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).

Nice late bass.

I've just returned from a four day visit to my youngest son and his family in Nottingham. When we got back the weather was nice and calm so, although we're well into December, I thought it was worth an early morning at the coast. I set the alarm for six (no need for getting up in the middle of the night at this time of year) and went to bed. As usual I was awake before the alarm sounded so I crept downstairs, grabbed the bag and the rod, slung them into the car and set off.

For once the weather gods were kind. There wasn't a breath of wind and I didn't even need gloves. Although it was still pretty dark when I reached the beach, it was obvious that the sea was flat calm. I was using my little four-piece spinning rod and whiplash braid on the Stradic. My short, Amnesia trace was armed with an 18cm Pearl Evo Redgill. On the first chuck, as I drew the line tight, I felt a slight rattle."Tiny pollack," I thought but for the next twenty minutes there was nothing else. It was still pretty dark when I saw headlamps approaching along the shore and two other anglers trudged past me and began to set up their gear only a few metres from where I stood.

I cast again and began to wind the lure back at a slow, steady pace. It was probably less than ten metres out when the rod crashed over and line began to zip off the reel. Clearly I was into a decent fish as it made several strong runs. After a few minutes I could see the bass thrashing in the water's edge and I was able to slide it ashore onto the weed pile. After taking a couple of pictures I removed the hook (nicely in the scissors), weighed the fish (almost exactly eight pounds) and slid it back into the sea. After a couple more casts I packed in and walked back to the car where the clock said 07:15 - not a bad half-hour's fishing. Must try again soon.

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

The bass.

The gear.