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).

Good timing - but not a good selfie.

It has been rotten weather for shore fishing recently. My pal Bill - definitely not a 'fair weather fisherman' - even had a trip where he looked at the sea and then got back into the car and went home. He sent me an email later saying - "I did want to go fishing today but was amazed to see the tide so high up the beach (low pressure, some sort of tidal surge from after the storm???). My general rule of thumb is that even when its moderate to rough you can get along the beach on a big tide (2m+). Knowing that I'd be coming back at high tide (only supposed to be 1.6m and 3 hours later) I decided to head home." Anyway, you get the message?

I scanned the tide tables and surfer's websites and decided that there was going to be a little bit of a lull in a couple of days time. It was still going to be pretty rough, with a 1.5m swell and 30mph cross-wind, but I guessed that if I chose a sheltered spot it might just be fishable before first light. It wasn't a tide that I'd have chosen for bait fishing in that spot (it was the very first of the ebb - I usually preferred the beginning of the flood) but it was Hobson's Choice and I was hopeful that the fish might feed (as they sometimes do) after a 'bit of a blow'. In truth I wasn't very optimistic and when I told Lilian that I'd be going in the morning I said that I didn't expect to catch anything but I'd try anyway.

On the previous evening I laid my gear out, checked the trace, sharpened the big circle hook and took a bait (one modest sized mackerel) out of the fridge. I usually take two baits in case I should lose one but I was pretty pessimistic about my chances. The alarm rang at 04:00hr and I tottered downstairs, dressed, shoved the gear into the car and drove to the coast. It was, as I expected, pretty windy and there were plenty of 'white horses', rushing towards the shore. I baited up with my mackerel, progged as usual through both lips, clipped off its unnecessary tail and trudged in the dark, lit only by the stars and a feeble half-moon, to my pre-chosen spot. The tide was much further up the shore than it should have been (low pressure) but it looked fishable. I swung the rod and the freelined mackerel plopped a few metres from where I stood.

Holding the rod in my right hand and, with the bale open and the braid held in a 'cats cradle' between the fingers of my left hand, I waited. A few minutes passed and I felt a slight drag on the line. Could it be a fish? With no developement other than a slight tightening of the line I thought 'weed'. I reeled in and sure enough the trace and bait were draped in strands of wrack. I cleared the gear, checked that the bait was still OK and lobbed it out again. After a few more minutes the whole process, feel, drag, wind in, clear, recast was repeated. And again, and again. This was becoming monotonous. My fingers, holding the braid, were feeling chilled by the wind and, on and off, the bait had been untouched for the best part of half-an-hour. I decided to give it another cast or two before going home to bed. Out it went again and, ever hopeful, I assumed the position - rod in one hand line in the other. A few minutes passed and there was a slight pull on the line, was it weed again? It felt a bit sharper. I was alert and felt the line begin to slide out between finger and thumb. Could it be a run? I wasn't sure, still going, still going,. A few metres had now left the reel. Better check.

I lowered the rod tip and took a pace forward to allow a bit of slack before gently closing the bale arm. The line drew tight, the rod bowed round and the clutch began to screech - it was a fish! I set about playing it in the gloom. Funny sort of bite, could it be a conger? A noisy splash on the surface told me that it was probably a bass. Now it was coming close, I reached up and switched on the headlamp so I could see to slide it ashore. The silver flank of a plump bass shone in the light. One more heave and I had it. Eureka!

I took a couple of pictures and measured the length with my old tape, 60cm. The hook came out easily and I stood my little compact camera on a rock to take a selfie, using the timer. Click, flash, put the fish back and watch it swim quickly away. I went back to tidy up the rod and before putting the camera away clicked to have a look at my pictures. All good except for the one of me and the fish - I'd forgotten to switch off the headlamp.

I still had the bait, there were fish there, worth another try. I re-hooked the mackerel and prepared to make another cast. I swung the rod forward but as I did it the bait flew off and plopped a couple of metres out. Well, hopefully some lucky bass had a free meal. Mental note, MUST take a couple of baits next time.

Well conditioned fish.

Beautifully hooked on the big circle hook.

How not to take a selfie in the dark.

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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.

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FISHING FOR GHOSTS

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