Monday 19th November:  On traps duty this week. As there was rain overnight, out early in the morning to check the traps at Peebles and again in the late afternoon. The protocol for traps is that while they can be checked  and cleaned only once a day during low water (in the late afternoon), when fish are unlikely to move during daylight, when water levels are high they are checked in the morning as well. This is to make sure that fish are not too much delayed by being trapped because in these small burns they need the spates to get upstream and these, generally, do not last long. Got a half dozen mature males in the new Cardrona trap, three of which were "takeable" (over 8", 20cms).

Tuesday 20th November : No morning visit to the traps as no rain overnight. Fifteen in the Cardrona trap in the late afteroon, all mature males bar two small immatures. Several more "takeables" and one of 30cms.  This is what we have come to expect in these small burns - a lot of smaller, male, Brown-trout and and a few, large, female Sea-trout. So far only one Sea-trout in the Cardrona trap, at the weekend, 53cms and full of eggs

Wednesday 21st November : Heavy rain overnight, but nothing in the traps. Hope this is not all there is for the season ! Maybe the first rain brought up the fish waiting locally, with the others having to come from further downriver.

Thursday 22nd November : A dozen trout in the Cardrona trap, including more takeable sized fish, but again, all male. So far, 59 males and just 3 females up this burn. If some more Sea-trout don't turn up, it is going to be a pretty unbalanced run this year. The one big Sea-trout female that has gone up was so near spawning that she shed some eggs while being handled. I wonder if others couldn't wait for a spate and ended up spawning in the main river off the mouth of the burn - Salmon are know to do that when they can't get into a burn.

Friday 23rd November :  No more rain, so just a couple of small trout in the Cardrona trap. Steven finishes his contract with use today, a very useful six months for me, so a range of sticky buns for tea this afternoon.