Wicklow rock mark, 13-Sept-2007: 1st BASS EVER!!

People: Just me

Duration: 11:30-15:00

Tide: high at 13:30

Weather: mild and calm

Bait: lures

Results: 1 bass

Catch and Release:: YES



Report:

Went down for a plugging session. Started with german sprat, poppers... nothing at all! Since there was no wind I started to use the LC sammy: I wanted to learn to move it properly. The line got tangled sooo many times in the trebles that I quickly changed again. I kept moving from rock to rock, changing lures, next rock.. I thought, I'm going to risk the most expensive lure I've got near that rock (LC flash minnow)... Of course I lost it. :evil: I got quite upset. The lads who arrived and started to fish in front of my face didn't help either. :evil: So I moved again and away from the lads. I put the sammy again, determined to make it do the walk-the-dog. Hey I'm getting the hang of it!! It doesn't get tangled so often now. Cast, twich, stop, twich, stop, 90 degree angle, just the way I was told here :wink: . Cast, twich, stop, twich, BOOM!!! Explosion on the surface. My face like this :shock: . Well, probably a small pollock, I think. It comes to the surface and.. and.. and... the belly is too white!! That's NOT a pollock!!! OH MY GOD!! IT'S A BASS!!! Rod up, rod bends, shite I forgot about the drag, shite where do I land it, shite my feet are not flat on the rock, I'm on the tip of a triangle, I look back, I try to make my way to a safer place for me as I try to pull her into a pool, I get help from a wave. SHE'S BEAUTIFUL!!! Still shaking and with almost tears in my eyes I take 2 pictures. I come down with the pliers to unhook her. It's OK, only 2 of the back hooks are in her mouth. Between the nerves and the inexperience I can't unhook her!! Thank God I crush all the barbs! She's still in a bit of water so I try to calm myself down. Again not much help from by-standers asking stupid questions (is that a bass?). I finally manage to free her, I put my hand on her belly and turn her round facing the sea. A fresh wave comes into the pool, she feels it and heads back to freedom... Byeee! I sit down and try to recreate the whole thing. Half an hour later I thank the spirits and head back home.

I'm not good with words. I hope you can picture it. To be honest I didn't even think it was a great fight. It took me maybe a minute to land her. Still, I'm an incredibly happy man! Fishing her felt good, seeing her go back into open waters even better! Yesterday I submitted my thesis and it didn't even come close to this!!

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE HELP AND ADVICE!!!!!! :D :D :D

[img:1600:1200]http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7505/1stbass1hq4.jpg[/img]

Congrats for the bass....how izzit feel to see it take the top water lure??Addicted???

Well done Mr.! And you seem very good with words to me :)

What did you do your thesis on btw?

the reason you enjoyed the fishing so much was the thesis wasnt hanging over you

says it all, the way the fish means more - fair play

love when the fishing surprises you like that - you think theres nothing on and then..................

i waited 10 years for my first bass, it was a schoolie of about 20cm. by the nice fish!

8) 8) 8) :D :D :D :wink: need i say more :?:

fair play man nice fish and great way to catch them, knee trembling stuff surface lure fishing...

Well done dude, nice healthy lookin fish there.

Top water lure(popper,pencil bait,stick bait,pencil popper) and wake bait ,i believed have more 'calling' power compare to the other diving lure.Rattle in the water(by rattler on lure) create un natural vibration compare to rattler combine with splashes and ripple on the water surface.This feature tend to 'call' or lure bass from distance to come out and investigate where the source of vibration.In some highly pressured spot by angler,top water without rattler proven to perform well compare to the one with rattler.

Keep on using it to perfect ur presentation and finese it.....and enjoy....the calmer the water,the better u can get out of it.I also tend to get line tangle to the belly hook sometimes when presenting it in the fast way.My favourite caddance is start with a fast and furious splashing aggresively....and on the next cast to the same spot with more slower presentation.Twitch-twitch pause....sick fish....

Thank you!! :D :D That's my face this morning! :lol: Also because I'll be in Sardinia this evening!! :twisted: :twisted: Holidays at last!! Beware, Sardinian bass! :lol: :lol:

You bet I'm addicted RJ! I can't compare yet with other techniques, obviously. I'll hopefully let you know soon.. :roll: Did I mention I used 10lb red power pro? Having changed from 20lb a couple of sessions ago, it's one of the million things that raced my mind yesterday. Was I being too adventurous? Apparently not this time.:wink:

Yep, thesis hanging over my head. And holding my arm when casting! It was so stressful I didn't even enjoy it when I submitted it. It has started to sink in slowly, very slowly... It was biochemistry, btw, protein structure, i.e. waste of time! :lol:

See you all in a couple of weeks!!
Tight lines!

Iñigo

I know exactly how you felt mate. Caught my first last September (on rag bait). Still waiting for the next one... It is exactly like an addiction. I want it and I want it badly. Hopefully on the lure :)

I hear ye mate, once you have had one on a popper you will just want more. Nothing better than taking a bass on a lure and a popper lets you see the very explosive take that you nearly always get.
And ye described the rush of catching a bass perfectly if you ask me. Class A drug. Love it

Great report...well done on catching (and releasing) your first bass. 8)

Nice fish and brilliantly written story.
Congratulations.
John D.