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Although its not completely over I can safely say I've had a wonderful season. It started with an amazing session of surface fishing with Jim Hendrick in Wexford in the opening hours after the closed season back in June and has continued on with action, excitement and discoveries right throughout. This season for me though has been mainly about getting deeply into Soft Plastics which has kept my focus right through the summer and continues to be an endless fascination which I predict will go on for some while yet, I will be writing on this over the winter for a series of articles to be published in the Spring. I have so many wonderful memories to reflect on as the temperatures drop and the fishing gets tough, shared experiences, moments of adrenaline alone in the dark, encounters with wildlife, and scary moments when I was reminded that my judgement on safety wasn't as good as it could be !! This season saw more variety in locations with trips away to sublime fishing destinations, Wexford, Waterville the Copper Coast and Galway how lucky am I to live where I do and have the chance to access these areas with an easy drive which gets easier all the time as the Irish road network improves. Lows, hardly any, a "High End" reel that's been back for repair three times is about it. This season although well up on numbers and quality fish, did not produce a double for me but most pleasingly blanks were pretty rare, there's nothing worse than a blank if you're as addicted as I am but you have to expect at least the odd one. By continuous focused effort tide after tide I have learnt a lot about the locations I already know and added new reliable ones also, its very rewarding when another piece of the jigsaw slips into place and inspiring to think that the surface has only been lightly scratched, for sure there's a lifetime of learning still ahead of me.
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How many times do you get a hit, which hopefully leads to a landed fish, in your first few casts and then nothing for a good while or at all? For me the answer is frequently. I can only conclude that the disturbance caused by the initial contact has an unsettling effect on the area. I know you can say its nonsense, Bass will follow a hooked fish etc etc but it happens too often for it to be a coincidence. I'm not talking about areas you could expect the diturbance of a hooked fish to be an upset to others either, I can say this has happened to me at one time or another in ALL types of locations eastuaries rock marks, deep water, shallow, off the top...... Anybody have similar experiences?
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Today I finally got round to ordering a waterproof case for my mobile and electronic car key. I stopped carrying a phone a long time ago after some near dunkings but from a safety point of view, especially in winter when it gets dark quickly and there are less people around, its good to have a means of communicvation should an accident occour. Just don't ring me while I'm fishing please !!
These cases can be bought online
Here
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We finally had a calm day today so I booked a day off and went fishing. I targeted an area where the water clears quickly after a blow and got hit on my first cast, although it came off. Over the next hour these fish hit a variety of softies as I experimented with different presentations...........
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Having experienced too many unexplained breakages with Varivas Avani Sea Bass in 20lb test (And lost fish!) I am trialling a different 8 Strand PE Braid Braid this time from YGK, having consulted with Keith White at
Jersey Bass GuidesAlso, to hopefully ensure a reduction in breakages I have stepped up to 25lb test for my all round fishing.
I did try and do some comparative abrasion testing but its difficult to prove anything and having been out with it only a few times its early days but it seems very well behaved and I like the bright colour.
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Very pleased to catch this fish, and a few others, on the drop yesterday. I love the experience of surveying the water in front of me making my decision on where to put the lure, casting to the spot and before the Softie has had time to hit the bottom its BANG fish on. Also chuffed that the bold colour choice paid off, I went for the loudest colour I had due to slightly dirty water, which didn't seem to put the fish off. Hooked and lost one on my third cast then went for an hour or so trying everything everywhere then it turned on for around twenty minutes part of which I was catching or getting hit by Pollock or Bass quite frequently.
Pretty good for the end of Oct after a week of bad weather. Oh, and on the weakest tides of the cycle....
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Very pleased with this fish. On a very bright morning with frost on the ground, a NE wind blowing and November just around the corner, to get one up top was a real surprise! This was one of very few surface fishing attempts I have made this year as I have been concentrating on working out the Soft Plastics and I really only gave it a go to kill time whilst waiting on the tide to drop further and allow me access to another area.
Lure is the classic popper, Smith Zipsea Pop in 03 Pattern,
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Still plenty of action here at the moment, when the conditionms are right. This beauty fell to a TM 145 SLD-F HA134 - Sure Sayori, a lure that looks perfect to me for clear water fishing and obviously looks good to the Bass also !!
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Had a great session today, the combination of the calm after the storm and a spring tide
conveniently coincided with a Sunday afternoon and on arriving at my chosen spot for some HRF action the signs were good. Dozens of Cormorants and Terns were on or over the water which although slightly coloured was otherwise perfect. Took a fish on my second cast and thouight I was in for an epic session then it went quiet for while and I experimented with differerent SP presentations eventually settling on my hand customised Senkos mounted on a good old 7g Batchi Head. Five decent fish were landed in a short session weighing between four and Seven pounds most hits were right under my feet . The maddest thing happened as I was about to pack up, as I lifted my Senko from the water a small fish powered out of the water after it a good foot clear of the water, now that's keen! Imagine a mid air take on an SP, madness......
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Recently took delivery of a new high end fishing jacket from the US. First impressions are very good and I have to say I'm not going to be biased by its cost. My slight concern was that it might be a little too warm for SW Ireland but on unwrapping I was immediately confident that it wont' be, other than on warm summer days when you probably won't need any jacket. LL Bean eluded to a fleece lining but its not the case, a tough mesh lining in places is how I would describe it which is apparently Gore Micro Grid. When putting it on it feels more like a piece of water sports wear, kayak or similar as the cuffs are neoprene and the removable neoprene skirt with separate zip immediately give you a feeling of being sealed in from the elements. All the pockets and stowage's are well thought out and all zips appear to be high quality and waterproof, as you would expect. The outer material is Gore Tex Pro shell which is the toughest Gore Tex fabric available. First outing was a rock fishing venture in the impact zone of breaking surf during which I was blasted by salt water from all directions and remained snug and warm in the jacket over chesties and only a shirt underneath. The hood is well designed and adjusts to give a perfect fit, the only minor negative is that the neck is a little open without a collar or scarf to fill it out but it is made of a very comfy material.
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Fished the West of Ireland last weekend with fellow bass addict John Weir based in Co Clare. The weather
preceding the weekend was not ideal with a
Strong Northerly breeze blowing for 24hrs
swinging to SE later in the weekend. Day one was bright, calm and surprisingly productive for me with three species
being caught over rough ground on hard plastics namely Pollock Wrasse & Bass.
The Wrasse were
insanely hard fighters diving straight into the nearest snag
instantly when hooked, the Pollock gave quiet a good account of themselves, pound for pound and the Bass were quite docile by
comparison. John joined me for Day 2 persisted with the surface lures and was rewarded with a decent bass off the top which he is seen here playing. I switched to soft plastics to target the Wrasse and had some more epic tussles with fish that I could see hitting the baits with my Costas. Looking forward to trying it all again with better conditions.
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All photos on this blog have been taken using the above camera. I have to say it's been excellent. The number one feature of course is the fact that its genuinely 100% waterproof and also shockproof, which is ideal for Bass Fishing photography. The W60 uses a standard size SD card which suits me, I like the fact that the zoom is internal meaning no lens protrudes out of the camera when its powered up. Picture quality is good although I'm no expert as you might have noticed! Minor gripes might be the face recognition featue which needs to be turned of each time the camera is powered up, when not needed, which is most of the time for me. The battery can be inserted with the wrong polarity into both the camera and charger which, although does not cause damage, could have easily been designed to be impossible. Maybe a lens cover would have been a good idea. Others have noticed that the tapped hole for the tripod is off centre making it a bit more tricky to balance on a micro tripod than if it were centered. There was already a later version available when I bought this over a year ago, the W90 but it looked more of a sports camera in its bold colours whereas this on passes itself off as any other Compact Digital for all round use.
9/10 Very Satisfied.
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Met up with fellow B.A.S.S. members Tony, Laurence & Steve last night for a chat. We talked all things fishing (Including Tide Minnows) and a good time was had by all, especially the whiskey drinkers !!
Enjoy the rest of your trip Tony & Laurence.
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Caught this 6 1/4 lb fish in exciting circumstances and it has to be one of the blackest bass I've seen, the picture doesn't do the colours justice really but you can see that even the lips are blackish. I was fishing a shallow weedy area that I have done well on over previous months but have neglected recently and it was a classic scenario. Tide rising with the light fading, fishing a shallow runner and on the third or fourth retrieve with lure only a few feet from my rod top one almighty swirl and bang, its fish on !!
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Just back from a great few days with Jim Hendrick & Friends at SEAi headquaters in Wexford. The weather was extremely mixed and oppourtunities to catch were limited but as usual Jim found fish for us and made sure we all had a great time. Andy, John, David, Jean Yves, Alan, Seamus, great to meet you all and talk endlessly about fishing (What else!). Looking forward to the next time.
Jim can be contacted
Here
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Called in on the Copper coast on my way down to Wexford and managed this fish in toughish conditions. Thanks to Cian O'halloran of Absolute Fishing, Waterford for coming to my assistance and helping me out with handling the fish and taking this photo.
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Visiting angler, UK coarse fishing match man David Thornton, seen here concentrating on the task in hand but alas his efforts were largely in vain on this occasion. We knew we would be up against it fishing the weakest tides of the cycle but not to be detered and with a limited window to go fishing we visited some faboulous locations in beautiful weather and had a very enjoyable day. An encounter with a fish each as the light faded prevented total disaster !!
Better luck next time David.
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Sure enough as soon as the first lines of swell arrived, driven from far offshore by a now spent storm, so the fish returned to feed. This one looked like a fat bar of gold in the glourious evening light.....
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Caught some of the darkest pollock I've seen to date today at a spot I found in the winter and haven't properly fished since. During the session my TM 125 SLD Lure was hit hard by a fish that leapt two feet clear of the water before shedding the lure, maybe a Sea trout? I've yet to catch one on this coast but I'm sure they must be there. I have come to the conclusion that if there's a lot of small pollock around and on the feed, the Bass probably aren't there. Anybody got any thoughts on this?
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The swell forecast for the next week is looking good, just what we need to inject some life into the fishing me thinks.............
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Been using these since the start of the season and have to say I'm really impressed. Not cheap and well hyped around the angling world but they really are exceptional. Mine have the Grey CR 580 Glass lenses as in the photo. Now looking at getting a cheaper pair with CR39 Plastic lenses in a softer tint for evening fishing as the light is fading. Reason for the cheaper pair is due to the following frequently repeated routine. Start evening session in bright conditions with sunglasses on, light fades and sunglasses are relocated on to head wear, return to car in the dark,
remove head wear and.............................crash!!
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Took a trip to Waterford last weekend and was not dissapointed. Plenty of fish nothing exceptional to report but always satisfying to apply what you know to a new area and still find fish. It was noticable that all fish caught had a slighly differant colouration to the Cork fish I'm most used to. Even comparing eastuary fish from both areas these fish had a beautiful greenish tinge around the back and gill areas.
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I have to say I'm highly impressed with 8 Strand PE (Poly-Ethylene) braids that are around at the moment, if you know where to look. They are certainly not cheap, this one is £35.00 for 150m (Plus postage if you live in Ireland) but I really think its worth it. Incredibly thin for their strength and very well behaved, I have not had a single dreaded "Wind knot" since switching from a cheaper well known braid towards the end of last summer and I can conclusivly say that its also no longer necessary to under fill the spool as was the advice of old which is a real plus when finesse fishing with soft plastics and ulta light jig heads. I have been using this brand in 15lb/6.8kg & 20lb/9.1kg with tippets of 13lb/5.8kg, 15lb/6.8kg, 20lb/9.1kg & 27lb/12.3kg.
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Its a little known medical condition, but I definitely have it, following the exceptional fishing of the last ten days.
Well actually, I invented it.
Symptoms are, raw skin just below the first joint of the thumb. Cause, excessive contact with bass micro teeth as found in the outer jaw areas.
I'm not expecting much sympathy and I'm certainly not complaining.
Hopefully this condition will persist well into the Autumn......
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The fishing here has been
truly memorable here over the last while. Thanks to some new
discoveries in equipment and locations plus a lot of time and
perseverance (I have fished ten out of ten days and counting) the results have been stunning. I was
beginning to wonder despite the average size of fish being very good, probably at least a pound or more greater than the last two years, where the larger fish were going to come from. Last night I landed an 8.5lb fish that well and
truly beats my Cork PB for shore caught plug and lure Bass of 7lb+. It still sends me into shock when I see a fish of that size in the flesh. It's been a wonderful few days, shortly before hooking the big guy I was joined by an Otter foraging along the moonlit shoreline to within a few meters of me and not the least bit bothered by my antics.
Numbers for the last ten
days..............
2 - 4lb - Lost count, probably 50+
5lb - 5
6lb - 4
7lb - 1
8lb - 2
8.5lb - 1
All fish were taken on barbless hooks and returned unharmed.
Still looking for that illusive double but that will come when its ready..........
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My Angling exploits in Wexford with Jim Hendrick have qualified me for the prestigious Irish Angler "Fish of the Month" award would you believe. The award was for the fish we caught during the opening hours of the 2010 Season, 18 fish all on surface lures in quick succession, very exciting, an unforgettable experience. As a result I am now the proud owner of a Fly rod and Reel, my choice of prize courtesy of Dennett Outdoor Ltd.
Thanks to Jim at probassfisher.com this is without a doubt far more his achievement than mine, also to Irish Angler for running the competition and Dennett Outdoor Ltd for this fine prize which could just be my gateway into fly fishing. watch this space.......
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Here we all are about to head out in
atrocious weather for a spot of afternoon fishing.
Despite the conditions we all caught and agreed it was far better than sitting on the sofa !!
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Visiting angler and big brother Anton Norman has just left after visiting for a few days and a couple of productive fishing sessions on the Copper Coast. The fish above was caught during an amazing session in which Anton was on fire, he had three fish landed before I connected with my first fish and my first fish was caught two casts after changing my lure to match his! Its always interesting to watch someone fish an area you think you know well only to see them excel in catching from spots you either never tried or have given up on as unproductive. A total of nine fish were landed during this session.
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My 2010 Certate 3000 has arrived from Japan, looking forward to trying it. It seems very smoothe as you would expect, initail observations are.
- The Anti reverse switch has moved to below the reel body al la Shimano.
- The Cranking arm is not collapsible but very durable.
- The rotating frame is unusual and can trap loose line.
Not sure its any better than the original/previous model at this stage, will give it some use and report further........................
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Hooked this lean 5lb+ fish at close range and saw it hit the softbait in clear water. A long lean fish it could easily be 6lb when in prime condition.....
Softie - Xorus Midway #12 Aji / 14g Zipper Worm co Power Football Jig Head.
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The low pressure arrived and with it wild and unfishable conditions for open coastline fishing so I fished an eastury and caught a few Pollock at a spot that's about a mile from the sea. Good sport on light tackle !!
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Fishing is finally firing here at the moment, catching in all manner of locations and all methods, no monsters to report yet but the 5 lb+ fish of this evening was a sight for sore eyes. Lets hope things continue to get better over the next few weeks, conditions look ideal for the next couple of days before a mean looking low pressure system moves in.....
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Jim Hendrick and I are standing shoulder to shoulder the in pitch darkness.
The moon obscured by clouds, water is waist deep and we are following a now well-oiled routine.
"Cast over there" lure is retrieved, weed removed,
"Cast at that rock" lure is retrieved, weed removed,
Cast at that rock" lure is retrieved, "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT ?!?!?
We both take a step back in the darkness as a head appears next to us bobbing around enquiringly as it is looks around for the "fish" that mysteriously disapeared into thin air.
"Its an Otter"!! "No its too Big" "Its a seal" !! "No its too small"!!
"Seal pup"? "It must be"
"Shoo Shoo" "Wait let me get my camera" flash! flash! flash! the head turns and slips below the surface never to be seen again, we resume our routine
"Cast over there" lure is retrieved, FISH ON" !! .....................................
Jim Hendrick can be contacted via probassfisher.com
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Was out fishing an estuary last night and had a follow by a big old flounder, almost the size of a dinner plate which chased the lure towards me as I retrieved through crystal clear water, almost to my feet. A few casts later I hooked what had to be the same fish! Maybe something to try in the winter? The session went on to produce three different species with a few Pollock and couple of decent Bass to 5 Lbs all on these
miniature soft plastic worms. I love this light style of fishing which has coined the phrase of "Finesse fishing" or even "Light Rock Fishing" (
LRF) where the sport is being pushed to new
boundaries in places like Jersey.
Rod - 7'
Sakura ShukanReel -
Diawa Certate 3000
Braid -
Varvas Avani 8 Strand PE 15lb / 6.8kg
Leader -
Varivas 365
Flourocarbon 15lb / 6.8kg
Jig Head - Zipper 1/40z / 7g
Plastic - 5" Gary
Yamamoto Senko Pro
(Pattern - Light green pumpkin with light green and purple fleck)
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