Xlayer - the bass slayer - 5th September

[RockHunter]

People: Me and Melissa

Duration: 3.30 - 6.50 pm

Tide: HW at 6.50 pm

Weather: Dry, partly sunny, strong southwest breeze

Bait: Lures

Rigs: Asturie and Xlayer lures

Results: 9 bass




Report: I received a package of new lures from Padge73 last Monday but Saturday was the first opportunity I had to try them out. I headed to the stretch of East Cork coastline where I got single bass on a lure the previous Saturday. However, the wind had picked up and there were some large swells breaking over the rocks so it did not look too promising. The water was also fairly coloured although not as bad as the last time I fished there.

As the terrain was quite snaggy I first tried a surface lure, the Asturie. I fished with it for about half an hour without a bite. The waves were dragging it in towards the rock and I came close to loosing it on snags a couple of times. I then switched to an Xlayer - third cast I hooked a bass It put up a good fight and I was lucky not to loose it as it got in amongst some rocks but I managed to coax it out. It was 51 cm. But when I went to photograph it I discovered I had forgotten to bring my camera I took a picture with my phone but the quality is not great.

About 5 minutes later I had a second bass (48 cm) Less than ten minutes later I had a third (50 cm) Over the next hour or so I had 5 more bass (all in the 45-55 cm range) and lost about another 4. When I got to 8 bass I exceeded my previous best session (7 bass from bait fishing one night in July) Melissa then wanted a go - she had two hook ups but unfortunately lost them.

We were forced back by the rising tide and the fishing was more difficult as we were fishing over shallow rock ridges and the water was becoming more coloured. At about 6.15 pm I decided to pack up, but on the way back I spotted a likely looking mark and had a few more casts - on about the fourth cast I hooked the ninth bass - 44 cm the smallest of the session.

So I went home very happy - when I first arrived there I was not too optimistic when I saw how rough the sea was. But once I changed over to the Xlayers the fishing became hectic with about 8 bass in just over an hour. The only downside was forgetting my camera - the camera phone photos are very poor.

PS. Padge73 provides a great selection of high quality lures and very prompt delivery.

[RockHunter]

Some more photos

[seanie35]

fantastic session frank well done

[rory from cork]

Well done Rockhunter...some fishing there

[beachbuddy]

Great fishing Frank.A lure caught fish beats the beachcaster caught one anyday of the week.Now you know why people get fanatic about the lure fishing .By the way things should really start to kick off for them on the lure ,that is of course if the blastid wind decides to give us a break for a few weeks .
Tight lines

[twinkle]

wow thats superb angling im still waiting on my first bass have to try some lures next time on the beach looks like were about to get a bit of nice weather will try then well done on the bass

[eyesreilly]

Well done Frank, fantastic lure fishing there, will have to try it if i can find a few marks I'm heading down to Tramore for a few days towards the end of the week if you fancy meeting somewhere in between

[shamoo0804]

Fantasy fishing, the stuff of dreams

Welldone

[RockHunter]

Thanks guys,

Well done Frank, fantastic lure fishing there, will have to try it if i can find a few marks I'm heading down to Tramore for a few days towards the end of the week if you fancy meeting somewhere in between

Definitely - let me know when you are heading down and we can arrange something. Weather forecast looks good so it will be more suitable for lure fishing than bait fishing (although if there is a bit of a surf I know a couple of beaches down that way where there is a good chance of a bass or two). I have done very little lure fishing over that way but there are a few marks that I would be keen to try out.

[Crevan]

Hi. Some cracking bass there well done.

Ive tried using these xlayers before on the last few trips but have only managed to get pollock on them but never a bass. Also I have lost quite a few on the rocky shoreline.
Can anyone tell me

a) How are they fished on rocky shorelines without constantly snagging?

b) What is the correct way to fish them?

c) Can they be fished on sandy ground and if so does the retrieve alter in anyway?

Any help or pointers would be appreciated.
Thanks

[paulybo]

exelent fishing well done

[James Barry]

Great session you have to love them xlayers

Hi. Some cracking Bass there well done.

Ive tried using these xlayers before on the last few trips but have only managed to get pollock on them but never a Bass. Also I have lost quite a few on the rocky shoreline.
Can anyone tell me

a) How are they fished on rocky shorelines without constantly snagging?

b) What is the correct way to fish them?

c) Can they be fished on sandy ground and if so does the retrieve alter in anyway?

Any help or pointers would be appreciated.
Thanks

Xlayers fished over snaggy bottoms can be really good but you will lose some but as they say yea have to be in to win it!!!
Keep in contact with them as much as you can jigging them along the bottom, had a bass saturday take the xlayer about 2 seconds after it hit the water!!! If you jig them in quick and a small bit off the bottom they will still catch plenty of fish. Experiment with them, I fish a mark really rough ground, said id give the xlayer a go and boy did it work very slow retrieve bouncing it over rocks, braid helps you get out of sticky situations being in more contact with the plastics!
With Xlayers over sand I just bounce them along the bottom steady enough retrieve.

[Mark]

Great fishing mate,well done

[Crevan]

Thanks James....and sorry if Im moving in on your post Rockhunter.

While fishing over rough ground I seemed to get caught in every rock and was doing more wrestling than fishing. I am still eager to keep trying but just find using them frustrating.

[cortaz]

good catch frank , i still havent had a fish on em.

[Figs]

Great fishing Frank , Well done

[saltydog]

Good Man Frank thats some return well done

[Pat]

Well done Frank, I'm glad to see that you're finally giving that 1010 a good testing.

Ps. You met 3 of my buddies on Sat.

[RockHunter]

Thanks guys,

ve tried using these xlayers before on the last few trips but have only managed to get pollock on them but never a Bass. Also I have lost quite a few on the rocky shoreline.
Can anyone tell me

Saturday was the first time I have used them. I was fishing over quite snaggy ground but only lost one. I was using a moderate rate of retrieve with a jerking motion rather than a steady rate of retrieve.

While fishing over rough ground I seemed to get caught in every rock and was doing more wrestling than fishing.

I was fishing them through gulleys and between more resistant rock ridges rather than over very irregular rough ground.

Well done Frank, I'm glad to see that you're finally giving that 1010 a good testing.
Ps. You met 3 of my buddies on Sat.

I think it was the lures that made the difference this time - I had been giving it a go in late June-July without much success, although not so much last month due to the weather. But now that I have got a bunch of good quality lures as well as the Xlayers from Padge73 I will definitely be heading out a lot more with it.

[nicefish]

good catch frank , i still havent had a fish on em.

:shock
neither have I. That's some haul of Bass