Feed aggregator

Once again I woke up to good signs yesterday, on opening the kitchen blind all was fairly still outside, although dull. Checking my weather resources on the Net, it seemed we would have a good chance of getting out for some fishing this evening. The only sticking point being that the wind which would be light NE for most of the day would be switching to SW for the evening and picking up slightly. As a contingency, two plans were made in the event that this would happen. If the wind remained as was, then we would head out to the back of the Island for some HRF Wrasse and Bass, however if the forecast was right, as most of our shallow north coast marks would still be heavily coloured, we would head to a Pier on that side of the Island for some LRF. Note, at this point was no heavy rain forecast...
Three o' clock in the afternoon arrived and with it came some light drizzly rain. OK fair enough it wasn't up to much so carry on regardless with the plan.
Between five and seven in the evening the heavens opened and it lashed it down! At what point was that forecast? I wondered...I also noted the wind had switched to a brisk SW...
Plan B then, and I concurred this with my mate via text. Our south coast venue involves a treacherous cliff path trek to the beach and the heavy rain ruled this out alone for safety reasons.
Hoping the rain would ease, we decided to still proceed to the Pier, we just had to get out.
As the plan had been revised My eldest Son was to accompany us as he really enjoys the LRF.
Having collected my mate, at which point the rain seemed to abate, we headed off to the Pier.
Conditions looked good on arrival, wind a little brisk but at least it would'nt be in our faces.
First drop in and it seemed there was little flow, a crucial factor when fishing the Piers both for presentation and for the fish to be feeding. I switched us over to a carolina from a jighead to see if there were any Wrasse or Scorpions about on the bottom, but strangely we remained biteless, most unusual...
After a while I suggested to my Son we try another spot near my mate, who was bait fishing off the front of the Pier, for a while until the flow picked up and we would be able to fish our present spot properly.
A few little bites from the new spot had us hopeful of a fish or two but after a while we were still fishless, but the flow appeared to be picking up and the floating weed was now beginning to move.
Back to our previous position then, but Son was getting bored and starting to ask when we were going. I told him to be patient as I was sure we would catch something....
At last a bite came, I wasn't sure what it could be at first and then surprisingly a Bass of about a pound appeared on the surface, good start !
And what a start, to a surprisingly good evenings fishing considering the slow beginning.
With a bit of coaching my Son managed to bag a small Pollock, which immediately re awoke his interest, and he began fishing with renewed enthusiasm and focus. He's been keen to catch a Bass for a while now, and I had promised him, that this year We would make sure he caught one.
By now the tide had picked up nicely and presentation was a doddle, cast out, swing with the flow and retrieve steadily. We were back on the jigheads and the good old Ecogear Aqua Strawtails In Orange were threaded on the hook. It seems that not only do Pollock like these, but Bass are rather partial to them too !
From then on the action was steady and we got plenty of bites, I organised it so that we took turns to cover the area where the fish were hitting the lure until we had a fish and then swapped over until another fish was caught. Coaching my Son he hooked into another fish, Bass on ! The little Calzante Lrf rod hooped over, with the fish taking line,  Son was very excited but played the fish nicely on the light gear and very soon he was grinning widely while posing for a picture with his very first Bass ! Yes! I was so pleased for him !
This continued for the next hour or so, with us taking turns to catch fish, I ended up with seven Bass from a pound to a pound and a half, along with a couple of Pollock, and Son managed two Bass of the same size and four Pollock, So nine Bass and half a dozen Pollock between usmade for a very good nights fishing in the end !
During this session I was using Fluorocarbon mainline fot the first time in the form of Berkeley Trilene, in 4lb breaking strain, and I have to say it performed very well. Very strong, knots well, and is thin and limp but very abrasion resistant. It was definitely less affected by the wind than braid would have been and allowed better contact with the lures. Bite registration was very good with an excellent hook up rate. So a great session all things considered, and well worth the effort of taking a chance on the inclement conditions.
Oh and of my mate who was bait fishing? He blanked ! sorry Mr B ;-)  LOL !

Still locked in attack mode!

The Blood on the Gill cover is mine..ouch! those are sharp !Lovely irridescence along the back of the fish...
Pollock of around a pound and a quarter.
A very happy chappy !
Yummy ! Strawtails !
Note the Fluorocarbon on the spool, very impressed.

It's great to be in good, skilled company whilst out fishing.

3 of met up at a variation on what we did in the last blog article but I'd done a few times alone and not been able to get photo's etc. This was a mark more exposed to the swells but not so much running water. However, based upon the last few successful trips, it made sense to be here.

I started on the semi-sink bomabarda at 15g with a 13ft leader on the Century 11ft lure special that is prety much rated 7 - 45g. It's a progressive sweet animal but with teeth should you need it. Very in balance and protects lighter lines down to PE 0.6.

On this occasion, I was using PE 0.8 on a new reel by Sakura I picked up from Tom Newbald at Monster Tackle. Comes with a spare spool and actually, it's pretty damn smooth and lays line perfectly fine. The thing with slow contact fishing and braid is that if the reel is a dog, you WILL, at some point, suffer horrendous braid knots. I've been hammering this reel and it's great.

So, I started on the pollack and the bombarda. I reckon I had about 35 fish.

About average stamp.

The biscuitman has been busy developing a new wired stinger concept for the soft needle which allows him/us to catch pollack, bass and yet, still skin up for the rough weedy shallow ground.

It's pretty clever.

Clearly successful. Biscuit had multiple pollack too. Over 20 I'd bet.

And so it began...

I like to keep my hand in with all methods but, the hard needle and soft needle are like brother and sister. Sometimes squabbling but always family. Hard needle was around way before I developed the soft variation for reasons that have been discussed in depth many times on blog and forum.

I started on a smaller lure to search for active fish.

Another night lure bass. Not black magic but almost.

After finding the fish and Stephen getting solid hookups to the soft-needle, I went on the hard 3/4oz hard wad needle.

Boom! Fish On.

Water on the camera from the splash of the swells on the rocks. Lucky we spotted it really cause this was the 'best' shot of this fish. All the others are super blurry.

Longer casts now and again... SLAM, Fish On! Bass love needlefish hard, soft and even par boiled... LOL They are a recipe for some great fishing but, they take resolve, time and confidence to fish. They don't do anything but cast sink and perhaps, slide a bit but in general, they are about the most 'boring' lure you could envisage. Boring that is until you start crushing bass on em.

Another good nights fishing over but again, we walked off fish as daylight loomed. It burns...

Until next time then.

Original post blogged using a modded b2evolution.

I have been thinking about doing a blog post on this subject for a while now, and then a comment left the other day made me feel that the time was right to fire away and put something up. Now ple [...]

This blog article will discuss both the bombarda and the soft needle.

Don't know what the soft needle is ? See HERE

Loads of stuff been going on despite crap weather and my knee giving way AGAIN !

Been out rolling the yaks in sea, doing some kayak fishing and, earlier in the week, some bassing and working for pollack with both soft needle and bombarda.

A 15g semi-sink and an 11ft leader to a size 6 salmon single took care of the business end.

Yea, that is IT. In pitch black, fished at ranges upto about 70 meters in windy conditions in the runs. BOOM, fish on, fish on, fish on...

They  just keep on coming.

On the other hand, we had 6 bass too in a trip of 2 hours  with me using the bombarda and fly above but, Biscuitman 'Stephen Olsen' using 5 and ultimately 4" senko's soft needle style.

Here he is with one of the bass. They were pretty much all this kinda size on the night. Lure is a 4" blue senko rigged and fished in the slow contact style of soft needlefish.

And one on the 5" senko but watermelon this time.

The method simply catches fish IF you are on fish and, know what you are doing.

We continue to catch fish in multiple trips almost daily and nightly. Almost impossible to keep track. We've done some LRF, tons of HRF from shore and kayak. Sometimes good numbers but, recently, with the weather being awkward, fishing has sadly been far from easy. Still getting the results so the methods and techniques are still as good as ever.

So, this method has eluded Biscuit for a while from the shore. Now he has it. Like riding a bike but takes alot longer to learn. However, like a bike, once learnt, you just ride further. He'll be getting in amongst em now.

Original post blogged using a modded b2evolution.

Something strange happened today...
I opened the kitchen blind this morning, and I noticed that the wind wasn't blowing!
Seriously, it's been that bad lately. A quick check of the forecast indicated a small window of possibility, so I siezed it with both hands and once the kids were ferried to school I shot off to one of the local Piers for some Lrf fun!
Conditions on arrival were almost mediterranean. All was calm and bright and warm, and the sea was clear. Lovely!
Well, almost. The sport to begin with was very slow, in fact it took me a good hour or more to get my first fish, a small Pollock. This was followed a short time later by a Garfish, so it looked like there were some summer species around, I hoped for a Mackerel to put in an appearance as they are fiesty customers on light gear. Try as I might I just couldn't seem to muster another fish, of any species, a most unusual occurence for this Pier.
I was fishing the ebb, which my friends and I normally find to be very productive at the venue, and it was getting on towards low when I noticed some surface activity, signalling that the Bass had come on the feed and were blitzing on fry or shrimp. In quick succession I managed to finish off with two Bass and a Mackerel.  All the fish fell to the ever reliable Ecogear strawtails in various colours, coupled with 2 gram jigheads from AGM products.

This year has been the worse start for us in many years. Very few bass around and most of them are small. Out with Derek today proved to be very difficult. Derek took a small bass at the offshore reefs whilst I caught an even smaller bass at the point. We had a few mackerel at the Demie de pas on Sunday

I think I have only run one competition on this blog before, but the time has come to run another one, and it’s principally due to the good people who are bringing the Japanese lure rod bra [...]

Well from the title you guessed it, the summer has landed an the top marks around Weymouth have all started producing, mainly Portland bill for Pollock, Wrasse an Bass. My main target this year is Wrasse on soft plastics, I’m now tackled up with a new Century HPR 7.3 an a Tenryu Injection brought second hand From Keith White, for rods in the same class they are very different an both lend them selves to different situations. The HPR being a dark horse, working a soft lures in close with finesse an punching a Duo SLD 125 out of sight, I’ve so far had bass to 3.5LB on this rod an those few bass were caught at range using soft paddle tails over rough ground letting the lure drift in current, the rod handled perfectly feeling every roll over rocks an shy bites from Pollock an Bass. As for the Tenryu, this rod has a tougher back bone an is becoming my rod of choice for wrasse that are slightly out of playing range of the HPR, You have to give these fish hell when you get a positive bite, or your going to get beat up an lose gear. The Tenryu lending its self to these dirty fighting fish perfectly.




This last month has seen me fishing Portland Bill a lot more than most years due to my ever growing interest in HRF and wrasse fishing. Profiling a new fishing mark can be daunting to anyone in any aspect of fishing, but keeping a diary an building up information can be the key to success an lead those days you never forget, looking back at the last month the main thing I have notice with the wrasse is how sun light affects their behaviour, all wrasse anglers know that wrasse only feed in day light hours feeding heavier over sunset an sunrise (the magic hours). But I’ve had days now with gleaming hot sunshine perfect tides no wind and… NO FISH. But as soon as cloud cover comes over an takes the sun’s glare off the water all hell breaks lose an the bites just keep coming, praps this will change as the summer rolls on, or a simple change in lure colour or size will switch those fish on.




Here’s a video I took on an average day at Portland Bill when the sea state was perfect, swell was minimal an water clarity was crystal. It was only when the sun had dropped to around 35 degrees in to sunset did the bigger fish start to show.



Colour of choice at the moment seems to be dark purples changing over to golden browns an deep reds as the sun starts to set. X layers doing a lot of damage but my confidence in 3 - 4 inch senkos is ever growing stronger..

Until the next time, I’m awaiting a huge order from AGM products full of goodies!
　
Hope you enjoyed the read!

Fished the same spot as yesterday, conditions were different tho. The swell had dropped to nothing, with gin clear water, and strong offshore winds. Fishing the same set up, Daiko Spear 2-14g with a 2506 Certate with 0.6PE Sunline RockFish.

Continuing on with yesterdays success, went with the Nories Shrilpen rigged on a 1.8g Ecogear Bottom head, and also an Ilex B'eye 5g jig with an Ecogear 3" Sansun on the hook for tht little bit extra. In comparisson to yesterdays fish coming thick and fast, just the two Wrasse landed today.



One think I did see from up on my rocky perch, was a huge amount of bait fish milling around in shoals. Sand eels were there in numbers, big and small, as well as tiny fish in small groups, popping in and out of the weedy rock shelf. With the Wrasse bites turning off, decided to search the bay I was in with a DUO Bay Ruf SV-70. Was not long till I had a take, and my only Pollack of the day was landed. So a quiet session all in, but the conditions will hopefully change soon.

I took a spin down to Arklow over the weekend to do a little lure fishing for flounder and I bumped into my friend David. We spent more time chatting than fishing but we still managed to catch a few all the same. Great fun on the light gear.

Check out David's blog too, he's posted a few more photos.
http://ecoastfishing.blogspot.com/2012/05/more-lrf-flatties.html


 




My Set-up:
Rod: Major Craft Solpara7' 3" (0.5-5g) Solid Tip
Reel: Shimano Rarenium CI4 2500Ra
Line: Sunline Rockfish 0.6PE
Lures: Curl-tailed sp's on 2 - 3g jig heads

Duo Spearhead Ryuki (50mm, 4.5g, floating)
Duo Spearhead Ryuki (50mm, 4.5g, floating)
Smith Panish 55 (2.7g, floating)
Smith Panish 55 (2.7g, floating)
Illex Flat Fry 50 (2.3g, suspending)
Rapala MaxRap (50mm, 2g, suspending)
River2Sea Baby Minnow (50mm, 2.5g, floating)
Damiki Mu (45mm, 4.5g, suspending)
Damiki Mu (45mm, 4.5g, suspending)
River2Sea Humbug Minnow (4.5mm, 5g, sinking)

Fished West Cornwall this morning in the pouring rain. Building winds meant seeking shelter down a cliff at a deep water point. Fishing with the light tackle, Daiko Spear 8'3 2-14g rod, paired with a Daiwa Certate 2506 spooled with Sunline RockFish 0.6PE.


Started off with a Nories 2" Shrilpen mounted on a 1.8g Ecogear Bottom jig head. Casting out, I had a take from a Pollack on the drop straight off. This was to be the pattern of fishing for a good while, the Pollock taking the lure as it fell deep. Some good fights from them, making deep runs, going well for their size. Lost count of how many I had in the end.



Fishing closer range, allowing the lure to reach the bottom, I was able to pick up a few Wrasse, with small twicthes and long dead pauses. The Daiko rod was really bending into them as they scrapped in the rough grounds.




The little 2" Shrilpen was battered and bruised after a few fish fights, a new lure to me, todays testing going very well.


Another new lure and technique I wanted to try was the Ilex B'eye 5g, a small dressed jig with a sinle assist hook. I mounted an Ecogear 3" Sansun onto the hook, for a little more attraction. This small jig casts extrememly well. I used it on the drop and jigged along the bottom. Picked up numerous Pollack and a few Wasse on it.



Looking to get out fishing again tomorrow, weather is looking better, but the winds could be stronger, so will have to see where I end up fishing. One thing is for sure, still not seen any Bass down here yet!

A bit of a mixture this blog article.

Anyway, lets start.

We met up and started to get ready. All morning it had been like a lake out there. It was a bit breezy as we unloaded the boats but, the VHF forecast on CH18 suggested the wind swinging North and then North West but, only gusting to 9 knots. That's about 10 -- 11 MPH in normal numbers so, nothing to worry about. At first, yes, there was wind against tide as we headed out but, it certainly wasn't backing down and we paddled way out and beyond Seymour Tower. In the end, we were perhaps a mile futher out and the wind started to become a constant F3/4 before then going North 4 and maybe even 5 at times during the day. As it got to near 9pm, that wind was COLD too and not like a typical May evening at all.

Kevin was moaning about something again so I gave the 'International MEOW' signal.

At the waters edge and almost ready.

Right, lets go. 4 prowlers head seaward. Me, Biscuit, Kev and Koneko Dave.

Nothing too bad as we head towards the tower. The chop here is just NE wind against an opposite tide. Vis above and below water level was simply incredible.

Ok, wind was now with current and picking up. Time to try the drogue.

This worked well for a while but slowly, the relentless wind started to drive the first few feet of water faster and faster. I added some line to the drogue and a mid drogue weight to sink it to a level where it slowed the boat down. Fish came back. I also worked with 2 systems of line and lure control we haven't as yet discussed on blog. We shall cover these at a later date maybe.

It was tough though and not everyone did well. Biscuit and I did the best but in effect, that may be because we fish in conditions like this far more than Kev and Dave. In the end, I had 22 wrasse and 7 pollack. Stephen 'Biscuitman' Olsen about a dozen wrasse and the same in pollack but, trust me, these were hard won over fish.

These were worth catching though and at times, drifting broadside on to the wind waves, quite the challenge to stay upright.

Earlier in the day, Biscuit had paddled another one of our marks and had some nice Pollack.

OTD and lift and drop methods again. Is there another way ?

Good stamp fish and great fun.

They were on these. This was coughed up from one of those fish.

Wind was swinging NW now and moderating a little but there had been some wind swell generated.

Tubes were again, order of the day for me.

The fishing then almost died. It was tough anyway but it got REALLY HARD, really fast.

Then, I was playing a pollack of about 1.5lb and out of nowhere, a dark shape flashed under yak and i was almost yanked over the side. The boat swung 90 degree's and the drag on my VS100 was burning. Out of braid and onto the backing...

Then, nothing. PHEW.

Out in the distance and at times, all around us...

Dolphins are here and playing. I had a few dart right under boat.

I was 200 meters from Biscuit and Kevin at the time and I tried to get photo's of the group near me but, I was fishing a split current where boat control was pretty much essential. Every time I saw them, I had the camera but missed them coming up. Sometimes just mere yards from my kayak. These are Biscuits Dolphin shots.

There must have been at least 2 groups. I saw 9 I think in my group but it's hard to tell at times.

Even though they destroyed the fishing, encounters like this are magical.

We headed in to chase the sunset.

On another note, Neil McFarlane, a guy who with Dan, his son, fishes with us whenever possible, finally got a photo of one of his fish taken using the HRF methods we've taught him.

So, there you go, he does catch fish ! LOL

Loads to do this week so until next time...

Thanks for reading.

Original post blogged using a modded b2evolution.

How times have changed for me. For years I bought and fished with multipliers like it was going out of fashion, indeed you should see the collection of various SLOSH 20s and 30s I have here &ndas [...]

This isn't something we talk alot about but we have done quite a bit of work in the sea with japanese hera, tenkara, super game and even ayu type poles.

This one is a 6.3 meter pole, through actioned and being used with a small texas rig on 8 lb co-polymer/6lb leader of fluorocarbon at the length of the pole. When fishing, we often change the length of line to suit the style of what we are doing. This time, it was lifting and vertically lowering small plastics up and down ledges in VERY clear water.

Size 6 hook and 3.25g sinker.

I just walk the ledges, lifting, twitching, lowering and even suspending at different holding depths. I can target the smallest gaps at close range with incredible accuracy and, control the fall rate almost at will.

With these soft, almost noodle like poles, you have to REALLY know how to use the rod to put the hurt on should you hook a good fish in tight close cover. It's almost a semi-circle power action but one that is really smooth and powerful. You cannot pussy fish with these sticks and if you do, you WILL LOSE. This is not something I would recommend for people to try unless they are already comfortable playing fish on tight drags in close cover and, have some sort of long rod or pole experience. I've got almost 4 decades of pole fishing skills to fall back on using take apart, telescopic, stiff, soft, 1 meter to 16.5 meters long and at world level so we do have some background. Again, this is something that we only recommend should you be confident in your skillset. But, it is likely, the purest form of the sport of man v's fish using a rod and line.

On this trip, the water was so, so clear and it was actually quite tough. I only took 10 wrasse.

The fish were there, but they were examining the lures closely. I know because we could see them looking. Vis was almost infinite where we were.

Just a beautiful day and sea conditions but not the best for productive fishing. Saying that, Koneko Dave stuck to the Texas rig and had 2 fish to my 10. Last year I would have simply put it down to the skill gap but on this day, NO. I just had a smaller, lighter, tighter presentation with a delicacy Dave couldn't match. Game over.

We fish 9 meter poles to hand and 4 to 6 meter テンカラte-n-ka-ra style in the runs and gutters too at night. This is almost primitive in that you only have yourself, a fixed line and pole. It is very intense and another multiple range of notches up from the fly casting we do on single and double handed rods. But, the control is simply second to none. I drift fish with the 6, 8 and 9 meter poles too and we've considered using upto 14 meters but, as yet, we haven't much needed to exceed 9. Believe me, a 4lb bass on the 9 meter pole to hand in a fast run is something that certainly sets the heart racing and it's real hook and hold but with a difference. There is a balance, a feel not felt on rods with running lines. I can't explain it, you just need to experience it.

I hope these recent blogs have got you thinking. Many think they have the measure of fishing and methods but, in reality, it's a never ending lesson. We love the variation in our fishing and this is why, slowly, we are opening up the full range of methods and styles that we use and writing about them.

We hope you find this stuff refreshing, different and inspiring enough for you to not follow suit, but to find new ways to enjoy your own fishing.

Anyway, must dash again, fish to catch.

Original post blogged using a modded b2evolution.

I headed to a mark alone to fish a few methods I enjoy and continue testing certain 'prototypes'.

2 rods. 11 and 9ft. Both Century.

The 9 set up with a float jig and centre pin.

Running small bucktails under the float.

Kingpin reel, 8lb co-polymer.

The 11 is rigged with a 20g bombarda. I have semi-sink and sinkers today. This is a sink. Fly is a clouser minnow that sits on a leader 10ft away from the bombarda. Yes, 10ft. There is a special casting method we use with bombarda's wherever possible.

The 11 under load. This is a water anchored cast hence the 'out the side' look to the cast.

On board is one of my VS100B's. This time loaded with PE#1.o YGK 8 strand.

I carry a range of flies.

For bass and, at night, I'd almost always choose one of these babies. The 'Flatwing'.

Yes, it really is that long. Bass LOVE em. It's lightweight enough to be cast crazy distances with the bombarda.

I work with about 3 - 4ft of drop to the rod tip. Add that 10ft of leader and fly and, as you may assume, it requires a thoughtful cast. You load and fire but, about 2/3rd's of the way through the flight, we feather it at the reel or, sink the rod top to slow the line coming off the spool. We want the fly to have enough intertia to 'Turn Over'.

FISH ON.

Actually, I had...

36 mackerel, 42 pollack and 4 snipe.

Mackerel to Bombarda. Great sport.

One after another. Superb sport.

Like speed fishing at times.

I then tried fishing the lipless crankbait as I'd pretty much took the cream of the crop from the eddy line using the bombarda and float jig.

Great lures that are largely ignored by the masses. Their loss. NOTE: De-barbed trebles.

Some fine pollack came to the lipless crank fished JERK and drop style.

The mackerel were still banging this. In the end, I walked off the mark whilst it was still HOT. I like finishing on a high when I'm forced to stop. I hate stopping though.

So, open your eyes to alternate methods. There is more to this than meets the eye but hey, there you go, there is your heads up and reason to get that old plug rod gathering dust in action again. A long rod isn't a must but, having one sure means you are equipped to be versatile over a range of methods. Will never replace the shorter 7 - 8ft rods for HRF so don't try. You'll have far less control at short range and big wrasse will likely take no mercy as they double a longer, more forgiving blank over.

So, until next time then...

Original post blogged using a modded b2evolution.

On a late, dark, windy and wet night, Koneko Dave and I met around midnight to fish a rock mark for pollack. Fishing quite heavy upto 5g, you realise that with 3lb fluorocarbon lines, 5g is like a brick. fishing OTD was hard with 5g at time though it did help maintain good contact.

Most of our LRF end kit comes from Jacks LRF. Though we make many of our own lures and weights for HRF, this is not the case generally with LRF as it's just too fiddly. I've just heard some very exciting news from Andy Kendrick regards a project he has underway and I really have my fingers crossed that it comes off. Hopefully more on this as soon as I hear the word.

Anyway...

I had maybe 18 decent Pollack. We didn't bother with photo's as there was no need. Like peas in a pod and lets face it, you must be sick of seeing pictures of our fish by now LOL.

Dave was getting em too but then, out of the blue, something happened.

The camera just had to come out for this. A common Topknot, caught using OTD tactics down the side of almost vertical but weed encrusted rockface. See HERE for a species description.

I don't think this is a first. I seem to remember someone getting one on lure already a few winters back but, the word 'common' in common topknot would seem to imply we catch them all the time which is simply NOT true. I've never caught one and Dave was made up.

You would never have caught this with a cat-ching-O would you ? LOL

Just a little blog report but I thought interesting enough to share.

Until next time then.

Original post blogged using a modded b2evolution.

Sometimes the bass fishing in Ireland is so good that I keep looking around the rocks and beaches to check that there really aren’t thousands of other anglers out and about enjoying it. Wh [...]

Well, time to report on a session that shouldn't have happened.

The guys all having other committments (or so they thought) and the weather again turning, I'd resigned myself to watching TV and maybe making some worm weights for next week. Then came the call of the biscuitman. We decided that yes, take the yaks, look at the sea and maybe do somewhere we don't fish an awful lot. In the end, we ended up on a mark I've fished for over 20 years but, this was the first time I'd tackled it with the newer HRF methods.

It started badly for me as I bumped 3 good fish. Must have been bungee fish but real drag pullers. btw: We were mostly on the tube baits again on this session. Tubes represent nothing but everything. Fish LOVE tubes and so do we.

Now, we wouldn't usually fish OTD Texas rigged but, where we were dictated the weedless presentation and, the faster water kept lure and worm weight together OTD and during the lift and slide motion that the fish were responding too.

One fish looked like it had been mauled by a good bass but the wounds were old. Could have been net damage but looked bass like and radial. Either way, the fish fought well and was returned with no more harm than the barbless hook caused.

I'd say, this was the average stamp with a good few being bigger. At times, all 3 of us were into fish together.

Wrasse in fast water ? Sure, why not. Drift bumping a Texas rigged lure over the bottom after fishing the initial fall for the Pollack meant working two birds with one stone.

Crazy sport really. Just one after another after another. We were really working this mark and the Century's HARD.

One of the better wrasse of the day fell to the biscuitman.

Again, let me tell you again. Texas rules unless you know different.

We likely had somewhere between 120 and 140 ish fish. It was crazy at times and no one could keep count once it got silly. But, do it wrong and no bites. Yes, I did try to not catch and it worked. However, go back to OTD and that lift and sliding dropback action, BANG! Fish ON.

Green tube anyone ?

Great fish that pull hard in any water. In faster flows, just like runaway trains.

Bring it on.

One edited and sent in by the 'Biscuitman'.

Koneko Dave Watson getting into the action. Getting to grips with OTD like a veteran.

A few of Daves fish follow from where he had to take his own pics...

Well done Dave, some nice fishing on this session.

Anyway, must run, off out to catch some more...

Until next time.

Original post blogged using a modded b2evolution.

If you follow the blog and developments you'll know we've just released a new kayak fishing course. If not, see HERE.

News just in is that Century will be building me some 'specials'. Known as fighting stick versions of the Century lure range I helped design and develop for use on the courses and during guided kayak fishing sessions with clients. This is great news. These are essentially the same great blanks but with mods designed to help with the knocks, bumps and bruises of hire, the environment we fish in and of course, the stress of big fish day after day almost. Something your average rod just doesn't see. You might fish a few times a week yourself but everyday ? Think about how good 'your' kit would be subjected to daily wear and tear.

I'm working with Monster Tackle to find some really usable yet nice reels and braid for this. Tom is wearing out his soft thumbs (office worker LOL) browsing catalogues right now. Basically, this course will use the 'right gear' and not just pass the buck to make one.

Anyway... lets continue...

Clear sea's, big tide. Well, actually not the best recipie but it's what we had.

Biscuit prepares for the off.

My ship is ready to go. 2 outfits: 1 for texas, 1 for OTD.

Flat as a lake and some flow.

This was the type of ground on the heads. Wrasse run into this... GAME OVER.

We looked for the heads that had about 3 to 4ft of water over the tops and dropped texas and OTD down the sides of these weeded ledges.

Slowly, we started to notch em up. Good fish too at times.

I'd not quite got the Go-Pro Hero cam angle right on this trip but as you can see, these fish were good stamp.

Great bit of kit. I have loads to learn using it though.

Biscuit just about to slide one back.

They've started to turn blue and get aggressive. Note the lure. Yes, same colour as the blue markings on the wrasse. This the 'homers blue' we discovered last season and yet again, it has proven it's worth at this time. We don't exactly know what is happening but, it is certainly an annual pattern we'll be on again and again until proven different.

A Biscuitman design. No name, it just catches fish.

They were on junebug tubes too.

Note the start of the blue in the tail.

These are proper rockpigs and take no prisoners. They PULL like demons. Hook and hold tactics.

Whoa... FISH ON!

Gnarly fighters and don't let anyone tell you any different.

About 50 fish between us later we had to start heading in.

A good day. Arms are sore anyway. Always a good sign LOL

Original post blogged using a modded b2evolution.