Fri Sep 18, 2015 12:03 pm
Dropped by on the way home from Belfast with the travel rod and lure box
Some significant repairs being made to the pier.
HW was scheduled for around 8:30 but I could not stay that late and hit the mark around 5:30.
Weather on the walk out was remarkably calm in the lee of the headland.
Once you got out into the exposed section, it was far less favourable.
Strong westerly breeze, definitely force four up
Low scudding clouds, although Sligo looked nice in late sunshine and you could (just about) see across to Donegal.
Lots of gannets far offshore, although could not see any diving.
Set up with the travel rod, put a 2500 sized reel with 30 lb braid on (or so I thought!) and put a 42 gram Savage Gear Sandeel on to the terminal swivel clip.
Have not tried them in anger so was looking forward to seeing how they would perform on a place where I've taken in decent shore Pollack in the past...
The surf was well up and being pushed in by the wind. Long trails of foam and current lines.
First cast just past the white water boil and straight away I get a nice bite. Good hit. Stayed on for another ten seconds and then gone... bugger!
Couple of more casts revealed quite a lot of light floating weed. Not ideal but what can you do.
No action so moved up and around to get access to a small bay (shingle beach to the right).
Cast out around the clock and lots of light floating weed.
Started to drop the lure a bit lower and hit lots of rocks but got another encouraging bite. Again, had one characteristic power dive and then ... gone. Again!
FFS...
Worked it around again as the tide filled but got no takers. Bit cheesed off to be honest, conditions were pretty much ideal. If anything it was getting a bit too rough.
Stood aside under the shingle cliff to let a squall pass and ventured out onto the nicely slickened rocks to try again. Was casting out past the boils and brining the SGS back into through various groynes and clefts. Nothing doing. Another quick escape from a squall and back out again.
Tide started to fill very rapidly and wind got up again. Massive white water around the wee island and around the mark in general.
Honestly, felt it was too rough for even the most pugnacious Pollack. Gave it another ten minutes, and decided to head home, with the dreaded blankety blank.
Had considered a move to smaller SGS (Berkely Powerbaits) and even metals, but the conditions were so bad by now...
Met a farmer beside me car, he told me the fishing had been crap all summer.
Funny how you always meet these joyful creatures after a blank!!!
Anyhow, I reckon there were smaller Pollack there and that the SGS 42 gram was just too big. Will try the Berkely Powerbaits the next time
Di I mention the wind knot from the braid - no, probably not - explains to you how wild the conditions were...
Tight lines
Fri Sep 18, 2015 12:16 pm
Great report.
I was talking to a buddy of mine about the larger savage gear lures the other day and we both had experiences similar to yours. Quite consistently too.