An autumn day Salmon fishing 2

Photo 01 -  Mike on the Tweed almost floating, aerialising some line.

 

An autumn day Salmon fishing 2

On the appointed day at the appointed hour club competition winner Mike Wood and member who has given the most work to the club this year Gordon McClurg and I met up on the lower stretches of the Upper Pavilion Salmon beat on the queen of Salmon Rivers the River Tweed. The day being very kindly donated to the club by the beat owner Major Sir Neil Westbrook to whom we are most indebted.

 Photo - 02 Gordon casting to the far bank at the Brig end pool.

 

Eager to get started they tackled up quickly and after a brief resume of the pools on the entire beat we headed off to commence fishing at the viaduct around the middle of the beat. On his third cast Mike had the rod tip wavering violently as a Salmon attacked it with fury but alas let it go just as quickly the day looked like it could be a good one! However over the next half hour Mike had endured two further takes and hooked none. By this point there was much examination of terminal tackle and techniques employed!

 Photo 03 - A diseased Salmon which swam through mikes legs, photo courtesy of Jake the ghillie.

 

Ghillie Jake appeared at this point and pronounced that there was nothing wrong with either and that in fact for a first time Salmon fisherman Mike was doing extremely well, so much so that he commented “experienced” fishermen often do not attain the standard achieved by Mike.

Seasoned Salmon angler Gordon who had at this point touched nothing was also quick to agree and it must be said showed remarkable concentration for one who has just come of the fags!. So it was off to pastures new with a change of fly to see if that could make the crucial difference. After much thrashing of the water (it was whipped into a Creamola Foam type froth on slower sections) the end result turned out to be the same – no knocks or indeed fish!

At this point we stopped for lunch to ease the back muscles severely strained by repeated casting. Fish were jumping absolutely everywhere we looked, all however showing varying degrees of colour from pink to black these having been in the river for a few months and unlikely to take a fly. What we were looking for were fish being silver in colour, indicating they were fresh into the river from the sea and more likely to take an anglers fly. Only two such fish were spotted in the morning but even they could not be tempted!

 Photo 04 - Mike in so deep I thought he would end up in Berwick!

 

Charged up with food drink and good cheer we set off again to a new pool on the beat. Redoubling our efforts the outlook looked rosy when Gordon made some arm movements to suggest that he had contacted with a fish but like Mike’s encounters it was short lived. It was difficult to capitulate (not that they wanted to) with the amount of fish splashing all over the place. Uttering the words of one who kneels never entered their heads. No, gritty resolve saw them battle on to the darkening, their flys covering every part of the water within their casting range. Unfortunately that was how the day ended with no fish to show for all the hard work expended! Two real troopers who gave their all on a day when catching fish was clearly not on the menu!

 Photo 05 - Gordon waits for a knock!

 

There was no disappointment however; the dynamic duo were completely thrilled by the experience of fishing the famous River Tweed and not having to pay the 1200GBP daily fee for the privilege of so doing! Recent visitors including magnates of industry and TV personalities who also ended up with empty nets.

There was exceptionally fine weather for the time of year, good company in the fellowship of angling, fish showing everywhere bringing the hunter/gatherer instinct to the fore. This was a day under the banner of true angling where the cares of everyday life are banished to the outer reaches of the mind allowing descent into the very depths of nature, this is the pot of gold available to real anglers!

 Photo 06 - A cock and a hen that didn't make it!

 

A day free of ninnyhammers, brags, blowhards and cretins in the mould of Mr Kens and Dangerman types, in their own words the day was –“just perfect”!

I will speak of our day with the Major and ask if he would be kind enough to grant them a day when the spring fishing starts early next year with the aim of seeing a fish on the bank for a photo! Yes a benevolent beat owner and two anglers cast in solid gold. With members such as above there are no dark clouds on the horizon for the club, could it get any better? Gordon Mike an absolute pleasure fishing with you both!

Postscript the River Tweed of late has been fishing very poorly with all beats being affected in spite of high numbers of fish entering the river system. Click the link to see how the Tweed Foundations explain away this anomaly. http://news.rivertweed.org.uk/blog/_archives/2011/11/8/4935458.html

 

Not the way to behave!

A couple of anglers arrived yesterday to bivvy at the village hall overnight. They also hired a boat and seemed reasonable types. Because of the mess of numerous charred areas on the grass at the hall Ian had asked them to confine their fire to a particular area. On checking today it was evident their fire had been sited in an area out with the area specified by our loch keeper. First mistake! Ian asks anglers to do certain things for a reason, he is keen to see regrowth of the grass in all the charred areas bar a nominated fire site. How can regrowth be promoted if fires are constantly set in different areas.

 Photo 07 - A graceful mute swan seen on Thursday.

 

The other half of the duo had at this time been rowing the boat back to the boathouse and their mistake was highlighted by Ian. All appeared to be well and it seemed they had acknowledged their mistake which would have been fine. However on leaving the loch several swear words were directed to our loch keeper. Second and final mistake, you might have thought it a smart move lads, it was in fact a really dumb move!

Here’s the lowdown lads – if our loch keeper asks you to do something, you do it without question if you want to fish our lochs. No one else seems to have a problem with this except you two. 

Bottom line, we will not allow our loch keeper to be subject to verbal abuse, consequently you are barred from fishing for a period of one year from today. We have your names and car details and if you want to come back after your ban is up your opening sentence had better contain the words “sincere apology” or you will be chased again! Today you acted like Muppets and shamed decent anglers everywhere!

 Photo 08 - The restored plaque at the War Memorial.

 

Giving something back

A few weeks ago Ian asked me to have a look at the war memorial close to the AA box in the village. He said Mrs Mitchell (the elder) could remember when the memorial was easily read as the printing was highlighted in black against a golden background, but now the whole plaque was black (with corrosion) readable only at close quarters. He asked if I would be interested in restoring it to its former glory.

A small part of my work is restoring clock dials for the jewellery trade so I had a look at it and on examination found under the black patination the base metal was yellow brass.

So today Ian and I went along and carried out some work on the plaque and in less than an hour we had her looking shipshape. Now all that is required is a rub with a very fine abrasive pad two or three times a year which will keep the plaque in tip top condition as a fitting memorial to those who paid the ultimate price in the quest for freedom from tyranny.

Mrs Mitchell we hope you like the restored plaque.

We have on a number of occasions had to rely on members of the local community to help us out it is therefore only right and proper that we return the favour at no cost to them. The club also provided the generator to supply power to work the machinery required to carry out the work. It’s true what they say, giving is better than receiving; it was just a small gesture from the club to say thanks for putting up with us! Oh and Ian you made a mighty fine metalwork apprentice. Thanks for your help!

Membership Renewals

Renewal applications are now being accepted for the 2012 season. There is no increase in the membership fee of £30.00, a fee which we have managed to cap since 2004. Members desirous of membership renewal should send a cheque for £30.00 to John Wright 8 Castle Place Dunbar EH42 1JD

A kind of serial Pike catcher!

You’ve heard the name before its Kris Olson, one of our members who comes up with some astonishing catches of Pike. Well he did it again today! During a six hour session on the Lowes he managed a total of seven Pike including a twelve, a ten a seven and four Pike between three and five pounds. How does he do it? I don’t know, but he does use vermin (Roach) as bait which may be the magical factor. 

Think I might visit our friends at the Glen Cafe and give them a pair of binoculars to keep him under surveillance whenever he comes! Oh and Cath /Lisa the cheese burgers you did for us today were delicious, cooked to perfection and all the lads at the tree planting/habitat improvement works (story next week) say thanks!

Nepotism by another name

Minister without a clue in the Con – dem administration George Osborne has followed in the footsteps of industry desecrator super witch Margaret Thatcher by selling off public assets for next to nothing! Yes this fool palmed off Northern Rock owned by the taxpayer on to pal’s, city bigwigs Wilbur Ross and Richard Branson for the miserly sum of 747 million pounds. These fat cats know a bargain when they see one unlike Mr Osborne who couldn’t spot one if it was perched on the end of his nose!

This cocaine snorting public schoolboy seems to enjoy frittering away the assets owned by us passing huge bargains on to their own kind whilst we buckle under their oppressive and punitive regime. My dearest wish is that the public service workers bring this inept and corrupt administration to its knees and replace them with some realists and people who have a clue!