Plaicehunter

Having been fishing on Tuesday...and Wednesday...and yesterday...and today, and with the forecast being wet and windy tomorrow, I'm having a day off to sort out my gear and write up my diary. Before I retired it seemed the good weather always happens during the week while I was working. Having put in my 50 years I can strongly recommend retirement! PH

Having been fishing on Tuesday...and Wednesday...and yesterday...and today, and with the forecast being wet and windy tomorrow, I'm having a day off to sort out my gear and write up my diary. Before I retired it seemed the good weather always happens during the week while I was working. Having put in my 50 years I can strongly recommend retirement! PH

My boat is pretty stable, but there was plenty of rock and roll this morning on my local estuary, with a vicious wind battering against the flooding tide.
After two hours, one move and many lure changes, I finally felt a bump on my Megabass Flatbacker. The fish didn't stick, and a schoolie hooked a few casts later came unstuck, but it was vaguely encouraging.
Suddenly the lure stopped with a bang and a heavy fish tore off downtide with the reel wailing.
My main concern was the bass coming off, as I fish barbless, but I convinced myself that if I kept a tight line it would be OK.
Eventually the fish stopped and I began to work it back amid several more runs.
Then it surfaced in a mighty swirl, there was a lot of head-shaking, a tail like a shovel waved me goodbye and it tore off again.
All the time I was talking to the fish, telling it I wasn't going to hurt it and that I would put it back.
Eventually it surfaced and I saw for the first time how big it was. At least if it fell off now I would know what I'd lost!
Fortunately it didn't come off, I didn't bungle the netting and one of  the biggest bass I've ever seen was heaved aboard.
The lure fell out in the net and I transferred the fish into a big garden bin of sea water I keep on board. Only the front half fitted in, but at least it could breathe while I sorted out the equipment.
My new red metre ruler was unfolded and the fish measured at a mighty 80cm, nose to tail-tip. It eclipsed my previous one, a fish of 8lb 6oz caught last year not far away.
I desperately wanted the bass to swim away strongly and it did, none the worse for its brief encounter with me.
A new personal best and a fabulous fish which I'll never forget!
 

My boat is pretty stable, but there was plenty of rock and roll this morning on my local estuary, with a vicious wind battering against the flooding tide.
After two hours, one move and many lure changes, I finally felt a bump on my Megabass Flatbacker. The fish didn't stick, and a schoolie hooked a few casts later came unstuck, but it was vaguely encouraging.
Suddenly the lure stopped with a bang and a heavy fish tore off downtide with the reel wailing.
My main concern was the bass coming off, as I fish barbless, but I convinced myself that if I kept a tight line it would be OK.
Eventually the fish stopped and I began to work it back amid several more runs.
Then it surfaced in a mighty swirl, there was a lot of head-shaking, a tail like a shovel waved me goodbye and it tore off again.
All the time I was talking to the fish, telling it I wasn't going to hurt it and that I would put it back.
Eventually it surfaced and I saw for the first time how big it was. At least if it fell off now I would know what I'd lost!
Fortunately it didn't come off, I didn't bungle the netting and one of  the biggest bass I've ever seen was heaved aboard.
The lure fell out in the net and I transferred the fish into a big garden bin of sea water I keep on board. Only the front half fitted in, but at least it could breathe while I sorted out the equipment.
My new red metre ruler was unfolded and the fish measured at a mighty 80cm, nose to tail-tip. It eclipsed my previous one, a fish of 8lb 6oz caught last year not far away.
I desperately wanted the bass to swim away strongly and it did, none the worse for its brief encounter with me.
A new personal best and a fabulous fish which I'll never forget!
 

My boat is pretty stable, but there was plenty of rock and roll this morning on my local estuary, with a vicious wind battering against the flooding tide.
After two hours, one move and many lure changes, I finally felt a bump on my Megabass Flatbacker. The fish didn't stick, and a schoolie hooked a few casts later came unstuck, but it was vaguely encouraging.
Suddenly the lure stopped with a bang and a heavy fish tore off downtide with the reel wailing.
My main concern was the bass coming off, as I fish barbless, but I convinced myself that if I kept a tight line it would be OK.
Eventually the fish stopped and I began to work it back amid several more runs.
Then it surfaced in a mighty swirl, there was a lot of head-shaking, a tail like a shovel waved me goodbye and it tore off again.
All the time I was talking to the fish, telling it I wasn't going to hurt it and that I would put it back.
Eventually it surfaced and I saw for the first time how big it was. At least if it fell off now I would know what I'd lost!
Fortunately it didn't come off, I didn't bungle the netting and one of  the biggest bass I've ever seen was heaved aboard.
The lure fell out in the net and I transferred the fish into a big garden bin of sea water I keep on board. Only the front half fitted in, but at least it could breathe while I sorted out the equipment.
My new red metre ruler was unfolded and the fish measured at a mighty 80cm, nose to tail-tip. It eclipsed my previous one, a fish of 8lb 6oz caught last year not far away.
I desperately wanted the bass to swim away strongly and it did, none the worse for its brief encounter with me.
A new personal best and a fabulous fish which I'll never forget!
 

Apologies for the duplicated report. I got a bit excited!
I weighed the fish in a wet sling but only on a spring balance with 8oz gradations. It was somewhere between 10.5lb and 11lb. I think later in the year and in peak condition it would have gone nearly 13lb. It had a massive frame and the tail was a real paddle. PH

My boat is pretty stable, but there was plenty of rock and roll this morning on my local estuary, with a vicious wind battering against the flooding tide.
After two hours, one move and many lure changes, I finally felt a bump on my Megabass Flatbacker. The fish didn't stick, and a schoolie hooked a few casts later came unstuck, but it was vaguely encouraging.
Suddenly the lure stopped with a bang and a heavy fish tore off downtide with the reel wailing.
My main concern was the bass coming off, as I fish barbless, but I convinced myself that if I kept a tight line it would be OK.
Eventually the fish stopped and I began to work it back amid several more runs.
Then it surfaced in a mighty swirl, there was a lot of head-shaking, a tail like a shovel waved me goodbye and it tore off again.
All the time I was talking to the fish, telling it I wasn't going to hurt it and that I would put it back.
Eventually it surfaced and I saw for the first time how big it was. At least if it fell off now I would know what I'd lost!
Fortunately it didn't come off, I didn't bungle the netting and one of  the biggest bass I've ever seen was heaved aboard.
The lure fell out in the net and I transferred the fish into a big garden bin of sea water I keep on board. Only the front half fitted in, but at least it could breathe while I sorted out the equipment.
My new red metre ruler was unfolded and the fish measured at a mighty 80cm, nose to tail-tip. It eclipsed my previous one, a fish of 8lb 6oz caught last year not far away.
I desperately wanted the bass to swim away strongly and it did, none the worse for its brief encounter with me.
A new personal best and a fabulous fish which I'll never forget!
 

My boat is pretty stable, but there was plenty of rock and roll this morning on my local estuary, with a vicious wind battering against the flooding tide.
After two hours, one move and many lure changes, I finally felt a bump on my Megabass Flatbacker. The fish didn't stick, and a schoolie hooked a few casts later came unstuck, but it was vaguely encouraging.
Suddenly the lure stopped with a bang and a heavy fish tore off downtide with the reel wailing.
My main concern was the bass coming off, as I fish barbless, but I convinced myself that if I kept a tight line it would be OK.
Eventually the fish stopped and I began to work it back amid several more runs.
Then it surfaced in a mighty swirl, there was a lot of head-shaking, a tail like a shovel waved me goodbye and it tore off again.
All the time I was talking to the fish, telling it I wasn't going to hurt it and that I would put it back.
Eventually it surfaced and I saw for the first time how big it was. At least if it fell off now I would know what I'd lost!
Fortunately it didn't come off, I didn't bungle the netting and one of  the biggest bass I've ever seen was heaved aboard.
The lure fell out in the net and I transferred the fish into a big garden bin of sea water I keep on board. Only the front half fitted in, but at least it could breathe while I sorted out the equipment.
My new red metre ruler was unfolded and the fish measured at a mighty 80cm, nose to tail-tip. It eclipsed my previous one, a fish of 8lb 6oz caught last year not far away.
I desperately wanted the bass to swim away strongly and it did, none the worse for its brief encounter with me.
A new personal best and a fabulous fish which I'll never forget!
 

Apologies for the duplicated report. I got a bit excited!
I weighed the fish in a wet sling but only on a spring balance with 8oz gradations. It was somewhere between 10.5lb and 11lb. I think later in the year and in peak condition it would have gone nearly 13lb. It had a massive frame and the tail was a real paddle. PH

My boat is pretty stable, but there was plenty of rock and roll this morning on my local estuary, with a vicious wind battering against the flooding tide.
After two hours, one move and many lure changes, I finally felt a bump on my Megabass Flatbacker. The fish didn't stick, and a schoolie hooked a few casts later came unstuck, but it was vaguely encouraging.
Suddenly the lure stopped with a bang and a heavy fish tore off downtide with the reel wailing.
My main concern was the bass coming off, as I fish barbless, but I convinced myself that if I kept a tight line it would be OK.
Eventually the fish stopped and I began to work it back amid several more runs.
Then it surfaced in a mighty swirl, there was a lot of head-shaking, a tail like a shovel waved me goodbye and it tore off again.
All the time I was talking to the fish, telling it I wasn't going to hurt it and that I would put it back.
Eventually it surfaced and I saw for the first time how big it was. At least if it fell off now I would know what I'd lost!
Fortunately it didn't come off, I didn't bungle the netting and one of  the biggest bass I've ever seen was heaved aboard.
The lure fell out in the net and I transferred the fish into a big garden bin of sea water I keep on board. Only the front half fitted in, but at least it could breathe while I sorted out the equipment.
My new red metre ruler was unfolded and the fish measured at a mighty 80cm, nose to tail-tip. It eclipsed my previous one, a fish of 8lb 6oz caught last year not far away.
I desperately wanted the bass to swim away strongly and it did, none the worse for its brief encounter with me.
A new personal best and a fabulous fish which I'll never forget!
 

Apologies for the duplicated report. I got a bit excited!
I weighed the fish in a wet sling but only on a spring balance with 8oz gradations. It was somewhere between 10.5lb and 11lb. I think later in the year and in peak condition it would have gone nearly 13lb. It had a massive frame and the tail was a real paddle. PH

My boat is pretty stable, but there was plenty of rock and roll this morning on my local estuary, with a vicious wind battering against the flooding tide.
After two hours, one move and many lure changes, I finally felt a bump on my Megabass Flatbacker. The fish didn't stick, and a schoolie hooked a few casts later came unstuck, but it was vaguely encouraging.
Suddenly the lure stopped with a bang and a heavy fish tore off downtide with the reel wailing.
My main concern was the bass coming off, as I fish barbless, but I convinced myself that if I kept a tight line it would be OK.
Eventually the fish stopped and I began to work it back amid several more runs.
Then it surfaced in a mighty swirl, there was a lot of head-shaking, a tail like a shovel waved me goodbye and it tore off again.
All the time I was talking to the fish, telling it I wasn't going to hurt it and that I would put it back.
Eventually it surfaced and I saw for the first time how big it was. At least if it fell off now I would know what I'd lost!
Fortunately it didn't come off, I didn't bungle the netting and one of  the biggest bass I've ever seen was heaved aboard.
The lure fell out in the net and I transferred the fish into a big garden bin of sea water I keep on board. Only the front half fitted in, but at least it could breathe while I sorted out the equipment.
My new red metre ruler was unfolded and the fish measured at a mighty 80cm, nose to tail-tip. It eclipsed my previous one, a fish of 8lb 6oz caught last year not far away.
I desperately wanted the bass to swim away strongly and it did, none the worse for its brief encounter with me.
A new personal best and a fabulous fish which I'll never forget!
 

My boat is pretty stable, but there was plenty of rock and roll this morning on my local estuary, with a vicious wind battering against the flooding tide.
After two hours, one move and many lure changes, I finally felt a bump on my Megabass Flatbacker. The fish didn't stick, and a schoolie hooked a few casts later came unstuck, but it was vaguely encouraging.
Suddenly the lure stopped with a bang and a heavy fish tore off downtide with the reel wailing.
My main concern was the bass coming off, as I fish barbless, but I convinced myself that if I kept a tight line it would be OK.
Eventually the fish stopped and I began to work it back amid several more runs.
Then it surfaced in a mighty swirl, there was a lot of head-shaking, a tail like a shovel waved me goodbye and it tore off again.
All the time I was talking to the fish, telling it I wasn't going to hurt it and that I would put it back.
Eventually it surfaced and I saw for the first time how big it was. At least if it fell off now I would know what I'd lost!
Fortunately it didn't come off, I didn't bungle the netting and one of  the biggest bass I've ever seen was heaved aboard.
The lure fell out in the net and I transferred the fish into a big garden bin of sea water I keep on board. Only the front half fitted in, but at least it could breathe while I sorted out the equipment.
My new red metre ruler was unfolded and the fish measured at a mighty 80cm, nose to tail-tip. It eclipsed my previous one, a fish of 8lb 6oz caught last year not far away.
I desperately wanted the bass to swim away strongly and it did, none the worse for its brief encounter with me.
A new personal best and a fabulous fish which I'll never forget!
 

A small window of opportunity appeared today between dog-walking and dinner, so at 4.10pm I found myself at a favourite mark with two hours to catch a bass on a lure.
I decided to split the time between two marks a couple of hundred yards apart.
First cast a fish bumped the Hound Glide on lift-off, second cast a schoolie was hooked at long range and landed.
After an hour I'd had five: two on the Glide, two on a Zonk and one on a Red Gill Rascal 135mm behind a sinking bombarda (bombarda shop.com).
I moved to the second mark but didn't have a sniff, so returned to the first mark for the last 10 minutes and winkled out three more to the Zonk in short order.
These are pretty modest schoolies, but you can only catch what's in front of you, and with a strong cold wind and water temperature only 9.3C I was pleased to catch at all.
Tomorrow it's back to 'dirty bait' (crab and ragworm,) in the hope of an early gilt. PH

It's always a good idea to clean your reel after use, then put it back in your bag. It's also good practice to carry a spare reel.
Sadly, in my rush to go fishing this afternoon I failed dismally on both counts.
A desperate call home brought my wife and Doug The Dog to the slipway, where the reel in its padded case was expertly lobbed aboard by Mrs PH.
Back to the mark again, I had barely two hours left to fish but managed 10 hits, all on the Megabass Zonk 120 in Cruising Blue.
None of the other four lures I tried attracted any interest.
On a day when the schoolies seemed to be attacking the lure rather than trying to eat it, I dropped four and boated six.
The water here is still a chilly 9.6C and I don't expect more fish, bigger bass or topwater action till it warms up quite a bit.
For now, schoolies deep down will have to do! PH

I had my first AZ jab a few weeks ago. Felt fine for about nine hours, then started shivering violently and couldn't stop. Went to bed and ran a fever all night, completely out of it. Felt generally unwell with a headache next day but was OK after that. 
I have my second dose next Thursday.
I have heard that you may get a bad reaction if you have already had Covid, as you have the antibodies in your system already. 

It's always a good idea to clean your reel after use, then put it back in your bag. It's also good practice to carry a spare reel.
Sadly, in my rush to go fishing this afternoon I failed dismally on both counts.
A desperate call home brought my wife and Doug The Dog to the slipway, where the reel in its padded case was expertly lobbed aboard by Mrs PH.
Back to the mark again, I had barely two hours left to fish but managed 10 hits, all on the Megabass Zonk 120 in Cruising Blue.
None of the other four lures I tried attracted any interest.
On a day when the schoolies seemed to be attacking the lure rather than trying to eat it, I dropped four and boated six.
The water here is still a chilly 9.6C and I don't expect more fish, bigger bass or topwater action till it warms up quite a bit.
For now, schoolies deep down will have to do! PH

It's always a good idea to clean your reel after use, then put it back in your bag. It's also good practice to carry a spare reel.
Sadly, in my rush to go fishing this afternoon I failed dismally on both counts.
A desperate call home brought my wife and Doug The Dog to the slipway, where the reel in its padded case was expertly lobbed aboard by Mrs PH.
Back to the mark again, I had barely two hours left to fish but managed 10 hits, all on the Megabass Zonk 120 in Cruising Blue.
None of the other four lures I tried attracted any interest.
On a day when the schoolies seemed to be attacking the lure rather than trying to eat it, I dropped four and boated six.
The water here is still a chilly 9.6C and I don't expect more fish, bigger bass or topwater action till it warms up quite a bit.
For now, schoolies deep down will have to do! PH

Thanks, Andy! While I'm convinced some big bass stay in the river year-round, most of the fish at this time of year are schoolies. Most of the bigger fish are not yet back from spawning.
I haven't yet discovered how to select the bigger fish; so far it's a question of catching lots of bass and the odd one will be big. My best two last year were 7-10 and 8-6, so I'm hoping for a double this year.
All my bass go back and I fish barbless, which probably costs me a few fish. Today I really appreciated the ease of unhooking, with one treble in my glove and another in the bass's mouth!
This was my eight-pounder. PH

It's always a good idea to clean your reel after use, then put it back in your bag. It's also good practice to carry a spare reel.
Sadly, in my rush to go fishing this afternoon I failed dismally on both counts.
A desperate call home brought my wife and Doug The Dog to the slipway, where the reel in its padded case was expertly lobbed aboard by Mrs PH.
Back to the mark again, I had barely two hours left to fish but managed 10 hits, all on the Megabass Zonk 120 in Cruising Blue.
None of the other four lures I tried attracted any interest.
On a day when the schoolies seemed to be attacking the lure rather than trying to eat it, I dropped four and boated six.
The water here is still a chilly 9.6C and I don't expect more fish, bigger bass or topwater action till it warms up quite a bit.
For now, schoolies deep down will have to do! PH

Thanks, Andy! While I'm convinced some big bass stay in the river year-round, most of the fish at this time of year are schoolies. Most of the bigger fish are not yet back from spawning.
I haven't yet discovered how to select the bigger fish; so far it's a question of catching lots of bass and the odd one will be big. My best two last year were 7-10 and 8-6, so I'm hoping for a double this year.
All my bass go back and I fish barbless, which probably costs me a few fish. Today I really appreciated the ease of unhooking, with one treble in my glove and another in the bass's mouth!
This was my eight-pounder. PH

Thanks, Andy! While I'm convinced some big bass stay in the river year-round, most of the fish at this time of year are schoolies. Most of the bigger fish are not yet back from spawning.
I haven't yet discovered how to select the bigger fish; so far it's a question of catching lots of bass and the odd one will be big. My best two last year were 7-10 and 8-6, so I'm hoping for a double this year.
All my bass go back and I fish barbless, which probably costs me a few fish. Today I really appreciated the ease of unhooking, with one treble in my glove and another in the bass's mouth!
This was my eight-pounder. PH

It's always a good idea to clean your reel after use, then put it back in your bag. It's also good practice to carry a spare reel.
Sadly, in my rush to go fishing this afternoon I failed dismally on both counts.
A desperate call home brought my wife and Doug The Dog to the slipway, where the reel in its padded case was expertly lobbed aboard by Mrs PH.
Back to the mark again, I had barely two hours left to fish but managed 10 hits, all on the Megabass Zonk 120 in Cruising Blue.
None of the other four lures I tried attracted any interest.
On a day when the schoolies seemed to be attacking the lure rather than trying to eat it, I dropped four and boated six.
The water here is still a chilly 9.6C and I don't expect more fish, bigger bass or topwater action till it warms up quite a bit.
For now, schoolies deep down will have to do! PH

It's always a good idea to clean your reel after use, then put it back in your bag. It's also good practice to carry a spare reel.
Sadly, in my rush to go fishing this afternoon I failed dismally on both counts.
A desperate call home brought my wife and Doug The Dog to the slipway, where the reel in its padded case was expertly lobbed aboard by Mrs PH.
Back to the mark again, I had barely two hours left to fish but managed 10 hits, all on the Megabass Zonk 120 in Cruising Blue.
None of the other four lures I tried attracted any interest.
On a day when the schoolies seemed to be attacking the lure rather than trying to eat it, I dropped four and boated six.
The water here is still a chilly 9.6C and I don't expect more fish, bigger bass or topwater action till it warms up quite a bit.
For now, schoolies deep down will have to do! PH

This really is a bargain. I have owned the 20-30 model for decades and it's a fabulous blank with quality Fuji fittings. I have a 12-20 rod but it doesn't get much use and I can't justify buying this one.
If you need a 12-20 I urge you to bite Dinoboy's hand off. It's a steal for £80! PH