Duration:4.40pm to 7pm
Tide:Dropping
Weather:Very sunny with wind dropping
Bait:Lures
Rigs:Lures
Results:1 bass 5lb
Catch and Release:: Yes
Report:Had gear in the car so once I clocked off headed straight out the road to a shallow rocky area that I'd checked out the previous week. Weather was marvellous, not a cloud in the sky
The area I was casting over was no deeper than 6 ft and in a lot of parts was no more than 3 ft so I kept the lure running very fast in order not to snag. Jumped about a few of the rocky stumps casting into gullies and sandy patches that interspersed the rock. Must have been at it for an hour when a 'shape' swam into the gulley practically under my feet, wan't sure at first but when I ran the lure past him a couple of times it became obvious it was a bass of around 6 to 7lb. It didn't seem that interested in the lure so I started jigging it in front of it whilst simultaneously trying not to make to many sudden movements.....this seemed to work and the fish made a half hearted attempt at my 'jig' but the hook seemed to bounce of him. At this point I would have expected him to have legged it having felt the hook but he hung around for another minute before swimming out to deeper water. My knees were like jelly at that stage
About an hour later though I got walloped by a good fish and after a really good scrap I managed to bring ashore a fish around the 5lb mark. Beautiful fish and when they hit you in shallow water and the sun catches the flank.....makes for one of the best moments in angling. The fight on the lure is also much better as the fish isn't towing the weight and bait around with it. Standing in shorts and runners on sunbathed rock casting plugs at big bass......Jese those winter coalie bashing sessions seem a lifetime away