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).
Almost back to normal.
My confidence is slowly growing. It's not so much whether I will ever catch fish again, but whether I can still totter along the rocks safely and, so to speak, wield my tackle. I have persisted with my free-lined baits in the hope of catching a decent bass and, true to form, I had a blank session at the beginning of this week. However, later on the same day, my pal Bill, spinning with soft plastics had a couple of (smallish [1-2lb]) bass. Two days later Bill went spinning again and despite it raining hard and, as he said, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, he caught a (hated) wrasse and four (2.0-2.5lb) bass in half-an-hour, then he rounded off the session by landing two even smaller ones on consecutive casts.
One of Bills fish from the first session.
...and the other one.
One of Bill's favourites on his second session.
A modest bass.
...and another.
Bill's results were encouraging for me but, the day before his 'baby bass bonanza' I'd already decided to give my baits another try (I NEVER give up - well, hardly ever). Sure enough, the following morning I was on the shore just after low water (about 05:00hr) and it was already quite light. There was a bit of a breeze blowing onshore but not enough to seriously waft my braid about. In my usual thrifty (= mean) fashion I'd taken only two baits. I had a whole side (fillet) of mackerel (always my prefered bait, large, soft but relatively tough), from a fish given to me recently by Bill's mate; I also took a whole, small mackerel in case I lost the fillet. As usual I was using a big circle hook on an Amnesia trace. I hooked the fillet in and out through the thin end, to leave the hook almost fully exposed, before trudging to my chosen spot (the first time I had tried there this season). On arrival I selected a handy boulder to sit on and flicked the bait about three metres beyond the rod tip, into perhaps a half-metre of water. The tide was just beginning to creep in. I lay the rod down on the boulders (the butt resting on one behind me with the second ring propped up on the one where I sat) and, taking the line between my finger and thumb I waited but - to my amazement - not for long! It was only minutes (perhaps five or ten - how time flies when you're having fun) before the line was snatched from my hand and the rod rattled on the rock as the tip was pulled round. In an instant I had picked up the rod and was allowing the line to run out freely from the spool to the steady drag of a fast moving fish. I let it go for several seconds and then decided that it was time to be decisive. I pulled off an armful of line and, before it could tighten again, I gently closed the bale.
As usual at this point I'd stopped breathing (one day I'm sure I shall faint). The remaining slack line drew tight, the rod tip pulled round and a splash, about twenty metres out from where I sat, signalled how far the fish had already travelled. The clutch buzzed. It was on! "Don't come unstuck!" I'm pleading silently. It didn't and I moved a few metres so I could guide my catch back through the rocks to where I stood.
Mine on bait - not much bigger than the lure caught fish.
It doesn't look any bigger in close up!.
I slid the bass ashore noting that it was disappointingly small. Clearly the speed and distance of the first run with the bait is no indication of fish size. Unhooking, measuring (50cm fork length), a quick picture and returning to the sea were completed in a minute or two. I rebaited with the small mackerel, hooked lightly through the tip of the jaw and snout, and cast again. There was no further action. As I walked back I spent a few minutes fishing in another likely spot. Just as I was about to pack in my pal Richard turned up, all set for a spot of spinning. We spent a few minutes catching up on things (it was some time since we'd seen each other) before I returned home. When I reeled in the bait was covered in Idotea. I later heard that Richard had added another small bass to the week's total.
PLEASE TELL YOUR TWITTER (X), FACEBOOK, EMAIL FRIENDS ABOUT THESE BOOKS.
THE SECOND WAVE
Written with Steve Pitts this is a SEQUEL TO THE BESTSELLER "Operation Sea Angler" IT'S AVAILABLE ON PAPER FROM -
HOOKED ON BASS
Written with Alan Vaughan. NEW PRINT OF THE ORIGINAL: 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
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