In July especially, after some good floods, we have often good sport with the grilses or young salmon; and the fly is the only lure I ever used to them. I have known them take May fly, and also minnows, at this time; but fly is the readiest, and they are far more greedy on it now than when the season is farther advanced. It is also the most delightful time of the year to wade in, the water being of a mild temperature. But the real time of salmon fishing on Tweed (I speak of, perhaps forty miles up from the sea), is reckoned after the nets were taken off, which used to be 15th October, and we had to the 7th November inclusive, allowed for rod fishing only. This is now altered, and extended to the 30th November for the rod, and no other lure than fly allowed. I may mention, that the Bill of 1858, by some mismanagement, the Marquis of Westminster chairman of committee, not clearly understanding the point, closed the nets on the 1st, and the rod fishing on the 14th October, and in allusion to this circumstance, and the great many poachers who come from the adjacent towns at this time, the following appeared in the Border Advertiser' of Galashiels : 6 ON THE CLOSING DAY OF SALMON FISHING TUNE.-Tibbie Fuller. Bonnie Tweed at Thornilee, There's ower mony fishing at her; Whipping at her, switching at her, There's ower mony fishing at her. Six cam creeping o'er the hill, Twa at Betty's, three at Tam's, Gif par or smoult but tak a midge, Whipping at her, etc. Gif a' their rods were laid at ends, And a' their lines baith white and sable : 1 The House of Lords having altered the day, 7th November, to 14th October. The tain would be a guid Scotch mile, Their take o' fish scarce thirty pounds I'd hang the loon who changed the law, Whipping at her, switching at her, There's ower mony fishing at her. J. L. Now, in former times, early in the season, when the river opened, say 1st March, a large fly very gaudy, or worm, was used, and I have seen good sport with partail and minnow. I remember being at the Caddon Foot Pool, and of going most carefully over it with the fly, viz., Tom Purday and the butcher, without seeing a fin. A few minutes afterwards, a Galashiels weaver essayed the same with partail, and, at the very first cast, hooked a salmon of 16 lbs, which I killed for him, he nearly losing it with 1 A celebrated fisher at Peel, whose constant application at the water earned for himself the soubriquet of Lord Leatherawa. foolish endeavours to catch it by the tail. About September and October, and when the mornings are frosty and clear, the most deadly kind of fishing is perhaps with the worm, either on smooth bottoms thrown toward the deep side, or, casting it like a fly, on the most rapid places; this may be done either by baiting one large hook with two large worms, or having two or even three large hooks, all hanging nearly in a bunch, two worms on each hook,-they like a good mouthful, and so much for the often repeated idea, that salmon eat nothing. No doubt, I never found any thing in the stomach of a salmon; he is a healthy fish, and of a very quick digestion. I once was eye witness to this fact, having seen five or six taken one morning before breakfast, from a pool near Ashiestiel, in this same way. While this may be good sport to those who like it, I never exercise it; the filthy bag full of moss and our last enemy I cannot abide, and the difficulty of obtaining them also is another objection. I have seen two or three of us go out at darkening to the garden, with spade and grape, and flaming tallow candles, and a scene worthy of Rembrandt, ensued. I have already said you should, in fishing, get over your 1 ground at the rate of two miles an hour. In fishing for salmon, however, it is generally in the different pools, and you warm yourself while you make your way to the next one you intend to fish, it may be a mile up or perhaps a mile down, the river. This, no doubt, sounds strange to our Cockney friends, who, accustomed to fish in position, in patience, and in a punt, know little about the capturing of salmo salar; for, instead of sitting at your ease, with bottled stout, pipes and tobacco, you walk along the banks, -around you the calm and peaceful hills, with the Baronial Castle in the distance; the flowing and winding river; the shaking of the trees of the valley, the oak, the beech, and the fir; the gentle breeze, 'the incense breathing morn,' curling the surface of the pools; the singing of the water crow,2 in its notes not unlike the canary-the only bird which at present puts forth its song, save the robin's plaintive notes, at this season, 'fa' o' the leaf.' But, hark, you 1 Salmon are not found across the line; although, I have been credibly informed by a friend, there are trout streams in New Zealand. 2 I seldom or ever saw this bird on the Don; formerly there was a reward given for shooting him on Tweed. |