After work antics 19/06/2024

Wednesday was one of those days when you’re at work and you can’t help but look out the window and think about fishing. The weather was absolutely stunning, some much needed sunlight bringing some warmth after what had been a fairly windy and cold week previous. There was a slight breeze that kept you at a lovely, comfortable warmth. With conditions as good as they were, it goes without saying that I couldn’t resist checking tide times. Somehow the world seemed even brighter when I saw a nice looking tide at twenty to eleven, which seemed ideal as I’d heard that the changing of light was a good time to fish.

The second I finished work I got to my car and rushed home (driving very safely) and sorted out my kit. After a quick dinner I headed down to my new favourite spot. A car pulled up to the car park at the same time I did and another like minded fisherman got out and started to rig up his lure rod, like any fisherman worth his salt I took this to mean I had to rush to get everything setup and beat him to the beach. After hastily rigging up I speed-walked after the other fisherman who had managed to get an early head start on me, I eventually caught up to him and we both had a chat about the area and bass. I think all of us who fish love when we get to talk about it with other like minded people, most people aren’t all that interested in if the bass are biting sadly – clearly due to mixed up priorities – so getting the chance to talk to someone who was keen on bass was delightful.

I started my fishing on the inside of a slight bay that I normally walk past due to the other fishermen in the spot I normally fish. This turned out to be the best thing that could have happened as it was only about 15 minutes before I felt some headshakes on the end of my line, which was subsequently pulled out of my hands.

Actually hooking some bass has been incredible, the realisation that I’ve got one on the end of my line has been ecstasy inducing every time its happened.

I also had the fortune to talk to a local fisherman who was also targeting bass but with lugworm. He said he’d lost a nice fish that day, which is a pain most fishermen can empathise with. He told me what the fishing’s been like over the years, how its changed and about the best fish he’s seen. Brilliant to chat to someone with a lot more time fishing for bass than myself.

The only thing that detracted from the trip in the slightest was a small incident I had with the rising tide. I was fishing a depression that was filling up with water and working my way round to an area I normally fish when my line got in a dreadful tangle. The mess of interwoven, knotted line had me distracted for a good chunk of time which was enough for the wily sea too catch me off guard and rush in! When I had finished untangling my line I looked back to shore and saw it was about twice as far away as it was last time I looked. I quickly transferred my phone and keys from my wader pocket to my waterproof backpack and accepted I might have to swim. I waded through water that went higher than waders and was a bit scared at points. Luckily, the water wasn’t flowing too fast, it wasn’t a big tide and it was a warm day so I got out of it completely unharmed, if a bit soggy.

All in all a brilliant evenings fishing and I’m very glad I went.

Conditions:

• Slight breeze coming from the right of shore, but nothing some backhanded casting couldn’t cope with
• The water was crystal clear in places with lower visibility on the right of the shore
• Moon was between first quarter and full moon

Flies:

I’m sticking with what seems to be working – EP baitfish on size 1 Ahrex SA280 Minnow in Bronze and minnow.