Joined
·
773 Posts
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Despite clocking up just over 1,200 miles during August and getting out as often as I could to a variety of locations it was a very tough Month, only three micro Pollack landed and 1 Bass hooked and lost. Not the best of rewards for the miles covered but conditions haven't been brilliant around the Welsh coast and I know a number of others have found it hard going on the plugs so not too disheartened. The highlight for August was the Welsh bumble (thanks **** for coining this phrase and starting a revolution) always great to meet up with like minded soles, put faces to names and enjoy the banter, a great day and many thanks to Simon and Tim for pulling everything together and the heroic journeys that many made.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]So this brings us to September with the Weymouth comp and the North Wales bumble firmly placed on the calender and time booked off. I've spent the past week ordering a few bits and pieces in order to get ready for heading down to Weymouth, nothing secret squirrelish just replacement hooks and split rings along with spare braid et al. So yesterday morning I set off to try a new mark in Cardigan bay on arrival things were looking pretty good, not too much wind and the water clarity was the best I've seen this year the swell was quite high but looked manageable enough. I found a nice channel heading out from the reef with a few exposed rocks on either side so waded out to one and cast out a Gun Fish, I always tend to start off on the top as I know if I catch with anything else I will never get round to clipping one on if this makes sense. After several casts and covering the whole are a couple of times I decided to change over to a Feed Shallow, working a little deeper. The swell wasn't too bad covering my feet now and again and a few splashes in my face but I've fished in a lot worse. As I crouched down to change lures I noticed that the water around the rock I was on seemed a lot lower than I remembered and there was a strange rumbling to my left, I looked up and was confronted with a wall of water that was easily 10' to 15' high. It was as though a piece of Ireland had dropped off a few hours before, the only real thing I remember is instinctively placing my hand over my glasses as my face slammed into the wave. What followed were several seconds of white water mayhem which culminated with me slumped over a rock, feet in the air and my head still in the water, this was the wrong moment to take my first breath. Coughing spluttering and limping I began to gather my thoughts as I looked around for a rock to sit on, now breathable waders are great but have you ever tried emptying them of water in a dignified way. Not really the start to September that I had envisaged with another camera and phone trashed and everything else given a good dunking. Now I could of gone home to lick my wounds but instead I thought sod it if Kieth can skish I can put up with being a bit damp so on went the Feed Shallow and back down to the rocks I went. Fourth cast out and wallop I've never had line strip from the reel like this before and after a couple on minutes a beautiful Bass of just over 4lbs (Boga scale) not too long but very plump, massive grin on my face as I slipped him back. During the next 20 minutes I landed three more with the largest just being over 2lb and two schooly's. After half an hour it then went very quiet so I strode back to the car as happy as Larry and an extra spring in my step. So now my kit is rinsed and sorted a few confidence points banked just need to pick up a new camera and I'm ready for Weymouth, cant wait its going to be good. I've also spent the afternoon looking at auto inflate life jackets as I'm not going out alone again until I get one.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]So this brings us to September with the Weymouth comp and the North Wales bumble firmly placed on the calender and time booked off. I've spent the past week ordering a few bits and pieces in order to get ready for heading down to Weymouth, nothing secret squirrelish just replacement hooks and split rings along with spare braid et al. So yesterday morning I set off to try a new mark in Cardigan bay on arrival things were looking pretty good, not too much wind and the water clarity was the best I've seen this year the swell was quite high but looked manageable enough. I found a nice channel heading out from the reef with a few exposed rocks on either side so waded out to one and cast out a Gun Fish, I always tend to start off on the top as I know if I catch with anything else I will never get round to clipping one on if this makes sense. After several casts and covering the whole are a couple of times I decided to change over to a Feed Shallow, working a little deeper. The swell wasn't too bad covering my feet now and again and a few splashes in my face but I've fished in a lot worse. As I crouched down to change lures I noticed that the water around the rock I was on seemed a lot lower than I remembered and there was a strange rumbling to my left, I looked up and was confronted with a wall of water that was easily 10' to 15' high. It was as though a piece of Ireland had dropped off a few hours before, the only real thing I remember is instinctively placing my hand over my glasses as my face slammed into the wave. What followed were several seconds of white water mayhem which culminated with me slumped over a rock, feet in the air and my head still in the water, this was the wrong moment to take my first breath. Coughing spluttering and limping I began to gather my thoughts as I looked around for a rock to sit on, now breathable waders are great but have you ever tried emptying them of water in a dignified way. Not really the start to September that I had envisaged with another camera and phone trashed and everything else given a good dunking. Now I could of gone home to lick my wounds but instead I thought sod it if Kieth can skish I can put up with being a bit damp so on went the Feed Shallow and back down to the rocks I went. Fourth cast out and wallop I've never had line strip from the reel like this before and after a couple on minutes a beautiful Bass of just over 4lbs (Boga scale) not too long but very plump, massive grin on my face as I slipped him back. During the next 20 minutes I landed three more with the largest just being over 2lb and two schooly's. After half an hour it then went very quiet so I strode back to the car as happy as Larry and an extra spring in my step. So now my kit is rinsed and sorted a few confidence points banked just need to pick up a new camera and I'm ready for Weymouth, cant wait its going to be good. I've also spent the afternoon looking at auto inflate life jackets as I'm not going out alone again until I get one.[/FONT]
.
