Conditions		Fish Caught in the Past Week		Fish Caught this Season so far
River Height: Water Temp: Wind:	0’9 52	Salmon: Grilse: Sea Trout:	7 3	Salmon: Grilse: Sea Trout:	84 37 27

Comments

This was a productive week with 7 salmon & 3 grilse.  Majority of them were coloured. 

On Monday I met with James Cheers & his party who were fishing on Cairnton for the 1st 3 days. The river was reading 1’3 and 52°f.  James started in the cottage pool, we seen a handful of fish splashing around.  James hooked a 12lb hen fish in the cottage run with a floating line and fast sink tip with a Willie Gunn copper tube from my box.  Sadly the river started rising and it killed the sport. 

Tuesday the river was reading at 2’2 but dropping fast.  I suggested we fish a lot deeper than what we had been.  Bob Sanderson caught a 5lb grilse from Glisters using a 10ft extra fast sink up with a tungsten conehead.  We fished blackhall but no joy. 

On Wednesday James caught a fish from the tail of the cottage pool with a black & yellow copper tube with a 7ips sink tip. It was great catching up with friends from my time on the Tyne. 

Thursday I had new faces to the beat  John Wallace & Mike Mawhinney. We discussed tactics over coffee. John also mentioned he would be grateful if I could get Mike a fish as it was his 60th birthday.  John started  in the cottage pool & Mike started the Grey mare, the 2 promising pools.  Sadly no fish to be reported over lunch. I suggested that we would  leave the Grey mare to rest and that’s where Mike would  fish the pool at last light.  I personally believe you can hammer pools too hard especially with a few residents that can be hard to get a hold of. 

I set up Mike up with a fast sink tip with a sunray shadow. I was delighted to receive a pictures of his personal biggest fish an 18lb, what a way to end this birthday! 

On Friday I caught up with Mike in the cottage pool on his Second run down the pool. He offered me a cast as he needed to head back to his vehicle for his sunglasses. On my 1st cast I landed a 7lb cock fish.

Saturday  I had Juan Santamaria and Craig Fleming fishing the beat. Sadly the other rod I had organised couldn’t make it. So I would fit in with a cast at some point. 

Juan started in the Grey Mare heading down into the Cottage Pool, Cottage Run and Potters 

Craig started in  Glisters heading down to the end of the beat. 

I was on Juan shoulder for most of the morning. we seen a good number of fish but nothing would show any interest.  I had a cast before lunch in the Upper Ferroch and landed a 6lb cock fish on a 8ips tip and the favourite sunray, with a slow retrieve.  Craig got onto the scoresheet with a 6lb hen from the Glisters. Using a  s1/s2 line & a sunray.

Juan started in Upper Ferroch after lunch, had no interest but seen plenty of fish splashing around. I met up with Juan at 5 and he wanted to fish the Cottage pool. I suggested he left the Grey mare until the sun was off the water, then strip a Sunray through the pool at last light. My plan was to do the same  in the upper Ferroch  after a hour rest. I caught two fish one at the head of the pool and the other from the tail-end  5lb and 7lb again on the same method. 

On my way my home I caught up with Juan who looked disappointed with my news. So I give him my rod with the set up that did the damage

& off he shot for the last 40 min in the Grey mare  he returned at my house with a big smile he caught one & lost one. 

A big hand shaking and smiles to end a good week. 

Let’s hope next week we have good sport. 

Tight lines

Terry