Shannon estuary, 18th-Jan-2009

[Donagh]

People: Me

Duration: 4:40pm till 8:40pm

Tide: 17:00 (1.5m) 22:32 (4.0m)

Weather: Cold westerly turning to rain.

Bait: off black wrap, small sand eel, mackerel and squid

Rigs: size 4 three hook cascade rig, 4/0 ledger

Results: A 3lb 6 oz thornback to wrap tipped with mackerel.

Report: Never fished here before so tried this place at low water as I had heard it fished low water up but water was quite low around the pier. It was difficult to get a bait out into deep water as there was an upstruction in the way of which I lost a couple of rigs to after wayward casts from trying to cast far in tight conditions. Crabs were very quite until 2 hours into the tide when they started savaging baits. I had a ledger close for straps in but the depth of water wasn't there to justify it. Around 8pm I had a bouncing bite to the cascade rig which was out for dabs and whites and pulled in the ray which was brought dragged up over the west wall so I couldn't see the fish until I pulled it over. The bait had been at a 45 degree west of the pier end lobbed out on my AA surf and mangler. My first ray on a mangler in many years.

Donagh

[fishermannum1]

nice one on the ray Donagh they dont show up around my way untill march.....

[gearoid mc s.]

whats a mangler...?
well done on the ray..intend to fish that place this year apparntly fishing off the shore to the west is easier than the pier...was there rough ground there??

[Donagh]

whats a mangler...?

It's one of them things John Lynch uses to bring his line and rigs in.

well done on the ray..intend to fish that place
this year apparntly fishing off the shore to the west is easier than
the pier...was there rough ground there??

Not rough except for the obvious obstruction. Had a look at the shore to the west and it looks a good spot. You have to judge your cast to make sure your rigs didn't get swept up into. With wind and tide the loop of line could easily get wrapped in them casting from the shore.

[gearoid mc s.]

well say head 50 yards west then to be safe... i scoped it out a few times this year at low water..luks good alright...never got round to fishing it though..couldnt drag myself away from my other spot. need a bit of variety this year!!

[anthony2carr]

What is this wrap everyone is talking about for bait????
Excuse the ignorance I don't do much shore fishing.

[petekd]

Presume its Black lug Anthony AKA Black wraps. BTW, whats a cascade rig?

[gearoid mc s.]

Presume its Black lug Anthony AKA Black wraps. BTW, whats a cascade rig?

3 hook rig clipped with cascades id say? either that or some revolutionary rig that catches ray in winter...spill the beans Donagh

[Donagh]

Peter is right with wrap frozen black lug wrapped news paper aka as stickies.

Gearoid is right. Same rig thats on the back of the cascade swivel packet. 3 hook clipped down with all hooks above the lead using cascades and impact lead as clips. Good whiting rig especially with a tide run. The secret with getting rays in winter is the size 4 hook

[uvox]

good job on the ray!

[mann]

Well done on the ray Donagh,

Has to be the first ray caught around there this year… did you invest in a camera yet.


Gearoid,

You need to pull your finger out man and or you’ll be left behind

[nthclare]

Fair play to you going out in those conditions couldnt make it myself but Im getting back into the fishing this year I took last year off

[Big Bear]

nice reward for going out in the conditions......

[WrasseBasher]

well done on the ray... ive yet to catch one of any kind. im envious you make it look so easy

[Donagh]

Well done on the ray Donagh,

Has to be the first ray caught around there this year… did you invest in a camera yet.


Gearoid,

You need to pull your finger out man and or you’ll be left behind

Have a digital camera but have been lazy about bringing it out.

[marshpike]

I've got a feeling Gearoid and yourself could pull a thornie out of the toilet............

[gearoid mc s.]

I've got a feeling Gearoid and yourself could pull a thornie out of the toilet............

would make a change from the ould rabbbit out of a hat!