Robbies Brief Fishing Reports

Reports Index

Earlston Grayling Day | Day Out at Kelso | Another Day on the Tweed | Another Day on the...
| Grayling | Hardy's |

January 2004

Earlston Grayling Day

At 06.25 my hand slid out from underneath the quilt and cancelled the alarm clock. Five minutes before it was due to go off. As quietly as I could I got up and made my way to the bedroom door. I was just thinking I had got away with it when a husky voiced wished me "Good Luck" I was doubly grateful for the good wishes. My wife Margaret was looking after the shop as I made my annual pilgrimage to the Earlston Club Grayling Day

A shower soon had me up to full speed and I started putting on the many layers required for a full days Grayling Fishing. Breakfast was Tea and Toast. I filled up my flask and Thermos Mug with coffee and was on the road at 07.20. Earlston is around 40 miles from Berwick and is a leisurely one hour drive or 55 minutes if you go flat out!

These Thermos Mugs are great the coffee lasted all the way to Kelso and was still hot.

This year is the Earlston Clubs 100th anniversary and with all the rain there was a worry that the day would be washed out. My first glimpse of the river was at Cornhill and it did look very big but maybe not too coloured. Mind you at 50 mph it was a bit hard to tell! I got a better look at Kelso (25 mph) and going over the Teviot Bridge that at least looked fishable.

I arrived at Earlston to be met by the usual friendly faces and the now traditional Black Bun and Hot Coffee. More and more familiar faces and good friends began to arrive and soon the Tent in the Pub car park and the surrounding area was a buzz of excited but slightly nervous anglers. Some talk was of a few fish caught the day before and of the river dropping and clearing. Everyone had crossed fingers particularly the Organising Committee.

Dr. Ronald Campbell the Tweed Foundation Biologist was as usual in attendance and this day gives him a once a year snapshot of the rivers health. The competition is now fully catch and release and has been for a few years. Anglers however accurately measure and record all the fish they catch and the results are tallied up at the end of the day. Additionally keep nets are placed in known hot spots and this enables Dr. Campbell and his staff to do some more detailed analysis including tagging.

After a short briefing by secretary Andrew Foggin and some sorting out of transport we were off to the river. My traveling companion was Campbell Morgan. My fishing partner was Ron Chesney and his traveling companion was Emanuele Gonetto from Largs. We had been drawn on Lower Dryburgh. Tackling up was done in the Abbey car park and as we made our way down to the river the gauge was reading 2' 8'' and the clarity was almost exactly the same.

Obviously Czech Nymphs or "The Bugs " as they are commonly known in Scotland were the order of the day and a few minutes after starting Ron was into a fish, a very nice grayling around 40 cm. This was quickly followed by another one and one lost. As I was fishing above him and slowly working down I was hoping that there were going to be some left for me. Sure enough as I reached the mark my line went tight just after passing level with me and soon a 37 cm grayling in peak condition was in the net. A quick measure and off it went back in to the lie where it came from.

It soon became obvious that this was a hotspot and after we each had had a couple of fish we decided to give it a rest and have a look at the rest of the beat.

A number of fish came from a long straight which was a unlikely piece of water that I walked past on the way up river. Shows you how much I know. Although to be fair the high and coloured water was probably moving the fish out of their more usual type of lies. That's my excuse anyway. 

The river slowly dropped through the day and we were fortunate to catch a few more fish. Ron was top on our beat with ten fish. This included a whopping fish of 49.5 cm. Campbell was close behind him with seven whilst myself and Emanuele had four each. However as Emanuele lost a couple I reckon he beat me at least on points. I was pleased with my day though as in previous years I had only managed a solitary fish on each occasion.

Back at the pub we were grateful for the customary, and as usual excellent Soup and Sandwiches. Mind you when you are paying £3 for the day you do expect to be looked after!

I am starting to save up for next year.

By now the far traveled anglers who were staying the night (including the Irish) and the locals were starting to get the bar till into overdrive. The next best thing to fishing is sitting and drinking in a pub and talking about fishing. How is it then when you are on Diet Coke that, after a while its just not quite the same.

Anyway time for the results announced by the very hard working Peter Hesset. Peter is the Earlston Clubs vice chairman. Together with Andrew Foggin the secretary and he and their many volunteers put in the effort which makes this day one of the highlights of many anglers year.

Hopefully that's enough crawling to get me invited back next year. Seriously though Chaps well done once again.

The results were as follows,

1st     Everyone had a great time

2nd    Some good research was carried out

3rd     Old friendships were renewed and new ones made

4th     The Pub was very busy

5th     Everyone eventually got home safe and mostly well

6th     Paul Davidson caught 13 Grayling

7th     Ron Chesney caught 10 Grayling

8th     Willy Russel caught 8 Grayling

9th     Steve Cullen caught 8 Grayling

10th    46 Anglers returned 152 Fish

Day Out at Kelso

Thursday the 15th of January saw me out on the Kelso Association Waters.

On Monday the weatherman said Thursday would be Calm, Overcast and relatively Mild.

On Wednesday night he said it would be Bright, Windy and Cold.

The Fish Tweed website said the river level would be…..

well maybes OK.

So I only got half ready.

When Margaret's alarm went off it was still well dark so I must have turned over. I woke again just as she was going out which must have been half eight!!!

Must be still tired from the Earlston Grayling Day. Anyway I switched on the computer then the kettle and then the fire. When the tea was made I checked the river height which had dropped in to about 2'8'' and as we have had a lot of water recently I suspected the visibility would be OK. Still I was in no rush and it was about half ten before I set off. Stopped for a sandwich and biscuit at the local shop.

I arrived and was tackled up and just wading into the Teviot at 11.30. The stream was in really good nick and I was ever hopeful. After about 50 yards, still not even a definite take.

I fiddled around with the bugs taking the ubiquitous pink shrimp off the point and on to the top dropper. No difference.

I started going down the “Well it's just nice to be out…. fresh air and scenery etc route”

That didn't work. After about an hour the stream was just starting to peter out when another hook up on the bottom started wriggling. Please stay on. A good grayling. Yes it's in the net. Blank saved, Not that I mind you know!  Maybe the fish are in this slightly slacker water? Closer to the bank I did a quick measure. Fourteen inches on a good day. Lovely. I marked the spot and went carefully back upstream about five yards to go through again. There is bound to be a whole pod of them. Half an hour later, not another touch.

Change of venue, down to the Tweed. Damn there are two anglers in the spot I had planned to fish. Never mind I'll have a chat with them. Going down the bank another one appears, there are three of them!  One has had a nice fish on worm. Killed it by the sound of it. The other lad has lost a fish on Bugs but he is not making a great job of fishing them. With that slack line they will have to hook themselves. Go back to the vehicle to have my lunch.

It's a miracle!! They are packing up to go somewhere else.  Rushing down to the waters edge I nearly go my full length. You think I had never been fishing before!!!  So I fished this one pool about 70 yards long for eight more grayling and a very well mended 1.5 Lb.Sea Trout Kelt

A great afternoon. I also lost around another four or five fish.

The Grayling went,Two at 9 inches,Four at 12 inches,One at 14 inches, and One at 16 inches.

All in great condition, swimming away strongly.

It was well dark when I got home.

Oh yes and the weather.........

it was Calm, Overcast and relatively Mild.

Another Day on the Tweed

The Junction Pool on the Tweed is 35 minutes drive from my front door.

Yesterday however, it took 1 hour 45 minutes. That's what happens when you get there on a perfect winter fishing day and find out that you have left your waistcoat at home!

No flies, No leader, No snips, NO NOTHING!

(What happened there then Mr. CHECKLIST ROBBIE ?!!!)

So it was near one o clock before I got started.

The river was at 2'7" and running with just a touch of colour.

The sun was shining.

It was very mild.

I had the river to myself. 

Nae Fish!

I was trying out a new rod so that must have been the problem.

Couldn't be me could it?                                            

I was in the same spot as I had caught 8 fish last week. so what was the difference?

I changed two of the flies and went back down the swim again.

A Grayling, nice but on the fly I hadn't changed? I went down a third time, nothing.  Well a change of venue was called for so I jumped in the car and went downriver about a mile.

The main stream was running very strongly but there was a lovely seam on the edge of it with the water about 6 feet deep. Five minutes later and a heavy thump and a heavy fish. Which was difficult to hold in the current. This could be a decent grayling, it certainly feels like grayling. A flash of yellow belly and all of a sudden it's a brownie.

A kelt. Must be over 20 inches long. A quick photo and back in to the river with a prayer to hope I bump into it again in about 4 or 5 months time. 

This stream goes on for a hundred yards and produces another three good grayling including this one in the photo below. Then it was dark.

Sorry about the splash on the photo                        

All in all not a bad afternoon. A few good fish and a good recovery from a poor start.                                 And the rod?  Great. Well I would say that wouldn't I 'cos I do sell them.

A Greys Missionary 5 Piece, 10'3" 4/5

Really light with a great action for slinging out the Bugs. It plays the fish well and has that extra bit of length for coverage without losing control.

I also think it will make a great Spider Rod.  I keep all my river gear in an old bakers tray for a one shot lift into the car boot and it fits in there just nice.

So it will live in there with my Waistcoat ready for next week.

Another Day on the...................

Last week the Weatherman said next Tuesday would be Horrendous.

Temperatures below Zero!

and Snow!

and Gales!

In January!!!!

Well.. (In the words of John Motson)

"Would you beleeeve it?"

Or was it Victor Meldrew?

Anyway Tuesday dawned with Clear Sunny Skies, a Gentle Breeze and although it had been frosty it was pleasant outside with virtually no windchill factor.

I got to Kelso around 11.30; Kitted up and was into the River with high hopes in a matter of minutes. The rod was still made up from the last outing! A friendly wave to one of the Tweed boatman who was fishing on the other bank. Forty minutes later naery a touch. The boatman has had two on the far bank but it did look as if he was on bait.

Downriver once again. Another thirty minutes and then a fish.

On the Heavy, Red, Lite Brite, Shellback, Bug.   I need another name for that Fly!

A nice grayling about the 12" mark. Ten minutes later another one just a tad bigger. This is more like it.  Do the same bit again, nothing.

Right, now for a complete change of venue. Off to the Threpenny Bit Hut a few miles drive downriver. A 10 minute hike back upstream and there is a long gravelly bottomed glide about 6 or 7 feet deep.

I must have fished at least a hundred yards of this and not even a definite take.

Apparently there are plenty Grayling here in the Summer.

Maybe they are still on there Xmas Holidays.

Well at least the weather is fine. A Glorious Afternoon. I tramped a bit father upriver and fished for a bit but the stream I was in now was a bit plain. No Seams or Swellings or Eddies if you know what I mean. And no fish. At least not for me. There there somewhere.

15.00 hrs. Decision Time. Back Upstream/Call it a Day?   A quick march back to the vehicle will at least warm my toes up and I will make my mind up on the way.

Back Upstream it is then.

Third cast and a fish on Richard Vipond's Goldhead. The one I have is a Peachy Orange creation. It was in the Flydressers Guild Magazine not so long ago. Caught me a lot of fish lately.  Couple of casts later another one. The goldhead again.

Well that's already a better day and my decision to keep going has been the right one.

Ten minutes later and I have two on at once. Luckily the smaller one is on the point and I manage to unhook both of them in the water. One on the Pink one on the Goldhead.

Feeling like the King now!

Not long after a real stabbing take but when I lift up it is the bottom. Damn. Holding the Rod up to the fading light I see the "Bottom" is moving upstream.  Must be a Salmon Kelt or even a Springer. Its really heavy but dour. When I see a Grayling Dorsal fin break the surface I am almost panic stricken. Goodness, it must be huge.

No.

Its a Grayling about fifteen inches long, hooked exactly in the centre of its side......... When I was telling my mate Paul Buchanan about it that night he said it must have been like playing an Otter Board. That's exactly what it was like. Sigh..........

The light is really starting to go now and the breeze has completley dropped. I feels positively mild now.

Weathermen..... PAH!

Something catches the corner of my eye. Was it a fish. There it goes again.

My God its Snowing!    In January! 

I have never caught a Grayling in the snow before. Keep casting.

A nice looking bit of water is just out of wading reach so I try a High Sticking come

Cross-stream type of Chuck with about 6 micro mends to get the flies deep and glory be a Grayling. Its only small 10" or so but its in the snow as the light is fading. Yes!

Driving home the White Stuff is really coming down. Thank god for 4WD.

Clever people these Weathermen.     Now if they could only get a new Clock.......

Grayling

A Magnificent Brace of Grayling.

These grayling were caught on the Tweed System by Ronnie Glass of Kelso. They are both Males and the Larger fish is 50cm and the smaller one is 45cm. The bigger one was caught on the last cast of the day just as the light was fading on a late Winters day in 2003.

Ronnie is not only a First Class Flyfishermen but also a Talented Artist as he mounted the fish himself! He even tied the fly he caught them on; a Hares Ear type Czech Nymph or Bug as they are more commonly known in Scotland.

The Grayling are for sale but you will have to dig very deep to cover the cost of the many, many hours Ronnie has put into this project.

Ronnie does undertake commissions and can be contacted on 01890 830367 or ronglass.casts@virgin.net

Please note that the quality of the photo has been downgraded for website purposes but any photo would struggle to do justice to this wonderful piece of work.

Hardy's

We have now been appointed Hardy Dealers and are in the process of taking delivery of their stock.

We will be concentrating on the Trout and Grayling Flyfishing equipment.

However we hope to have their clothing in stock once their total revamp has been competed.

We are delighted to be associated with probably the best known brand in Flyfishing.

A good friend of mine Ian McCormack who is the Commercial Director of Greys has now been appointed as the Commercial Director of Hardy's as well. Having recently had a couple of Business Meetings with Ian I am in no doubt that Hardy's are a brand going in the right direction.

Good luck to Ian and all at Greys' and Hardy's.

P. S. Contrary to some rumours on a web forum Hardy's are not American owned. 

(This from Ian himself although that's not how he put it!)

Margaret & Robbie Bell
Game Fair
12 Marygate
Berwick upon Tweed
Northumberland
TD15 1BN

Telephone: 01289 305119

E.Mail: robbie@gamefair-flyfishing.net