Fahan 16 Apr 11

People: Just me

Duration: Not long

Tide: Ebb

Weather: Nice

Bait: Mack, Sandeel

Rigs: 3 hook clipped

Results: 1 Thornie

Bit of a short notice session but I had some spare time and I'm not going to get chance to chase the ray for a few weeks so decided to make the most of it. Got there early(ish) evening and had a little look around. Bumped into a chap who I'd met last week at Buncrana, he had been putting his boat back in the water and had just had his first session of the year. He very kindly offered me a few mackerel so supplement by stash of sandeels as he'd had a good few from the boat. Second time in Donegal somebody has offered my bait, they really are a nice bunch over there!

Anyway, got set up about half 8 and sent the first rig out into what was hopefully the channel. The angle of the line indicated I was in deep water so it looked good. I then set about getting the second rod set up and the tide pulled the tip over on the first. Took a few mins but after getting out with lovely fresh strips of mackerel on it I decided to bring in the first.

Lots of weight on the line but no pulling with the culprit confirmed as the leader knot broke the surface - weed! Tons of it. I got the leader clear and dragged it up the beach a little, as I was clearing it I heard a little splash and turned round, there was a wing poking out of the water. All excited I dragged the trace up to find a thornie of about 3lb! My first one ever, chuffed to bits even though he was a baby.

The weed rapidly got worse and I only a few more chucks before giving up. I'd love to have stayed longer but I'd got my first so wasn't really that bothered. Now time to find me a turbot and a sea trout before the tope turn up and I target them bad boys!

Report:

i love it when a plan comes together , well done

nice one booster,,,ya the tope should be hitting our shore from next month on,,hope to have a lash meself

happy aul days bootster. mission accomplished, well done!!

nicely done

better than we did on saturday just up the coast from you. very well done

nice one on the ray

Thanks everyone. Nice to get the first one under the belt even if it was a little one.

Nick, where were you pal? I almost went up to try Buncrana but decided to give Fahan a bash instead. Any issues with the weed where you were, it was horrendous at Fahan, that horrible stuff that's a pain to get off the line too.

Weed was crazy, never seen it that bad.