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).
Thanks for the encouragement Bill!
Although I've waved a rod about a few times in the past month, I'm still wary of 'hard spinning sessions'. However, my pal Bill has no such limitations and, in a recent email, he said, and I quote :- " After the most dreadful May and June I've cheered up, encouraged at last by fish in (from) three different locations, which proves it wasn't just the 'odd' bass or a small, localised shoal."
In fact he'd been fishing yesterday morning and sent me the following, slightly edited, email :-
"Arrived a bit later than usual (06:45) in order to fish through to the ten o'clock high water (a 2.1m tide). The sea temperature was 15.1 degrees C. and the wind a stiff North Easterly. In most places the sea was pretty calm but where I did a spot of (fruitless) long casting with my Toby there was a 3-4ft swell."
" I was the only one on the beach and, having walked some distance along the shore before starting my very first cast resulted in a nice, 3lb, fish. The tide was still well out so the water was shallow. After a few more biteless casts I moved on to a weedy corner where there were loads of Idotea and lots of fish, mostly mullet, in close. However I did catch another reasonable bass nearby. No more bites so I moved on and switched to a Toby to get a bit of distance, still nothing! I walked on further, having switched lures again to a Gunfish. A long walk and no more bites so I put on the 'old faithfull' Sluggill and began to head back. On the way I had another fat three-pound bass, and ten minutes later hooked a fourth one, which I played to the edge before it came off. By this time (11:00) I was really cheerful and didn't mind too much."
Well done Bill! I must get myself down to the shore and to hell with the aching arm. In fact I intended going this morning and left home in what looked like reasonable, if overcast, conditions at 04:00hr, but found that it was pouring down by the time I arrived at my chosen venue. Now I'm not a fair-weather-angler but the thought of a long hike followed by a soaking, for an hour's spinning was enough to prevent me getting out of the car. Next time!
Bill's first cast bass - a fat little beauty on his Swim Senko.
...and his second fish two hours later.
...and the third one on his way back. This time on the Sluggill.
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HOOKED ON BASS
Written with Alan Vaughan. NEW PRINT IN PAPERBACK. Copies available from all good book shops RRP £14:99 -
ANGLING ON THE EDGE
Copies can now be ordered (printed on demand) from Steve Pitts at £34.00, inc. Royal Mail Insured UK Mainland Postage.
To order a book send an E-MAIL to - stevejpitts@gmail.com
FISHING FOR GHOSTS
Written with David Rigden. Copies from
THE SECOND WAVE
Written with Steve Pitts this is a SEQUEL TO THE BESTSELLER "Operation Sea Angler" IT'S AVAILABLE ON PAPER FROM -
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