The onliners broke the 600 salmon barrier (604 to be precise), the best fishing week of the year. With multitudinous non-onliners added in the overall Tweed score is well over 800. Among them were some very big fish. The Lees had three measuring over 40 inches all in magnificent condition.
Conditions for salmon fishing could hardly have been better all week, low water temperature, sometimes windy and always cool (until Saturday pm) and with the odd lift in water levels, just to keep things moving.
Lower Birgham
Well another great week on the river at Lower Birgahm. The week was split into 2 separate groups for 3 days, and both half’s of the week hooked and landed similar numbers of fish. We finished the week on 28 salmon, with a mix of bigger older fish and some smaller grilse. There were the odd fish being caught that were a little fresher. Including a 20lb hen fish that was very silver and was even looking closely to see if there were sea lice on her. But there wasn’t. The fish were mainly caught using quite heavy sink tips and various flies/tubes. From very small Little Francis coneheads to great big ugly red snealda’s. But another good weeks fishing. As things look at the moment I think some fresh water wouldn’t be a disaster, hopefully bring some fresh fish in and mix up what’s in the river already. But as with all these things if it starts raining will it know when to stop? The outlook this week looks pretty settled and warmer temperatures so don’t think we will get our lift in water this week. We will Need to work hard to try and convince these fish that taking our flies really is a good idea!!
Carham
We now have fish holding on the beat for the first time in a long while. Monday, the week started with 11" on the gauge, and a water temp of 56f. Rods caught 4 fish between 4lb and 14lb, all on fly. Tuesday, 1'1" on the gauge, and 56f water temp. 4 fish between 7lb and 16lb, all on fly. Wednesday, 1'7" on the gauge, and 52f water temp. 3 fish were landed between 12lb and 18lb. Due to the small coloured lift, spinning was the method of choice. Thursday, 1' and 52f water temp. 8 fish were landed, between 6lb and 17lb, on a mixture of fly and spinner. Friday, 10" on the gauge, and 50f water temp. 11 fish between 3lb and 22lb, again they were taken on a mixture of fly and spinner. Saturday, we were at 8" and 52f water temp. Only 2 fish landed, 3 and 13lb, 1 on fly and 1 on spinner. Not many fresh fish showing up in the catches now, but plenty older fish still being caught. Yet another lift of water early on in the week set us up for the rest of the week again. Overcast conditions were here all week, along with cooler temps later in the week. Floaters with slow sinking or inter tips, and size 8 dressed flies or small copper tubes. Rapalas and flying cs were effective on their days aswell.
Boleside
Last week was one of mixed fortunes for the beat. We had a nice sea trout on Monday and heavy rain on Tuesday morning saw the river rise and things went very quiet. Thankfully Friday afternoon saw the fish switch on and Peter Diggles party land 5 salmon all on the fly with 3 of the rods catching there first ever salmon, the best being Peter landing a brute of 22lb cock fish on a small orange Ally Shrimp. It was a great fight that was expertly netted by Alex Goddard who landed her first salmon on the same day. Things quitened again on Saturday with only 1 salmon landed. With the weather set to remain warm and the water low we will continue with summer fishing tactics of intermediate tip and smaller doubles. Hopefully with varying our fish times we can still manage to connect with some.
Catches
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