Mike Y Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Well after a good first week to my holiday capped by two PBs, week two saw strong winds severely limit my fishing opportunities. Midweek I had a quick trip to the River Frome for some brown trout and grayling on the fly. On Friday afternoon/evening unfortunately Rich had to cancel but my father and I got out for a bit of trolling (no success as too much weed) and then an attempt for the giltheads in Portland Harbour (just wrasse) and then a few drifts over the hood (wrasse, pollack and pounting). Not too much success but nice to be out. Sorry you couldn't make it Rich but you did not miss much on the fishing front. Saturday afternoon and the old man did not feel up to it so my two brothers and I went out for a go at the bass over some shallow ledges. It took four stops to find the mackerel but when we did they were there in numbers but unfortunately on the large size. A handful of smaller ones went in the tank and we were off to the mark. We wanted to try freelining the mackerel but the strong south westerly was reallly pushing us along. After two long drifts (the second of which saw me try a large float) we had no bites so as the weed seemed to have cleared up from the previous day we tried trolling. In a little over an hour we had 5 bass up to maybe 3 and a half pounds - two to each of my brothers and the solitary one to me. Again not fishing that will set the world alight but good to be out with my brothers making the best of some pretty nasty weather. Bring on the next springs and hopefully some lighter winds and we will be in the Race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Mike were you trolling live mackerel or lures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Y Posted August 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Lures Duncan. We have found the lures out-perform live mackerel on the troll in the area we fish. Live mackerel tend to come to the surface unless a ball weight is used and this attracts the diving birds with the inevitable consequences. A ball weight (even a small one) seems to push the mackerel down in the weed. We are often only fishing in only 10 feet of water. Best performing lure for us so far this season has been the Rebel J30 in silver/black - seems to dive to about 5/6 feet if trolled say 50 yards behind the boat and seems to attract the bigger bass too compared to say a Rapala Husky or Rebel J20. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 Mike, Its always nice to hear from the other side of the Bay PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swainiac Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 ............................even nicer ti fish it!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les L. Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 Mike, Met a guy once who trolled for bass with joeys with some success-he swore by metal cored line, wonder if that might solve the problem of keeping them away from the birds yet out of the weed ? Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Y Posted August 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 Thanks Les - that certianly is an idea. I know the Yanks use lead core line for trolling for Musky. I am off to the US next month on a work jolly so I can see a visit to Bass Pro Shops for some lead core line in time for the September/October high season. I'll report back as to how I get on but I guess it may mean we need to uprate our tackle - currently we are trolling with light spinning rods and 10 pound line. Thanks for the tip Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaicemat Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 Get yourself to Canada and get one of their salt water salmon trolling outfits. I've had one for about 25 years, complete with a beautiful centrepin reel. They use a trolling vane to keep it down and steady with a long trace. Terry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun j. Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 ........then the next step is to connect the wire on the downrigger to a battery, via a milliameter and adjust current ........ apparently the charge adds extra attraction; I may be guessing.. but the figure of 7 m.amps pops into brain cells from last year's trip. Not sure if bass redpond like salmon might ?? Alun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 Got one of those trolling vanes whilst in the states. I got the 30feet diving one which is unfortunately too deep to use over the ledge but might give it a go in some deeper marks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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