Catch Fish with
Mike Ladle

Information Page

SEA FISHING

For anyone unfamiliar with the site always check the FRESHWATER, SALTWATER and TACK-TICS pages. The Saltwater page now extends back as a record of over several years of (mostly) sea fishing and may be a useful guide as to when to fish. The Freshwater stuff is also up to date now. I keep adding to both. These pages are effectively my diary and the latest will usually be about fishing in the previous day or two. As you see I also add the odd piece from my friends and correspondents if I've not been doing much. The Tactics pages which are chiefly 'how I do it' plus a bit of science are also updated regularly and (I think) worth a read (the earlier ones are mostly tackle and 'how to do it' stuff).

Never mind Mike!.

Sometimes you just know that the fish are going to be there but for some reason you can't go fishing - well it happened to me this week. I went to the coast on the first decent spring tide in the hopes of finding a few surface-feeding mullet or bass. At this time of the year you only get a couple of good evening tides - just before it gets dark at about 19.30. Anyway, the story goes as follows ---- My recent sessions had been pretty slow. A bass on the popper when I went with Ben then a wrasse on the plug when I was on my own. Then it was the first GOOD tide.

I trudged along the shore for miles, carrying fly rod and spinning rod. Periodically I would stop and have a few casts at a favoured spot but there was no sign of anything. I met an angler from Bridport who was spinning and we had a bit of a chat then, further along there was another angler fly fishing and spinning. Again we passed the time of day and he said that there had been a few mullet there earlier but I divined that they had all b******* off by the time I arrived. By now dusk was approaching and I was becoming a bit disillusioned. Conditions looked good but I'd seen nothing of note.

I looked further along the shore and saw a couple of black headed gulls flapping about over the sea. I commented to the other chap that I was going to go along and see whether they were maggot feeding (as they often do). As I rounded the next turn in the cliff I couldn't believe the mass of squabbling birds that rose from the water. I hurried along to the spot to find many large mullet guzzling maggots as though there was no tomorrow. My fly rod was armed with a small streamer and since time was pressing (I was expected home at dusk and I had a long walk back) I simply left it on to see if there were any bass in the melee.

By the time the other angler had followed me along (five or ten minutes) I had already hooked and lost four good fish (not my lucky day), including one belter that I tried to beach a bit too soon and popped the hook. Then I landed a bass which was well hooked on the fly. As I took it's picture I glanced at my watch - well past leaving time. I told the other bloke that the fish were 'All his!' (he had been very polite and stood well back as I caught mine) and I left.

The following morning I was due to leave for Nottingham to visit my youngest son and his wife so that was the end of my fishing for that series of tides. When I got home I rang/emailed my pals Nigel and Brian telling them exactly where to try the following night - well, I thought someone may as well have the benefit of my long walk. As it turned out I gather they had a beano. Perhaps next time. 'Never mind Mike!'

If you have any comments or questions about fish, methods, tactics or 'what have you!' get in touch with me by sending an E-MAIL to - docladle@hotmail.com

Ben plugging.

Popped!

Wrasse.

Closer.

Fly fishing.

Last gasp.