[Dave Irving]

Well the sea is SLOWLY warming, crabs are peeling. And somewhere out there, are the first bass of the year. Now all those shiney bits of plastic that we have hoarded over the winter might be calling for attention. But what are your early season favourates. Trendy or traditional, high tech or stone age. What will you be reaching for over the next few weeks to help you slide that first bass of the season on to the beach???

 

[Mike Hayes]

Something slow and something deep, one up shad or gancraft shape perhaps.

 

[Dave Irving]

Thanks Mike,
I can totally see that bagging up this time of year. I really must put more time in with the softies this year. I just don't have the "touch" yet with them. My loss I know, hopefully get plenty of practice this year.

 

[Mike Hayes]

Dave, im far from experienced with the Softies. Just a lot more comfortable in their use and potential.

 

[pat connolly]

XLAYERS first for me.

 

[Tim Griffin]

My first bass will almost certainly be on a shallow diver. Feed Shallow? Probably....

 

[Iestyn Jones]

my 1st bass will be on a lure I dont yet have!!!! lol. but should be with me by end of next week!!) :-D

 

[keith Ogden]

x-layer here too bumped along the bottom

 

[Retired]

Tide Minnow. First bass of 2009 (23//1)

Or - Spindleworm. First boat bass last year (off Mick's boat 19/4) .

 

[Luke Fox]

Well was out earlier today in 3 different locations nothing taking but saw gannets divebombing just 200yds out. Joey mackrell I guess? I used my new Z-claw, yellow white patchinko, Feed shallow, TD minnow and saltiga minnow(laser sardine). What more could a bass ask for?
Gonna hit the local estuary tomorrow and bump an xlayer along the bottom on the pushing tide from low. Will probably follow this format until something takes. Im on ten bass so far this year but none on hard or soft plastics yet.

 

[Barry Howlin]

out again in the morning at first light off the shore this weekend the whole lot will be going out especially the softies a few big fish were landed in Ireland last year around this time so hopefully tomorrows the day for the first lure caught bass of the year, xlayers,gt shads,rolling shads and one up shads will be the order of the day.....

 

[Simon L]

Lovely selection there Barry (hell of a nice set of Jig Heads too)

 

[Barry Howlin]

Lovely selection there Barry (hell of a nice set of Jig Heads too)

Thanks Simon its all a steep learning curve that continues from last year so many softies to try and sort out the good from the bad there are a good few more that i still want to get hold of and try this year including Xorus sayori shads and a few other colours in the rolling shad, some of the bigger size slugos the two lads bought a few packs to experiment last month so we will see how they go and i also want to get my hands of the mother worm another top lure from last year...

 

[Simon L]

Is that a 'Red Xlayer' in the top left of your picture Barry ?

 

[Barry Howlin]

Is that a 'Red Xlayer' in the top left of your picture Barry ?

Yes its the red and black colour in the giant size again just a colour i decided to try for pollock off the boat and for a few bass when the light is fading off the sky in the summer months...
works a treat for the pollock i hope ist even half as good for the bass...

 

[Peter Smith]

I'm going to be testing my new Xlayers tomorrow at Hurst Castle, should be something there for me to catch. :-D

 

[Barry Howlin]

I'm going to be testing my new Xlayers tomorrow at Hurst Castle, should be something there for me to catch. :-D

Best of luck on the slayer

 

[micheal quirke]

early season choices

early season choice for me will be one up shads in soft plastics and
maria chase or zonk gateride in hard plastics,i will also fish the shit
out of crystle minnows as they were dynamite last year especially
in the blue mackeral colour...west cork bass love them...
west cork bass nut

 

[Peter Smith]

Well today the Xlayer didn't cross the winning line, it stumbled from the off and never recovered.
Total blank at Hurst Castle this morning

 

[Andy Marquis]

I had a go with bait yesterday and not a touch, even with perfect velvet peelers. And while fishing get the text that one of the boys had a double (10-2), I think Friday night it must have been.

Not even a touch for me this weekend, lures or bait. got to be soon... Getting desperate.