Davyred
Well-known member
Just got back from a few days at the MoG. As always, thoroughly enjoyed it and was very sad to leave. A word of warning though, if you're expecting loads of pics of fish, you're going to be disappointed 
Tuesday
As soon as I arrived, it was straight to a mark I'd had my eye on last year to plug for Bass during the first half of the flood, then move to the two bays I had my success in last year during the last couple, as the bays will have filled up by then. Sadly after 3 hours, I'd never had a sniff. Off I went to the two bays, and conditions looked good. After two hours, all I had to show for my efforts was one (decent) lost fish which took me round a boulder, and that was that. With that, I checked in and planned the plan of action for Wednesday over a couple of pints.
Wednesday
Woke up to a lovely blue sky, but unfortunately, a pesky NW breeze. I had a feeling this would scupper my plan to fish a mark kindly given by one of the lads from here , so had a quick drive to it. Upon arrival, my fears were confirmed - it would have been right in my face, and there was a fair bit spray hitting the rocks. Rather than sit and mope around until I went Bassing later in the afternoon, I decided to have a scout along the cliffs with my Conoflex Assassin and a couple of artificials in my pocket, to see if I could find any new marks. This was the view...
After looking about, I hit upon a good looking mark, and tentatively climbed down. I fished it for a couple of hours, getting 3 small Pollack. It really looked as though it'd fish later on in the tide with a float, and since then, I've learnt that it can throw up some very good fish to floatfished launce or mackerel strip - I'll be back.
After leaving there, it was off to fish the last couple of hours in the two bays. By this time, the breeze had practically gone, so it was a perfect afternoon...
No matter which plug I used, I just couldn't get a touch or rise. For all it was frustrating, the scenery around me was stunning....
The water was Crystal clear, with tiny flatties, crabs and all kinds of small fish darting in and out of the bladderwrack. So now it was Bass 2 Dave 0, back to the digs it was, to look forward to a Pollacking trip in my mate boat the next day.
Thursday
Met my mate Kev, along with two other lads, Dave and Ian, at Port Logan at 9, and after some hesitancy due to a stiffish onshore breeze, we decided to give it a go. Mackerel was our first target, in case we didn't get any Launce and they were pretty easy to get. Off then to the Launce grounds, and although not prolific, we got what we hoped wouldn't be enough :wink: . We tried to keep them alive for as long as possible, as big Pollack love nothing better. By this time, the breeze had gone, the sun was out and we were all fishing in oour t-shirts. Once on the first mark, down went the floats and within minutes, I had the first fish of about 2.5lb. These fish really go some, I'd recommend anyone to try it, its fantastic fishing. The fish were steady, and tend to be localised in pockets. After a short move to a new mark, my float shot under and when I hit it, it hit me back...and again...and again. After a good scrap, I was able to boat my PB Pollack...
Although we had no scales, it was estimated at around 6lbs. Still we were hitting fish up to 4lb, but it got quieter as the day went on, although I was smashed to bits by one monster that I couldn't do a thing with. We tried a couple of other marks, including a wreck in 270ft of water out of Logan, but got nothing worthwhile, only a couple of dogs that had choked on mackerel flapper baits, an octopus and a couple of gurnards. A good day out though, you can't beat a big Pollack on light gear.
Friday
Up at 6am to have one last attempt at Bass. I woke up to a sound I hadn't heard all week, and a sound I knew would spoil my last Bass assault. - Surf. I got ready, walked to the beach, and my fears were confirmed....
They mightn't look big waves, but believe me, when you're standing on small boulders in chest waders and a wave you, its not good. I tried a couple of casts, but the wind was also driving the weed inshore. With that, I conceded defeat. Bass 3 Dave 0. What this onshore breeze meant though, was that the west coast marks would be perfect, so the gear was packed and it was off to the mark I was going to fish on Wednesday. Upon arrival, it looked as good as I'd heard. Deep, kelp filled water, reefs and holes everywhere. I tried different spots over the next few hours, getting 10 fish up to 3lb, the majority on Savagegear eels. I just took the one pic...
With that, it was back to the digs and wait for our lass to come up for anniversary weekend :wink: . Typically, as soon as she arrived, we had the first rain of the week, but it did lead to this.....
So there you go lads. I've got a couple of theories about the lack of Bass (for me anyway). One, there's a load of freshwater hitting the bay at the minute, one of the streams I fish beside was in spate, its normally just a trickle. Secondly, the tides were a lot smaller this year than last.
One thing's for certain though, I'll be back next year for more.
Tuesday
As soon as I arrived, it was straight to a mark I'd had my eye on last year to plug for Bass during the first half of the flood, then move to the two bays I had my success in last year during the last couple, as the bays will have filled up by then. Sadly after 3 hours, I'd never had a sniff. Off I went to the two bays, and conditions looked good. After two hours, all I had to show for my efforts was one (decent) lost fish which took me round a boulder, and that was that. With that, I checked in and planned the plan of action for Wednesday over a couple of pints.
Wednesday
Woke up to a lovely blue sky, but unfortunately, a pesky NW breeze. I had a feeling this would scupper my plan to fish a mark kindly given by one of the lads from here , so had a quick drive to it. Upon arrival, my fears were confirmed - it would have been right in my face, and there was a fair bit spray hitting the rocks. Rather than sit and mope around until I went Bassing later in the afternoon, I decided to have a scout along the cliffs with my Conoflex Assassin and a couple of artificials in my pocket, to see if I could find any new marks. This was the view...
After looking about, I hit upon a good looking mark, and tentatively climbed down. I fished it for a couple of hours, getting 3 small Pollack. It really looked as though it'd fish later on in the tide with a float, and since then, I've learnt that it can throw up some very good fish to floatfished launce or mackerel strip - I'll be back.
After leaving there, it was off to fish the last couple of hours in the two bays. By this time, the breeze had practically gone, so it was a perfect afternoon...
No matter which plug I used, I just couldn't get a touch or rise. For all it was frustrating, the scenery around me was stunning....
The water was Crystal clear, with tiny flatties, crabs and all kinds of small fish darting in and out of the bladderwrack. So now it was Bass 2 Dave 0, back to the digs it was, to look forward to a Pollacking trip in my mate boat the next day.
Thursday
Met my mate Kev, along with two other lads, Dave and Ian, at Port Logan at 9, and after some hesitancy due to a stiffish onshore breeze, we decided to give it a go. Mackerel was our first target, in case we didn't get any Launce and they were pretty easy to get. Off then to the Launce grounds, and although not prolific, we got what we hoped wouldn't be enough :wink: . We tried to keep them alive for as long as possible, as big Pollack love nothing better. By this time, the breeze had gone, the sun was out and we were all fishing in oour t-shirts. Once on the first mark, down went the floats and within minutes, I had the first fish of about 2.5lb. These fish really go some, I'd recommend anyone to try it, its fantastic fishing. The fish were steady, and tend to be localised in pockets. After a short move to a new mark, my float shot under and when I hit it, it hit me back...and again...and again. After a good scrap, I was able to boat my PB Pollack...
Although we had no scales, it was estimated at around 6lbs. Still we were hitting fish up to 4lb, but it got quieter as the day went on, although I was smashed to bits by one monster that I couldn't do a thing with. We tried a couple of other marks, including a wreck in 270ft of water out of Logan, but got nothing worthwhile, only a couple of dogs that had choked on mackerel flapper baits, an octopus and a couple of gurnards. A good day out though, you can't beat a big Pollack on light gear.
Friday
Up at 6am to have one last attempt at Bass. I woke up to a sound I hadn't heard all week, and a sound I knew would spoil my last Bass assault. - Surf. I got ready, walked to the beach, and my fears were confirmed....
They mightn't look big waves, but believe me, when you're standing on small boulders in chest waders and a wave you, its not good. I tried a couple of casts, but the wind was also driving the weed inshore. With that, I conceded defeat. Bass 3 Dave 0. What this onshore breeze meant though, was that the west coast marks would be perfect, so the gear was packed and it was off to the mark I was going to fish on Wednesday. Upon arrival, it looked as good as I'd heard. Deep, kelp filled water, reefs and holes everywhere. I tried different spots over the next few hours, getting 10 fish up to 3lb, the majority on Savagegear eels. I just took the one pic...
With that, it was back to the digs and wait for our lass to come up for anniversary weekend :wink: . Typically, as soon as she arrived, we had the first rain of the week, but it did lead to this.....
So there you go lads. I've got a couple of theories about the lack of Bass (for me anyway). One, there's a load of freshwater hitting the bay at the minute, one of the streams I fish beside was in spate, its normally just a trickle. Secondly, the tides were a lot smaller this year than last.
One thing's for certain though, I'll be back next year for more.
