ECR MA#5, Jacks Hole, Brittas Bay

People:Dbrock, roger de dodger, drummer, tony fella, fintan & me

Duration:7 - 9

Tide:on the drop

Weather:Gale force south - south east, driving rain

Bait:everything

Rigs:3 hooks clipped & flappers

Results:1 24cm flounder & 3 undersize


Report:

Native American proverb - Better be a coward than foolhardy.

Well, we should have taken the Indians' advice 6 "foolhardy" gobsh*tes climbed down the hill at Jacks Hole to be greeted with gale force winds and rain on saturday evening.

At first, to be fair the conditions were fishable, there was a bit of weed in the water but we could hold out and get 10 / 15 mins per cast. Roger was first in with an undersize flounder followed shortly by Drummer with a 24cm flattie. A few mins later I had an undersize flat to rag and the fishing appeared to be improving!!

Tony then swung in a fish and i thought by the excited look on his face he was in business. but he came over to me for measuremant and the fish he held clearly over 20cm was a non-counting weaver, it was like telling a kid on Christmas morning Santy hadn't come last night To make matters worse he got another next cast. Dennis had also got an undersize flatty by this stage but conditions were now worsening and weed made fishing impossible.

I had an underarm cast about 10 yards out with a 7oz grip-lead, held the 15 foot rod as high as I could and the weed dragged the gear up onto the beach in 20 seconds - unfishable. I took a wander down to dennis & fintan about 8:45 and we made the decision to call it a day, if everyone agreed, we would finish @ 9pm. i think everyone had enough at that stage and the positions remained unaltered.

I was tackling down and the strong gust caught my beach buddy which hit me just above the eye leaving me with a lovely cut Fair play lads for making the effort, I got a text from one nameless committee member (Boycie ) during the comp who had "bottled" it. He was in Jack Whites having a pint and a steak sandwich, excellent decision!

1st - Drummer
2nd - Roger, Dennis & Alby
5th - Tony & Fintan

twas a fun affair and a good test of waterproof clothing technology i dont think anyone went home anywhere near dry no matter what gear they had on! ,well done drummer numero uno it was a tight comp right till the end

fair play lads for having ago

fair play to you lads for even turning up never mind fishing.

that drummer lad is doing well, he even managed a nice 25lb tope yesterday theres no stopping him, i think he got the bug bad

Did Tony get a pic of the weever?

I don't like weavers tripods bent rods chipped faces cut (alby) fair play to who turned out sorted the men out from the girls ... conor i didnt get a photo didn't even want to look at it

sounded like a nightmare lads. I fished a couple of times in crazy conditions like that. fair play sticking it out.
The last time we fished a comp like that a wise man said. 'we dont all have to be crazy to be fishermen, but it helps' That comp was in 40 mph winds, needless to say it was also cancelled.

I don't like weavers tripods bent rods chipped faces cut (alby) fair play to who turned out sorted the men out from the girls ... conor i didnt get a photo didn't even want to look at it

Nor I bud. I had the joy of stepping on one years ago!!!!!! I have seen pics but always thought they were tiny. 20cm sounds much bigger then I had imagined.

Fair play lads. I saw all the vans there on the way past. Was heading down to Ennereilly to go camping! Needless to say the missus wouldn't get out of the car AND we got stuck on the beach and had to be towed by a local with his JCB!!! Not the best idea I've ever had....

fair play for sticking the weather and catching a few fish,well done