Friday Night weather window 27/04/12

[Overrun]

Begin with an apology to Lofty as did say I'd let him know when next out at Tanners. A very last minute decision to go, really wanted to try a local Turbo mark, it was doable but would have been choppy, tide not ideal, perhaps another night. Did wonder if I'd made the right choice as Tanners was flat.

 

Loads of weed on the shore, together with the odd Cuttle bone. Bait wise had Squid and a couple of hardbacks collected before launch. Have seen part eaten Cuttle drifting around there in past years, so Squid could be good.

 

Launched on dusk, ...after a second trip back up the shore to collect the paddle, been off the water too long. A couple of new items and changes to the way things were done, so this would be a shakedown trip before the Smutts arrived, unless they were already about.

 

Out to 14ft depth, slightly further than usual, on a buoy so easy to move closer-in if weed became an issue, which I fully expected it to be. Flood began, no weed, the dreaded Gorilla pubes negligible all evening . Bites on rod No.1 (the non-braid rod, more later). Nice run down the tide, connected with something, felt like a chequer Bass, all over the place although not strong. Went heavy so presumed I'd collected some weed as well, wound in the last few yards expecting my first Bass of the year, and found a rock of about 1lb attached to the hook!

 

Is it just me, or do others have issues with braid? Rod No.2 with much loved 5500 and 15lb Rovex braid on test. Last year I'd tried 30lb fused Spyderwire, horrible, sounded like it was sawing through the rings, reel felt like there was a half a pound of lead on when there wasn't, back to mono next trip. The Rovex was better, although essentially the same. Then I fluffed a cast/lob and produced a small birdy, the sort of tangle that you'd pull straight out in mono, waisted 20 valuable fishing minutes trying to sort it, before cutting out and joining. Can't be doing with this when the Smutts are about.

 

In the meantime, rod No.1 had caught something, and not another rock. For a fleeting moment thought it was a small Stingray. Nearly 50 years of sea angling and another Spotted ray (I think), barely a month after my first.

 

 

Bites were frequent thereafter, a few Bream plucks there as well but didn't connect on 3/0, smaller hooks found Dogfish, one bolting quite well and doing a Chequer impression, sadly no Bass or Bream being brought in. And incidentally, not one fish fell to the braid rod, unreal.

 

Off the water before 13:00, a very calm & pleasant evening and a pleasure to be out.

Cheers

James

[seagypsy]

Great session well timed , nice one James !

[Matt]

Nice fishing.

 

We had a similar bad experience with spiderwyre braid and wouldnt recomend it.

 

The advantage of braid is it doesnt stretch and is much finner so you can use much smaller leads in deep water

 

Generaly i dont bother sorting tangles if the tackle is onboard, a quick slash and retie and you are back fishing

[Overrun]

Thanks Matt, yes I'm after using smaller leads hence the braid, Cam has put me right on the brand to use.

 

Did find joining it a straightforward task, not quite as easy as mono but a tiny knot when done.

[Maverick Martin]

Good report as always

 

I have used Whiplash pro for years and never had a problem with it. Being one of the thinnest braids on the market allows the use of lighter leads however it can give problems if you tangle. Others have their own preference and will no doubt give the benefit of their experience

 

Martin