It has been a long time since I have fished with my darling wife Lisa. After 17 years together we were married last October. We used to bait fish the surf beaches of South Devon with good success, but procreation took over and three children later, the oldest being ten years old, kinda put a stop to our fishing expeditions. So, Lisa has watched and listened to four years of lure fishing tails with more than a hint of skepticism, “what kinda dumb fish would prefer a lump of plastic over a live sandeel or tasty peeler crab?’  Well, how about this one for starters darling girl? Friday evening on a Snowbee Stinger Lure.

Saturday Evening produced this one on a a Duo Terrife.

2nd bass 3.7lb from the surf.

This one really got under the skin of the bait fisherman on the beach who had told Lisa as she walked past them that she did not have a chance using lures in the surf. “Watch and learn guys” was her reply to them. She then proceeded to fish right next to them and on her second cast landed this beautiful girl. They could not believe their eyes as they baited up again with live sandeel and peeler crab!

To top it off Lisa caught again on Sunday, 2pm, bright sunshine, from the beach with surfers and bathers all around, wearing nothing but her bikini she landed  a 2lb bass. This is not right or maybe it is. I have no problem at all with wearing a bikini if I can catch fish like that!

So, another convert. She really had it going on, casting great, rod tip down, played the fish, landed them very gently, kissed and cuddled them before setting them free. I am so proud. For better for worse. This weekend was very much about the better!!!

WELL DONE DARLING. MY TURN NEXT WEEKEND AS YOU ARE NOW BANNED FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON!  NOT GOOD FOR MY REPUTATION!!!!!!

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Lure fishing in the surf from the beach is something I picked up whilst in Jersey last year. Whilst out scouting for marks to fish during the Jersey Open Bass Competition with Matt Arnold we stumbled on a group of local guys casting Patchiko lure into the surf with enviable success. As most of my early days bass fishing with bait was in the surf, being able to do the same with a lure really appeals to me.

 
Last Saturday I fished two friends, Kev and Ivan. Conditions around the rocks were extreme and very weedy so we opted to fish from the beach. Success, the bass could be seen through the wave chasing the bait fish . Attach the INT Contact 110 and the fish started biting. Really good fun. Give it a try.

Ivan and Nick, Kevs on the camera!

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This last weekend conditions were probably the worst I have fished this season so far.

The low pressure system that blew in on Friday night produced  Southerly winds blowing right down my throat gusting to 35 mph at times and increased during Saturday to gusts of 45mph.

Oddly enough though, water clarity held up so it was worth a go. The big winds resulted in the loss of two favorite lures to reefs and weed but not before landing this one on the Duo Rough Trail.

Duo Rough Trail Lure resulted in this 3lb bass in extreme conditions

Sunday fishing was no easier even though the winds had dropped. We were now faced with South Westerly 14mph but water clarity was pretty dire. I tried every hard lure in my armoury and SPs but nothing. I then thought of hitting the bottom hard to create noise and sand movement but come up quickly to sub surface yet still give off maximum and movement. Bring on the Tackle House Contact INT.  Second cast and I was in. Not a huge fish but a beautiful all the same. Kinda got a big buzz out of hooking this fish as a well hatched plan had paid off.

A well hatched plan pays off.

BIG thanks to my mate Wayne for the photos. Wayne is now an official TT. Watch out for photos of Wayne modeling latest fashions next week!

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This weekend I had a date with my Welsh mate Chris Spiller. Whilst Chris had been down at our campsite over the weekend of the Lure Forum “Bumble” and had  joined the crowd for an evening beer, he had other commitments and so could not join in on the fishing fun.
We had therefore agreed the next time Chris was down we would get out together on the Bass. Thursday afternoon I had an email from Chris explaining he would be arriving late Friday evening with his friend Phil and asked if I would up be for a session or two.

Mmmmmmmm……… let me think about that or a while!

Saturday conditions were not good for Bass. Bright sunlight, gin clear water and no swell at all. I left them to their wrasse fishing which was quite a success I understand.
The forecast for Sunday was looking more promising. Southerly gusting to 25mph and a           8 foot swell. I had agreed to give them a knock at about 7am so we could get on the rocks by 8am to fish the flood tide. My mate Wayne  was to join us as well.
I awoke with the wind howling and the rain whipping in horizontal sheets. I checked the beach and it was just a big white froth of loveliness! YUM, YUM. Fishie heaven!

“So all is good” I said. I could see my Weslsh friends looking at me as if I may need some kind of psychiatric help. They didn’t say it, but I knew what they were thinking. There is no way we can lure fish in these conditions. Well check this out .

Chris with his 1st bass. Look closer, it is there somewhere!

Me, wet but happy.

Chris plays a 2.5lb Bass on his Savage Bushwaker

Chris with his 2.5lb Bass

Smile for the camera!

Chris was getting hit every cast using a Tackle House Feed Shallow Plus. I changed lure and first cast I had this little beauty.

I had a big girl that I lost on the rocks at my feet which we think was 6lb plus. The fish loved the Duo Tide Surf Minnow Mackerel so much it snagged my leader in the rock , which cut the line and the fish swam away with the lure still in it’s mouth. GREEDY BUGGER!

Phil had a 2lb fish on a Feed Shallow Plus, Wayne hooked into a decent fish on a white SideWinder but the conditions were just a bit too much.  I had a my photo bass on a Duo Rough Trail bass lure . A great lure for the conditions we were fishing. Cast like a bullet and is very stable in rough waters.

All in all a very wet and windy yet thoroughly enjoyable morning.  All fish were returned to fight another day.

Another great day lure fishing – Cheers lads.

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With me playing host at the forthcoming Lure Forum South Devon shore bumble I thought it best get tuned in to some shore fishing. Having the RHIB at hand can make Nick a very lazy boy so I decided to get a little exercise and go rock hopping.

I have recently purchased a Tenryu Bulldog Evo II mainly for RHIB work but was keen to give it a casting work out as it boasts not only jigging capability but also casting up to 50g . I paired it with a Shimano Rarenium 4000 with 22lb braid and was good to go.

Always keen to preach to non believers, I kitted out my mate Wayne and we walked down to the mark. I had been watching the cloud cover move ever closer to the shore . Just as we got to the mark the sun disappeared and I knew we were in with a good chance of a decent fish or two.

It wasn’t until we were ready to attach a lure did I realise Wayne had never picked up a fishing Rod.  10 minutes spent on the rudiments of casting using light tackle and Wayne made a good start. A little jerky maybe, but he was definitely a good pupil!

With Wayne now throwing a Savage Gear Sandeeel (medium white) with a 22g Savage Gear Jig head. I was free to attach my lure of choice. This time last year I had great succes using te Sakura Magic Eel. Both the white and iridescent purple had worked previously so I attached  a purple pattern with 22g head , cranked the Bulldog Evo and let it fly.

The jig head hit the sand and I began a lift and fall action, I could see an outcrop of rock and kelp and pumped hard to get the lure to bump over it and  ”MY GOLLY MISS MOLLY YOU SURE LIKE A BALL” !!!! Fish on, not huge but a great scrap.

Good Golly Miss Molly!

We took care of this little girl and she went back safely.

Next cast and this with a change of Lure I fixed on a Savage sandeel the same as Wayne. Cranked the rod away it went.  On the retrieve I wanted to tease the lure back through the mouth of a gulley where I felt was a good ambush point for any waiting bass. Careful negotiation through the kelp and just at the mouth of the gulley I gave the reel handle 4 or 5 turns in quick succesion and “WAM, BAM, THANK YOU MAM! This girl jumped clear out of the water and what fun on light tackle. I have to say The Bulldog Evo put up a good show as well.

Wam, bam, thank you mam!

With Wayne now getting to grips with his casting and a few pointers on how to work the Soft Plastic lure and where, guess what?

LIKE A VIRGIN, KISSED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME !    Fishing virgin lands a bass!!!

Fishing virgin pops his cherry!

Sorry about the naff song references. Been spending too much time with Nathan and his music collection!!

All fish returned unharmed.

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We had Roger Mortimore from Total Sea Fishing down for the weekend to come and play on the RHIB’s, and boy did we have some fun.Here are a few photos from the weekend.

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