Newcastle, Co.Wicklow

Message

#1 Post by **col** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:56 pm

People:Myself

Duration:2.5 hrs

Tide:high at around 12:30

Weather: sunny,windy but warm in shelter

Bait:frozen mussell,sandeel plus more sandeel thats been refrozen severel times

Rigs:1 up 1 down, 2 hook boom

Results:nothing :cry:

Report: Set up to the right of the entrance for some shelter. My mussell baits were beatifuly presented but were never touched. :x Tried every combo of the two, tought the off sandeel may attract a dab but nope, I don't think I even got a singal bite the whole time but it would have been had to spot with the strong tide. I am still to catch my first fish of '06 but I don't think it will be achieved on this beach anyway

#2 Post by **Cooke** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 6:03 pm

The left of this beach is deeper and usually fishes better at any time of the year. Best baits now are lug tipped with mackerel. A good tactic is to walk uptide, cast and let the gear roll with the tide. It nearly always produces fish though the size may not be inspiring.

#3 Post by **col** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 7:28 pm

Thanks for that tip Cooke. Should I use a plain lead for this tactic and walk along with rod in hand? I went into Viking tackle there and they don't normally have lug but yesterday they didn't even have frozen mackerel! :shock:
I had my bike with me and forgot the lock and didn't fany the walk down pushing my bike so being lazy settled for the comfort by the rocks close by.
I wouldn't say my pathetic casting helped much, I fished all ranges from 10 - 60 ( my max :oops: ) yards out, sometimes close in yeilds a few but not today, is distance best? Thanks,
col

#4 Post by **Cooke** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 8:29 pm

I would use a plain lead or a grip with the wires already tripped or half tripped (i.e. one set engaged ). You don't have to keep pace with the lead - if you walk far enough uptide and cast at an angle, your gear can cover a wide area. Use the lighest lead that will still move. Distance gives you more options with more ground to cover but you can still catch fish within 60 yards. The lead will stop at any natural obstruction or at the limit of the line. One tip when using this tactic is to try small wire booms with a short snood, only a couple of inches long. Hope this helps.