October was a month of mixed waters and mixed blessings. By in large ,fishing was fairly good, but ruined once or twice by smaller tributaries coming down in their own muddy flood and discharging into the main rivers. The other hindrance at times was really bright sunshine when waters fell in low to create a mood where salmon were seen lying in pools, yet refused to take anything cautiously thrown at them.
Iain Bell recalled how he was able to see 23 salmon of a total of about 60 in low water sun shine up at Irvine house Beat. He watched the anglers fly come over the shoal and none batted an eyelid.
Suggesting a deeper sink tip, the angler had another go.- Still no interest. A slow retrieve with a 'square cast' was suggested and suddenly a 12 pounder raised itself and launched at the fly, only to pluck and take short , returning to it's lie. Next cast a grilse did the same thing and let go.- Time for a contemplative cuppa, admit defeat and just enjoy watching the fish !
With the river at a good height most of the time, some good sport was had, although on odd occasions, fish just kept running hard.
At Tower & Hollows beats; up for his first ever salmon trip, Steve Skidmore was delighted to return a hard fighting wee hen fish of 4 3/4lbs on flying C from Crooked pool. Richard Taylor of Yorks, fished all week until ' the eleventh hour ' to finally be rewarded with a 12 lb cock fish landed on no.2 mepps just before going home.
D. Patmore landed a grilse on worm from Dunk. Peter Lawson caught a brace of salmon to 12lbs from Tower pool in difficult sunlight.
Alastair Duncan returned a silver hen fish of 6 1/2lbs to Plane Trees. J. Patmore likewise returned a 10 1/2lb hen to Caul pool , caught on spinner and John Webb of Yorks returned a 6 pounder from the Locking posts also on spinner. John Ellis landed a beautifully fresh small grilse in flying C , also from Locking posts Mrs. Heather Gibson landed a silver cock grilse of 4 lb 9 oz on an
orange F/C from Shortsholm, where Alan Dunn also had a brace to 7 1/2 lbs on spinner.
Irvine House Beats, produced their fair share of salmon, with Joe Haselden landing a brace to 9lbs at the Skelly on Cascade fly, where David Lawson also landed a brace to 5lbs. Martin Coulthard caught a 9 1/2 lb salmon from Watties Stream,
Nick Latham caught a grilse from Peats Hole, but also a beautiful 16 pounder from Boat Pool. John Richardson also had a good fish from Boat Pool ,of 13lbs on fly. Dave Pick landed a brace from Tarras & Boat Pool and Brenda Coates got one for the ladies ,catching a 4 lb grilse at Tarras Stane. Richard Morris used a black /red tube fly to tempt a 9 pounder from Boat pool, where Peter Smith also had a grilse on worm and K.Smith one of 7lbs on fly.
Ken Blaize landed a brace to 9 1/2 lbs there on spinner. Downstream at the Island , Mick Benson caught a 9 lb cock fish and Bill Pitts also had a fish, dropping down to Mid pool to land another of 7lbs, his fishing partner John Grosse also getting a 7 pounder there on spinner.
Willow & Cauldron beats recorded 39 salmon caught for the month, the biggest of which was a 25 lb cock fish landed by John McRae on the fly from Willow . among the many who enjoyed good sport were John Barry with 3 grilse to 6lbs, Peter Robinson with a brace of 14 pounders from Cauldron on spinner . Peter Bomphrey had an 18lb fish also from Cauldron, Chris Makin a fresh run grilse and W. Leonard one also. J. Brockley had 3 for the day to 12lbs, two of which were sea liced. Ron Parker of Yorks landed a brace to 9 lbs and lost another. M. Benson
tempted a 6lb grilse on fly but his guest Eric landed a 10 pounder and lost two.
Young rods Alex and Simon Laidler returned a fish a piece to 12lbs . Charles Packett returned a 7lb fish to Cauldron on worm. Mr. Wilmot returned a 12 lb hen and P. Bellamy a 14 lb cock fish. Ron Hoare landed a brace of good grilse from Bells Weir & Willow , where I. Douglas also took a 7 lb fish. Simon Charrington was delighted with a brace of salmon to 19lbs , one on silver stoat,the other on worm and M.Lazenby caught a 5 lb cock fish. On the last day of the
season, Richard Taylor of Yorks landed two to 15 lbs and lost another brace on spinner.
Catch returns are still coming in for the permit waters of Canonbie, Langholm, Low Liddle and Newcastleton, but some of the fish caught are as follows;- Terry Clift of Yorks landed a 6 lb grilse on fly at Schelly Hole, Chris Burke a similar grilse from Ha Pool on Low Liddle, Peter Morley caught a 6 1/2 lb grilse at Canonbie. Antione Machinal of France returned a fit 19lb hen salmon caught on fly at Langholm, John Mills caught a 4 1/2lb grilse there on a wee double also and James
Gannon , up from Wales landed a brace of grilse on worm. Neil Johnston returned 3 salmon to 14 lbs on fly on Newcastleton Beat . Lower down the Liddle on boat pool at Harlaw, A.J. Sutton from Bungay, caught a 6 3/4 lb salmon on spinner.
Thoughts will now turn to spawning and indeed the brown trout have already started cutting redds in the small burns, some of which are now more easily accessible due to works carried out on hindrances to fish passage during the summer. The sea trout will not be far behind,
but seem to prefer a good frost to set them going.
October 2010
