Winter's coming lads.

[Drew]

Just thinking...

Summer is fading into memory as Autumn encroaches and Winter beats an unmercyful path towards the Island of Ireland. For the general public Windy Autumnal days are an unwelcome reminder that another Summer has gone, and won't be back for a brave while. But for us, as sea anglers autumn and winter represent so many new oppertunities that you can begin to welcome the new seasons as new challenges.

Autumn represents an overlap in the summer and winter species, which provides great sport for sea anglers wishing to pack as many species as possible into a session, I know locally late September begins to yield the beginnings of Donaghadees run of small codling, but allows the angler to target a late wrasse or two, this time of year also seems to be a good time to target a few better Pollack from local Rock marks. The Hordes of feather chucking idiots have moved to there wintering grounds back in the major cities and left us in peace.

The weather at this time of year can at best be described as unpredicatable and unsettled, leaving many of us on the edge of our seats wondering if that long anticipated session is going to be a washout. I'm not sure about the rest of you, but angling wise September and October always seem to fly by for me, and in no time at all, all but a few stragglers of the summer species and left us for the deeper waters.

November, December and January herald a different outlook on the fishing, I personally am constantly looking out for a Fresh Northerly or Easterly to kick up a good sea for Donaghadee, bringing the Codling and Coalies in on the Feed, some of the best evenings I've had on this mark have been during a serious blow and a pushing tide creating good sweets which hammer into the walls of the harbour throwing up Huge quantities of spray, 8oz gemini leads Anchor Baits hard to the bottom, and when the fish are in, the sport can be Frantic with Double and Treble Shots of Codling and Coalies throwing themselves on Fishbaits suicidally.

This Year I personally look foreword to Mountainous Seas at Ballintoy, Codling at Portavogie, and Maybe even a couple of bashes at the Conger in Portaferry before it gets too late. Winter's Coming Lads.... Embrace it.

[donal domeney]

Winter means only one thing for me de wall in Monkstown (the peoples republig of Cork) for cod fishing. Hit it on the right conditions and it's plenty of cod up to and over the 4lb. mark.

[rab01]

u ever try that beach at ballyhalbert drew? just wondering if it might be a likely cod mark close to home this winter.

[hairyconger]

Argh the winter not long untill we are seeing posts like

any mackeral showing yet? Febuary
any sign or wrasse?Febuary
Whting eveywhere ! Novemeber

:shock:

[petekd]

Ah Donal, De Wall....... Lots of frosty afternoons spent buggering off out of work at unreasonable times to catch the tides and avoid the crowds. Its only 5 mins away from the house and 15 away from work. Blessed!

[bigkev]

Autumn for me means trying to get the boat home from the marina (80 mile tow for me)

Then tryin to learn how to cast again as its been 9 months since last launched a lead in anger!

Kev

[lumpy]

autumn for me usually means standing on one of our surf beaches in a gale throwing out big black lug baits and hoping that the bass are running tonight,although i'm hoping to give de wall a go, also try target sum conger as well

[Irish_Shamrock]

Autumn for me means trying to get the boat home from the marina (80 mile tow for me)

Then tryin to learn how to cast again as its been 9 months since last launched a lead in anger!

Kev

I'll be the same this year!!! :D

[x]

Don't talk... It's been that long since I got out that I'll be lucky to find my rods, much less use them. I'd been looking forward to the start of the winter match season for ages and then I have to miss the first two meets due to a wedding and meeting....I can see the club Master Angler honours slipping away from me already. :lol: