Catch fish with Mike Ladle.

Catch Fish with
Mike Ladle

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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).

Still at it.

Bill sent me the following account of a December bassing trip, so before I go away I thought I'd post it on the site. As you'll see he's developed a superstition (hopefully soon to be dispelled when he has a blank).

Hi Mike,

I got out of bed at 0500 and as previously mentioned put on my "lucky pants" with confidence after yesterdays blank.

At 0630 I met Mike at the car park and it was pretty bloody horrible with more than the 19mph hour winds forecast. We got to our spot at 0645 and met, by pure chance, John. Excellent!!! Two of my best fishing chums, should be a good morning I thought. It was pretty windy even in the lee of the cliff and as there was a lot of cloud it was pretty dark so I couldn't even see my Redgill hit the water until gone 7am. It was then that I realised that the Redgill casts were falling badly short due to the wind so I switched to a heavier shad. About 50 yards further along on the boulders I managed a nice bass which took a little line. It was over 2lb but less than 3lb.

A few cast later and I missed a good bite and shouted my frustration at Mike. The wind seemed to drop for a bit now so I switched back to a Redgill and then tried a Picol Eau. John had to leave at about 0830, a splash and dash as he calls it so Mike and I continued on for a while. Even though the Redgill wasn't casting very far I put it back on and tried retrieving ultra slow. After a bit I had a bite, then another bite then another bite I continued retrieving ultra slowly and eventually the fish hooked itself. nothing major but still a bass.

As we both have new rods Mike and I swapped to try each others out before he left. We had a couple of casts and complimented each others rods and reels. Mike handed back my rod and I had a fag whilst he packed up. As he strode away I had my first cast with my own gear and had the biggest ***** wind knot I've had since March. I swear Mike sabotaged me before he left the ******. After 15 minutes pathetically trying to unpick my knot I gave up, cut the line, stuffed about 30m of tangled braid in my pocket and fished on for another 10 minutes. With no further action and a receding tide I gave up and headed back to my car at about 10.45.

So the lucky pants worked again, I've had some good fishing in my yellow and black boxers I daren't ever throw them out!

All the best,

Bill

I'd have thought that he might find something a bit more appealing to have a fetish about - perhaps a rabbit's foot or a sprig of heather - but there you go. It gave me a chuckle for Christmas anyway.

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

Bill.

Flogging away in the gloom even this late in the year.

Reward.

A nice bass well deserved for braving the conditions.

Bill's mates.

A bit rough.  You can see why they had problems casting.

December sunrise.

Beautiful but a bit gloomy.