Catch Fish with
Mike Ladle

Information Page

SEA FISHING

For anyone unfamiliar with the site always check the FRESHWATER, SALTWATER and TACK-TICS pages. The Saltwater page now extends back as a record of over several years of (mostly) sea fishing and may be a useful guide as to when to fish. The Freshwater stuff is also up to date now. I keep adding to both. These pages are effectively my diary and the latest will usually be about fishing in the previous day or two. As you see I also add the odd piece from my friends and correspondents if I've not been doing much. The Tactics pages which are chiefly 'how I do it' plus a bit of science are also updated regularly and (I think) worth a read (the earlier ones are mostly tackle and 'how to do it' stuff).

10 April 2007

Accidental pollack.

Although we had one or two bass in March it's still a bit early for consistent catches. However, if you want to catch fish you have to give it a try, even if it means the odd blank session. In truth even at this time of year when things can be a bit slow it is quite rare not to have something of interst. Quite apart from the sandeels that I saw when I went to a new venue, the flock of sandwich terns catching sandeels (always a good sign) and the peregrine that I saw chasing a raven along the cliff it is still unusual not to, at least, get a bite or even to catch something.

My last two early morning sessions failed to generate any bass. On the first occasion I went with Ben and Phil. We were armed with spinning gear, fly rods and (ever hopeful) I took my livebaiting tackle hoping that someone might catch me a bait. In fact it was pretty dead. I had one desultory pluck (try saying that after a trip to Wareham's BEEREX festival) on the fly, Phil lost a lure and Ben managed the only fish of the session a modest , but welcome, pollack. Sadly I felt that it was too big (even for me) to use as bait.

I wasn't exactly inspired by our poor results but it was such a pleasant morning that I went on my own the following day. This time, for convenience, I took only my plugging rod. When I started fishing, in the dark, there was nothing doing but as it began to get light I felt a knock and missed it. Out went the lure to the same spot and sure enough this time I was into a fish. It was no great size but it pulled quite hard in the strong flow of tide and turned out to be a pollack. To cut a long story short I had five more on the next five casts, all like peas in a pod, then it went dead so I went home for breakfast - bassless but happy.

If you haven't signed the bass petition yet, please go to Saltwater page 168 and do it now.

If you have any comments or questions about fish, methods, tactics or 'what have you.'get in touch with me by sending an E-MAIL to - docladle@hotmail.com

Ben and Phil.

Success.

Another spot.

Rotten picture.