Major Craft Shore Jigging

Spring low tide and crystal clear conditions have never been very productive at the particular mark I was fishing during the week. I had a theory that the fish were holding out in the deeper waters, around some kelp beds, out of the range of usual lure tactics. Seemed a good opportunity to test out one of the two new Majorcraft shore jigging rods rods that I recently got hold of.

The rods in question are the Majorcraft KG Evolution KGS-1002MH 10’ 20-40g and the Majorcraft KG Evolution KGS -1062H 10’6 40-80g These rods are not subtle, with large foam handles, and some real power in the blank. Designed really for hard fighting Pelagic fish, I wanted to try out the shore jigging styles, and maybe adapt them for the Bass in UK waters.

So armed with the heavier rod of the two, I paired it up with a Shimano Stella 5000SW, spooled with some Sunline Momentum 4x4 30lb braid. This line has the strength to withstand casting heavy metal jigs, whilst maintaining a thin diameter, to enable true distance casting. The lure I was using throughout this session was a 65g metal jig, rigged with both a treble on the rear, and a assist hook on the front. 

Within the first few casts, it was immediately apparent that fishing at distance was no problem for this set up. The metal jig flying through the air for some time before making it's splash down. The benefits of a 5000 size reel or bigger comes to light, as meters and meters peel off the spool. Letting the lure sink down through the water, then working it back to shore. I tried a few different styles of retrieve, from the fast jigging style, pumping and winding the reel, to the more traditional slower sink and draw. The first fish to be landed were some decent sized Gar, which were flanked by more Gar as they came in. Then it was into the Mackerel, mostly taking the lure hard on the drop off the cast. The Mackerel were real beasts, biggest I have had this Summer, thick and long.

In amongst the Mackerel shoals, I found a couple of Bass lurking. First one felt like a good size, heavy fight, trying to take me into the thick kelp beds. As the fish came in, it was then I realised I had a double hook up on the metal jig, with a Mackerel on the treble, and a Bass on the front assist. Not sure if the Mackerel was hooked first, and the Bass went in for the easy target! Following that, another Bass was landed, again taking the lure at distance in the deeper waters. As the tide began to push hard, I finished the session by landing numerous small Pollack, that were really going for the lure, when worked fast and hard.

First impressions of the rod were good, definitely a tool for distance when required. I was glad to find the fish, holding out in the deeper water, as under these conditions I have blanked before, using set ups that did not allow access to the far out features. Hopefully I will have a good session with the lighter rated jigging rod when I get round to trying it out soon.

Top Water Bass Action

Conditions looked promising for an after work session on a local reef. High tide meant some special tactics were gonna be needed to access the sweet spots due to the high spring tide. This is where the wetsuit, dry bag and of course the Van Staal VSB 150 reel.

The kit more specifically is a 3/2mm zipperless wetsuit by West (one of my many surfing suits), a Gill Pro dinghy spray top, some wetsuit fin socks, and my regular Patagonia wading boots. I use a 20L roll top dry bag with a buit in shoulder strap, some plastic sealed boxes inside, containing a small selection of hard and soft lures, as well as the tools and hardware needed for a session. With this kit, and the Van Staal, I am able to drop into deep gullies, and swim between rocks, to get the best access when waders just wont cut it.

The rod coming for a swim this evening is the Major Craft KG Evolution Hirasuzuki Series 11’ 10-42g, and the line spooled on the Van Staal VSB 150 is the tough and reliable Sunline Super Braid PE#3 (30lb). I have found this line to respond well to the rough environment associated with wetsuit fishing amongst the rocks, in the water filled gullies. PE#3 might seem a bit scary to people, but it really is not that thick in the fingers, and distance casting when using the heavier kit is not an issue. The fact it is a bit thicker, means you are less likely to have any braid related issues, especially when you are in and out of the water, rock scrambling and casting out in less than ideal conditions.

The shallow reef I was fishing out over is a bit of a tackle graveyard for anything that dives deep, or softies on jigheads. The minimal swell and fizz to the water was shouting out for some surface lure action. I worked a DUO Realis Pencil in a couple of colours, in between the rock heads, bringing the lure to life across the water. It was not long until the first Bass hit the lure, and brought to my feet. Only a small one, but a good sign that the fish were there. The next Bass was a much better size. It swirled twice at the lure, I kept working it back in, and the third time it hit, giving a good fight as it made a break for the deeper water. Another schoolie after that finished off a fun evening on the reef.

The Major Craft Hirasuzuki may be 11', and coupled with the Van Staal, it is not the lightest set up; However, working these top water lures for a good couple of hours, the set up proved to be very useable, both in the action imparted on the lure, as well as the effort required to sustain continuous casting and top water lure working. It's added length proved very useful when guiding the lure in and around the numerous partially submerged rocks, and made a good job of controlling the Bass in a tricky environment.

Fine Weather Fishing

Summer weather is finally here, with crystal clear waters and blue sunny skies. The down side to this, means I am super-busy at work, and so my opportunities to fish are slim to none! I did manage to get a quick evening session in last week, fishing in the bay, into deep kelpy waters.

I wanted to push the Major Craft Volkey Bait Finesse Series rod further, with the hope of finding some bigger Pollack and Wrasse. I paired the rod up with a Daiwa Ryoga 1016HL, spooled up with Sunline Siglon Mono 8lb straight through. Not a finesse reel by any standards, but it sits well on the rod, and casts well enough with the lures I would be using.

I started out fishing with the superb Ecogear 3" BugAnts in some bright pinks and oranges, to get the Pollacks attention. These were rigged weedless Texas style with 5g sinkers, on a size 2 hook. Bouncing them along the bottom, and swimming them deep, as the small swell washed amongst the rocks, the hits began to happen, and fish were landed. There were some bigger fish in amongst the small ones, giving a good bend to the rod.

Switching things up, I went with a DUO Bay Ruf SV80 vib lure. Buzzing it through the water column brough some more small fish in, and also a bigger example as seen below. The Pollack were hitting the lure hard, some breaching the surface to try and grab th lure as I brought it out to re-cast.

As the tide ebbed, I was able to access the rock from where I like to hunt the Wrasse. Switching back to the Ecogear soft plastics, the lure bringing most fish in was an Ecogear Straight 3.24" rigged jika style on a 3.5g sinker. As the high tide prevented my accessing the really productive ground, the fish landed were all little nippers! Walking back to the car, the light fading, the view out over the bay was a awesome.

Fishing Afloat This Week

The East winds have been blowing this week, which has meant flat calm seas on parts of the coast. The water has slowly started to warm up, and it seemed a good opportunity to get out there and do some fishing afloat in the evenings.

Met up with a mate, and we took to the sea in his small boat, with the hope of finding a few fish, and to check out the conditions and signs at this time of the season. I decided to fish with a baitcastwer set up, my Major Craft Volkey Big Lake Custom rod, paired with a Daiwa Ryoga 1016HL reel, spooled with Sunline Super Braid PE#2.0 / 20lb.

The wind was making our drifts a bit too quick, and we had to keep repositioning the boat, making the fishing a little tricky at times. The water was flat calm tho, and the recent algae bloom was not too much of a problem where we were. One downside was we simply did not see the promising signs of fish breaking the surface, baitfish scattering etc. It took a while, but finally, after clipping on a DUO Tide Minnow SLD125, I had a hook up just as the lure hit the water. Only a small Bass, but a very welcome one.

We fished on, changing spots untill dusk, and decided to call it a day, with just one other Bass following the lure to the boat. Earlier in the week, I had ventured out on a fishing ski, for a paddle around the bay. It had been a while since I last fished from a very small craft, and forgot how awkward the simple things can be when space and balance is limited. Didn't find any Bass that evening, but the Mackerel and Wrasse were about. It was a good chance to try out the Van Staal VSB150B reel I recently picked up, a real workhorse, and not a problem using it in the wet conditions when fishing afloat on a small craft.

Major Craft Volkey Vs Wrasse

Weather this week has been amazing, with brilliant sunshine, and little to no wind. The sea, whilst still cold, has been very flat and crystal clear. A short after work session was on the cards, fishing locally in South West Devon, with the tide pushing from low.

It was a good chance to get some more time on the water with the Major Craft Volkey Big Lake Custom Series VKC-70/BL 7' / 3/8 - 1.5oz. Paired with a Daiwa Ryoga 1016HL, freshly loaded with a spool of Sunline Siglon V Mono 14lb. 

Target species was Wrasse, fishing amongst the deep kelp strewn gullies, left by the receded tide. Kept it simple with a 7g Texas rig and a size 1 wide gape weedless hook. No need for a leader with the mono, quick and easy. I fished the whole session with just one type of lure, the Ecogear Minnow M. I had good success with it towards the end of last year, and Luke at cornwalllurefishing has been really smashing the Wrasse with it lately. Conditions were pretty much perfect at the waters edge, oily calm water, blue skies and evening sun. 

The action came fast, with 11 Wrasse being landed, and a couple lost. The 7g rig plus lure would be at the suggested lower end of the rods capability, but I found casting and working the lure slow close to and along the seas bed to be very good. The rod tip is more sensitive than maybe the rating suggests, and easily transfered small bites into big hook ups. 

It has been a while since I had fish landed in numbers, hopefully the hard winter weather is now behind us, looking forward to a great season. A good first outing the with Sunline Siglon V Mono, cast well, and no problems with the Wrasse dragging it in and over the rough stuff, will get some more time with it in the coming weeks. The rod proved a great tool, breaking the fish out from the deep kelp cover, whilst still enjoying the fight. Should prove a good tool when hunting for those monster Wrasse.

Sunrise Wrasse Mission

Early start to make the most of a spring high tide, saw me down on the rocks, overhanging some of West Cornwalls beautiful rough grounds. The weather was predicted sunny, last of a pumping ground swell surging through the clear water, it had been a while since I was able to fish this stretch of exposed coast.

It was the first outing in the salty stuff with the Major Craft Big Lake Custom rod, and I was looking forward to using its power on some Wrasse, who inhabit these granite boulder and kelp strewn waters. Paired with the rod was a Daiwa Ryoga 1016HL baitcaster reel, spooled with Sunline Castaway PE1.5 / 25lb. Rigged up a few Ecogear soft plastics, but the one doing the business today was the Ecogear Power Dart Minnow. Usually I rig this lure on the specific Power Dart jig head, but they are also effective Texas style, and the first fish today came from a drop shot rig.

The second fish was a decent size, my best Wrasse for a while. It gave me a chance to put a bend in the Volkey rod, and use its power to break the fish from its heavy cover. Shortly after landing this fish, the weather decided to change for the worse, as the Westerly winds picked up, and the swell increased, making conditions tricky, so called it a day.

First & Last

Fished a short and sweet fresh water session today. Small morning weather window saw me shoot off with the Major Craft Bait Finesse rod, paired with a Shimano Calcutta 51DC loaded with some 10.3lb Sunline Siglon fluoro mainline.

Rigged up a 4" shad on a jig head, cast out into the deep water, waited till I felt bottom contact, then a slow retrieve, with the occasional pause. As the lure came into the Shallows, a take on the first cast resulted in a Pike on the bank.

Unfortunately, it was the case today, where the first cast resulted in the last fish of the session. I walked a short distance to where I have found fish to hold before, but nothing at home, with a variety of lures cast out into the water. As the forecast had predicted, the wind came up with some heavy rain, so called it a day. As I approached my car, I decided on one last cast, feeling ever hopeful. However I failed to spot my lure clipped a tree branch whilst powering out a cast, resulting in the worst backlash I have had to date. Nothing left but to try and sort it out back at home!

Finding Shelter

Where fishing is concerned, the number one subject of the last few months seems to be the weather, and with the first month of 2013 now gone, it would appear little has improved. Wednesday saw a break in the torrential rain, however the gale force Westerlies that remained were gonna make things tricky. Finding shelter seemed the only option, with some reports showing wind swell of 17 feet on the coast.

So I picked my spot. Pretty much guaranteed no swell here, but the wind is still a big factor. With a handy point surrounded by the sea, it does mean you can pick a spot that is going to offer a little protection, and fish with the wind on your back if needed. It was that strong down on the waters edge, that I was easily knocked off balance by the gusts.

I was looking to get into some Wrasse action with the Major Craft Bait Finesse rod, paired up with a Shimano Calcutta 51DC baitcaster, and spooled with some Sunline Siglon 10.3lb fluoro mainline. Its a mix or rough weedy grounds, with occasional sandy patches, so weedless soft plastics Texas rigged was the best option, and as he tide began to flood, the occasional investigative tap, tap turned into a  couple of Wrasse landed.

The lure doing the business today was a 4" Nories Shrilpin, on a size 2 weedless wide gape hook. With the conditions how they were, and the poor vis in the mixed up water, a short session with two Wrasse to show for it was most welcome, especially as opportunities to get out on the Coast have been few and far between of late.

Major Craft Volkey BFS Christened

Wednesday seems to be the day I take myself off for a little fresh water action. Whilst the majority of the country is covered in snow with minus temperatures, West Cornwall is enjoying some sunny and relatively mild weather. This suits me as far as staying comfortable whilst out and about fishing!

Having christened the Major Craft Volkey Big Lake Special last week on the Pike, today I set up the Major Craft Bait Finesse rod (more details HERE), with the thoughts of targeting Perch. Paired it up with a Shimano Calcutta 51DC spooled with Sunline Momentum 4x4 PE#1.0 / 16lb. This 8 strand line has really been impressive during it's use over the last year or so. One thing that always suprises me is just how strong it is, a very tough braid, and it has served me well on both fixed spool and baitcast reels. A selection of Ecogear soft lures and jig heads completed the kit list, and I was ready to go!

Today was to be a short session, making the most of the late morning conditions. Working one side of the reservoir, divided my time between a few locations that have shown fish in the previous few weeks.  With a mix of straight retrieves, and bottom twitching, after a tentative knock, a fish on. Brought into the net at the bankside, a healthy Perch in great condition.

The lure combo that tempted this Perch, was an Ecogear 4" Power Shad, mounted on an Ecogear 3D jighead, with an Ecogear Blade Spin mounted on the underside of the jig head.

Things went quiet afer the one Perch, and after a few more knocks, and a follow from a small Pike, it was time to head home, short and sweet. Target fish achieved, and the first bend in the Volkey Bait Finesse rod. Looking forward to getting a few more sessions under my belt with this rod, I have a feeling it will quickly become a favorite set up to use.