Week of the 2nd June
Firstly I’d like to address why Angus and I were fishing and where the tenants were.
The Birketts were hosting a big charity event back home at Rievaulx estate on Friday and therefor travelled home to oversee it on Thursday.
We had no water until Thursday when the river came up to 0” on the gauge dropping to minus 2”. 4 salmon were caught. I had a 9lb salmon on a sunray hitch in Keepers then two salmon at 9 and 10lb from the Morail slowly stripping an 8 Kyley across the good spots. I also had a sea trout of about 2.5lb and 1.5lb. I also lost a good fish after 5 minutes. Angus Griffiths caught a fish of about 12lb from Contractors. Angus also lost 1. I think it was in the Washerwoman.
Saturday saw the river rise to 1ft 6. 8 Salmon and the first grilse of the season were caught. 6 salmon were also lost, 5 of them leading them to where we land them in the Morail.
I landed 5 salmon from the tail of the Morail at 15, 14, 14, 10 and 7lb. I also landed the grilse in Kennel run. I lost the other fish in Kennel run, having played it for 5 minutes and having absolutely no control over it that time.
Angus caught 3 all from the tail of the Morail weighing 12, 10 and 8lb. He also lost the other 3.
I believe the opposition had 2 salmon from the Morail weighing about 15 and 17lb
We all know salmon are becoming more scarce and on a red-letter day like this I always try and get the tenants to take advantage of the conditions. Here is why. I stopped briefly for lunch but Angus kept fishing and he caught 2 fish. He went for his lunch when I got back and I caught 2 fish. If we’d both stopped we’d have been 4 fish down. Need I say more!!
