with two rods in the boats and one wading the ledges, and as you would expect at this height the Ledges rod and the Cauld boat got the action all be it from Kelts, the Cauld fishing best further down in the thinner water. 5 Kelts for the day all silver and ready for the sea. The forecast is for heavy rain starting tonight along with gales tomorrow so not looking good. Wednesday 5th A grey start to the day with the forecast not great, got Rodger into the Cauld boat and he soon had a couple of kelts putting a smile on his face, Fred of Pedwell fame had a Kipper from the Temple which many an inexperienced rod would of counted as a Springer as it was silver with just a small Kype, nice tight vent also. The river started to rise again by 11.00 and with the wind picking up that was it for the day, 3’10 when we left after lunchtime and 4 feet at Peebles with rain coming down as I write this making tomorrow a washout and again the forecast is grim for the rest of the week. Thursday 6th 4’9” this morning and a fair bit of colour but it was a nice mild calm day, all the rods had decided not to come this morning which was a wise choice I have to say. So spent the day setting and checking mole traps, went to Kelso to get new spade and shovel, came back to Lees and tried out said shovel and it works! Removed mole from trap, shot Squirrel, removed tail for fly tying, baited squirrel traps, bleathered to walkers going past hut, gave Kelsae the dug a bollocking for eating a dead Kelt (rotten) sawed up a lovely Ash limb that had come down in flood (now stored in my log shed). Home lit fire, went to Berwick station to pick up son, had Lamb Casserole for tea. Tying flies all of them killers which will be for sale in the hut, and that was my day. All four rods are coming tomorrow so the more it drops the better. Friday 7th 3’6” and 38 degs so it could be better but it could be a lot worse. Dave drew the Cauldstream first and within 6 casts had a 14lb Springer no lice but fresh so he’s a happy bunny as am I as thats us up and running, we also had a couple of Kelts. The river was quiet with very little showing (kelts that is) the Otter fished the Cauld all morning along with the Egret and it was a lovely sunny day with a bit of frost first thing a great day to open the scoring on. I am now upping Kelsae’s training and had her retrieving a Mole in no time, she has spoiled things a bit by eating one of my slippers but I’m treating it as a term of endearment. Will we fish tomorrow? There’s a lot of rain on its way tonight so it will depend how soon it arrives in the west. Saturday 8th A nice sunny start and very little wind, 3’2” and 38 degs at 9.00am but it wasn’t to last with all the gauges rising above us so the lads had a couple of hours before the water got to us. Ian had a very well mended Kelt from the Cauld but that was the only pull for the day, which wasn’t really a surprise. It’s been wet 5 lines and big tubes since we started and that will be the case next week as well I should think as one storm follows another, although we have got off light compared to down south. It’s been so mild I still have flowers in bloom in my garden form last year, my hens are laying away fine and trying to go broody, all the duck on the river are paired up, and pigeons are looking at nest sites round the hut, it’s bound to change into the north sometime and will get stuck there for the next three months. Calcutta cup is on at 5.00pm so I can settle back and watch Scotland give England a good kicking up and down the pitch!!!!!!!!!!! (I reckon it’ll be damage limitation for Scotland). Team Harper will be here tomorrow so the annual whisky drinking competition will be taking place in the hut. Photos this week are a windy Temple and the gauge where we don’t want to see it.

[Mon The Flee]

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 engine room would have been too much, the Whisky drinking competition ended in a draw again yesterday so a rematch will be held next time we’re flooded off. The day wasn’t wasted as much slavering was done about lines and flies and days gone by, moles traps set and squirrel traps set, steps repaired and a general tidy up round hut took place, we should fish tomorrow but it will still be on the high side but with more rain/snow coming we have to take every chance. Tuesday 11th 3’3” and 38 degs clean water and a fairly calm start, Richard Harrison brushing off his hangover from the whisky competition was into the Cauld boat like a rat up a drainpipe and had 4 Kelts in 3 casts, well it looked that way from the top of the Temple where I was with Graham Whitty. Graham in his usual gracious self wished Richard all the best through gritted teeth( well it was cold) Frank Smith was wading the Ledges and got lost in a cloud of steam from his own e fag decided that his waders were not long enough and headed for the hut to regale Terry with some more stories of dering do when he painted York minster ceiling, Graham caught up with the Kelts at the bottom end of the Temple getting one which would of tipped the scales at 2lbs, very next cast another pull, it’s bigger, but it’ll be a big Kelt, after 15 mins or so we had a look at it and it’s a nice Springer about 11/12lbs which shot off downstream shaking its head and out comes the hook. 6 Kelts for the day and a nearly. Wednesday 12th 3’0” on the Lees gauge and a chilly 38degs but an east/south east wind picking up all morning along with the rain. Graham Whitty managed a wee Kelt from the Cauld as we were rowing in to finish, and Richard Harrison mentioned that he would of been able to throw a Toby for miles in this wind(not until Saturday Richard). Frank Smith gamely tried a cast in the Cauld after lunch against all advice and returned to the hut 10 mins later with his tail between his legs, the lads then settled down in the hut for the afternoon and enjoyed Frank’s tales of big game hunting in Africa. River is rising tonight so I doubt if there’ll be any fishing tomorrow. Thursday 13th 4’9” and coloured so fishing buggered right from the off, the wind also picked up as the day went on. So it was another day in and around the hut with more tales of dering do from around the world, Frank shot an Elephant or two with an air rifle in South Africa, Graham told tales of catching a Crocodile with his bare hands, Richard worked out how far he could cast a 28g Toby into a 50mph wind and Terry cut up slabs of beef whilst pondering which part of the beast it came from. We also sorted out Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday and what the meaning of them is, nobody had a clue but Google is a great thing, also discussed the population of Greenland and the capital city which is Nuuk by the way, we also practiced tying a few knots which we will likely never use so along with a few drams we sorted the world out, if only we could sort out the rain. Friday 14th Nice calm mild start to the day but it wasn’t to last. We gave it a go this morning for an hour but it was more filling in time than serious fishing, 3’9” and a fair bit of colour in it. By lunchtime everyone had packed in and the beef rolls were calling which was the best part of the day as it turns out. Split a few logs to keep the fire roaring and filled in some potholes in the road which will be washed out again by now as it’s chucking it down now (5.00pm) so fishing tomorrow is looking unlikely. Saturday 15th Water, water and more water. No fishing today again big and brown. 5’0” and rising, Richard headed for home while Terry and Graham headed for the Borders gunroom for a look around, there’s not much you can do on a day like this with everything wet. It’s to be a nice sunny day tomorrow so we should get a cast on Monday but there’s always a but, it’s to rain again on Monday so Tuesday could be out. Thats February fishing for you some years low and frosts and the next wet and windy. On the wildlife front the Kingfisher is still flitting about and the Egrets are giving us a fly past now and again and of course the company Otters are with us every day. Photo this week is the gauge where you don’t want to see it.

[Mon The Flee]

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 night and Sunday was spent within bolting distance of a toilet, he has rallied round today mind you. Anyway the fishing, we fished all day for 3 Kelts landed and another 2 or 3 falling off, it’s still too big for us even with a spinner which we did use today. The Mother Otter and her two pups were with us this morning along with the Egret so that brightened the day along with the bottle of 50 year old whisky which Clancy brought (now empty). Now that Clancy is here there has been much talk of Onions, compost, leeks, raised beds and record breaking pumpkins. We sorted out the world at 5.00pm although some of the solutions might be seen as a bit extreme by some, others would say harsh but fair. Tuesday 18th A dry start and the gauge at 3’3” 40 degs but most of the gauges above us are rising so we’re not expecting much, Spinner had to be the weapon of choice and a 20 gram Toby at that, we launched a couple of boats in the morning but all the Kelts that were caught came from the lads who were fishing off the bank showing that the fish/Kelts were looking for a bit of shelter. The score at the end of the day was 9 Kelts 2 of them Seatrout and a Squirrel. Lunch was a grand affair with Clancy producing a bottle of red wine from 1964 so a 50 year old wine was opened with much ceremony and sniffed then tasted then poured into the gravel in the carpark!!!! What a disappointment. I didn’t see a fish of any kind all day apart from the Kelts we landed, and with rain starting at 4.00pm it was back to the hut for a dram and sort out the world again, a red hot poker seems to be the way to sort out everything. Looking at the website tonight I see the gauges are rising again so tomorrow is going to be fishing at top heights yet again. Wednesday 19th 3’10” 40 degs little bit of colour, so where do we fish at this height? Give me a big Tay boat and an outboard engine some Kynoch’s and away we go, but its chucking a Toby off the bank again which some of the lads tried, a couple of kelts fell off in the Ledges but that was it so nothing caught today not even the Mole thats been tunnelling away for days at the Slap Croy, I set 5 traps for it yesterday and it went through every one filling them full of soil so they have all been cleaned out and reset so there should be a dead Mole in the morning, its a bit of a shame for them but if they would stay in the woods I’d leave them alone. Only 3 fish caught off the whole river today and more rain forecast for tonight so its certainly not going to drop much, I like it low and cold at this time of year a bit like last year but without the wind, it keeps the fish down here. Anyway thats Team Harper away until May, so thanks for all the laughs, drams, doorstep size beef sandwiches, strange smells in the hut, piss taking, extreme solutions to all the world’s problems, Scottish politics, Onions and Leeks, big game shooting, giving page three girls a score out of 10 over coffee we’ll continue the crack in May and of course I’ll be right! I would love to see the gauge at 1’9” tomorrow but I hae ma doots! Thursday 20th 3’3” and 44 degs which is very mild for February but and there’s always a but the gauges above us were rising again so Team McLaren got at them as best they could, I tried to get the boat to the other side of the Cauld but was blown back onto the bank, so it was Toby spoons off the bank hurling them against the wind, we ended the day with 4 Kelts, even Jerry’s minnow the size of a Herring couldn’t tempt a fish, by mid afternoon the Lees gauge was reading 4’3” and starting to colour so that was the day over, Will we fish tomorrow ? We might but it’s going to be carrying a lot of colour, it’s hard enough to catch them in autumn at this height let alone February. The Lees Otter was fishing outside the hut this morning (see photo) we are going to have to give him a name soon as he’s becoming a bit of a regular. Friday 21st So another day and another washout, 4’2” this morning and coloured, no rods coming today, Pigeon shooting a far better option. Checking the gauges at lunchtime the Teviot is rising yet again, the river is starting to act like a lady of the night’s knickers up and down all week! On the mole front he’s still at large and getting deeper, that’s 6 traps he goes through every night and fills them up with soil but its just a matter of time. No sign of the Otter today but the Egret was fishing on the far bank, what can I say more rain forecast and gales so outlook grim. Saturday 22nd Yet again too big 3’5” and 40 degs and no Mole caught! The lads turned up more for a day out then a serious fishing day, the major excitement was a very large Atlantic seal charging up and down the beat, I had text from Carham to Cornhill with reports of the beastie, the last I heard it was heading for Carham again, so a washout of a week the only good things were a rat caught in the trap outside the hut and Scotland beat Italy at the rugby.

[Mon The Flee]

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 blame them, checked the boats and bailed them out, reset the bloody mole traps, reset rat traps, fed the chickens, had a bleather with some walkers, zeroed in scope on rifle as it fell out of the car when I opened the door and I missed a Squirrel by a foot on way in. It’s not going to fish tomorrow and another band of rain coming through tonight and the rest of the week to be unsettled, it’s going to be a poor February with only 1 fish on the scoreboard so far and not much chance of increasing that. Tuesday 25th 5’6” and dirty so no fishing, Q McLaren arrived to pick up his kit, he’s been trying to fish for about 8 days and apart from a day and a half chucking a Toby off the bank he’s been flooded off that’s what February can be like, better with a hard frost. Part of the new team arrived this morning had a coffee then took themselves off to the clay pigeon ground at Selkirk. Still not caught the Mole so removed all the traps and washed them clean of soil and reset them on the lightest of settings, part of the trouble is, in fact all the trouble is everyone has to walk past/over them so they collapse the tunnels and the Mole shoves the soil along in front of himself filling the trap before he gets there, if this continues I’ll have to try the biscuit tin method (I’ll explain later). Looking at the gauges tonight I see it rising again so tomorrow looks out unless you’re very very keen, in fact too keen if you fish. No sign of the seal today and no reports of it either so it must be back at sea. Wednesday 26th 4’7” and coloured along with a stiff west wind, two of the lads turned up and another is giving his mate a lift home as he’s fallen and cracked a rib,( put more water in it). One of these days it’ll stop raining, it’s not that we have had much rain in Coldstream far from it in fact, but as they say it doesn’t matter what happens here it’s the west that matters, and of course it’s been raining in the west yet again as it’s 4’0” and rising at Peebles so tomorrow looking grim. I know what’s going to happen you wish for it to dry up and it will, for months! But at least we can get at them and it will keep the fish down the bottom end of the river with us (sorry all the lads above us) but there must be loads gone through, enough to do you for a while at least. Thursday 27th A nice sunny day but you guessed it the river’s rising again, 4’2” and 40 degs with a bit of colour. The Otter was the first visitor today right outside the hut and then floating over the Cauld. Houdini the Mole (we’re on first name terms now) has managed to escape capture yet again so if he’s not in a trap tomorrow morning it’s the biscuit tin for him. The rods arrived and have decided to head down the road and try the Coquet on the way down, that’s the river by the way not the game with wee coloured balls you play on the lawn, anyway we had a coffee and discussed dug training at length not that Kelsae was paying any attention. Kelsae (team dug) is coming along fine but she’s too friendly and buggers off with anyone else with a dog that walks past the hut, also just watch your lunch as she’s been getting fed from the table by Terry Harper with slabs of beef so there’s every chance she’ll pinch your lunch if it’s in sight, she hasn’t yet. Some Germans thought it was funny a few years ago with my other pups to flick food of the table and watch the dogs catch it, it wasn’t so funny next day when there was bugger all on the table apart from a few paw marks! It certainly tested the German sense of humour, but I did warn them. It is to be frosty tonight and no rain so we should fish tomorrow albeit off the bank with a Toby, we’ll see. Friday 28th It’s the last day of February, now that’s something to celebrate! It’s a horrible month and I’m always pleased to see the back of it. All the rods elected not to fish today a wise choice really, although it was a lovely day, warm and sunny once the freezing fog lifted, I saw Calum and his two rods having a cast at the Upper Temple so wandered up for a chat they were chucking Tobys off the bank but had touched nothing, never mind lads your fishing with me in April and the rivers bound to have dropped back by then. Calum also told me that there is a big Otter dead on the Wark road this morning opposite the Temple so that’ll be the last we see of him until a new one fills his place. Houdini (mole) is up to his usual tricks and filled all the traps with soil so the biscuit tin method has been brought into play today, except I’m using a Tupperware box as the wife wouldn’t give me the biscuit tin. There was just the one fish off the river today at Junction so a lot of effort for one fish, I know its big but I would of thought somewhere above Kelso would of produced a fish or two. Frosty tonight again so I’m hoping for about 3’3” tomorrow I would like 1’10” but can’t see it somehow.

Saturday 1St March White rabbits and all that! 3’3” and 40 degs, a nice sunny start to the day and no wind water clean. Phil Fisher shouts there’s a seal outside the hut! It’ll be an Otter I say to myself but no he’s right its a seal about 3 yards off the bank which slipped under and headed upstream, I sent a few texts upstream and found out there’s two seals, looking downstream there’s the Otter fishing in the Cauldstream so a challenging start to the day. Took John McLeod into the Cauld with the fly and fished it through but not a touch was had; we did sort out the referendum debate though. Phil chucked a Toby about but no interest there either. We fished until 3.00pm by then the lads had waved the white flag and headed home. So the second worst February ever the worst being zero, no wonder I hate it. On the Mole front Houdini lives up to his name and I fail to catch him even using the biscuit tin method, he just filled the hole up with soil, now this hole is a foot deep by nine inch square, so where does all the soil come from every morning? Much more and the bank will collapse into the river. Biscuit tin method- sink tin into mole run below level of run making sure both ends of tunnel are flush with tin, along comes mole and falls in, moles can’t jump so next morning he’s in bottom of tin as he can’t get out, thats the theory anyway which does work unless he fills the whole thing up with soil as in this case. All traps reset so we’ll see. More rain tomorrow so Monday will see river back up and a bit coloured no doubt, one day it’ll drop. Photos are of Biscuit tin method, tin needs to be deeper really but best I had at time.

[Mon The Flee]

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 had decided to give it a miss and two turned up, one left straight away and Paul Holland who is fishing tomorrow as well took himself off to do a bit of shopping and came back this afternoon for a few chucks off the bank, he was trying out his new rod really and working out what line to use. No I haven’t caught the bloody mole yet and have put in a deeper tin as it appears they can’t jump but they can climb! The pair of Egrets were fishing away on the far bank, no sign of the seals and the birds are singing their heads off so Spring is here, all we need is for the water to drop, forecast for the rest of the week is settled so it should get below 3’0” this week below 2’0” would be better but can’t see that.

Tuesday 4th Another nice sunny day and the river down to 3’0” on the Lees gauge, the big news is we caught a Salmon today, never mind trying to catch moles, we caught a salmon ! Bad news is it was only one pound in weight maybe a couple of ounces more but not much. The lucky rod was Ray Anderson using a telescopic spinning rod that cost £7.00 second hand. We had fished all day until 4.00pm when Ray nearly jumped out of the seat so savage was the take, after an epic struggle he swung the fish round to me, whilst taking the hook out and thinking it was a very well mended grilse Kelt Ray spotted the lice on its back, it’s the smallest Springer I’ve ever seen but Ray reckoned it was quite a nice one by his standards. Plenty fish being caught round Kelso today and bigger than our one. 2’11” at 5.00pm which is the lowest it’s been this season so let’s hope some of the fish slow down a bit and stay with us.

Wednesday 5th 2’9” that’s the lowest it’s been this season and nice and clean, we gave it a fair go but all we had for our efforts was a Seatrout Kelt, I didn’t see a fish all day or a Kelt for that matter, plenty Otters, Egrets a kingfisher no seals. The weather forecast is looking grim for tonight and tomorrow night then the weatherman says it’s going to settle down, I bloody well hope so. What about the mole I can hear you shouting, the biscuit tin method has failed so its back to the tunnel traps which have served me well for years and years, the way its going the mole will die of old age before I catch it or I’ll die of old age!

Thursday 6th Breaking news- Houdini is no more! After several weeks on the run the long arm of the law caught up with him above the Slap Croy, I am slightly worried that there is a Mrs Houdini in the area and I’m pleased Mole catching is not an Olympic sport as I wouldn’t be winning gold this time. On the fishing front we only had two rods today due to some double booking (not by the Lees) I have to say. 2’7” and 44 degs today which is warm for the time of year, we had a wee hatch of dark olives and the Skylark has made his first appearance singing away over the Cauld. By the close of play we had managed one pull in the Cauld and that was it for the day, no one saw a fish or a Kelt all day but they must be going straight through us as fresh/liced fish are being caught round Kelso, Not looking good for next few days as a flood warning out for upper Tweed tonight and a lot of rain forecast.

Friday 7th Weatherman was spot on this time and all the gauges are rising, 3’11” and coloured 6’0” by mid afternoon, Tony Lenahan and party due to fish tomorrow but it’ll still be too big and dirty, that’s the second time this year tony and party have been flooded off the Lees. Phil Walker called in and entertained us with stories of huge Seatrout and Salmon from around the world whilst John and Graham packed up their rods and headed for the Tyne which is still in good order; Graham just arrived this morning from Paris! Should have checked the levels. There is a Mrs Mole or cousins as the traps are full of soil again so its starts again. Forecast is for a high pressure to build next week so we just might get at them if they are there.

Saturday 8th 3’6” and carrying a lot of colour, the lads had all decided not to fish which was a wise decision as coming over from the west side of the country to fish in high brown water would not be a lot of fun. Hopefully next week will be the start of a very long settled spell.

[Mon The Flee]

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 above us but nothing to worry about. Otters all over the place, mother with two pups outside hut and a bigger Dog in the Cauldstream, they were there most of the morning. We fished it hard enough all morning but not a touch was had and at lunchtime we found out why, every fish in the river seems to be at Junction as they had 10 this morning! At least it was a sunny day it always helps when you are catching nothing, we saw our first butterfly and bumble bee today and the first of the daffodils are starting to open, a flock of Golden Plover was over the Cauld and the first Skylark was singing, so spring is here at last, now then a sheet of weldmesh in the Slap that should slow them down. 13 fish off the whole river and 10 from Junction lucky boys. Yes there is another mole and the biscuit tin has failed again. Tuesday 11th 2’7” and 43 degs a frosty start but soon warming up, in fact it’s been the warmest day for a long time and the sun shone all day, everything was just right apart from the water height and there are no fish about the lees at the moment, all the more annoying when you get a text to say Junction had 11 this morning, now where did I put that sheet of weldmesh? Bob Harrison (aka Flipper) Ghillie at Learmouth phoned to say he had seen a Sandmartin that’s a very early Sandmartin and there’s very little fly life about so it’s going to have to work hard for its supper. We ended the day with one Salmon Kelt from the Cauldstream wading the tail with a Toby, and there was a splash in the ledges, it was a lovely day on the river apart from the lack of fish. Wednesday 12th Frosty start again 2’5” and 41 degs nice and clean the lads gave it a good thrashing and Andy had his first go with the fly and I have to say he put a few of our regulars to shame ( you know who you are) There was a couple of splashes in the Temple and I think I saw a brown trout rise or was it a grayling? Some of the Chestnut trees are thinking about coming into leaf in the south facing sheltered areas and lots of daffodils are now in bloom. No sign of the wee Sandmartin today and the Otters were fishing the Cauld first thing. The catches on the river were down a bit today only because the Junction didn’t get into double figures again, Lower North Wark had two so well done Calum, and I’d expect Upper North Wark and South Wark to be getting them as they like high water. The Mole must have died of old age as no signs of it going through the traps or it is fed up playing silly games.

Thursday 13th Another nice mild morningand the wee Sandmartin is still here, obviously a hardy wee soul. The Otter followed me in the boat all the way up the Temple this morning, maybe waiting for us to catch a fish, he’s got a long wait by the look of things.2’4” and 41 degs this morning which is starting to open up more of the beat for us, we had a couple of small Kelts from the Cauld on a Toby and a pull down at the Iron Gate on a fly but that was it for the morning, this afternoon was no better as we had one pull on a Toby in the back of the wall and nothing else to show for our efforts. All the fish are round the Kelso area again so lucky boys up there, we didn’t see a thing down here but I’m sure they are on their way as I write this. There was the odd dark olive coming down and a trout or two taking them this afternoon, the woodpecker was bashing his brains out on a Beech tree this morning, and we discussed the vapour trails being left in the sky by the planes with some of them making some strange turns, you can apparently download an app that lets you see what plane it is and where it’s going, just a pity someone hasn’t done the same for the salmon. My hens are laying and one is broody on about 12 eggs so that will build up my stock after some walker’s dogs killed a few. Looking back to last year we had 2 fish on the 13th and the river was 1’6” and 36 degs the running total was 23 compared to 2 this year that’s if we count the 1lb fish from last week. It’ll be better tomorrow but I have the dentist at 9.40 am as I’ve cracked a tooth, a bonnie wee blond from Poland helps to take your mind off whats going on. Friday 14th Dentist sorted me out with two fillings and never felt a thing braw! 2’1” and 44 degs Squeaky clean but blowing a hoolie and regular readers will know how much I like the wind, Colin packed up at 11.00 as he hates the wind as well, whilst Steven and Hillary Drury were down the middle and bottom of the beat in relative shelter but no fish were seen or touched. We had a wee Kelt from the tail of the Cauld this afternoon but thats all I have to report I’m afraid, I see South Wark had a fish today and Tillmouth so it must be our turn tomorrow. Saturday 15th We’ve caught a fish, yes, we’ve caught a fish a lovely liced 8lb Springer from the tail of the Cauld on a black and yellow tube and a wet 2 type line classic spring kit really. Andy Britton was the lucky boy who caught it, but he wasn’t so lucky first thing as he went up to wade the Ledges he forgot about the hole opposite the white post, or maybe I forgot to tell him about it, I’m sure he knew about it. So it was a very wet Andy that I found in the hut luckily he had brought a change of clothes with him and had his phone in one of those covers. The fishing 1’11” and a very warm 47 degs, clean, now that’s warm for March, no wonder the fish are going straight through us. I didn’t need to go to the gym over the weekend as rowing in that wind is enough exercise for anyone and the forecast is for a windy week ahead with heavy rain on Thursday. We really need the river to keep dropping so I hope the forecast is wrong.

[Mon The Flee]

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 things in the Cauld we never saw them and they were not on long enough to say Springer or Kelt so who knows but at least it was a bit of action. Steve Battersby was up to his usual tricks as he arrived back at the hut with a fly stuck through his waders and he had fallen in at the Otter stones, Steve has fallen into every pool apart from the Annay over the years some of them twice on the same trip, when ask about the fall he replied I tripped over those rocks you warned me about! The two young Otters have both been attacked and are now on their own, was it the dog Otter chasing them off so the bitch comes into season or is it the Bitch Otter herself? Either way its tough love as one of them has lost an eye and they are both well chewed up around the face. We ended the day with nothing landed and only saw one splash in the tail of the Cauld. There was a hatch of dark olives today but no trout rising to them. Tuesday 18th 1’10” and 46 degs, clean bit on the windy side again, the young Otter is still with us and there was a bigger one in the Temple which the young one was giving a wide berth which is no wonder after it had the poo kicked out of it. Gave Brian a run through the Cauld with the fly but not a touch was had and nothing seen, the rest of the team thrashed the beat from top to bottom but with the same result. Steve had us worried as he planned to fish the Bags knowing his love of falling in but he managed to stay dry all morning. The excitement of the day was getting another visit from a Seal this afternoon just as Steve was about to fish the Cauld, he had to watch the seal fish it before him and catch a nice fish about 7lb which it ripped to bits and ate something which doesn’t fill you with confidence, after seeing Steve’s glowing face it headed off downstream at speed, so let’s hope that’s the last we see of it. We did see another fish in the Glide and one in the back of the wall so here’s hoping for tomorrow. Wednesday 19th No Seals, no fish, no Otters and blew a hoolie all day that about sums it up, 1’11” 46 degs clean. It was a full gale all day no fun trying to fish in that, three of the lads gave up at lunchtime but that might of been Steve’s BBQ to blame not the gale, John carried on till 4.30 but threw in the towel. The wind is nobody’s friend; I know some rods say they like a wind it puts a ripple on the top (that’s just to hide their bad casting), give me flat calm every day, want a ripple go and fish the streams. And now its rain and wind tomorrow, want to see a grumpy Ghillie you know where to come. Thursday 20th Well its grumpy Ghillie time, it blew an absolute hoolie this morning the top end of the beat was unfishable and the middle not much better, the Bags and the Annay were fine. Kevin and Allan who had been battered to bits all morning left for home after lunch whilst George and Stuart stuck it out till 5.00pm the wind did drop and I managed to get the boat out for a run through the Cauld with the fly which helped us to increase our catch nothing, but we did see a fish which sent a ripple of excitement as far as Sprouston. The top gauges are rising tonight so I expect it to be dirty tomorrow morning. Friday 21st 3’6” and brown 42 degs with a stiff west wind blowing down the river, much colder today, two of the lads had phoned to say they wouldn’t be turning up for duty today, two did turn up had a cup of coffee a bleather then set off to Coldingham Loch to have a go at the rainbows, more rain forecast for tonight so tomorrow could be out as well, it really needs to settle down, I’m getting fed up looking for fish that are not there in brown big water with a gale blowing, that’s us heading towards the end of March and we are still only on three fish what a bugger. Saturday 22nd 3’6” or something like that, can’t be arsed to look at it, just when the river was getting down to our sort of height up it goes again, very brown as well, all the rods had wisely decided not travel. So that was a poor week! Nothing there when we could fish, gales that knocked you over and floods that’s why I’m not keen on Spring fishing unless its flat calm and sunny, mild with fish heading and tailing in the tail of the Cauld at around 1’9” and 48-50 degs, I would like to think it will be that next week but there’s a big lump of blue behind the weatherman which looks like its for us on Monday sometime. It’s enough to drive a Ghillie to drink so I’m off for a very large Laphroigh which makes Sally screw her nose up. There’s aye next week!

[Mon The Flee]

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 Godden turned up and after coffees, sorting out new lines, leaky waders and flies we set sail. Nigel had a couple of pulls in the Temple but that was it for the morning, in the afternoon we had 3 Sandmartins flying about the Cauldstream and the company Otter was chewing on an Eel on the Slap point, I managed to get right up to it and got some film with the mobile phone before Kelsae (dug) decided it warranted a closer inspection and off it went. A bad South east wind this afternoon which blows straight up the river didn’t help things this afternoon but Gene Godden was casting like a demon with his new line a wee breeze wasn’t going to put him off. As in the last few days we never saw a fish but South Wark had a couple this morning so there are some about, it’ll be our turn tomorrow. Tuesday 25th And it was our turn, at 2’2” and 42 degs clean Paul took Gene down to Learmouth stream and had a lovely tideliced 15lb fish on the fly. The of course had his best mate Paul Robinson thanking him through gritted teeth and wishing him all the best, but all good things come to those who wait and Paul had a 16lb licer from the Cauld with his 4th cast of the afternoon on the fly also, so pleased was he with the fish that he’s said he’ll buy all the drink tonight. For the first time this season I’ve seen fish moving, there were several fish in the Slap and Paul hooked two but managed to shake them both off, just as well as had he landed three for the day he’d of been buying the drink for the rest of the year. Nigel is first up in the Cauld tomorrow so he can’t fail.

Wednesday 26th Well how did Nigel get on? I can hear you all shouting at the screen! He failed, we never saw a fish all morning, and the Cauld looked perfect, it was perfect but just no fish in it. Gene lost one at the top of the back of the wall and that was all the action for the morning. 2’0” and 42 degs squeaky clean and a lovely sunny calm start but the weatherman was spot on today and the bitter cold north east wind and showers were upon us this afternoon. We did see fish this afternoon in the Slap, Cauld and one in Learmouth so I was getting quiet excited as I saw more fish this afternoon than I’ve seen all season but we need them to stop with us. Maybe tomorrow. Thursday 27th The most eventful thing about today is that it’s my son’s birthday 22 years where did that go? Nigel fished the Cauld again and failed again, in fact we never saw a fish all day. Paul and Gene went off down the bottom of the beat to play with their new lines but soon came scuttling back when the east wind brought the rain, which is surprising as Paul is Northamptonshire 2009 Spey casting champion and can handle a bit of inclement weather. Lunchtime was the best pool of the day, but Gene not deterred by a wee breeze set about the Temple and was rewarded with 4 trout each one getting a bit bigger than the last which was 2lbs. The Osprey hasn’t turned up yet but I see in the paper that one was over Dumfries on 10th of March; my nest boxes are all being checked over by Bluetits and Greatits, it makes you wonder what makes them choose one over the other is it security or warmth or maybe it has a nice view! I see a couple of the gauges are rising again tonight it shouldn’t be much as the rain was al in the east. One of these days I’ll have some fish to write about and tales of epic battles, maybe tomorrow. Just had a look at 2009 diary it was warm sunny using floating lines and Gene Godden fell in the Back of the wall his life jacket went off and he had to use his rod as a pole to shove himself to the bank. The week before Steve Battersby fell in so some things never change. Friday 28th A new team in today and it’s just like a Christmas song with Lords and ladies leaping about all over the place, but it doesn’t matter what rank you pull if there’s no fish you’re not going to catch them, after saying that we did see one in the Cauld and a Kelt in the Slap and a unquestionable one in the Temple as it cleared the water right off the boat. 1’11” and 43 degs with a very cold strong north east wind. The best place to be was the Temple, not because we’d catch more fish there it’s because it’s lovely and sheltered in an North east wind, so I took Liz up in the boat and we talked growing veggies all afternoon, now that’s my kind of lady! The fish are going straight through us again it’s about time they started to slow down and give us a chance. Maybe tomorrow! Saturday 29th Well I didn’t win the lotto last night which is a bugger as I was kind of relying on it to change my life so it was back on the oars this morning. And it’s another cold horrible day with the east wind blowing up the river 1’11” and 42 degs. Well the even the full weight of the Tory party couldn’t tempt a fish from the depths but I did have a good crack about politics which passed the time as we waited for a fish to bite, we really need this wind to bugger off, not that it’ll bring anymore fish in but it will be nicer to fish when its calm and mild and you can read the water. So there we are, when some fish stop on the beat we get some and when they don’t we don’t! I see the lads at Learmouth had a fish from the stream on a condom but we won’t talk about that!

[Mon The Flee]

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 morning but not a pull from them. The wind has died down a bit to a cold damp breeze which is better. Sandmartins have arrived in numbers now and there was a hatch of March Browns today so they just made it in March, they should really be called April Browns here as I don’t often see them in March, anyway the Sandmartins were pleased to see them. This was Easter last year so why is it not Easter this year? Christmas falls on the 25th every year so stop shifting Easter about!!!! We saw a fish or two in the Cauld this afternoon so here’s hoping they are still there tomorrow and in the mood to play.

Tuesday 1st April And it’s not an April fool we caught two fish, I use “we “in the royal sort of way as Robert Skelly and Paul did all the work, one from the Slap which is easy when they’re there and one from the Cauld, both fresh 9lbs and 12lbs, both on fly as its fly only at this height remember. 1’9” and 44degs but pissing down with rain and a cold east wind, it may be 21degs down south but its like February here, in fact February was warmer. We also saw a few fish today and lost one in the Glide. But our luck was not to last as the rain had brought the river up and in the afternoon we never saw a scale, so they’ve either gone to ground or they’ve buggered off. My luck was even worse as my neoprene waders are leaking again, this time the foot has split and I’ve hardly worn them, its the second time I’m having to send them back and I told the bloke in the shop the boot was too flimsy and I wanted a refund but he sent a replacement pair so this time its a full refund and the postage, I doubt if both pairs lasted more than 3 weeks’ worth of fishing, don’t tell anyone but they were Diawa with a rubber cleated sole. The Osprey turned up today and the cats that were screeching outside my bedroom window last night at 2.30am better not be there tonight or they are in serious danger of using up all of their 9 lives in one go! Plus they crap all over my raised beds, when you say to people “leave your garden gate open tonight” Why? is the answer, So I can let my dogs in to crap all over your lawn they get upset, only fair I reply! Anyway river rising tonight not going to be too big but will likely have a load of colour. Wednesday 2nd 2’9” and very dirty so no fishing today, I took my fly tying kit along and helped Veronica with her fly tying this morning, she is left handed and I’m right handed so it had a few problems but she soon knocked up a silver stoat which no respectable Seatrout would refuse. In the afternoon it was up to Kelso to pick up my contact lenses and some new waders, so what about tomorrow? It will hopefully drop back a bit, not to quick though as the height helps to dilute the colour and we might even chuck a Toby at them, if there’s any there. No cats last night and I was ready for them as well.

Thursday 3rd As far as spring goes it was about as bad as it gets no fish, cold east wind, misty /fogy along with heavy rain at times and an unsettled river. The rods stuck it out all day which is a credit to them. Bob Jewels from Wark text to say he’d seen a Swallow this morning so it just goes to show that the old wives tale that says “One swallow does not a summer make” is spot on as it was as far from summer as you could get, perhaps if it had snowed that would of capped it, it was a day I hope never to repeat. At least all this rain will keep the cats indoors tonight. Friday 4th Another damp dull misty start and the river at 2’3” with a bit of colour to it, Team Britton was here in force to save the day but I’m sad to report that they blanked, on the bright side though Andy Britton managed not to fall in this time when he fished the ledges, so he’s a bit like an Elephant he never forgets! The big event of the day was coming out after lunch we noticed straight away that the wind had changed from the east to the south, now that is more like it, it didn’t help the fishing but it made me feel a lot better. Bill Drury was here at lunchtime visiting the lads and brought with him one of his new range of rods the Aura; I have to say it’s a nice rod and even Andy managed to put out a line with it, actually it cast a #10/11 shooting head ¾ of the way over the river with ease I could be tempted. There was a great hatch of March browns this afternoon and the trout were at them so I will be taking my trout rod tomorrow. Saturday 5th A much nicer day mild with a south wind what a difference a day makes, unfortunately the river had gone up 3” overnight so we were sitting at 2’6” and 46 degs and a bit on the murky side. Team Britton had been enjoying the highlights of Kelso last night and were a tad hungover this morning so it was a leisurely start and lots of coffees. Phil Walker who was feeling less hungover than the rest walked down to the back of the wall and was rewarded for his efforts with a 9lb fresh springer, I don’t know who was more surprised Phil, me or the fish. The trout didn’t show today as there was next to no hatch but there is one very big trout just below the cobble point and I mean big so it will be getting a bit of attention if it hangs about long enough. We saw one other fish all day which was in the ledges and that was it. Bad news was both my horses fell in the national but the good news is Andy tells me that his pet Lama had twins last October and both are doing fine; he had to leave early last year as it had gone into labour. Rain forecast for tomorrow which is bloody typical, one day off a week and it rains so nothing done in the garden tomorrow. The photo this week is Robert Skelly and Paul landing a fish at the Slap which is about the only time I see a fish now days “in a photo”! Soon be Monday.