CROWN FLY FISHERS
WINTER REPORTS 2004/05
RIVER TUMMEL - 18/11/04....The Tummel was approximately two feet above summer level and in great condition as six rods fished the first winter league outing of the season. Weather conditions were excellent and optimism was high that a good number of grayling would be caught. It was therefor surprising that only one fish was landed and returned. Hugh Skeoch did have two on and lost both, one of which was a large fish, Rab Brazier also lost a good fish and Tam Campbell who did manage to land one also lost another. Grayling on a large fast flowing river are not easy to land and when they start to twist in the current there is not much you can do about it. Tam's fish took the Orange Head Hare that appears on the patterns page and weighed around the pound mark.
Tummel grayling, note the same fly that appears on the patterns page can be seen in the fishes mouth.
RIVER TEVIOT - 4/12/04....A strong downstream wind and low clear water made conditions far from easy on the Jedburgh AC beat on the Teviot. Bait anglers trotting maggots and sweet corn had better results than those fishing the fly. Fish were well spread and anglers had to keep moving to find them. The last hour before darkness fell was the most productive and it is worth hanging on even on a dour day as grayling seem to be more responsive around this time. Stewart Wallace was top rod with five, four of which were taken on his own Glister Shrimp and Tam Campbell and Rab Brazier had three each. Heavy bugs were the order of the day with Peeping Caddis, Orange Head Hare and Fox Squirrel Nymph all accounting for fish.
A nice run on the Teviot near Jedburgh
CRAUFURDLAND FISHERY - 30/12/04....After a less than festive welcome from the fishery manager eight rods enjoyed some good sport on a four hour catch and release ticket in wet and blustery conditions. Right from the off small lures on intermediate lines retrieved as slow as possible proved to be the taking method. The pegs on the right hand bank looking out from the cabin seemed to produce more fish but as shelter could be found from the strong swirling wind this was the reason most of the rods were concentrated here. Successful patterns included Green Pea, Yellow Dancer and Red Headed Damsel. Twenty four fish were caught with Tam Campbell and Hugh Skeoch both releasing five.
EARLSTON GRAYLING COMPETITION - RIVER TWEED 15/01/05....This seasons competition produced record returns with well over two hundred grayling caught and returned to the Tweed. Club member Ron Chesney had the two largest fish of the day with one at fifty two centimeters and one at fifty one. These fish came from the Pavillion beat upstream of Melrose and were part of a bag of eight nice grayling. Hugh Skeoch also had eight from the Tweedswood beat and Robert Irvine had five from Dryburgh. Thankfully the river hight had fallen from the raging torrent of the previous week to a fishable level and only had a tinge of colour left. Local expert Grant Gibson was the overall winner with a magnificent bag of seventeen from Melrose and with plenty of double figure bags figuring in the returns the Tweed was certainly producing the goods. Most of the fish taken were on heavily weighted patterns fished on a short line on or just off the river bed.
A nice grayling of 45cms from Middle Merton on the Tweed
RIVER TWEED - MELROSE - 29/01/05....A beautiful spring like day greeted the six rods who journeyed down to Melrose for this winter league outing. The river had fined right down after the huge floods at the beginning of the month and was crystal clear. This beat is heavily fished nowadays and the grayling can be quite shy, so finding small pockets of fish that have been overlooked is the key to success. Wullie Watters certainly managed that with four nice fish, the best at 48cms all taken on bugs with Stewart's Glister Shrimp one of the successful patterns. Second was Tam Campbell who also had four, with the Yellow Grub and Gold Head Caddis Pupa accounting for two apiece. Robin Brazier was third with two, although when he learns how to keep them on will no doubt see his points total rise.
Wullie Watters lands his third Tweed grayling
MIDDLETON FISHERY - 12/02/05....A strong cold northerly and frequent, heavy showers with sunny spells tested the seven members to the limit at this north Ayrshire venue in the hills above Largs. In fact during one particularly vicious shower the only anglers left on the water were the CFF members. The rainbows here are top quality and don't seem to know when to give up. Unluckiest angler of the day was Wullie Osborne who caught a large double sporting a bright green tag, this fish was safely returned as the tag competition didn't start until the following week. Winner was Wullie Watters for the second outing running with four nice fish all returned. Tam Campbell had a fin perfect fish (see news page)at 6:02 and Stewart Wallace had a nice one around 4:00. The winning bag all fell to a Gold Head Damsel with a Sunburst tail, a version of the Technocat accounted for Tam's big fish and other white lures were also successful. Most anglers were on Fastglass or Wet-cell 2 lines. This venue is highly recommended.
Stewart with a superb Middleton rainbow around the 4:00 mark
REGAL FISHERY - DRUMCLOG - 5/03/05....A bitterly cold northerly wind and bright sunshine made conditions difficult at this popular fishery complex near Drumclog. Stewart Wallace adapted to the conditions best, finishing the day with six rainbows. Hugh Skeoch had three with the remaining anglers all managing two apiece. Small black lures such as the Makay and Green Pea were successful and old favourites Yellow Dancer and Orange Fritz also featured. Lures were fished on mainly intermediate lines but Stewart also caught on a DI - 3. A number of fish fell to mini Black Rabbit lures suspended from a sight bob fished on a floater. This fishery is improving fast with the cabin extended and new kitchen and toilet facilities and is well worth a visit.