I posted the article in January and crossed my fingers

9000 salmon caught was my guess

Heavens I was wrong with nearly 10500 of the silver creatures being caught on rod and line on the Tweed System

Considering the conditions that is OK… not good but OK
Considering the number of people who paid to fish but never fished because of poor water levels and lots of bad publicity OK … not good but OK

Spring fishing at 10% or so of autumn fishing is a real issue.
Again there is very little fishing actually happening as the poor spring catches creates a ” Catch 22 “” few fish … few fishers..few fish caught … fewer fishers …. and on it goes

We have been fishing regularly since February with complete beginners who are getting great value due to lack of demand and therefore reasonable fishing beat prices
We have seen springers and even had the odd one on.
We have caught and released a number of well mended kelts which have bent the rod and brought a smile to the fisher

In addition reasonable numbers of good early sea trout are being reported although no one really fishes for them.
As one ghillie is reported to have said when presented with a lovely 6 lb sea trout bar of silver

 ” That’s not a fish its a sea trout” !!!

But more of that next post

Guiding on the River Tweed System
www.tweedguide.com

Scotland leading supplier of river fishing experiences

The new Hardy Unique rods were christened and declared a delight to cast with

 Glorious weather and great fun ( watch out for that sloe gin) meant that the Hertfordshire squad organised by Lyn May had a day to remember.

Maria decided to swim down the Tweed and her later striptease has been banned by UTUBE

Doughnut’s first ever salmon must be the most photographed fish in Scotland . The new orange whistle proved a winner with bodies running in all directions to witness the feat.
King Fisher as he is now renamed phoned half of England with his expoits and has applied to be a fishing correspondent
Tris’s hands are still frozen from holding the salmon in the spring water and releasing it . 
Ken’s ” Billy “Gunn tube fly is now officially considered too deadly for everyday use.

“We will return “, was the cry as the party headed off to do waste to the central Borders

Host Kevin kindly fired up the wood burning stove Lynn had the stew on the go and a great time was had by all

Carmel had the first fish of the day as the photo proves !!

Carmel with her 45cm grayling

Lynn the cook, Kevin the gillie and Lucy the boss

The FFE ladies with kevin and Chris

Salmon at Selkirk

Yes a genuine salmon on the Tweed System!

Believe part of the media , some of the fishing professionals and the like and you may be mistaken into thinking that the Tweed saw no salmon in 2009.

My how we like to moan and bleat at times

First the spring was rubbish. Then we had 5 months with virtually no rain

Finally we had another dry period in the prime month of September

OK there were record floods in November but that is only a variation on what normally happens

So I am guessing now but I reckon that about 9000 salmon were caught on the Tweed in 2009. Down yes Disaster no Cause for concern yes for spring fishing

Apart from the Dee which had an excellent spring it was pretty well business as usual for salmon but the headlines are dire

If we continue to knock the Tweed then we will deserve fewer fishers, empty hotels  less jobs and a reduction in the number of people discovering that the Scottish Borders is an unsung inland island of beauty and heritage

So get real and tell it as it is

In the summer of 2009 I managed to see this life size carving of a cock salmon of around 8-10lb. Originally it was painted to show spawning colours  but when it was discovered in the early 20th century some bright spark gave it a wash!!!  They were trying to sell it to the Germans at the time and thought they had better give it a rub down first.

So how long have mankind been fishing for salmon?

Admittedly this ancient French man wasn’t using a Willie Gunn a Posh Tosh or even a Collie Dog.   A series of puncture wounds carved into the side show that he was a bloomin gaffer.

But the amazing thing

This carving was made 25000   … yes twenty five thousand years ago.

8 or so times as old as the pyramids or whatever

To see this thing the French have decided that you need blind luck ( that was me) and planning and ability to speak French + it is only on show twice a week to 8 people each time.

The route to it is hidden

The tourist centre next door don’t know where it is ( and don’t care).

But find it , see it . The guide is fabulous , gorgeous , enthusiastic , speaks English although she says she doesn’t

I went a bit misty eyed and emotional but then I am a fishing fool

The Tweed during the worst winter sice 1947. I was't around then but my next door neighbour tells me he was trapped up the Yarrow Valley for 2 weeks in 1947 and was late for National Service, so I think he is right