The last trip of 2011, .....................................probably.

27th November and it used to be I'd be looking to Cod, not Bass this late in the year. I wish I still was as I left home at 3 to make the 0600hrs met some place in Dorset. Mark333, Gee and Joe back early from Ireland ment a day of serious piss taking. It started promisingly with Compo Padfield dressed in breathable waders and dispensing with the usual wading boots in favour of 2 odd wellington boots, with booster heels. A day with Mark gives you a deep understanding of what social carers have to put up with.

We split up, JS and Gee heading right, care in the community and me heading left. It started well, first cast, fish straight onto the Pearl Gataride, rod bent, Pollock. Then the first big wave swamped me. Sunrise came and went, nothing. Then just as we were about to move on Mark gets a Schoolie, the fish are switching on. Out goes my GunFish and in comes a 2 pounder. Things get better, Mark gets swamped too.

And that was how it stayed. 7 more hours, and nothing between the four of us.Not a follow, splash, tug. The day ended with JS and me salting Razorclams, which at this moment are cleansing in a saline solution eagerly awaiting their big moment on the griddle.

Great day out chaps.                                                  (21)

Easterly @ Dorset

Went down to Dorset for what might be the last trip of the Season ( That's what you tell the wife). We knew it was going to be a 20 MPH Easterly, but it was still a disappointment when it really was.The plus side was the late start thanks to the days getting shorter, a nice lay-in til 0200hrs. Picked up Joe, meet Mark and Richard, plus Steve and Martin who travelled from the West, against the wind.

Fishing wasn't easy, had one on a Gataride HT Sayori early on, then snapped it off on a cast. So on goes the Pearl Gataride, couple of swift sweeps of the rod, and another fish. Then I snapped that off on a cast too.  £50 down, couple of 2.5 pounders, totally shagged and sure there's time for another trip to Dorset before the fish move on. Around 20 fish between the 6 of us, nothing big, great laugh and a nice impromptu photo shoot. 6 big kids who should grow up.

Kent East Coast, 25.9.11

After a few weeks break for various un-avoidable reasons, it was the first chance I'd had to try Joe Sepi's favourite Kent  mark. Knowing JS was in Dorset I thought I'd have the place to myself, and so it was until Joes mate Tony turned up. Tony pointed me to the various hotspots, but none of them produced on the day. With an increasing wind colouring the water and the Indian Summer conditions things didn't look good.

Coming to the back end my first season my new ability to read the water for myself, and the confidence gained from fishing with experts has certainly increased my catch rate. So it wasn't a total surprise that choosing a spot for myself and switching to the smaller 77 Hot Shad Zonk resulted in a solid hookup.
With the fish taking line against a tightish drag I thought it would be twice the size of its 2.5lb, but a Bass is a Bass and I was more than happy.

Back in Dorset, 4.9.11

Having caught 2 fish in Dorset 5 days previous, (both Schoolies) I couldn't wait to get back again. Not letting the 1am start from home put me off, the lack of sleep, the 12 hours straight fishing, nor the rain and mist forecast, we were on our way and those Bass were in trouble. (Well, 2 more schoolies were).

I have been rubbing shoulders with some of the UK's Bassing elite lately. Mark 333 Padfield,  Joe Seppi and on this trip Graham Hill. Even with just 5 fish between the 3 of us, (Adrian had the best at around 4lb) the experience was well worth the effort. The amount you learn from fishing and listening to people who excel in their field is priceless. You can learn more in a day with Anglers of this quality then you would in years fishing on your own. Real Fisherman, who have respect for the fish, worth a million Key Board Wannabes. And the best bit, all the real fisherman I've meet of late have been great Company. You dont need to be a Prima Donna when you can actually do it. Couple of Pics Graham took, making some small Bass look bigger. Qualitys pics if not fish.....

The Dorset Experience 29.8.11

Arranged to Meet Mark 333 and Joe Sepi at first one mark, then another, and finally nailed it to a 3rd due to constant updates from Marks intelligence network.( It's like MI5........with fish.) . A 0345hrs start ensured no sleep for me and the 3 hour drive made things no better...... and there was still the 8 miles of hiking over shingle, 12 hours hard fishing and the 4 hour bank holiday drive home to look forward to. ( I don't understand why Marks such a chubby with all that hiking).

Anyway, long story short, great company, great workout , crap fishing. 4 Fish between us, nothing of size, but managed to get an action shot of Mark and this schoolie. On the plus side you always learn lots when fishing with people like Adrian and Mark, and the clarity of the water in Dorset breaks your heart every time....  Going back soon.

20.8.11 A REEEEL FISH

 After the waters around Kent being coloured for the past 2 weeks it was nice to arrive at the Mark at HT to find the colour acceptable. What wasn't acceptable was the bright sunshine.  Killed it dead, not a take, but a 15lb plus Salmon leapt clear of the water 30 yards in front of me, giving me unrealistic expectations for a while.

4 Hours after HT and walking back to the car I left the rod up and waders on, something I never usually do as its a long long walk. With the light fading and the sea settled I thought I'd have a couple of chucks with a Sammy. 5 casts and 2 schoolies later a blank was saved. Walking on 30 yards to try some new water, on the 2nd cast and for the first time, the clutch on the reel was finally tested. The Rareium and Fish Dorset rod did everything they said they would, and I was suprised how quickly I had the fish beaten, a PB on the plug for me, 6lb 1oz, and off the top.   Does it get any better.............

25/7/11 The evening Tide

A last  minute decision to go fishing rather than the Spin Class (see the connection...Spin)  put me back on the same mark I'd fished yesterday. With the wind dropped right down to a 3-4 mph  SW and the water clarity being the best I'd seen at the mark I set up with the Zonk Gataride Pearl, the lure I'd caught on the previous day.

 First cast, couple of strips to get it down, steady back and Bang, fish on. Now things going to plan when Plugging is something new to me,  so after a quick release and a couple more casts I took the Zonk off.

 Normal service resumed I tried a couple of other lures and climbed over some rocks and caught FA. Back to the Gataride, first cast and fish on again. Only about a LB, but another one on the tally and a belief that the Zonk is the only Plug I'd ever need. Then I lost it in a snag.

 Now with the light failing I thought I'd just give a Patchinko Sandeel a go. Around the 5th cast I thought there was a bigger splash then the Lure should have made.  2 Casts later I hooked a good size Mackerel.  I'm now thinking I've got the "Walking the Dog" sorted. A  few more casts and everything locks up and I've finally got a proper Bass on. After 2 strong runs against a tight drag it suddenly come off. Gutted.  I continued, and five minutes later have another hit and although not as powerful as the last fish, this too come adrift.  So when the Patchinko is taken for the 3rd time,  I'm relieved to see the fish finally arrive at the beach. At 2.5LB it was the best of the evening.

24/7/11. KENT

Having had a day with Mark Padfield down in Dorset a few days previous picking up some pointers, it was time to start trying a few of the marks I'd discovered during the past few weeks.

  So it was I left home at a time I'd normally be coming in, and was set up and ready to fish at the top of the tide.................... 0530hrs. With the tide dropping and the mark being particually snaggy I started with Popper's and Patchinka's, but the strong cross-wind made them difficult to work. I changed to shallow divers, slowing the retrieve to nothing as they came over the shallowest rocks.    

   Three hours after HT and bang, fish on a Zonk Gararide YoRo YoRo in Pearl. After a spirited fight a 2 pounder was landed and released. A few casts later a much better fish shot out from behind a rock and only its lack of commitment ment my best plug caught fish remained at 2lb.

   So having only recently starting plugging, the last 3 trips have given me 3,3,and a single. Nothing of size, but learning all the time.