[PhilV]

Had two sessions over the weekend and the X-layers proved its versitility once more.

Sat morning (0400) slipped out in the Yak to a shallow ledge cove (popular with many in the Purbecks) and tried a few drifts with the X-layer. Picked up 3 nice wrasse before deciding to try a couple of drifts in deeper water off a ledge. Nothing happening and by now I was desparate for a pee! I trolled the lure towards the shore and whilst passing thorough about two feet of water, thick with a grassy weed, and in gin clear water, the x-layer was hit by a nice 3lb bass! I wouldn't have picked that up with a lure for sure.

Next evening, I had a hunch that the bass would be in close feeding on maggots at high water. I had planned to fish a small delta eel behind a contoller float, but the wind had picked up and it became impossible to keep the lure in the water. I was about to pack in when I decided to give the X-layer a quick bash. 3rd cast and bang, fish on . Only 3lbs but put up a cracking fight from only about 3 metres from the shore.

A pal was fly fishing a delta the other end of the bay and bagged up with a dozen fish! Not sure how he managed it in such strong winds?

Anyone have any tactics they'd like to share on how to fish for the bass when they are feeding off maggots close in?

Cheers,

Phil V

 

[Mark Sleep]

Nice one Phil. The Xlayer is a legend already.

Re the weed and maggots, it's not a situation I have faced before, but I have read plenty of entries on Mike Ladles blog where he seems to specialise in catching fish in those situations...

 

[PhilV]

Cheers,

Yes it was Mike that bagged up!! That's 30 odd years experience for you!!

Phil

 

[Simon L]

Cheers,

Yes it was Mike that bagged up!! That's 30 odd years experience for you!!

Phil

:lol: Classic !!!!! The 'Old Bull & the Young Bull'

 

[mike symons]

Hi Phil
Have you thought about trying a maggot fly. they are easy to tie and when fished 3 on a cast quite effective for mullet when the are feeding close in on maggots so they should work for the bass. I have seen bass in the last week very close in amongst the rotting weed looking for food.
I hope this helps.

 

[Retired]

Take one 3" curly tail grub. Cut off the tail and mount the grub on a strong size 6 hook. Fish on as long a trace as you can manage behind a surface controller/Bombarda/Bulrag. Longer carp rods are still the best for this.

 

[PhilV]

Cheers Guys, I'll give it a go during the next set of springs and let you know how I get on.

Phil

 

[Retired]

Take one 3" curly tail grub. Cut off the tail and mount the grub on a strong size 6 hook. Fish on as long a trace as you can manage behind a surface controller/Bombarda/Bulrag. Longer carp rods are still the best for this.

Sorry I meant to say a white curly grub!

 

[Nick Aldridge]

Great account. The recent storms certainly piled up the weed in massive drifts on parts of the Purbeck coast. Mike Ladle had a cracking time by all accounts recently but I only had one mackerel yesterday on an X Layer after a 4.00am start. But I did get a wind knot (the first this year) that hampered fishing time...

However, they are great lures to use but the retrieve needs to be so slow and twitchy most of the time that others often give up on them. At least that's some of the feedback I get when people see me using one.

Nick.

 

[Keith White]

There are a few grub type SP's that will emulate vriac maggots.
Just use very small (12- 16) hooks and nose hook them. We use a bombarda parallel to and along the backside of such weed with 2 or 3 hook dropper rigs.

 

[Retired]

You can buy artificial maggots from many sources.

The idea of using a cut down grub tail is to offer a "super" maggot size-wise. Fish don't seem to be able to resist a bigger mouthful when they have been trying to fill their belly by picking off hundreds of small ones.