Wednesday, 9 March 2011

Bass Hunting Gear

Called by on Ben at The Art OF Fishing, and picked up some gear in preparation of the warming waters and sunny days.

OSP Asura 92.5mm 8.5g Suspend


OSP Asura 92.5mm 8.5g Suspend


Nories Zag Stick SW85 85mm 11.8g Slow Sinking Silent


Nories Laydown Minnow Mid SW92 92mm 11.8g Suspend Silent

 
Jackson Artist SL130 130mm 10.5g


Ecogear ZX40 40mm 6.4g

 
Nories Fat Flat 4"


Nories Lady Fish 3.5"

 
Ecogear Paramax 4"


Ecogear Grassminnow L

 
Deps Tackle Box 3010NDM 


Deps Tackle Box 318SD

 

Jig Power Lure Box - Medium


Decoy Worm 13 Salt

 

Monday, 7 March 2011

Estuary Night Light Game 06-03-2011

Had to think how to define this report. Reason being, with the categories in our sport, I was wondering where this report fits. I know it's important not to pigeon hole styles and techniques, and cross over happens and is useful, be it equipment or methods. I fished the local estuary, from the rocky shoreline, using a 3" lure, weighted with 3g, on a 0.8PE line, 2506 Certate reel, with a rod rated 5-12g (Nories SeaBass Program' 72LLS Tide Controller). It's not a heavy set up, yet it's not what I consider a true light set up, maybe somewhere inbetween. What do you guys think?

Anyway, the report. Fished either side of high. Big tides meant very little slack water, and lots of current and flow with the water being crystal clear. A new moon meant conditions were very dark, very quiet, a good chance to really tune into the the fishing, feel everything, and cast and retrieve without being able to see.

First fish came as the tide had turned, and started to flow out. I was using an Ecogear Aqua Milfle, rigged on a size 1 wide gape weedless hook, rigged Texas style with a 3g non toxic bullet sinker. Casting out into the flow, letting the current do the work, bumping the bottom with small lifts. This estuary is a mix of shail and rocky/weedy patches, so lots of contact feel.

Two of the fish were taken close in, on the drop with smooth lifts. The other one came on the drop, from the cast, lure did not hit the bottom. The lure caught in both orange and pearl colours. All three Pollack were around the same size, and actually put up a bit of a fight, swimming with the current. Nice to get some bigger fish after the small ones I have been having at night in the Harbours.




These were the first 'real' fish on this new rod, and it will be used primarily as my Bass rod. The few session I have used it feel promising, and I am looking forward to getting into some decent sized fish with it. 

Sunday, 6 March 2011

Wreck Fishing 05-03-2011

From the shore!

Had a session at a spot near me back home, SW Devon. Deep clear water, rock and kelp with some sandy patches. The area I was in has at least two wrecks, smashed up into the shallows, visible at low tide in the water. Large parts of the structure have been washed and pushed up onto the dry rock areas. All the gullies are strewn with rusting metal, with the rocks stained red from rust.





Fished as close to the structure as I dared, but as you can imagine, very snaggy. Deadsticking a 4" Senko, took a Pollack. Switched to a 3" paddle tail shad, and worked a slow retrieve, picking up a couple more Pollack, one which slid off the hook into the water as I landed it.



Switched back to another slim 4" Senko, and worked it in the deep rocky gullies near the wreck area. Felt a good tap, followed by connection and a fish on. Felt bigger than the Pollack, and without too much fight, landed a Wrasse, weighing in at 1lb13oz, and measuring 37cm.



No more fish, but a great session in a nice spot, lots of climbing and walking, but well worth it. Think I will be heading back there with the light gear, try for some Pollack on the small metals.

Friday, 4 March 2011

Vibe Lures

With the waters slowly warming, and looking towards the spring and summer months, I have recently tested out, and purchased some small vibe metals, and similar lures. I have found these lures are simply exciting to fish with, they cast well and give great feedback. There are variations in how they can be worked, and it's something I will be expanding upon, both in my light game approach and heavier. With a lot of these lures falling in the 2-10g bracket, the lighter approach I have developed into my fishing suits them well.

Ecogear VX 35 (35mm 3.5g)


 Ecogear VX 40 (40mm 5.0g)
 

Ecogear ZX 30 (30mm 3.5g)


Jackson Cymo (45mm 5g)


Jackson Cymo (45mm 5g)


Ecogear CX40HS deep diving hard-body crank (40mm 4.5g) 


Tiny-Trap lipless crank (45mm 3.5g)


The Ecogear and Jackson lures came from http://www.artoffishing.co.uk/
The Tiny-Trap lure came from http://www.agmdiscountfishing.co.uk

Plym LRF Meet 03-03-2011

I had a very quiet evening, successfully landing only one Pollack, and loosing a couple more. Was good to try a few different things out, one being the Tict Caro's, these will be a nice addition for when the water warms a little, fishing on the open rock marks in day. Also tried the Marukyu Power Isome (rag worm imitations available from http://www.artoffishing.co.uk/) rigged wacky, which accounted for my fish.


When in suspension, these long, thin lures hang straight, and respond well to small vibrations and twitches from the rod tip. When retrieved slowly along the sea bed, they are a very life like bait, and the fish seem to like them a lot. Will hopefully be putting these into action at various spots, Harbour and open rock marks.

Matt had a bad start to the session, having got set up, with a new shiney new Shimano Rarenium reel, new spool of flurocarbon, first cast led to a big splosh in front of us.  Rod tip still there, rod not snapped, line everywhere...... drag/spool securing knob missing off the reel and in the deep Harbour waters! I think he handled it well, much better than I would have. Good effort finding it on the low water as well!

A good turn out as per usual now from this fortnightly meet. Some nice mini species being caught, and lots of methods tried. Ben Field from Art Of Fishing had the biggest species of the night, with a nice Bass, coming from the shallower waters as the tide dropped away.


Thursday, 3 March 2011

Tict

Placed a trial order through Rakuten for some Tict gear. The small quantity I ordered, along with delivery from Japan, UK VAT and handling fees made it expensive, but best to try these things first before committing to a bigger order.

http://www.tict-net.com/

Tict M-Caro Ver.II N-4.6g
Tict M-Caro Ver.II 3g
Tict M-Caro Ver.II 4g
Tict Caro Kabura brown
Tict Caro Kabura pink
Tict LaClip









Video showing the idea behind the presentation;

http://www.fishing-v.jp/movie/?mv=azlb_0910_0304990_02

The shop I ordered through Rakuten was Axia Sports;

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/axiasports/

Will be trying them out tonight at the Plymouth LRF meet, but it's a technique I hope will be good for the Mackerel and species once the water warms a bit.

Tuesday, 1 March 2011

Launce On Light Gear

Had another go in the daylight on the light metals today. Fished in clear deep water, using a 5g Jackson Cymo. Love these small metal vibes, the really buzz in the water, and cast so well. No real fish to report of, but had some promising catches - Took five nice big Launce, all on the treble of the Cymo. Measured and photographed the first one, pic of the second, and the others were of a similar size;



They have an interesting mouth, all hinged and able to elongate. So, thinking that if they are about at this spot, then hopefully there will be something bigger wanting to feed on them! Unfortunately no signs today, maybe soon.