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).

A fish on bait.

What it is to have friends. After my problems with smelly bait in the freezer - solved by buying a few plastic boxes to keep the smell in - I had a stroke of good fortune. My pal Nigel rang to say that he had caught some mackerel and, if I wanted, he would drop a few round. What a hero! Later that day he arrived and duly delivered the fish. I was really chuffed and promptly installed the baits in my freezer boxes.

Now I had some bait so, of course,it would be necessary to test it. I checked the tide tables and sure enough the low water was approaching first light, and and the sea temperature was about 17 degrees C so it looked as though the conditions would suit my free-lining tactics. The down side was that the weather-man said it was likely to be blowing a bit and there would be a fair amount of swell - not ideal for keeping an unweighted bait in position. Anyway, I couldn't resist giving it a go.

The following morning the alarm went off and within a few minutes I was dressed, into the car and off to the coast. Sure enough, when I arrived conditions looked rather rough so I hopped back in the car and drove to a nearby spot where I would have bit more shelter from the cliff. My chosen mark was not too bad, still a puff of cross wind and some grey clouds threatening a shower or two, but fishable. The swell was moderate and spot of loose weed was drifting in the margin. I progged a fillet-bait on the 8/0 hook and flicked it a few metres out. The wind bowed the braid round but I was sure that I'd be able to feel a decent bite.

For twenty minutes I stood, holding the rod with the braid lightly gripped between the fingers of my left hand. Easy fishing! The line tightened slowly and I thought "weed!" so I closed the bale arm and reeled in. After clearing the bait of a bunch of wrack and checking that it was still OK I cast again. Another twenty minute wait and I felt something else on the line. This time it was a definite bite so I allowed the line to trickle out slowly through my fingers. It was a positive run but too slow, I thought, to be a bass. I closed the bale and the line slowly pulled tight, so I began to wind in. Whatever was on the other end came in steadily and gave the occasional kick to show that it was still on and alive. Now it was almost on the shore, I strained my eyes in the gloom to see what it was - and, at that point, the hook came out. So, I still don't know what I'd been playing, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't a bass. Never mind Mike! I took out my other bait, one of Nigel's smaller mackerel, and hooked it through both lips from below before lobbing it out again. After only five minutes there was a sharp tug on the line and a proper run developed.

The line was zipping through my fingers now and, as usual, the question was 'When do I tighten?'. Twenty metres or so had gone by now and the fish was still going strong. I took a pace forward to give a little slack, gently closed the bale arm, the line tightened, the rod whooshed round and I was in! The fish took a little line against my usual tight clutch and after that it was just a matter of retrieving and steering it clear of any obstructions until I could slide it ashore, measure it, take its picture, unhook and release it. Excellent! The bass was well over four-pounds (57cm fork length) and in fine fettle. The bait had come off in the struggle and I had no more, so I packed in. I was really cheerful on the drive home.

A decent bass, in good nick and nicely hooked.

The big circle hook is well placed in the front of the mouth.

– PLEASE TELL YOUR TWITTER, FACEBOOK, EMAIL FRIENDS ABOUT THESE BOOKS.

THE SECOND WAVE

Written with Steve Pitts this is a SEQUEL TO THE BESTSELLER "Operation Sea Angler" IT'S AVAILABLE ON PAPER FROM - "Veals Mail Order" AND ON PAPER OR FOR YOUR KINDLE FROM"Amazon"

HOOKED ON BASS

Written with Alan Vaughan. NEW PRINT OF THE ORIGINAL: IN PAPERBACK. Copies available from all good book shops RRP £14:99 - "Waterstones"

ANGLING ON THE EDGE

Copies can now be ordered (printed on demand) from Steve Pitts at £34.00, inc. Royal Mail Insured UK Mainland Postage.

To order a book send an E-MAIL to - stevejpitts@gmail.com

FISHING FOR GHOSTS

Written with David Rigden. Copies from "The Medlar Press"