Post by jamesthecat on Sept 20, 2011 10:05:15 GMT
I thought it would be useful to forum members to share my recent experience on the Tweed at Horncliffe – which unfortunately was NOT good, at all
Firstly some background:
My wife has always known that I had a wish to fish the Tweed so for my birthday she went onto the FishPal and FishTweed websites where she came across an advertisement for a fishing guide who she engaged ( to save his embarassement I shall leave his name and his company’s name out of this – suffice to say the guide is VERY well respected and VERY well known on the Tweed, the angling community and elsewhere)
She contacted the guide to arrange a days fishing for me, and he was very, very helpful in arranging a day at Horcliffe for me, on behalf of her
As she knows nothing about fishing he was kind enough to arrange everything for her, the booking with Horncliffe etc etc.
This is a perfect service for a non-fishing wife I am sure you will agree.
What happened on the day in question:
I spoke to the guide in advance to sort out all the logistics etc etc which was all fine. He said that he had spoken to the Horncliffe gillie , Eric, and that he did not seem overly enthused about having a guide on his beat, but that sometimes that happens initially but that he was sure all would be fine.
The guide arrived at the beat shortly before me, and I met him.
Eric arrived about 5 mins later and we greeted each other so it all seemed OK, until that is he then proceeded to inform us that he was not at all happy, nor was his boss.
He then went on to say that he did not appreciate the guide sub-letting‚ the fishing on Horncliffe.
By this I am assuming that he was referring to the fact that the guide was kind enough to make the booking on behalf of my wife, rather that her having to do it.
This in my view is NOT sub-letting, it is carrying out a professional service.
I asked the guide and he does NOT make a profit booking the day on behalf of a client.
Eric then went on to say he was going to complain to FishTweed about the guide.
He also stated why should he impart his knowledge to the guide i.e. that he was not going to help us at all , despite this the guide at ALL times was very professional and explained that he takes clients on numerous Tweed beats and that there is never an issue.
Eric then walked off.
The other fishers arrived at the beat and then we were ready for the off. Only we weren’t as Eric had told all the other fishers where they were going apart from us. The guide had to go and ask.
We were briskly‚ told beat 3 and where to start and then left alone. The guide was polite and enquired about flies and the best rate of sink for the polyleaders for the time of year and was basically ignored( this was the guide just trying to be polite)
Lunch came and then everyone headed off as they had been told which beat they were fishing in the afternoon, apart from us. Once again the guide had to ask, unlike everyone else
We and another fisher followed Eric up to beat one. We arrived at the top pool, the streams I think it was called, where the guide once again tried to engage him, asked where to start etc.
The reply was here at the top and just work down. No more info.
Eric then stormed off downstream with the other fisher trying to keep up with him, about 200 meters behind him ( the chap was a little unsteady on his feet) I started fishing, saw Eric drop of the other chap half way down the pool and then come straight back in our direction. Just as he was approaching us he looked back down the pool and the chap had fallen in so Eric went down to give him a hand out, which he did, but then came back up the pool again leaving the poor wet fisherman trailing about 200 meters behind again. Not what I would expect….
Anyway, when Eric got to us the guide asked if he could have a quick word with him. Eric said - NO !
The guide then said he would really appreciate a quick work with him, and again got the answer “NO”, and Eric walked off after telling us we had to be off the water at 5pm
Now, the rules and regulations state that is was 5.15pm we should be off the water….
I said to the guide that I had brought money to tip the gillie but said that due to him being the rudest gillie I had ever come across I was not going to do it.
The guide said that as the guide that he always tips the gillies as part of his service, but I told him I did not want any money going to Eric so we left it like that. The guide was a great and I will certainly be using him again
However there was NO excuse for the absolute rudeness from the gillie directed at myself and the guide
I contacted FishPal and FishTweed to complain and they dealt with the matter very professionally BUT Horncliffe just don’t seem to care – surprise surprise!
I have kept this matter private until I got the ‘brush off’ from Horncliffe ( today) so now I feel it is appropriate to put the facts in the public domain so people have as much information at their fingertips as possible when thinking about where to fish
I for one will not be going back to Horncliffe
Firstly some background:
My wife has always known that I had a wish to fish the Tweed so for my birthday she went onto the FishPal and FishTweed websites where she came across an advertisement for a fishing guide who she engaged ( to save his embarassement I shall leave his name and his company’s name out of this – suffice to say the guide is VERY well respected and VERY well known on the Tweed, the angling community and elsewhere)
She contacted the guide to arrange a days fishing for me, and he was very, very helpful in arranging a day at Horcliffe for me, on behalf of her
As she knows nothing about fishing he was kind enough to arrange everything for her, the booking with Horncliffe etc etc.
This is a perfect service for a non-fishing wife I am sure you will agree.
What happened on the day in question:
I spoke to the guide in advance to sort out all the logistics etc etc which was all fine. He said that he had spoken to the Horncliffe gillie , Eric, and that he did not seem overly enthused about having a guide on his beat, but that sometimes that happens initially but that he was sure all would be fine.
The guide arrived at the beat shortly before me, and I met him.
Eric arrived about 5 mins later and we greeted each other so it all seemed OK, until that is he then proceeded to inform us that he was not at all happy, nor was his boss.
He then went on to say that he did not appreciate the guide sub-letting‚ the fishing on Horncliffe.
By this I am assuming that he was referring to the fact that the guide was kind enough to make the booking on behalf of my wife, rather that her having to do it.
This in my view is NOT sub-letting, it is carrying out a professional service.
I asked the guide and he does NOT make a profit booking the day on behalf of a client.
Eric then went on to say he was going to complain to FishTweed about the guide.
He also stated why should he impart his knowledge to the guide i.e. that he was not going to help us at all , despite this the guide at ALL times was very professional and explained that he takes clients on numerous Tweed beats and that there is never an issue.
Eric then walked off.
The other fishers arrived at the beat and then we were ready for the off. Only we weren’t as Eric had told all the other fishers where they were going apart from us. The guide had to go and ask.
We were briskly‚ told beat 3 and where to start and then left alone. The guide was polite and enquired about flies and the best rate of sink for the polyleaders for the time of year and was basically ignored( this was the guide just trying to be polite)
Lunch came and then everyone headed off as they had been told which beat they were fishing in the afternoon, apart from us. Once again the guide had to ask, unlike everyone else
We and another fisher followed Eric up to beat one. We arrived at the top pool, the streams I think it was called, where the guide once again tried to engage him, asked where to start etc.
The reply was here at the top and just work down. No more info.
Eric then stormed off downstream with the other fisher trying to keep up with him, about 200 meters behind him ( the chap was a little unsteady on his feet) I started fishing, saw Eric drop of the other chap half way down the pool and then come straight back in our direction. Just as he was approaching us he looked back down the pool and the chap had fallen in so Eric went down to give him a hand out, which he did, but then came back up the pool again leaving the poor wet fisherman trailing about 200 meters behind again. Not what I would expect….
Anyway, when Eric got to us the guide asked if he could have a quick word with him. Eric said - NO !
The guide then said he would really appreciate a quick work with him, and again got the answer “NO”, and Eric walked off after telling us we had to be off the water at 5pm
Now, the rules and regulations state that is was 5.15pm we should be off the water….
I said to the guide that I had brought money to tip the gillie but said that due to him being the rudest gillie I had ever come across I was not going to do it.
The guide said that as the guide that he always tips the gillies as part of his service, but I told him I did not want any money going to Eric so we left it like that. The guide was a great and I will certainly be using him again
However there was NO excuse for the absolute rudeness from the gillie directed at myself and the guide
I contacted FishPal and FishTweed to complain and they dealt with the matter very professionally BUT Horncliffe just don’t seem to care – surprise surprise!
I have kept this matter private until I got the ‘brush off’ from Horncliffe ( today) so now I feel it is appropriate to put the facts in the public domain so people have as much information at their fingertips as possible when thinking about where to fish
I for one will not be going back to Horncliffe