tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86255985197950368112024-03-14T02:15:15.654+00:00mrfishjerseyThe adventures of
mrfishjersey
and friendsmrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-46117788192746861912011-09-21T09:44:00.003+01:002011-09-21T09:50:32.393+01:00I have moved my BlogIf any of you have wondered where I have gone I now have a new blog on my website <a href="http://www.mrfishjersey.com/blog">www.mrfishjersey.com/blog</a><br /><br />And you will find me and my friends adventures on <a href="http://www.thelureforum.com/">www.thelureforum.com</a><br /><br />Cheers for now,<br /><br />Mickmrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-39408811566557229362009-10-21T22:16:00.006+01:002009-10-21T22:45:18.990+01:00Bobs 10lb'er on a PatchinkoSo as the title says, my mate Bob had his first double figure bass on a surface lure last week. Now Bob has had his fill of double figure bass in his life, and being the humble chap that he is, not many people know that the one he had last week was probably about his 40th double. I think I am right in saying his biggest is well over 14lb.<br /><br /><br />The day was going well even before the big fish, we both had a few on the surface, I found the Z-Claw was nailing them, but Bob jumped between the Z-Claw and Patchinko. The wind was picking up, then dropping off, making it awkward when setting the boat up for the drift, as we knew where the fish were but the wind seemed to be on the bass's side. Still we continued, and picked a fish out on every drift, which is great.<br /><br /><br />A nice 5 minutes gave me two bass in two casts.<br /><br />4lb 3oz<br /><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395167684602358002" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/St98bKBj6PI/AAAAAAAAAaI/uku1gufmaiA/s320/Z-Claw+4lb+3oz.JPG" />And then one of 4lb 5oz next cast<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395168001201098402" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/St98tlclTqI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/CzvPa4XYFsc/s320/Z-Claw+4lb+5oz.JPG" /></p>We had about 9 bass in a frew hours, a nice mornings fishing, or should I say "bumbling".<br /><br />Then this happened!!! In all the excitement I didnt take any photos, I cant believe I didnt take any, its really bugging me that I didnt and I feel really bad for it. We were so shocked, Bob and I had shaking knees for ten minutes after the bass was returned. We got it on video though, well most of it, the first initial run was about 60ft of high speed Van Staal clutch running like he had hooked a passing waterskier!! So enjoy the video.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyUAxI5r9TNASfNlpqOpWXT00IwNIIYIjCJRcB4X9v_dTWGsB8-G42URbe-UtNi2GttvSjul52kO-chFBXTcQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-9728980214969717092009-10-21T22:09:00.002+01:002009-10-21T22:15:38.231+01:00Design a UK Plugging rod??So, after a couple of years of selling Tenryu lure rods my very good friends at Ultimate-Fishing want me to design a rod or rods for the UK market!! They actually asked me a year ago, but I though at that time the range of red rods available was more than enough to cover what we need in this country.<br /><br />But as time goes by is get guys asking me for a longer version of this, a shorter version of that and higher and lower casting ranges etc. So I think there maybe a rod or three needed for certain situations in the UK. Now I realise that without many people having held the full range of Tenryu rods it is hard for guys to comment on what is missing, but if there is anyone out there that seriously has a rod or length or action that they would like to see in production please get in touch with me.<br /><br />Oh, and then we need to name it!!!mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-26555533204871919962009-09-12T23:58:00.015+01:002009-09-13T02:22:47.990+01:00A weekend I will never forgetI am still playing catch up here, and this entry on the blog is of a long weekend a few weeks ago. It started on the thursday afternoon, it was the Jersey Battle of Flowers parade that day, and as the parade practically brings the island to a standstill, and our shop is right in its flight path, we decided to get out the way and take the boat out. <div><div><div><div><br /><div>It wasnt a big tide but there were a lot of birds working and the baitfish were everywhere, so we just looked for any small bit of tide that we could see coming off the heads. We had a little drift out of a gully and nothing was happening, then I spotted some Gannets really having it about half a mile away, so we reeled in and headed off to the party. The water was about 20ft deep so I though I would put on a Spindle Worm, as the bigger bass (I find) are lower down when there are Gannets diving. Doug put on an orange Duo Hacker 105SP, one of my favourite deep lures. I think it was first or second cast and Dougie hooked this nice one of 4lb 12oz.</div><div><div> </div><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380723546048952386" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SqwrjozT-EI/AAAAAAAAAYY/ub6RYu3rxg4/s320/Doug+4lb+12oz.JPG" /></p><div>It was the only fish there for us, we gave it another ten minutes but the birds scattered as soon as we turned up, so that kind of told us there couldn't have been alot of baitfish there, because if there was, the birds wouldn't have cared that we were there.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyyLaP_28ijIqs6vQB1cLEgsETr1x-MyAigwEY1hd9cT2uBhWsINB2gWlkwYwfOPazItsTvapu4LN6pWlAp_Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>We managed a couple more fish and then headed to where I knew there would be a bit of tide as it was now 2 hours before low water and there is a gully out the back that can hold qyite a few fish sometimes on the drop.</div><div> </div><div>The water was alot shallower so I put on a Patchinko and first cast had a bass about 2lb or so, good start. Doug put on a Feed Shallow Sardine, and as we drifted towards a small out crop of rocks he cast past the rocks and pulled the Feed Shallow between them. The lure must have been in 2ft of water when something slammed into it and gave Dougie a great screaming run out of the shallow water and into the tide, where it tried to use the power of the water to run down dide and away from the boat. A few minutes later and Doug had a lovely bass of 5lb 4oz on board. A few photos and video of it being released and she was away. </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380729129886128930" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SqwwoqN1myI/AAAAAAAAAYg/O7bWt24Jkus/s320/Doug+Feed+Shallow+5lb.JPG" /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw9H5qAuzuP7arHCjQzCjl9ACRYyagvK4TfkxmSs3E-qz8kEBF03sjrb51A7GqQIcyplhwZVysxOMpwFh9rkw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div>We called it a day as it was only a short trip and the battle celebrations would have died down by now.</div><br /><div>The Friday afternoon, Bob and me went out for a few hours again and tried with the surface lures. We had five fish if I remember rightly, I was sticking with my Z-Claw "Free Willy" until I caught on it, as it just looked perfect on the flat sea. It didnt take long either. I do love the Z-Claw, they almost "walk" themselves across the surface, with a snake like look its small bow wave is unlike anything I have seen on any other suface lure. If you give the Z-Claw a jerk it will go under the water and you can continue to walk the dog beneath the surface.</div><br /><div>This little bass leapt out from below some Jap weed, he wasn't happy and turned into a hedgehog on the boat so I used my Berkeley Grips to keep those spikes and gill plates away from my hands.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380733951726811570" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sqw1BU-PebI/AAAAAAAAAYo/J0oRIyzQh7I/s320/IMG_0095.jpg" /></div><div>So once again we headed for home, the Nelson and Neil were out too so we all headed back together. They had done better than us, saying they had had about 20 bass, so with the weekend starting we were all looking forward to gettong back out first thing in the morning.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 171px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380735785953925970" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sqw2sGAEG1I/AAAAAAAAAYw/yfhKZ2sjeHc/s320/IMG_0112.jpg" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 205px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380736274633719938" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sqw3IieaAII/AAAAAAAAAY4/AbXNP-jn5ug/s320/IMG_0099.jpg" />So here it is, that saturday morning that I will never forget as long as I live. We headed out at about six in the morning and headed to our favourite surface fishing spot. When we got there there were a couple of commercial boats nearby so we didnt start straight away, we held back from the best spot so they didnt see any actoion or exactly where we go. These two small boats lay long lines and nets so we didnt want them shooting one right on top of us. They did there pots and had a few throws of their plugs but they weren't quite in the right spots. They moved off and we moved just a few hundred yards inside of wher they were, first cast I hook a fish off the surface on a Free Willy<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380739105849368738" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sqw5tVk0YKI/AAAAAAAAAZA/edIVnaMIo9o/s320/16082009010.jpg" /> and as I am unhooking it Bob hooks up with his first. And there it started, there were fish everywhere, it was like Bonefish fishing on the flats in the tropics. It seemed as we were using surface lures it gave the bass the insentive to hit the surface, because fish started rising all over the place. One after another we started hooking fish, Bob stuck with his Patchinko but as the water looked so glassy I had been wanting to give a Frosty a good go for ages, so on one went. Good choice.</div><br /><div>First fish on the Frosty was this lovely 5lb 2oz one that was the last cast of a drift, I was about to start the engine as we were right up against a big rock,but one ore cast at it and there were a few big fish all over my lure, and this beauty fell to the Frosty.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380740421767475458" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sqw657wJMQI/AAAAAAAAAZI/HLxpXlyEK6E/s320/16082009015.jpg" /> Bobs go, he tempts a beautiful bass of about 5lb on his now famous Yellow Patchinko (I dread the day he loses that lure he will surely cry). I remember this fish having about 3 goes at his lure before he hooked up with it, infact we both thought the fish had gone but after letting the lure rest and make it act like a stunned fish it was too much for the bass to resist and he had to have it.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380742457618766706" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sqw8wb46m3I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/C8s55dfHt5U/s320/Image0151.jpg" /> <p>This was all getting too much for me, so I put down the rod and picked up the video camera, which is a hard thing to do when the fishing is this good, we wait months to experience this kind of day and it only happens once or twice a year. And this is the result, what I have waited to get on film for a long time, a bass hitting a Patchinko off the top.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxAkFVjUbUk2fj1PSlqu3i9c3DBIp0B0Bl656OKl7ntftRxmiHksQL2_ywTPAmSBEOt2A_69xA2-NozUhmmQQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>I winkled out another one of about 5lb or so on the nacre Frosty. This is turning into a really good day now. Watching the Frosty slide with slower strokes than the Patchinko is awesome, and in conditions like these this day it really out fished the holy Patchinko for once.</div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380748850101442338" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SqxCkhvjVyI/AAAAAAAAAZg/8hE3_TdirmE/s320/16082009016.jpg" /> As the tide flooded we moved onto some really nice ground, and fate was on our side again as there were fish there too and the tide and wind direction was perfect. I thought I would try a black Feed Popper as the water was little deeper and some cloud had come over. Bingo, a greed y little bass on the Feed Popper too, happy days.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 232px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380748173353701618" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SqxB9IqUUPI/AAAAAAAAAZY/gBkLHZsWYgI/s320/Image0161.jpg" /> So after about 30 fish between the two boats we called it a morning and headed back to the harbour for a much deserved bacon roll, coffee and a chat.</div><br /><div>Sunday morning.....and we are off again. To now cut along story short, we headed straight for the slightly deeper ground and used the same lures as the day before. Bob on his Yellow Patchinko, and me on the Yellow Frosty. We had a ball, I think in two hours between Bob, Nelson, Neil and myself we had 35 fish, maybe more, and a few beauties thrown in for good measure too. Neil had the best of the day, this lovely one of 6lb 8oz, on a Vision 110 and his little Megabass Destroyer rod. I had some sea water on the lens of my camera so thats why it looks a bit blurred.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380752281338935090" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SqxFsQGUdzI/AAAAAAAAAZo/Z5LBZddYTDI/s320/Image0158.jpg" /><br /><div>The water flattened right out, I mean like a mill pond. Again we could see bass rid=sing and hitting fish and at one point, about 20 yards out of range Bob and me saw a shoal of big bass, I mean big too, hitting mackerel or sandeels off the top, it was like tuna feeding I tell you.</div><br /><div>So a few more pretty pictures of our fish and I will end it here. We are off out tomorrow morning at 7, well that is in fact in 4 hours time and ,my eyes are watering here writing this as I am so tired and have none of my gear ready for the morning yet!!</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380753887208901122" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SqxHJubjigI/AAAAAAAAAZw/Mvq6IL6gNOI/s320/Bob+Yellow+Patchinko+close+up.JPG" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380754591620017602" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SqxHyukQLcI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/rU97yaQAkSA/s320/Frosty+Yellow+3lb+10oz.JPG" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380755236830744530" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SqxIYSKej9I/AAAAAAAAAaA/A7DPZelxP5w/s320/Frosty+Yellow+Close+Up.JPG" /><br /><div> </div></div></div></div>mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-3797338614025653732009-09-10T21:50:00.010+01:002009-09-10T23:18:30.210+01:00Soft Plastics DO WorkFirstly I must say sorry for being so slack and not keeping my blog up to date. It is like everything in life that snowballs if you don't keep on top of it. The shop and fishing has been so busy in the last month and the blog has been constantly there needing some time. <div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>So, August is when things normally start hotting up for us, and it did. Bob and I decided one day to just use soft plastics and see what happened. We managed 5 bass which at that time was a sound day, as Nelson and the boys had had about the same on the plugs. So we were keen on trying what I would call medium depth lure fishing, in 20ft to 40ft of water. The jigheads we were using were all from 18g to 40g in weight, and the softies themselves were mainly Xlayers, Mother Worms, Sayori Shads and Spindle Worms. I was using the Xlayers in mainly still water, the Mother Worms in deeper water with a more vertical action, and the Sayori Shads and Spindle Worms, with their amazing paddle tails, in say 25ft of faster water and casting them at heads etc. I don't know if that is the correct way to use these selction of lures but it made sense to me.</div><br /><div>As we left the harbour there were Terns diving all around us, so we grabbed the rods and had a chuck. There were yachts and boats passing us almost between the pierheads and I am sure they thought we weremad. The sea was alive with pin sandeels and whitebait, so I put on an Original Xlayer and an 11g Carolina Fixe head and had a chuck. These ones mounted below are the French/Silver colour, but I was actually using Wagasaki on the day.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379948686003453682" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sqlq02MQvvI/AAAAAAAAAW4/QaTVYU6aCWQ/s320/Xlayer+on+carolina+heads+2.JPG" />The water was about 20ft deep so I knew the lure would take a while to sink, which is what I wanted. A couple of casts and I feel something having a go as I was rising the Xlayer from the bottom. Blow me down if it wasnt a pretty little Tub Gurnard<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379950147077713570" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SqlsJ5HgrqI/AAAAAAAAAXA/s3T-_xCeYzo/s320/Gurnard+on+Xlayer+2.JPG" />So we gave it a few more casts but soon realised we were just chasing Terns instead of fish, so we moved on. We took the outside route to our fishing spots and saw a nice bit of tide coming over some sunken reef about 10ft below the water with maybe 25ft of water around the reef. Heavier heads were needed and I wanted to get the softy down the sides of the reef were the kelp was swaying in the tide. I selected a Dokuro 30g and a Sayori Shad, as its action is amazing even when reeling with the tide, which is what we were doing. It didnt take lonk and I hooked this little beauty and I don't know if I was more shocked or the bass as it fought like mad for its size.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379954310725482162" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sqlv8P6ftrI/AAAAAAAAAXI/jCD9iq7TdKY/s320/Bass+on+Sayori+Shad.JPG" />Bob also realised we needed the tails to wiggle with the currant coming towards us so he got out his Spindle Worm, he put on a 25g head and the Shrimp coloured Spindle Worm. Litterally two minutes after I had mine he hooked this one off the end of the reef that I had caught on in the middle. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379956317790519730" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SqlxxE0FwbI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/6XAXDG-74IU/s320/Bob+Spindle+in+bass.JPG" /><br />We had a few goes in a few different places, but just hooked a couple of small Pollack and the odd wrasse bit the tails off our lovely softies. Over the slack water it can be a problem if you are not looking for wrasse, dont get me wrong, I love catching Wrasse on softies, but any old softy will catch a Wrasse but they do have a healthy appertite for expensive Japanese ones!</div><br /><div>So, off out to the outside again where the tide picks up well before the tide moves inside the reef system. I was casting at heads and keeping the boat back a bit so's hopefully not to spook the bass that may have just turned up on the heads. I put on a chatreuse Spindle Worm with a Xorus Cyber 23g head, these heads when you drop the rod tip will dart the lure from side to side as they sink, its quite a good action in fact and looks very enticing. A few casts on a new head and the Spindle duped another bass. Bob had one on the exact same colour too and we both agreed its a great colour when the sun is shining and the sky is clear. The chatreuse doent look quite as bright in the water as it does out, but so many times now when using plugs on a clear day we do at some point dig out a chatreuse one.<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379962410941470610" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sql3Tvke15I/AAAAAAAAAXg/V14Ut4DEYu8/s320/Close+up+of+Spindle+Chatreuse+in+Bass.JPG" /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379961307747163298" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sql2Th2dnKI/AAAAAAAAAXY/LtAEPWJ3Kfo/s320/Bass+For+Bob+on+Spindle.JPG" /> The tide was quite big that day so we didnt have alot of time on the heads we were doing, so with family commitments (I had to pick Sarah up from work!) we headed back. As we aproached the harbour the ferry was leaving so we had to wait a few minutes for it to clear to pier. Not wanting to waste time on the water I grasbbed my rod that still had the chatreuse Spindle Worm on it and had a chuck where we had started and I had hooked that beautiful Tub Gurnard earlier. First cast I only go and hook the best bass of the day, a hard fighting 4lb 8oz'er that really didnt want to come on board. A few photos and she was released, to the hailing of a bunch of Portuguese anglers feathering on the pierhead, they couldnt believe I put it back!! </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379964830872121330" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sql5gmg6L_I/AAAAAAAAAXo/wwa4PVrqmvU/s320/Bass+on+Spindle+near+harbour.JPG" /><br />So all in all a good day really, the potential with these modern softies is huge, its a different style of lure angling and requires some amount of patience, but I think the results spek for themselves, as this was the first time we had tried it properly all day in our normal plugging marks.</div></div></div>mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-9707836563070239312009-08-03T20:01:00.012+01:002009-08-03T21:08:05.467+01:00Bloody Tourists!!Well July is usually the month when the weather and fishing normally hots up a bit for me, and to an extent it did. Bob and I had some good trips out on our boat, with numbers of bass starting to get into double figures, but the sizes are still small. I keep telling myself its not all about catching....but it is hard to remember that when youre out every weekend and only catching school bass time and time again. But in all fairness we have been learning something everytime we go out, new lures, techniques and locations all add up to a good trip even if it is a bit demoralising. <div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>We found a load of bass one afternoon in amoungst some jap weed, I mean there were dozens chasing the lures, I think I saw about 30 at one point all over my surface lure, and the bigger bass were below the crazy small ones that were attacking the Z-Claw. I think we hooked out about 10 before they were gone, all good fun and out first real peice of summer fun. </div><br /><div>So then, the tourists. Knowing so many people that love their bass fishing, and all of them wanting to learn how to use the lures I sell them, I tend to get alot of visitors coming out on the boat with Bob and me. Now I love it, seeing them experiencing Jersey for all its beauty is great, even if the fishing is tough. But, I am getting fed up with visitors coming over here and showing me how to do it!! I am joking of course, I love it really, and to know they have come here an experienced some of out beautiful coastline and bass is just superb.</div><br /><div>So here are a few of the boys we have had out recently.</div><br /><div>Mike Kennard (Mr Daiwa 2009) came over a couple of week ago. Mike loves his Daiwa tackle, in fact he should be a rep for them as it was a Daiwa rod, reel and lure that secured him these beauties.</div><br /><div>Ok the first one is the normal size of a pound or so that we have been getting...sound, it got him his first Jersey bass and we hadnt been out the harbour long.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365820680368256354" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Snc5er3LdWI/AAAAAAAAAV4/WMA7-8A_kpU/s320/Mike+Kennard+2.JPG" /> Twenty minutes later he shows us it hasnt stopped yet!!</div><div></div><div>Another few minute later and he is starting to rub it in with his third!!</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 241px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 288px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365821203633126050" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Snc59JLPuqI/AAAAAAAAAWA/DUPqlymhC1o/s320/Mike+Kennard+8.JPG" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 321px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365821684489562722" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Snc6ZIgWqmI/AAAAAAAAAWI/VGp7Nf5Mzeo/s320/Mike+Kennard+9.JPG" /> So, I am happy for Mike, he is happy, we are all happy (ish). The other guy out with us that day was Martin Hall from Newton Abbot, Martin is a great angler and like me was struggling to find some fish. We were transfixed on getting some bass on the Patchinko, as we were getting rises galour and the bass were all over our surface lures but just not taking them. So as we are hell bent on a surface catch we hear Mike behind us say "Oh yes, into another one!!" And was he into one? Oh yeah. He only goes and has a scrap and a half with this little beauty, which gave some stick on his Daiwa Tournement Bass. It ended up going 7lb 5oz, and a great trophy shot for him to finish off his Jersey trip nicely.<br /><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 241px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 327px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365823915373839298" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Snc8a_MnQ8I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/ugEwVYLVHnU/s320/Mike+Kennard+7.JPG" /><br />So that was one happy tourist. Martin had to wait a bit before he caught his first Jersey bass but he got one in the end.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365826494272462114" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Snc-xGV9XSI/AAAAAAAAAWY/e8ppVoWjjlk/s320/Martin+Hall+1.JPG" /><br /><div>We had a double hook-up, and yes, Mr Fish had the smallest again, but it was good fishing and good company, friends in fishing are great friends indeed.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365827400767902546" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Snc_l3TUE1I/AAAAAAAAAWg/noURSam2xG8/s320/Martin+Hall+and+Me+1.JPG" /><br />Next up was David "Pikey" Edwards, the Pike angler that usually prefers hooking lovely Pike on a fly rod in the UK.<br /><div>Here is Dave with his first ever bass, caught litterally ten minutes after leaving the harbour. He had this bright chatreuse "Bomber" with him and it looked perfect for the bright day that it was.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365828990761423698" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SndBCafT01I/AAAAAAAAAWo/ue4LEAWLECU/s320/David+Edwards+2.JPG" /> And Dave managed a nice 4lb'er, which did give him a great scrap for its size. So all in all its getting better, all I need to do now is catch some fish myself.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365830089651557250" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SndCCYLIk4I/AAAAAAAAAWw/7e9WMzjEWJw/s320/David+Edwards+3.JPG" /><br /><div><br /></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div>mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-15146616233814539562009-07-08T23:22:00.014+01:002009-07-09T00:43:53.379+01:00June was a tough month!It certainly was a tough month, Bob and me tried all our tricks and we got results, but with the effort we put in we didn't score like we usually do. We had a great start to June with Nick Hewitt getting that superb 7lb'er but that was a one off. We have touched on catching ten bass on one session a couple of times, and to many of you, you will be thinking how can we be moaning, but believe me that is a lot of casts over some of the best looking bass grounds in the world. So what are the reasons? Well, the water has been unbelievably clear, and there seems to be a huge amount of small bass about this year. Last weekend I blanked on the Saturday and Bob managed one small bass of about a pound and a half. On the Sunday I hooked two bass out within minutes of each other, both on a Smith Saruna 110 Ayu, and both were about 2lb. We went about our business for about another hour and then we stumbled across a huge school of bass, I mean it was crazy, there must have been hundreds in the Jap weed below us. We soon started hooking them on surface plugs, Bob on a Zenith Z-Claw and me on a Xorus Patchinko. It was a frenzy for about twenty minutes and we both had about half a dozen out. Whilst retrieving one bass in a saw about thirty bass all around the one I had hooked, and there were some bigger ones below, up to about three and a half to four pound I suppose. Here is Bob holding up two of them on a "Boga" style grip.<br /><div><div><div><div><div></div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SlUfvCGA3nI/AAAAAAAAAUg/lZ_WxhCthJE/s1600-h/Bobs+two+bass+on+a+boga.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356222224703479410" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SlUfvCGA3nI/AAAAAAAAAUg/lZ_WxhCthJE/s320/Bobs+two+bass+on+a+boga.JPG" /></a><br /><div>And here they are heading back to their mates at top speed!<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyWWkthbYjHjfoLVa776ZG9fBetjNmFjzRUb6Xpodj4rLgl3-EMuiZG0ROnyTnRThaRQq2zh8HGyNTrxRZbdw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div>It has been the same story for most of the month, we will find a fish or two and then go maybe hours without seeing one and then hit half a dozen in half hour. Now we have been doing this type of fishing for many years now, and patterns are hard to find when the fish are so scarce, but this year with the clear water and abundance of sandeels in our fishing area I do think the fishing is about to explode for us....always the optimist eh! </div><div>We had our good friends from Ireland over a few weeks ago, Pat, Cian and Paul had a great time, once again the fishing was tough but we did manage to find a few. Pat reminded me of the magnificence of the Zenith Z-Claw surface lure. It is a lure that I used to love and do very well on, and I not only never use it these days I only had a couple left in my shop for sale!! Dam you Mr Gallagher, an order went in yesterday for 120 of them!! See how no matterhow much a tackle dealer you are you can still be influenced by seeing a few fish caught on a lure!!</div><div>Here are some of the exploits the Irish boys got up to that weekend.</div><p>From left to right Cian, Nelson and Paul</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356229110563864322" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SlUl_17D_wI/AAAAAAAAAUo/Zs-DNXE9Whc/s320/Nelson+and+the+Irish+boys.JPG" />Pat had about half a dozen small bass over the two days, here is his first Jersey bass caught on a Megabass Zonk.</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 197px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356229897188318450" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SlUmtoU8nPI/AAAAAAAAAUw/SF8nAtXMR7E/s320/Pats+first+Jersey+Bass.JPG" />He also had a first over here, a Wrasse on a hear plastic<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356231043058968562" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SlUnwVBzJ_I/AAAAAAAAAU4/JghJscudFIM/s320/Pats+first+wrasse+on+a+hard+plastic.JPG" /></p><div>And he had a few beauties on the soft plastics</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356231675082205954" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SlUoVHf4awI/AAAAAAAAAVA/p_rfmWXIjyM/s320/Pats+big+wrasse.JPG" /><br /><div>And to show us how its done he only goes and whops out a monster Pollack on a Xorus Rolling Shad. It really went well too, I was convinced it was a Wrasse. Look at its tail, I think a seal or Conger had had a bite out of it at some stage!</div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356232560124203394" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SlUpIoiVkYI/AAAAAAAAAVI/Uh6yUe_TDU8/s320/That+big+pollack!.JPG" /></div>I managed to winkle out a few fish that weekend too, here was my best effort</div><div> </div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356233776913689314" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SlUqPdbjquI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/epKuVHgvl84/s320/3lb+bass.JPG" /><br />So over the last month we have learnt a few tricks and found some new places and states of tide to fish them, all we need now is some decent bass to tun up and we will be away!</div><div> </div><div>Here are some of the fish we have had in June anyway, Bob with a nice one on a Tackle House Feed Shallow</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356235158127171986" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SlUrf22g2ZI/AAAAAAAAAVY/BehdKooN6JQ/s320/P6280024.JPG" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356236019713769906" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SlUsSAgxAbI/AAAAAAAAAVg/3d9YbNeSmWU/s320/P6270008.JPG" />And another for Bob on Hart Absolut Worm<br /></div><div>I have managed about twenty bass in June I suppose, this was a spritely one on a Saruna again</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356237409433193138" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SlUti5nsirI/AAAAAAAAAVo/CTR2dkIn8j8/s320/P6280017.JPG" /><br /><div>Well roll on July I say, lots to do and lots of fishing. My new webite will be ready very soon, and this blog will be intwinded in it, which means I will be reviewing lures and tackle more and videoing lures swimming etc. I cant wait, I have decided to have some lures on my site that are the modern classics and in my favourite colours, and from time to time, like each month or so, I will get a few different lures and colurs in just as one hits of just a few dozen, and see how people get on, that way there should always be something new on the site to play with.<br /></div></div></div>mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-56909220007143014352009-06-07T18:25:00.018+01:002009-06-07T20:43:25.524+01:00A nice day outI had a phone call during the week from a chap called Nick Hewitt, he was wondering if there were any bass guides on boats in Jersey. I told him that there wasn't and said he is free to join Bob and me for a days plugging if we go. So, Saturday comes, we meet Nick at the shop and head down the harbour to launch the boat. The conditions were lovely, slightly overcast and there was a chance of a bit of rain or thunder, just how I like it to be honest.<br /><div><div><div><br /><div>I phoned Nelson to see where the boys were, they were down the east and had had 6 bass already, not bad, and it made me want to shoot straight down there. But, knowing the best of the dropping tide had gone I knew of a couple of spots on the way that fish quite well over the low tide so decided to try there first.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344645928192723474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Siv_J5AqShI/AAAAAAAAATw/ltrJ52UR4e8/s320/Jammy+bloke+fishing!!.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Nick then informs me he had never caught a bass before! So the pressure was on to catch him his first. About one minute later he only goes and hooks into a screamer of a bass, it ran and dived and head shook all it could. After a fairly long scrap it rose to the net, and bleeding alot from the gill area I was afraid it would not survive, but luckily it did.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyyp8maSuYAO22VEOldD_wOs2uyPMTnToi80Q_4WBGk_Kjj_d-bEalXvlUDyYnFBeRhgleWc27TLR9nv0lGMw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>We unhooked it, took some pictures and had a quick debate on whether we thought it would survive or not. I washed it in the sea for the photos and it seemed to stop bleeding straight away, so the decission was made to return this beautiful fish as quickly as possible. Fair play to Nick, he totally wanted to bass to go back too and was happy to see this fine specimen returned.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344644734151736194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 272px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Siv-EY3Gu4I/AAAAAAAAATo/Ig5VP5tEfXE/s320/Nick+Hewitt+7lb+1.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344646620959276770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Siv_yNxE_uI/AAAAAAAAAT4/oyaSkQ_G1iQ/s320/Nick+Hewitt+7lb+4.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />We guessed the fish to be 7lb and quickly returned it, there is no feeling like watching a beautiful bass swimming back.<br /><p></p></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dznGqWWBgHNLreeFwA8m-FYhFhOJwZtfg1_txfYbpchH610aZSDfvwNzwsQYl_FJ8nDC4nNe08ENmiTQL3McQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />We moved on and Nick manages his second bass! This is becoming the normal for Bob and me, we take guys out and they show us how to do it. A little while after that I managed my first one of the trip and shortly after that we met up with Nelson and Neil and we all crept about the shallow waters searching for some more silver bars. The water was gin clear,we could see the bottom very clearly even in 20ft of water. This does make finding the fish harder, especially over the slack water period. A few drifts down some gullies and I wasnt happy, the ground was perfect if the water had been a little deeper, a little faster and a little less clear.<br /><br />So with a feeling that it wasnt going to get much better and the risk of a huge down pour of rain I decided to start heading back to the harbour and try a few places on the way back. First area I saw looked much better, the tide was a bit stronger and there was weed over rocks below us in about 10 to 15 ft of water, and the tide was flowing towards a band of rocks that were breaking up the flow.<br /><br />First cast and Bob hooks a fish and as I was filming it Nick hooks one too. At last, a shoal of fish, and Neil and Nelson were just behind us, they straight away started hooking fish too. Here is Bobs first of the day, and his first on the Tackle House Feed Shallow 105, a great little lure that casts like a bullet and is very easy to work as all you need is a steady retrieve.<br /><br /><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxbM32oGfCcEofuy0kPNPKNnD_lcAnuxth9yqahHSeGfc7lIONCIkZzinn3Ll4O5zg5qJB1VqHH2leNqS2VzQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Here are a couple of Neils, a very proud man with his new Megabass rod, and of course his beloved Megabass Vision 110's, he really is a walking Megabass catalogue!<br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344657525528793330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SiwJs8dDEPI/AAAAAAAAAUA/m0Evhkfs1Bw/s320/Mr+Megabass+2009.JPG" border="0" /> I think Neil ended up with four or five bass for the day, which is great really for the water we were fishing, really shallow and really clear. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344658571571719426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SiwKp1RHbQI/AAAAAAAAAUI/yPjYFOoQ9zE/s320/Neil+Vision+110.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p></p><p>So we ended up with nine or ten bass, a big mackerel and a few pollack, not a bad day at all. I think boys had about the same. Happy days indeed.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344660703123603394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SiwMl56r_8I/AAAAAAAAAUY/FYOV2Sy9dLs/s320/After+a+days+fishing+May+09.JPG" border="0" /> </p>mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-73231158890856096772009-06-07T17:15:00.016+01:002009-06-07T18:22:41.498+01:00Xorus Patchinko<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SivqXcxUUsI/AAAAAAAAASY/SaTzg46XbqA/s1600-h/Pat+SE1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344623071386161858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SivqXcxUUsI/AAAAAAAAASY/SaTzg46XbqA/s320/Pat+SE1.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><div>It is my favourite surface lure of all time, the Patchinko is simply a work of art when it comes to catching bass in most top water situations. It casts further and more accurately than any other lure of its size and practically works itself.<br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344623363016886562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SivqobLgCSI/AAAAAAAAASg/eY7Zvg081EU/s320/Pat+SE2.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>The Patchinko is a walk the dog style lure, that is a zig zag motion along the surface. This is achieved by jerking the rod to make it zig, then jerking the rod to make it zag, and all the time winding the reel. The action is made easier by the under slung connection on the head, this keeps the head up in the water and the bulbus back end of the lure, which is where the weight chamber is, makes it rear heavy and gives it true and accurate casting.<br /><br /></div></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344634680464688866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Siv07L9UxuI/AAAAAAAAASw/uxfFFLvYd98/s320/Patch+Yellow+3.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344634899486489330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Siv1H74MOvI/AAAAAAAAAS4/yaDd_D0dj9E/s320/Patch+Yellow+4.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div>I use the Patchinko is most sea conditions, from flat milky calm, to really rough and choppy. It casts extremely well into the wind and very rarely tangles. In calm water I tend to use the lure with much more subtle actions, almost a long slide method, where you leave a second or two gap between each jerk to allow the lure to slide a bit further on each zig and zag. </div><br /><div>In choppy water I jerk the rod quite quickly to make the lure spit water a bit like a popper, just try and make a little more commotion than the sea is. Be quite violet with it but stillnot too fast, as I find although you will catch fish even at fairly fast retrieves, you will find bigger fish with a slower retreive.</div><br /><div>Don't forget the rod should be twitched with the wrist, not the whole arm. You make the butt of the rod bang between your ribs and fore arm. This is made much easier with fast actioned rods, and although you can use most types of spinning rod for surface work, you will tire, and will not get the best action from the lure.</div><br /><div>Here is a video of Bob working his favourite yellow Patchinko<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz5jcTXZHMvGPeB9FufH65FbX6inixotXVUStHpcCNJUPcnn0JWVMdNk83uPqpwQzGuNpxdpBIdGVipFKBtaA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div></div></div></div><div>Here are some results of the Patchinko over the last couple of years,</div><p>The Cabot</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344635325710167650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Siv1gvr1bmI/AAAAAAAAATA/1LCjs-cJ5MI/s320/15092007041.jpg" border="0" /> </div><br /><div>Andy Stonehouse loves Patchinkos too!! </div><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344635564055995234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Siv1unl6I2I/AAAAAAAAATI/E_I3tWp6Lok/s320/Andy+Stonehouse+Patchinko+5.JPG" border="0" /><br />Bob and his beloved yellow<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344635944094093906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Siv2EvWDUlI/AAAAAAAAATQ/pMwmCpSJZwc/s320/Bob+Pachinko+Yellow1.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div>Me with a 7lb 12oz, I was actually not even winding the lure when the fish took it<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344636394098557186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Siv2e7vegQI/AAAAAAAAATY/BpWKkJ1Tl8k/s320/mick+patchinko3.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>There is no feeling like taking a bass off the surface, it truely is breathtaking and something that every angler should experience.<br /><p></p></div></div>mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-13547172656334832662009-06-07T16:36:00.011+01:002009-06-07T17:14:09.363+01:00Still quite tough out there!<div><div><div><div><div>So I havnt been writing the blog much, but that doesnt mean I havnt been trying to catch fish, its just still quite tough out there. I have had a few bass, last weekend I managed six to 4lb 3oz, but to be honest I was lucky as Bob,Nelson and Neil did struggle to get one or two each.</div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344611458144973218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SivfzeE2saI/AAAAAAAAARA/6wAuiQaQJPE/s320/May+26th+4lb+3oz+Bass.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>I managed yet another decent wrasse on an Xlayer Ayu, this one didnt half scrap well as I was in fairly shallow water and had cast up between two heads and I was twitching the Xlayer back along the sand between the heads trying for a bass possibly hiding under the kelp hanging off them.</p><p>The Xlayers mounted on Xorus/Decoy heads just work a treat and we have had a few bass on wrasse on them now.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344613282979983234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SivhdsHbL4I/AAAAAAAAARI/cTVKY24uWc4/s320/P6070003.JPG" border="0" />Here is that wrasse, I could catch these hard fighters alldaylong on light gear they are simple amazing fighters and pound for pound there are not many as good a fighters in our waters.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344613933866615346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SiviDk25AjI/AAAAAAAAARQ/zP24yZLQ76w/s320/Wrasse+4lb+14oz+24th+May.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>My Super Mix 240 is becoming my favourite rod ever,this little thing is impressing memore and more. Its softer tip just has so much feel in it, I am starting to be able to feel the bottom and tellthe difference between pollack,bass and wrasse that are nibbling at my soft plastics, its amazing how delicate some fish mouth bait and how other dont give you a second thought and just simply smash into your softy.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344615614943507458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SivjlbW2tAI/AAAAAAAAARY/CfQUM54IzQU/s320/Super+Mix+240+and+Xlayer+Ayu+and+Bass.jpg" border="0" /> Here are some other fish that the boys have been getting recently, like I say its been hard but we dont give up easy.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344616412023850706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SivkT0tnhtI/AAAAAAAAARg/iAy_IY7VJNo/s320/Neil+Vision+110.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344618836281272738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sivmg7xoKaI/AAAAAAAAASA/xChMkouj2K4/s320/Mr+Megabass+2009.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p></p>He has well and truely christened his new Megabass rod with some great bass.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344617303242868082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SivlHswyhXI/AAAAAAAAARo/fOsKw2hlxM4/s320/P5200019.JPG" border="0" />And Doug went out with Nelson last week and had some great fun with the wrasse and Doug even managed a cracking bass on a plug,5lb 12oz and that puts Doug in the lead at the moment in the Sinkers boat lure caught bass trophy.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344617843397903922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 280px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SivlnI_yRjI/AAAAAAAAARw/-o7edD0cLjs/s320/Doug+1.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344618219719643698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sivl9C54UjI/AAAAAAAAAR4/TqU9Fzt6B2U/s320/P5220026.JPG" border="0" /> </div></div>mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-72553400819371418082009-05-07T22:19:00.003+01:002009-05-07T22:28:22.969+01:00My best Wrasse to date on a softyWent out again today (you cant knock me for trying) and fished Jerseys south and west coast with my friend Paul Butel. We really did cover some ground and tried many different lures. Well after about 8 hours of plugging and vertical softy jigging we managed a few Pollack, Wrasse and Paul had a cracking Garfish of well over a pound.<br /><br />So here is my PB Wrasse on a softy, I have had them to over 6lb on bait, but on a Tenryu Super Mix 240, a 50g Xorus Meastro jighead and 8" Madness Mother Worm in 50ft of water, this fish fought like a pitbull terrier all the way to the boat. Awesome.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333196455485175938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SgNR63aQ-II/AAAAAAAAAQ4/oPBfpT1U_W4/s320/Wrasse+5lb+2oz.JPG" border="0" />mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-4372164085481666452009-05-03T16:35:00.010+01:002009-05-03T16:56:13.457+01:00Xlayer Ayu, fast becoming my favourite colour...Popped out for an hour today and on my third cast had this nice 4lb 6oz. I was using a Megabass Xlayer Giant Ayu with a standard 3/0 leadhead. I am getting more confident with my soft plastics now, I am begining to feel the bottom as the lure touches it. Its a strange method to master (if you ever can!) but it is something new for me and its always good to have some other options when out there.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331625822737087698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sf29cAeLPNI/AAAAAAAAAQo/S1sdlbEwjTs/s320/Xlayer+Ayu+Giant.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331623589628411154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sf27aBfk_RI/AAAAAAAAAQA/BVrn3ufw7U4/s320/3rd+May+09+4lb+6oz.jpg" border="0" />I had one on friday morning too, a bit smaller, about 3lb, that was on a Megabass Xlayer Original in Ayu. </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331624019209731170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sf27zBzvvGI/AAAAAAAAAQI/oiOjgOiPAwE/s320/1st+of+May+09.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p>And my mate Alex from London was over for the weekend on his stag party. He managed to wiggle out a bass on a Megabass Xlayer in White, a nice little scrapperof about 2lb which made the groom to be very happy.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331624573841116514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sf28TT-LDWI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/tbVNj-PIQW8/s320/Alex+1st+May+09.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>These Xlayers are starting to do some damage, and on my new Tenryu Super Mix 240 they went very well indeed. The softer tip of the Super Mix is lovely when its bent double and the power in the butt section is amazing for stopping and turning the bass in their tracks.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331625198151907986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sf283ptdupI/AAAAAAAAAQY/jXhINDKle5k/s320/Super+Mix+240+and+Xlayer+Ayu+and+Bass.jpg" border="0" />I am looking forward to hooking a monster on it, in fact I cant wait to see what this little rod does in such a situation.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331625575406845858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sf29NnGDP6I/AAAAAAAAAQg/X2sZBi3wgJo/s320/Image0079.jpg" border="0" /> And Nelson was happy, his ship was in the harbour so he went aboard to check if all was ship shape.....<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331626473182262130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sf2-B3kY83I/AAAAAAAAAQw/RC1AmEQCY8I/s320/Image0092.jpg" border="0" />mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-8956731498417109042009-04-20T23:35:00.010+01:002009-04-21T00:10:19.692+01:00A good start to the season<div><div><div><div>I went out yesterday with Bob and Paul, we knew it would be hard as the tide was so small, only about 23ft or something ridiculous like that. Still, we went out west and tried a few soft plastics, after rigging them all up through the winter I am determined to catch some bass this year on them. Its working out how to twitch and retrieve them with confidence that is bugging me at the moment, but I will work it out. </div><br /><div>So anyway, it didnt take too long and Bob hooked into a small wrasse of a couple of pound.</div><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326908236338349426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sez60VoMxXI/AAAAAAAAAPI/shxqclXj2xk/s320/Bob+wrasse+on+softy.JPG" border="0" />The fishing was slow but we knew it would be, and to be honest it was good to see how Paul fishes as he is a bit of a legend at this lark. He showed us some new reefs and I watched him sneakily to see how he retrieves, I havnt been doing it that wrong really, but making sure you keep contact and try to work out where the bottom is at all times is a big part of it.<br /></p><p>We were getting small plucks from something whilst drifting an area and were not sure if it was pollack or cuttlefish having a go, so Paul put on a "stinger" that he had showed me how to rig a few weeks ago. This did the trick and we found the culprits were small pollack. This proves that Pauls stinger trick does the job.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326910245777289314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sez8pTXxsGI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/VFMGTEpEdEQ/s320/pollack+on+stinger.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>A little while after we tried one more reef before heading home. Up until now we had been vertically jigging our softies but we went to a big reef system that was just covered with water and cast our softies at it, letting them fall to the bottom(about 15ft or so) and jig them back towards us. First drift and Paul hooked his first bass of the season, a little hard fighter of about 2lb.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326911192934906818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sez9gbzv-8I/AAAAAAAAAPY/wU7gVRYyYxU/s320/Paul+bass+on+spindle.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326912425661107042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sez-oMElC2I/AAAAAAAAAPo/TxwGKqLjh_4/s320/bass+on+spindle+1.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>Next drift and Bob hooked his first of 2009, another little cracker of about the same size. Both these bass took a Megabass Spindle Worm on 30g articulated jigheads. The Spindle Worm is a great softy as it takes no tide or movement to work that little paddle tail, it just comes to life insantly in the water.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326912082465286994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sez-UNkUa1I/AAAAAAAAAPg/mZdvWyJY6rk/s320/bass+in+water+with+spindle.JPG" border="0" /> A couple more small fish rounded off a great day. Small tides can produce fish if you are willing to get out and be a bit diverse. Softies are fun, its new to me and I like the challenge, although I cant wait to be catching on plugs again soon.</div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326913937859832498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Se0AANc2arI/AAAAAAAAAPw/PFfk3q_l3mI/s320/bob+bass+on+spindle+2.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326914455040431346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Se0AeUGUFPI/AAAAAAAAAP4/4TS6tjYD2yc/s320/P3290004.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p></p></div></div></div>mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-88858353433542728352009-04-20T23:02:00.009+01:002009-04-20T23:30:28.824+01:00GarfishIts that time of year again, spring, the Jersey royals are all ready to be picked, swallows are arriving and the smelly long nose snipe are being caught. I love fishing for them with a float rod and a strip of garfish or mackerel, known locally as a "fionk". A simple sliding float set up works best, with your bait set from anywhere from 20ft deep to right up near the surface at about 3ft or less. I do find the early ones are a bit deeper than in the height of summer but you should still get one at about 10ft deep. A hook of about a size 6 or 4 is ideal and I tend to use a a flourocarbon hook length of anything from 6lb to 10lb. If you keep everything as light as possible these fast little fish can really give a good account for their size. I like a softish action 10ft rod or even a 1.75lb test curve carp rod, but an old style floppy cheap spinning rod is ideal really.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326899032706490418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SezycnbXoDI/AAAAAAAAAOo/2ZXu6ohNkA4/s320/Copy+of+Dads+Stuff.png" border="0" /><br />I had this one last week on my boat, it was 1lb 2oz, I caught it on a little Megabass lure that I had just had my first bass of the year on of about 1lb 8oz or so.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326900526919098546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SezzzlzaoLI/AAAAAAAAAOw/2LuJD3zRFII/s320/Snipe+1lb+2oz.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326901045313123346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 224px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sez0Rw-LtBI/AAAAAAAAAO4/MJGIkJl-ZkY/s320/Snipe+1lb+2oz+1.JPG" border="0" />This week saw the boat caught Jersey Garfish record go too. This fine specimen was 2lb 4oz, it was so thick and will take some beating.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326901762266311154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Sez07f1JKfI/AAAAAAAAAPA/nYyohf1sXQ4/s320/Snipe+record.JPG" border="0" /><br />It is a shame that garfish don't like being handled much, I do think they do not survive very well once handled so you are best to either not handle them at all and cut the line over the side, or keep them for bait or even to eat.<br /><br /><br /></p>mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-46494287678332957172009-04-12T01:23:00.008+01:002009-04-12T01:37:36.917+01:00Big bass at St Helier harbourI have just seen a monster bass landed down the harbour. Julian "Spike" Wright has just landed a 16lb bass on a live pouting from the harbour wall. What a lovely fish, it looked bigger than 16lb to me, and Spike agreed he should go get it weighed officially tomorrow morning.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323594862606009650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SeE1Umm5xTI/AAAAAAAAAOA/kZi0aL0d7P4/s320/P4110018.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323595263813848786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SeE1r9OTjtI/AAAAAAAAAOI/OV__Pg5X-UM/s320/P4110032.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323596036603850946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SeE2Y8FzMMI/AAAAAAAAAOY/P_Jzy89Bj3k/s320/P4110017.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323597054915746978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SeE3UNmRnKI/AAAAAAAAAOg/aC5aR9kjy18/s320/P4110033.JPG" border="0" />mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-32080902694632822822009-03-22T21:29:00.008+00:002009-03-22T21:58:10.749+00:00Wrasse on light gearJust for a change a few of us went out and tried for some wrasse today. A few years ago I was adicted to fishing for these beautiful fish, but that was from the shore using a light beachcaster, multiplier reel and a bucket of crabs. This method is much more fun, we went out with our Tenryu Rod Bars and Super Mix, 4000 size spinning reels and a selection of soft plastics including Xlayers, Mother Worms and Spindle Worms.<br /><br />We headed along our south west coast where the water is deeper than were we normally fish. Don't get me wrong, there are some huge wrasse on our south east coast but the conditions were right to try some deeper marks for a change. Just look atour south coast cliffs in these pictures, remember the rough boulders and drop offs continue under the water too, in places we were only yards off the shore and in 45 ft of water.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316129717809208498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/Scavz_HqXLI/AAAAAAAAANY/S2JmTWm2IzM/s320/Image0027.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>We hugged the coast looking for drop offs and heads, never staying in any place for more than 15 minutes. The sea bed just looked so good and it didnt take me long to hook this nice 4lb'er.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316130578628854866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/ScawmF7DxFI/AAAAAAAAANg/ZC4gueaaBBw/s320/3lb%2B+wrasse+on+Father+Shad.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>We moved along a bit more, fining some deeper water. We could see the big boulders that had once been on the cliffs that are now strewn along the bottom, great wrasse ground.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316131162114338786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/ScaxIDk1r-I/AAAAAAAAANo/9z7TiSaFeKU/s320/Image0031.jpg" border="0" /> We were using our soft plastics very gently, finding the bottom and ever so slightly jigging and lifting the rods, making the baits just quiver in the water. This is definately better than the normal fast jigging you would do with pollack and cod. The Xlayers and Mother worms love this method, they just seem to come to life with the most subtle of twitches.<br /><br />Bob Jameson soon slammed into this lovely wrasse of 5lb 8oz (2.7kg), it really did give him a good fight, all the way to the boat this fish just banged and tugged on his braid, really bending his Rod Bar 240 to its max, it was a sight to see indeed.<br /><br />Here is Bobs 5lb 8oz<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316132679001341426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/ScaygWa4ffI/AAAAAAAAANw/S82-oTsrmp4/s320/Image0022.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Next up was Nelson Gouveia with a huge wrasse of 6lb 6oz (3kg). It took a Megabass Giant Xlayer Ayu and once again fought like a gladiator all the way to the surface.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316133449737538274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/ScazNNotiuI/AAAAAAAAAN4/J6NjF0FzieQ/s320/Image0026.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p></p>It made a change from going for the bass, and I am sure if today is anything to go on we will be back trying for some more big wrasse this season. Bon temps indeed.mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-40438503263929306232009-03-01T23:18:00.002+00:002009-03-01T23:25:49.122+00:00Ultimate Fishings new websiteHere is the link to the new Ultimate Fishing website. Ultimate are the leading company in France for lure fishing enthusiasts, they never stop researching and developing their products to keep them at the forefront of modern lure fishing. One of the great things about Ultimate is the fact that everyone that works for them are passionate lure anglers, from the guys in the warehouse to the managering director. If there are any products that any of you see that they sell and you are interested in them please don't hessitate to contact me.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ultimate-fishing.fr/">http://www.ultimate-fishing.fr/</a>mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-39608436711397754972009-02-24T20:23:00.015+00:002009-02-24T23:13:56.748+00:00Nantes Tackle Show 2009Last weekend the 19th, 20th and 21st of Febuary saw annual tackle show in Nantes take place. This show is my Mecca, I look forward to it like a child looks forward to christmas, I litterally cannot sleep or think of anything else in the lead up to this weekend. Six of us took the ferry to St Malo where we stayed the night and in the morning Pierre (our man in Granville, Normandy) arrived in a hired mini bus to drive us all down to the show. My stomache was starting to turn, I get myself so worked up with the excitement knowing I will be soon surrounded by the most modern gear for salt water lure fishing, it is rather sad that a grown man can get butterfies over bits of carbon and plastic.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306466045842908514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaRawPsjZWI/AAAAAAAAALY/ESPKI2_eZlo/s320/2009_0222SalondePecheNantes0043.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>We arrived Friday lunch time and headed straight in. The show straight away seemed to be a good one, the stands and test tanks with crowds of eager anglers watching and learning.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306466746814528114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaRbZDBNenI/AAAAAAAAALg/KiPA5NwxznM/s320/P2220049.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306467344657294178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaRb72KCI2I/AAAAAAAAALo/Vjf12wfh-j8/s320/2009_0222SalondePecheNantes0029.JPG" border="0" /><br />We had a quick look around and sarted to notice some really nice gear. The thing with France is they have a huge market for soft plastics and we hardly saw any plugs being tested, which is a shame for the guys that still need to learn the different techniqus of working a lure properly. One thing I did learn was "twitching". Its not a new technique by any means but its new to me, and I can see the potential in it too. Basically you have a lure that is plug shaped, some have lips some don't, and you just wind it, twitch it and then give the lure slack line and it will flutter down like an injured fish falling through the water, it looks so good. These lures are solid and weigh anything from 25 to 40g, they cast a long way and I know of a few reefs and runs where distance is important. One of the french guys was saying (and he showed us the photos) how he was using a twitcher on day from the shore and he caught 3 bass in 3 casts, all 9lb in weight each!! He recons you can get these things to cast 100 yards too. A very handy lure to have I think.<br /><br />This short video I made is poor quality but it is awkward to keep my camera on the lure when I cannot see the view finder, but you can see the fluttering effect of the lure as it sinks.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzAhOHnuqAhz8UwHd6gvstao0Kyw7DAA4IJLymieFfsiBePziKPjcxdrcKPGT-UsjVzibPIL2PYRB-G0aFg7Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><p>I also learnt some great ways for working soft baits with and without weights. Here is a video of one of my heros, Charles-Henri Canto, working a Mother Worm along the surface with a weedless set up. Again this will be so handy for me in situations where there is seaweed rising to the surface and the bass are below in the shallow water.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxHMD74FAMRSThI_xKvDunaAt1x7-mmXRzpodAElCvDZz42UkSJc8BiWaRFnmb3kV55zgf2Y31lKgXuitn3mA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><p>Here he is again with a lip weight on a Mother Worm, I was impressed how good it looks with the slightest of twitches. I recon for my vertical jigging work on my boat I will use this finnesse aproach over some heads, I am sure it will tease a bass into attacking it. The great thing with always fishing with my mate Bob is we cover different aspects whilst stood next to each other. If he is on the surface I will try a diver or a softie, and again if he is making quite fasts jigs with his vertical jigging gear I will try a more subtle approach. You can also see how when casting a weighted softbait it looks very life like on the retrieve, with bounces and jerks of the rod. Yannick, the MD of Ultimate-Fishing was telling me how when he fishes at night with softbaits he will really slow everything down, really slow and leave the lure rest and then the slightest of twitches and let it rest again. I can't wait to try it, I think I crank and wind far too fast when I lure fish in the dark so I am looking forward to some new tricks to be used this season.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwgLddhK-HY6X68ohxIapGu-zfvsmXWkZwzYZ8opcCyV6CCpLwuehN6NXkxlY767uZHhJM3_sfAy5dRG1RGHA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></p><p>I was simply stunned again by the way Ultimate-Fishing continue to push and push the fronteers of modern lure fishing, these guys just will not sit back on their laurels, you see they are all anglers as well as businessmen, even the girls in the office go out fishing and taking photos of the team whilst fishing too. The Ultimate Tenryu rod range has grown once again, there are now about 50 red beauties to choose from, from the lightest of lure rods right up to heavy verical fishing rods that will tame anything including GT's and big Tuna. </p><p>I was privileged to be able to meet the managering director of Tenryu-Japan Mr Naoto Shiozawa and the Tenryu rod designer Mr Sandy Saida, both of whom were of course absolute gentlemen and so knowledgeable when it comes to rod design I felt like I was a child in front of his teachers. I spoke with Sandy alot, this man is so respected in Japan for his knowledge of carbon fibre and glass, he really wanted to design me a rod range for the UK market but I told him to hold fire for a year or two as the rods we already have available are way more advanced than anything we have used before. </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306491787787658770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaRyKn6cZhI/AAAAAAAAALw/9A1ph0kslGY/s320/Me+and+the+Japanese+crew.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306492173375939058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaRyhEV2ofI/AAAAAAAAAL4/HVZ67DtOIlE/s320/Sandi+and+me.JPG" border="0" /><br />The guys from Ultimate made us all very welcome and showed us some amazing products and how to use them. Remember this is a public show and anyone can go to it and meet these guys and they are there to share their knowledge. Do youself a favour and get down to Nantes next Febuary it really is out of this world if you are seriously nto your lure fishing.<br /><br />New lures have been ordered, I cant wait to get my hands on them and as they start to arrive and as I get to fish with them I will post some pictures and my findings.<br /><br />Look at this sight, a row of red beauties that I couldnt leave alone, they are truely stunning to hold and the action on all of them is perfect.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306493484915617010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaRztaNR7PI/AAAAAAAAAMA/XFC6rPMc6Fw/s320/Rack+of+reds.JPG" border="0" />Some of the new soft baits I am getting in, these really caught my attention. They seem to be halfway between a Slug-Go and an Xlayer, a bit firmer than an Xlayer and a bit softer than a Slug-Go, their action is brilliant too.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306494237468004098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaR0ZNrwDwI/AAAAAAAAAMI/l_trPr5cyVg/s320/P2220046.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />One great lure that I found at the show was the new Tackle House Feed Shallow 110. The original 128 Feed Shallow has become a classic lure and I am sure its little brother will soon become a must have lure too. I will post some better pictures and findings when I get some in a few weeks time, I can't wait to try them.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306498691670877938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaR4ce4eJvI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/-bFRfyGAVnk/s320/P2200034.JPG" border="0" /><br />We all had a great time and like I say if you are wanting to go next year then keep an eye on my blog as I will post all the details when they are available.<br /><br />Here are a few more pictures of a very memorable weekend. Here is the managering director of Ultimate Yannick showing off a light rod for Zander and Perch fishing. You should never do this with a normal rod...it could snap, but just look at that little thing bend.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306499766765758802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaR5bD7EKVI/AAAAAAAAAMY/c1GmOcomrqk/s320/2009_0222SalondePecheNantes0032.JPG" border="0" /><br />Here is Henry and Neil playing with a baitcaster and softie....they did manage to work out how it worked...after a while.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306500800066144034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaR6XNRExyI/AAAAAAAAAMg/ZHzHC4KKxAo/s320/2009_0222SalondePecheNantes0039.JPG" border="0" /><br />Neil putting his new Megabass rod through its paces<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306501822012145778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaR7SsT_QHI/AAAAAAAAAMo/E29_hOVw7sY/s320/IMG_0723.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Me and Stanley, he is the frenchman that first introduced me to modern lure fishing, my mate and a dam fine angler.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306502286125889554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaR7ttRU-BI/AAAAAAAAAMw/CWXnVm9CfcY/s320/2009_0222SalondePecheNantes0045.JPG" border="0" /><br />Me and my brother Dougie making a wish at one of the pools<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306503164314433874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaR8g0xyuVI/AAAAAAAAAM4/0CRZgS6E0d8/s320/2009_0222SalondePecheNantes0028.JPG" border="0" /><br />Neil being presented with a Megabass hat signed by legend ITO himself, this hat is priceless and was given to Neil by the Ultimate team for his continued work and support he puts into Megabass products. It actually brought a tear to his eye.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306504920608590354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaR-HDe8yhI/AAAAAAAAANQ/UK8OuHbyuc0/s320/Arise+sir+Megabass.JPG" border="0" /><br />And here is the Jersey team (well one english TV presenter too) that made the trip down there, we will be back next year and I already cannot wait. Watch this space as I start to get some of these new products through and start to fish with them<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306504257756513250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SaR9geKsw-I/AAAAAAAAANI/3CTVEUtP9Z0/s320/The+team.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p>mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-53618252031085546512009-02-08T20:20:00.051+00:002009-02-10T10:25:30.711+00:00Rigging some soft baits<p>Here are some things to be getting on with whilst the weather is bad and you are in doors.</p><p></p><p>It's the time of year when I am bored but excited that the new season will be upon us soon. My friend "St Ouen" (local Mr Soft himself) came round and went through a few tips for me to get going. I have done a small bit of soft bait fishing but I want to get into it a bit more this year as the potential is vast.<br /></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300525831199644402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9AKPtv2vI/AAAAAAAAAGA/7L7scuBygeo/s320/P2070003.JPG" border="0" /><br />I grabbed a few packets of the soft plastics that I want to start my season with and we set about rigging them up. One thing I do know is you should rig your gear up before you go, as when fishing these baits you can go through quite a few, either through loss or damage.<br /><br />First I decided to rig some Madness Mother Worms simply with some Xorus 20g heads.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300526375565934306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9Ap7oyPuI/AAAAAAAAAGI/66rXLG4AZtA/s320/P2070006.JPG" border="0" /></p>Firstly, look at the shape of the head you are going to use, and cut your bait to the shape of the head, this sounds easier than it is and I am sure it becomes easier the more you do it. What I also do (as I am not that good at judging the gap) is make a mark with a black marker pen to where the hook will come out.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300526837241917906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9BEzg6sdI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/nbi-WPGi2vw/s320/P2070007.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300527739205320274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9B5Tlv_lI/AAAAAAAAAGY/zQloEUyhkw0/s320/P2070008.JPG" border="0" />Thread the hook into the worm, making sure you keep it as straight as possible, and make sure you don't start the hook going in too low on the worm, you do want a good ammount of the gape of the hook showing.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300528919339996930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9C9_7yFwI/AAAAAAAAAGg/2yJ7_CuhIsg/s320/P2070009.JPG" border="0" /><br />Get the bait up to the head, make sure it is straight and you are happy with it and then glue it with super glue or a favoured fast setting adhesive. If the bait is coated in an oil or scent wipe it off around the area you are gluing or your glue just wont adhere to anything.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300530541170296402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9EcZuQhlI/AAAAAAAAAGo/_MuL-9FCqr4/s320/P2070010.JPG" border="0" />I then set it aside and finished the packet, it doesnt take long once you start.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300531042681455250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9E5l_1gpI/AAAAAAAAAGw/uqE8Mn1sYAw/s320/P2070012.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300531294647584962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9FIQpPiMI/AAAAAAAAAG4/IOpyVcm6uWs/s320/P2070028.JPG" border="0" /><br />Next up were some Megabass Giant Xlayers mounted on some football heads, which I call egg heads, these ones were actually Lunker City 3/4 oz heads.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300531859490613042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9FpI2UJzI/AAAAAAAAAHA/2vNmFDDlEMo/s320/P2070016.JPG" border="0" />Once again I marked where the hook will come out with a marker pen. These heads come with a ribbed sleve to hold your soft bait on. If the soft bait is thin around the ared that is near the leadhead then you can cut the ribbed lead away with some side cutters and glue the bait directly to the head.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300533174331306354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9G1rAw8XI/AAAAAAAAAHI/SwrDKyrZsUA/s320/P2070017.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300533514255720930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9HJdVD4eI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/Tdhm0DgChyE/s320/P2070018.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300533728086642578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9HV56Uz5I/AAAAAAAAAHY/oU74_HSQe1k/s320/P2070019.JPG" border="0" /><br />Althougth the bait was being held in place fine I added some glue seeing I had it open.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300538244121585010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9Lcxc9ZXI/AAAAAAAAAIA/JIIi41QqEUY/s320/P2070026.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300534404145462354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9H9QbTvFI/AAAAAAAAAHg/uVKLNWnOZaQ/s320/P2070022.JPG" border="0" /><br />Next up I wanted to rig some Xlayers on weighted hooks, I want to use these in quite calm water either twitched over some oyster beds I fish or near the surface over the top of some heads.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300535742267315362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9JLJUa1KI/AAAAAAAAAHo/ycYFGDRvixk/s320/P2070029.JPG" border="0" />The thing with weighted hooks is you can't just thread them through like a normal hook because the weight will stop you. So the best way to do it is to make a hole for the hook with the point of the hook first.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300537178550643858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9Kev5DLJI/AAAAAAAAAHw/-Uoa1ruZ6P8/s320/P2070035.JPG" border="0" /><br />Turn the hook around and work out where the hook will come out. I didnt need to mark these as there was a rib on the worm and I could line it up with that as a marker.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300537736324104706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9K_NwmwgI/AAAAAAAAAH4/o7H31ednQDo/s320/P2070030.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300538492981698818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9LrQh1YQI/AAAAAAAAAII/wbTAMSqqofE/s320/P2070031.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300538696126196370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9L3FTQapI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/ahJwHir08Zo/s320/P2070032.JPG" border="0" /><br />Push the hook through so it comes out nice and flat against the top of the bait.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300539263775890418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9MYH9fW_I/AAAAAAAAAIY/VQDasNEwKRY/s320/P2070033.JPG" border="0" /><br />For storage and also to fish these weedless so you can get your bait right in there amoungst the snags, just pull the point of the hook back a bit and sink it in the bait a mm or 2<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300539862677633618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9M6_CyulI/AAAAAAAAAIg/bFWIZQ8KM10/s320/P2070034.JPG" border="0" />Et voila, ready for next month.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300540337800939474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9NWpBBB9I/AAAAAAAAAIo/wTm-ncRojNE/s320/P2070036.JPG" border="0" /><br />Next up Mr Soft showed me an ingenius way to help stop a soft bait from movong on a hook without glue. This one is a Slug-Go mounted on a Decoy 6/0 hook, and we have buried the knot inside the bait too. Push the hook through, turn it around, work out where it goes in and where it comes out<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300541825752811618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9OtQEYyGI/AAAAAAAAAIw/luUZiTWSV40/s320/P2070037.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300542448117356050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9PRejqFhI/AAAAAAAAAI4/1JtkKQ-uo7g/s320/P2070038.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300542964763965314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9PvjNzt4I/AAAAAAAAAJA/-F7w_YOMhTA/s320/P2070039.JPG" border="0" /><br />Then the trick is to push a piece of 80lb mono right through the bait and through the eye of hook, then trim the mono off very close, this locks the hook into the soft bait. Very clever, I like this trick.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300543846396626290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9Qi3jahXI/AAAAAAAAAJI/_4o65vlhp8U/s320/P2070041.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300544420844499682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9RETidcuI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/wxvjlW9P5_Y/s320/P2070042.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300544681060030290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9RTc6rV1I/AAAAAAAAAJY/5L7qX8UfD_Y/s320/P2070043.JPG" border="0" />Next we just threaded a few different heads on plastics just to fill mt box a bit, here is a Megabass Spindle Worm going on a Xorus Jig Head. The Spindle worms are coated in a very oily scented solution that will not let your glue set, so wipe it off and mount some up, these shad/worm hybrids are amazing in the water.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300546207888515634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9SsUy9IjI/AAAAAAAAAJg/6S28-debHOE/s320/P2070046.JPG" border="0" /> There is a groove in the top of some plastics for where the hook should lay in, this helps when fishing snaggy places, it acts like the weedless point I showed earlier, but here your hook will just lay in a shallow groove.This method is used when you rig the worm with a texasposer style hook like I did earlier with the Slug-Go, with this jig head though the hook will be very pronounced.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300547018821521634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9Tbhwc0OI/AAAAAAAAAJw/1yMeuKQCves/s320/P2070048.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300547516738204994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9T4gpCdUI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/OZaNYkFlggQ/s320/P2070049.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300548397906287586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9UrzP4W-I/AAAAAAAAAKA/zeFI_S88aW8/s320/P2070050.JPG" border="0" />Next we rigged a few hooks with cone heads. This is a way of adding weight to a soft bait but not using a lead head. This is a Madness Father Shad, a Xorus 6/o hook, a 15g cone head and a float stop.<br /><br />Just rig the hook as normal then slide a cone head down the line. You can put a bead between the hook and cone head but I didnt with this one. Add the float stop, you can also use a sliding stop knot made out of power gum or mono, just make sure it doesnt go through the head. If it does then you can just put a bead between the cone head and knot. This method acts like an articulated head, it is cheap and easy to use. I will be doing more rigging soon so I will take some more pictures and show you when I do. I am waiting for some atriculated heads to arrive and some more plastics.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300550975222008834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9XB0f1TAI/AAAAAAAAAKI/gVbcSPoUTls/s320/P2070054.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300551366197187298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9XYk_lEuI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/n6Vc6yLqZ2w/s320/P2070056.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300551890063716130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9X3EjF7yI/AAAAAAAAAKY/bfPUyX4FCl4/s320/P2070057.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300552583326447266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9YfbJztqI/AAAAAAAAAKg/05LTDGP5ZMY/s320/P2070060.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300552901059131842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9Yx6zLucI/AAAAAAAAAKo/kAgK4nf8dCU/s320/P2070061.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300553163682772866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9ZBNJid4I/AAAAAAAAAKw/ZEUuhlOczYU/s320/P2070063.JPG" border="0" /><br />We rigged a few more and called it a day, here are some Xorus Sayori Shads on different Xorus Heads, there is even a Storm ell on a head in there, I am sure it will work well and these are very cheap and available everywhere.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300553881769882146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9ZrAO2MiI/AAAAAAAAAK4/76zTeDLC4yY/s320/P2070070.JPG" border="0" /> Oh yeah, one last thing we did, if you are getting bites on the end of the lure and the fish are missing the hook, Paul showed me an easy way of adding a stinger in the tail. A doubled piece of strong braid is looped over the eye of the jig, them simply tuck the treble towards the tail and hopefully you'll find out whats been nipping you.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300554790694260130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9af6PTjaI/AAAAAAAAALA/8ozu6IH_Md8/s320/P2070072.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300555152403222226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9a09tcTtI/AAAAAAAAALI/7E5iS1BId3Q/s320/P2070073.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300555476631512306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SY9bH1jfZPI/AAAAAAAAALQ/1oJTyu3Jybc/s320/P2070074.JPG" border="0" />mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-30248158796564344822009-01-31T01:11:00.004+00:002009-01-31T01:25:06.841+00:00My red box of memories...The winter just never seems to end does it? I hate this time of year, I long for sunny days and being out there on the boat. I was looking through my fishing pictures tonight and thought I would share some memories..... Click on the Youtube link below<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMcmu0rG3E4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMcmu0rG3E4</a><br /><br />It won't be long now and we will be out there again.....mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-91658836461035077522009-01-20T21:04:00.016+00:002009-01-20T23:24:33.293+00:00Lure patternsAs the title states, lure patterns, whats it all about? When I say patterns I mean the colours and finishes of them. I have been a "plugger" for 15 years and I still act on instinct everytime I have to choose which colour and size to put on. I tend to chose natural looking fish, and very rarely use bright and gordy looking plugs. Now I know some very good bass anglers that will only use the brightest of plugs in all conditions, and I also know as many that swear only by natural silver/black colours.<br /><br />So which is right? Both I recon, because we all know that "Confidence is nine tenths of the lure", meaning if you think it will catch fish, it will.<br /><br />Its not only colours though, its the finish too. There are plain painted lures, clear plastic, reflective lures and holographic lures to mention a few. Now a couple of years ago I was convinced the best lures were clear bellied or clear sided.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293488635444655634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SXY_3io-9hI/AAAAAAAAAEo/-IyFqky3nio/s320/P1200068.JPG" border="0" /><br />I would always pick them out in my lure box and they just seemed to do the trick on days when I was struggling. I still do use them, and I am still very confident with them. But somedays when the water is a bit murky I find the fuller coloured lures work better, and I then go for painted lures with a high gloss finish with maybe a two tone look about them. A stripe of orange or red along the underneath can help alot too.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293490539902948690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SXZBmZTOVVI/AAAAAAAAAEw/vIPfshQABtA/s320/P1200081.JPG" border="0" /><br />When you combine these two things you end up with a lure that is fantastic in low vis water, and when you add a little rattle!! Rattles are a chapter all on their own so I won't get into it right now! The paintwork I find best is like I say a high gloss finish like this one.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293492294605842338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SXZDMiE_p6I/AAAAAAAAAE4/21JWCRdlaAI/s320/P1200078.JPG" border="0" /> When it comes to surface lures I still think there are not enough made with black undersides. I wish some companies would make some, and I will get on their cases about doing it. If you think about what fish see when they look up its got to be mainly a silloette, so surely a black belly will stand out better than anything else.<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293493572899135522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SXZEW8F3YCI/AAAAAAAAAFA/ENC-S7rfPrE/s320/P1200073.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>As there are not many available I tend to use either clear bellied (on sunny days), silver bellied on normal days and red bellied on murky days. I must get a can of black spray paint and alter some of my favourites, just to see.<br /></p><p>Of all the colours and patterns I love at the moment, holographic must be my favourite, and I think it will become more and more available on many lures. It just seems to work in all conditions, it absorbs the smallest ammounts of light and throws it back, but not too much. This is not reflective tape that I am on about here, its different, more subtle. Reflective tape looks fantastic, and yes it catches fish, but I find it catches more anglers than fish. Look at the difference, this is reflective strip, great but I think it is better in tropical waters.<br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293496611065618370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SXZHHyJM38I/AAAAAAAAAFI/D1bGSVYB1uo/s320/P1200071.JPG" border="0" /><br /></p>I heard that some french anglers rub their reflective lures down with wet and dry paper, just to take the shine off them. That is a choice, and probably good advice, but a few lures out there now have slightly more mellow reflective strip like this<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293502666138955874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SXZMoPDLsGI/AAAAAAAAAFo/LNxA-jBWyI0/s320/Tide+Minnow+150+S06-RS+Rainbow+Scale+3.JPG" border="0" /> When it is combined with some pattern covering up the bling of reflective, it really starts to come to life, and it's starting to get my attention too<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293503626452960498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SXZNgIf4hPI/AAAAAAAAAFw/vLwDTtsTFEE/s320/Zonk+Mullet+1.JPG" border="0" /><br />This is the way forward for UK bass fishing I am sure. Holographic (holo) finish is the next step though.<br /><br /><p>Check out what I mean by holo finish, see how it isn't so uniform, and will look like light shining off something underwater.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293498229546091090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SXZIl_dBAlI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/KB5VTd9Xs98/s320/P1200074.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>This is now what I look for, can you see why? It is starting to come out in more and more lures these days, and with different back colours. The white as shown here is a modern classis now, made famous by Graham Hill and Henry Gilbey with their exploits in Wexford with the Maria Chase BW Holo White. A great lure that really catches fish, but I have always found they don't cast great.<br /><br /></p><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293500057474823618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SXZKQZBL9cI/AAAAAAAAAFY/-sdJ_ajRMek/s320/P1200076.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>On white it looks amazing, check it out what it looks like on red merging into black on the Tide Minnow Hellfire, it's sick, it just has to catch fish.<br /><br /></p><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293501025261008402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SXZLIuTZNhI/AAAAAAAAAFg/2S4Sc8cfRGU/s320/Tide+Minnow+150+Surf+D25-DM+Hellfire+1.JPG" border="0" /><br />Of course this is just a personal choice, and alot of the fun in lure fishing is sussing things out. But with modern lures becoming more and more expensive I think making the right decissions in the tackle shops is becoming more important. Years ago I wouldn't think twice about picking up 10 plugs on a trip to the tackle shop, being under a tenner each it wasn't the end of the world. I have found though that rather than carrying 50 £10 plugs that you are not 100% sure about, you are better carrying 10 plugs that you are 100% confident with, even if they cost £20 each.mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-17908165522594883292009-01-08T16:04:00.008+00:002009-01-08T17:35:17.440+00:00So 22 brave anglers turned up for the January Dogfish bash at St Catherines breakwater. It was so cold but that did'nt sem to put off the boys. We met at half six in the evening and fished 'til ten oclock.<br /><br />It took about half an hour for the first dog to be landed, by Sam Chapon, on leave from his new army career. See him with it here.<br /><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy-fBb-pWJd6GUiw5-GBugsjoCRM71WFx9ZFQict-IdmmFclDMe-f696T3rnKM0nv1qOHdSAreccOHN5-lhWA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p></p><p>Steve Mullins landed the most dogs, here had six in all, which just shows how cold it was as it is normal to catch about twenty down there if you try for them. Here is a clip of him landing one of them.</p><p></p><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwhcDAT7sRHoRSZ062wZxiTDI8UNMJU6MlwNn0Qan1rFXx2GfKpRoEJCye7u31RVd_m12V-5DNBVTbPiAph8g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p></p><p>Russell Holland and Paul Wheaton caught the two biggest of the night, both exactly two pound.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='273' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dziXgUQcKo269cP5fnTifkP6Dvrl9-8eTl5VmktUcTx03ocCoK2_4qKXHDhlL54XaMlYCG4wKh31s1Qi6go2w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p> </p><p>In all 22 anglers caught 31 Doggies, which is'nt many at all really. There were alot of Pouting down there, everyone was catching them and it was hard to find the Dogs through the Pout. Chris Steel had a beauty of 1lb 6oz and a Pollack of 3lb 2oz on a two hook flapper patternoster at the same time!! 4lb of specimen weight to crank up the wall.</p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyl1z7mK2pcSWRmA5xBJHzALaFAZMjuzsUOAMuBc9hv2vwACQYvd_zT3O0qr2ckEY1zr1wcTZlSElwrfAMD3A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Its looking like we are going to do a Pout rout in the next couple of weeks, lets hope it warms up a bit.mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-13586281892389132782009-01-05T23:36:00.002+00:002009-01-05T23:43:26.652+00:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SWKawUDHYsI/AAAAAAAAADg/xpmSDW9crCE/s1600-h/Jim+Letto+14oz+11dr+Whiting.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287959067292558018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SWKawUDHYsI/AAAAAAAAADg/xpmSDW9crCE/s320/Jim+Letto+14oz+11dr+Whiting.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Its cold!! Very cold, I dont like it. The shop is cold, my flat is cold, my feet are cold, its cold.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Anyhoo, its the night before the big dogfish bash on St Caths breakwater. Seems like a few guys are up for it, it should be a laugh if nothing else. There hav'nt been many dogs caught the last few days down there, just lots of pouting but we should get some. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Sinkers member and general all round nice guy James Letto caught the Sinkers new club record Whiting last night, fair play to him, beating the record by over two ounces. </div><div> </div><div>I will let you know how the bash goes tomorrow night, we are expecting wintery showers....nice.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-69622421523239112582009-01-03T02:06:00.001+00:002009-01-03T02:24:00.222+00:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SV7KvkpTsbI/AAAAAAAAACo/ksG7JkMQ_g4/s1600-h/DSC01375.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286885931219136946" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 219px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1f2L8eWDUjY/SV7KvkpTsbI/AAAAAAAAACo/ksG7JkMQ_g4/s320/DSC01375.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div>So I have to suss out how this blog thing works, here goes I am going to try and upload an image, hopefully I can put up a picture of a storm coming in from the south of Jersey a couple of summers ago. It was a really hot summers day and I took this photo from my balcony window. The sky on the horizon was like night, and the sea was so many different colours it was un believable I have never seen it like that since.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625598519795036811.post-69329525604808408772009-01-03T01:47:00.000+00:002009-01-03T01:57:55.271+00:00So here it is, my blog.<br /><br />I am going to use this blog as a diary to write about mine and my friends fishing trips and findings here in Jersey. I own a tackle shop and am always hearing stories and ideas throughout the day from anglers and general lunatics I meet in my shop. These are obviously just my findings and should be taken as that, please dont base your life on them.mrfishjerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07237052307454077741noreply@blogger.com3