Davemc

I've just the spot for you to try .

This is very insightful - thanks. I can think of a couple of places like that in Portsmouth and Langstone Harbours where I could get the boat anchored up. Will give your approach a try 👍

I was fishing the estuary over shallow mud flats which are dry on a big tide and have the odd rock and patch of weed. There is a channel leading to a big shallow bay which gets very warm in summer, as the dark mud absorbs the sun's heat. I anchor on the edge of the channel but most of my bass come casting onto the shallows themselves. Fish often take as the lure swings onto the edge of the channel; I don't catch many right in the channel, though I did get one of 7-10 one day while waiting for the flood tide. In summer you can see bass and mullet coming up on the surface with the tide to feed in the bay, and quite often bass drive baitfish up there and there is carnage in the shallow water. Very exciting! 

The water temperature here in Plymouth is still only 8.8C, but it was such a lovely day that I headed out in 'Piranha' yesterday to try out some new braid and new lures.
The braid, Sunline Siglon Advance, was most impressive: silky smooth, silent through the rings and cast miles.
I also gave a swim to various new sub-surface lures. Topwaters are my favourite, but with water this cold I couldn't expect a bass to take on the surface. My new Zonk 120 looked good in the water, a little copy of the Ruf Bay cast a long way and I liked the action of the X-Rap. But it was the reliable Megabass Flatbacker which did the business. First a garfish hit it, self-releasing near the boat, then I had a more determined take and a little bass. I've never taken a landing net to a half-pound schoolie before, but this was the first lure-caught bass of 2021 and I didn't want to lose it.
Hopefully the water will warm up soon and there will be many more and much bigger bass to follow! PH

It's a Savage gear Prop lure for the USA market , folding tail blades that can be retracted for a subtle style 

tell me about it, i whont to go and get a few bits for the boat so i can get on. the truble is where the boat is i dusnot get any sun so i canot rub down becosr its wet , so very frustraiting

The longer this lockdown continues and the more I miss fishing I think the biggest thing I'll change is to just get out more and make the very most of my fishing opportunities while we can in case we hit Lockdown 4! 😬🎣🎣

@Davemc, does that have folding propeller blades? Flat for casting and then open out on the retrieve?
What will they think of next! 👍

What's this mate? Something you've bought?

I must admit I saw alot of new faces around there last year and a few times I would arrive after a long drive and someone would be in "my" spot ..
I'll be heading slightly more eastwards to escape the newbies this season  but I fear the info being given out by the local shops will fill the whole area soon.
 
 
 

Yes that was where I tried them in the past and just didn't feel confident with them. Will persevere!

Strangely enough Andy I've had a few great sessions with them when the worms are moving at you know where , On other occasions and areas  I've had just lots of activity nipping the lure but not inhaling it so I popped a stinger on the tail and it turned out to be as suspected small schoolies.

He would only Loose it ! 😂
 

....if I'd know it was going to rain so hard, but I'm glad I did! Tonight I walked to a local pier for a short two-hour session after whiting. Bait was mackerel caught by me from the same pier last week, so no bait bill! I used two carp rods for more sport and had a great time despite getting thoroughly wet from the hem of my coat down. Here in Plymouth, whiting used to disappear after Christmas, but there are still plenty around of a good size. It's just good to catch decent fish at a traditionally slow time of year. PH

So I know that senko lures have a large following, and have been responsible for some great catches, but I just don't have confidence in them. I must have at least 5 different types of senko lure, each in various colours but I could never get on with them. I just didn't feel like they were "doing" anything in the water. I know, I know, before you say it, I know they're not supposed to vibrate or wiggle particularly, and that they work just as well on a dead drift as on a retrieve, but for me I just don't feel good about using them.
Anyone else use senkos? If so, how did you get over the "not doing anything" feeling and how did you start to catch with them?

What is needed here is a bod who has access to block house 🤔

im just going to try and catch one this year 🤪

Bass? Too easy, I’ll try for a mackerel 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 like hens teeth round here

Experiment in the Solent/IoW spring and summer and then go for a big Shirley in the autumn.

Instead of obsessing about surface lures, I am going to fish with a range of diving lures this year when the bass won't come up. When the tide is running fast, I'm going to try Flying C's and use bombardas and Red Gill Rascals more. Last year I spent much of my time hunting gilts and didn't really go hard for the bass till autumn. This year I'll mix it up a bit. Target for this year: a 10-pounder of each species! PH

Looks like it has a rotating tail section? Reminds me a bit of a devon minnow. Could be good in murky water where the vibrations will give the bass something to home in on.

Same techniques different marks Dave. I'd like to get out to the Overfalls and the French Bank this year (a bit far to paddle on a yak, TBF) and go for a big girl on a big lure - those 6oz heads with big bodies that I made up last year.
I also need to get back to the shore for bass too. Still want to give those ned-rigged lures a proper work-out somewhere. So many options, so little time!

Nothing massively different from last year. Got a horrible feeling that Portsmouth will be rammed with lure fisherman this year so been on the scout for new marks. Lure wise, the SG gravity sticks were really good for me at the very end of the season so they will be getting thrashed. Also gone for something a bit different with a berkley choppo. Look it up...dont laugh

I don't know about you guys but my brains working overtime during lockdown for the new season.
I've got a few bits and bobs on order albeit scaled down from the way the yanks fish for stripers .
Anyone else planning any new tricks to tempt the bass ?