Bass fishing cork

Nothing much to report....

2012-01-31T13:11:00.003Z

I got out for a couple of hours this morning, but with a biting easterly and heavy rains and swell, i figured i would be just getting some fresh air.
And i was right....i brought the fly rod so i could get some practice in and at first fished off a sheltered man made structure in the harbour with the T11 Rio sinking line and some minnow type flies. Nothing doing, so i switched to the Ghost tip floating/sink tip and went on a ramble along the shore chucking clousers into gullies and any feature i could find, with slow retrieves but nothing doing and no sign of fish life...
I thought i may winkle out a small Pollack, but no joy......eventually, the cold sent me packing with tears and runny nose and...i forgot my gloves!!!
My hands burned all the way back in the car!

Irish freeway.......

2012-01-22T11:25:00.000Z

well i tried......

2012-01-21T22:34:00.005Z

I had planned to take the Yak out, but the weather beat me again.
So not to be outdone i grabbed the shore gear and headed for a deep water spot to try for a pollack, and maybe some Bass too.The water was very "muddy" and it seemed like a total waste of time..also a little dangerous at the deep mark.
So back in the car and off to a mark a few miles closer to Cork, where the water was much better, but again a little dangerous and i was glad i had the pfd on at least.
The wind howled and i spent most of the time dodging a soaking from huge surf spray, and i used soft plastics and the tackle house feed shallow lure, but no sign of life in the water.Very enjoyable though and an adrenalin packed moment or two getting off the rock which was now flooded behind it...i have done this here many times before, but it was a little lively! Mind you, i have had to wait for the tide to drop in the past with no problems.
So.....I tried!

A year gone......

2012-01-08T00:11:00.001Z

But not forgotten.
To my Dad in law.. John Lyall, the Sea Bass man, who started it all.
I hope we will fish together, eat together, and have a glass of wine together later on....we miss you.....

First look of 2012

2012-01-03T14:15:00.002Z

I really wanted to get out for a look around, so got the fly gear and waders ready last night. Even though the weather was really awful.. high winds and rain. I got there to find as expected the water was very dirty,but practice is practice. Great to be out by the water again and got plenty of rain and wind to test my gear!
But if i couldn't see the fly in the water the fish cant either!
So first blank of 2012!
Tight lines!

2011-12-31T21:06:00.000Z

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

One small step......

2011-12-30T15:10:00.002Z

I have been craving to get out on the kayak, but the weather is unreal at the moment.
High wind.. low wind..high wind...very hard to pin down the forecasts.
But i cancelled yesterday and picked this morning for another attempt at Pike on the fly.
Up at 6 am and off i go, set up and on the water for first light 8am. The water is very clear and i am positive to start.
The set up is the same as last time, 9 weight outfit and line (inter. sinking) to 30 lb mono looped to iron claw wire and a clip (all about 6 feet long).
The fly is a Replot stinger from Baltic flies in chartreuse.
And the weather begins to deteriorate all morning till i am forced off the lake at 1pm.
And a bonus is one hit from a Jack!
The learning curve continues, this time the fish came out of some underwater rocky feature, not the reeds.
So another lesson learned.. fish all features!
By the end of the session i was pretty cold!
Tight lines for now!

Happy Christmas..........

2011-12-24T11:03:00.003Z

Wishing you all the very best for the Holidays... tight lines!

I want to live here!!

2011-12-18T12:10:00.000Z

What do you think of this.................cool?

2011-12-16T12:33:00.002Z

Cortland 444clear sl sink tip rocket taper..(Ghost tip)

2011-12-16T12:20:00.004Z

I was given a present of a fly line recently by a good friend of mine, and he had won it in a trout competition, so a 9# line in a bit heavy for his fly wands!
Thanks again Pat!
Its a Cortland ghost tip line, and although the rear section floats, the tip sinks and is clear.
Looks the biz, and having asked a few experts, it seems its a pretty good Bass line.
I sure am looking forward to using it next season, and i will try to get it out for a few casts over the holidays.....
Tight lines!

The first sprinkle....

2011-12-14T09:16:00.003Z

This will complicate the weather problem even more....a couple of mm of Snow in Ireland usually shuts us down.....lol.....

Neo counter...

2011-12-14T00:58:00.003Z

I was always wondering.... who reads this stuff?
So i fitted a neo counter today ... and i am already amazed at the countries that have hit on this blog!
So i really need to get out there and give you something to read!!
Tight lines!

Weather....

2011-12-13T14:20:00.003Z

I just cant seem to get out right now... the weather is all over the place, and with x-mas coming up.... not sure when i will get the chance....
So i will post a look at a nice pressie i got later...
Tight lines if you are getting out!
Edit....
Sea Area Forecast

Gale Warning

1. Southwest winds will reach gale force on coasts from Roche's Pt to Valentia to Loop Head this evening. 2. Winds will veer northwesterly early tonight and gale force to strong gale force 9, occasionally storm force 10 winds will extend overnight on coasts from Carnsore Pt to Roche's Pt to Valentia
Issued at 06:00 on 14-Dec-2011

Yes....fishing....

2011-12-03T23:26:00.002Z

This clip sums up fishing pretty well...

You hunt and catch a single fish and then a shoal comes along and they wont take the fly....lol....

1st December urban recon .....

2011-12-01T13:00:00.005Z

A break in this dreadfull weather had me out in the Harbour right up near Blackrock castle for a recon.
The water was very dirty as expected and the shoals of mullet are gone, with only the odd fish here and there breaking the surface.
Weeks of windy and rain filled squals have left there mark, and there are more due at the weekend.
The paddle was 2 hours long and i felt it at the end...

It could have been perfect...

2011-11-19T18:21:00.005Z

The weather has been pretty awful,lots of wind and rain,but i had the chance for a day trip to try for some Pike and the forecast looked good.
But when i got there the water had risen a lot and visibility was down to 3 feet in the water.
The fly rod was assembled and the yak fitted out.
But i knew the going would be tough.
I had used the replot stinger for most of the day and also a fly Allen tied with a rattle built in, but not a touch....
I cant say i didn't enjoy the peaceful setting though.....it was a beautiful day!

Snaps......

2011-11-13T21:52:00.003Z

Oh yes the "fancy camera" thing is not easy... out of about 200 snaps... a few gems...(mind you ..no sign of me...lol)

Out for a cycle ..and the mullet still about...

2011-11-12T19:29:00.001Z

test

2011-11-12T11:56:00.000Z

test

BVK fly rods...

2011-11-12T10:01:00.002Z

Jim H did a thing on his blog, months ago about these... have a look...click on title!

Smashed...

2011-11-11T23:22:00.002Z

My "middleling" got hold of my fly rod tip section, about two weeks ago, and used it as a fairy wand...thus converting it to a 4 piece rod!!!
But i phoned Leeda last week and they sent a new one which arrived today...
Great service ...to be fair....
I have been looking at the BVK rods... if only Santa will bring one?????
Santa???

Why did i bring the rod?

2011-11-05T09:52:00.000Z

Its the Cork Jazz weekend....

2011-10-28T21:32:00.001+01:00

Grrrrrreat!

Allen's fly.....

2011-10-27T21:02:00.006+01:00

This is the kind of fluff i want to chuck in 2012...
Allen, why did you not give me it sooner?

Nice slim profile and sparce... looks great in the water.. baby pollack or wrasse??
More please Allen....lol!

I flung it about tonight from 5:45 till 8:00 pm... conditions were tough big swell/surf and loads of lifted debris... no fish but i enjoyed myself!

Replot Stinger...

2011-10-22T19:27:00.002+01:00

I headed to a lake little known for pike,and spent the morning in the wind and rain throwing the replot stinger from Baltic flies around.
(Theres a link in the link section.)
I hit a jack fairly soon and missed another and a move later saw me hit a better fish of 3 or 4 lb but it came off seconds later!!
(so no new P.B. lol)
I guess i should have struck home harder!
Anyway ...nothing more after that, and Allen arrived and we headed to another lake to fish off the shore with flies and lure but no luck...
But we did spot a hen harrier with made my day!!!

Rod ..9 weight
Line...a mill end inter. sinking
Leader.. 30lb clear mono with an Iron claw wire tip section.
Fly.. Baltic flies replot stinger.

October Sprat Feast.....

2011-10-20T00:32:00.001+01:00

More pics to follow......
So i arrived to see a bait ball being attacked by gulls and i thought this could be good!

The tools of the trade...9 weight rod with two reels one has an inter. sinking the other a floating line.. line tray.. box of flies and a net.

Started with the floating line and the fish just came on ... fish after fish after fish.. pollack mostly with a few mack...
Flies that worked...
Chat. bleeding clouser
Chat. clouser
white glitter critter
white seaducer

Black or dark flies got no hits nor did a small sprat -like deciever in blue/black.
And i managed a mack on a chat. Gurgler... while the pollack head butted this into the air!! Brilliant!

Some pics of some of the fish.... i finished up with a black hollow fly with no takes and called it a day around 9pm.

Tarpon...

2011-10-15T17:39:00.001+01:00

loved this clip.......

search for Cod....

2011-10-07T21:19:00.003+01:00

Went out for a look for a few Cod tonight.. i had heard of a few good catches last week.
So i set up my shimmy boat rod with some black feathers and a 40z lead and off i went.
Problem straight away was i kept hitting macks on the drop...and after a while i decided the reef was full of em, so a change was made and off i went to a more remote spot.
Again more macks and a tiny pollack, and then a nice Pollack.
A full string of three macks wound the feather trace up in a ball, so i switched to a jig head and slug...but no takes on that...then i put on a joey type deep diving lure in the hope a Bass would be around...but another small pollack was the only take.
So... no Cod.
A really nice evening on the water though!!

Baltic flies......

2011-10-06T17:57:00.003+01:00

They arived today.... the "replot stinger"
Click on the Baltic flies link over in the links section to see more...

The Iron Claw Authanic wire is on the way too.....

waiting game....

2011-10-03T22:57:00.003+01:00

I got there to find the bait fish shoaling and the terns gorging themselves... the feed shallow went out again and again and one mack was all i had... later i free lined some bait for a couple of hours and only one pull on the line, but the bite didn't develop...
EDIT.... the Bait i used was a full squid on a Kamasan B940 4/0 hook... freelined with the flooding current down the channel... it should settle on the side of the Channel and in the dark has accounted for many a Bass in Autumn. Razor Clam is Deadly too!

Friday 30th sept. The day of the Rain.....

2011-09-30T22:27:00.002+01:00

It rained today....no ... i mean it RAINED today.... but i went anyway ...after work...
Got to Roches point...the mouth of Cork Harbour, and looked out.
"YA... i can do that...its only swell .. no breaking waves..."
I went.
I could not fish.
I trolled some flies....it got exciting paddling in the swell...
I took some video footage on my new phone with HD video....
I got home and only had 3 seconds of video....
"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
My dare devil kayak fishing deed is lost........

Gutted.......................

no comment....

2011-09-30T21:50:00.001+01:00

Baltic flies....

2011-09-26T18:56:00.001+01:00

I have ordered a couple of flies to try for the pike later on again.
A fantastic site,
check it out!
Click on the title!

Ladies mini marathon...

2011-09-25T21:59:00.002+01:00

Yes.. the girls were out in force today for the marathon.....more money for Down syndrome Ireland... a great cause.....well done girls!

Chasing Mr. P.

2011-09-23T18:08:00.002+01:00

I had a day off today, and even though the forecast was for windy southerlies, i made a plan to go inland.
A beautiful spot, although i wont say where, it was calm and flat early in the morning.
I had left the house at 5.15am once the flask was made and the yak loaded.
Well the plan was to fish with fly mostly, but as the morning went on the wind increased and made it very hard, so later i went to the lure.
But i did manage a Jack on a weird orange/lure flash combo.....
A few pic's of the day.......
There was a little blood on the Jack, but i checked and the hook had missed the gill's, also the hooks used are Barb less.
He swam off very strongly...

Searching for the G.G.

2011-09-15T22:39:00.003+01:00

I got a chance to get out this afternoon and thought i would check out if the gg's were fully in.
(Golden Grey Mullet)
I set up the fly rod with a floating shooting head..a 10lb drennan leader down to 4lb fluorocarbon tip and a deeper czech nymph.....
But alas i could not locate them in any great numbers.
So i switched to a sinking line and a bleeding clouser and sand eel pattern and i could not find Billy either!!
So all i have are some pretty yak pics!
Nice to be out there though.
I am beginning to wonder about the Bass season though????

A first on the fly again...

2011-09-14T22:47:00.007+01:00

Started on a floating line (Rio outbound) and as the light started to go the fish came on....
A couple of Mac's and a few Pollack.. and then a scad.. a new one on fly...
All cought on a bleeding clouser... but i switched to the inter. sinking line as it got late to try for a Pollack or Bass under the feeding fish...
But no Billy tonight......

Scad.....

QM2 was heading out .......

More wind.....

2011-09-13T20:47:00.002+01:00

Yes... not me... the weather ...its poor to say the least.
Watching for a chance to get out.
nd the evenings are getting short.....Nooooooooooooooo!!!!!

Blew a hoolie.......

2011-09-07T22:32:00.002+01:00

Planned a trip out for last night off the yak...and the forecast last week wasn't too bad, but when i got there it was westerly and full on.
I trolled a while but it was too uncomfortable to stay into darkness and packed it in..
Summer gone?
Surely one more trip in the sun??

Summing up Kerry...

2011-09-02T23:06:00.003+01:00

I found this pic and thought... ya thats Kerry in summer....
Thats Brandon in the distance.....

Weed weed and more weed.....

2011-09-02T22:03:00.006+01:00

Sitting at home thinking, the night looks good... tide is big...got the paperwork stamped by the boss (wife) and off i went. Got there and all i could see was weed floating everywhere... Noooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!! Tried a few lures and a weedless 9" slug go ... and had a boil behind that, but the weed was a serious problem... but keep trying i did..... And i winkled one out... on a 10gram Jig head and 7.5" SMELT Slug-go... The wind to my back took the lure away! It was a lucky shot, within feet of the fish, because the hooks would snag weed after three or four turns.... Back home now and time for a Guinness!

Bye Bye lad........

Just a few Pic's...try to visit this part of the world.....

2011-08-27T22:56:00.005+01:00

Home James....

2011-08-27T19:55:00.001+01:00

Back in Cork, eating Pizza and planning a harbour hunt ....reel soon!

Run of bad luck continues.....

2011-08-25T22:57:00.002+01:00

Well... i had seen a few flounder moving while wading over the last two weeks. I have caught a flounder on the fly rod before, only once and a by-catch to be fair.So i set up the rod and put on a Rio T-11 and leader... and a black clouser with some lure flash in a size 4.
Walked there and after about 20 casts, the leader parts....which is when i remember...the spool of Drennan is back in the house....
Yes... fail to prepare, prepare to fail....

Another blank....

2011-08-25T12:17:00.002+01:00

Popped out again the other evening, and another blank... and total lack of any signs of fish at all!
I get the feeling that the bigger tides are the ones to fish here... but alas its next week for the next big one, and i will be home again.

Mind your step!

2011-08-23T09:58:00.003+01:00

Only knee deep and a few feet from the shore.... and its the middle of the afternoon. I saw one move and then counted 11 in one spot!

No fun off the yak...

2011-08-23T09:53:00.003+01:00

I paddled out to a reef with the fly rod yesterday morning and thought it would be a good spot, and looking at it out there, im sure it would be.
But the Bass had other ideas and didnt show....

Blanked this morning.

2011-08-19T11:07:00.001+01:00

Same spot..same lures..and only one follow.
Thats Bass fishing for ya!

Hit and run this morning.

2011-08-18T10:24:00.000+01:00

Still in Kerry.
Woke and all i could think of was, the tide is in...... Got the wet suit and booties and pfd and 2 feed shallows and off i went.....
Got there to see two massive seals herding around a little bay, there have to be fish there... mullet/Bass or both...
Then realised....FORGOT THE CAMERA.....5H1T!
This is usually a good omen for me though....
over the next hour got hit after hit on the mullet 128... and took a hit and a fish on the ub15.
Four fish landed, and three came off and numerous bites....
Very pleased with myself .......:-D

Sea Bass and Stingrays

2011-08-16T21:15:00.003+01:00

Set off down my 100 meter's to the sea and launched the yak....the rod setup was..
9# with an intermediate sinking line and 10lb drennan.. leading to a bleeding clouser fly.
Paddled to the mark and got there to find the Bass were on the feed... little explosions of water and fins breaking the surface...
Dropped the Bruce anchor and tidy up the cockpit and Brown trouser moment as a huge stingray slips under the yak...Tralee bay is known for them, and i was about 100 feet from shore?? Holy crap! swimmers beware... over the seission i saw about 2 dozen or so... from dinner plate size up to dinner table size!!
Cast out and Bang .. fish on, and over the next hour or so i had 4 and missed 2... all schoolies..... great scrap on the fly rod!

First contact....

2011-08-16T10:59:00.003+01:00

Emily and i went out to chuck a few lures off the pier, and after a while with nothing doing she suggested we try some real Bass fishing at the back of the house.
Off we went and changed from SPs to hard lures and after about 20 minutes or so the feed shallow got hit..."Fish on!" i shouted but about 12 seconds later he was off...
Barb less hooks and all that!!
We walked around the point and tried a few more spots but nothing doing...
We found an old graveyard which Emily thought was cool!!!

Lady anglers outfits and lures match!!

Type of ground......

2011-08-15T10:38:00.003+01:00

This is the kind of ground i will be fishing over in the area behing the house we are staying in.... Bass Heaven... i had 8 fish one more here in the space of about two hours....

Hatching a plan now for the yak!

we arrived!!!

2011-08-13T22:30:00.002+01:00

Basecamp for the next two weeks....

Based in Kerry for next two weeks.

2011-08-11T22:08:00.003+01:00

So..... two kayaks and mountain bikes and lots of fishing tackle.....
The red cross marks the spot we are staying, and there is supposed to be wi-fi...so any fishing will be followed by a swift report with pics....

Not sure if i will catch anything around here though???
O.M.G......bring it on!

Em... dont kill me if the wi-fi not there though? LoL....

Total blank.....

2011-08-03T20:37:00.002+01:00

Back to the spot again last night where i had the nice chunky Bass...same lure too...and blanked.
The tide was huge though!
It lifted so much stuff, and this all came down through the swim, but i still thrashed the water and nothing...thats Bass fishing.....

More chunky upper Cork harbour Bass....

2011-07-30T09:55:00.004+01:00

Two more Bass this morning on the feed shallow... and i had moved the lower treble to prevent the fish taking the hook to deep...
It seemed to work fine and i missed another fish but this happens anyway...
An excuse for more testing!

Same Tackle as yesterday, just moved the position of the treble up to the middle..

Upper Cork harbour Bass....

2011-07-29T18:35:00.008+01:00

time is so precious these days and as the season slips by ...i feel i am not getting out enough...a before work venue would be ideal... but the drive there and back in time for work was putting me off...Then Iain got me thinking!!
4 a.m. start and off i went ... this mark (now.. its a mark!) is RIGHT up inside Cork harbour..... and i am still in shock...
TEN MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE!!!!!
I thought i might... get a schoolie ...maybe??
Opened the boot of the car and no head light... duh!
Crept about till the light came up and started fishing hard then.
A knock? a bump? the place was full of mullet ...a good sign..... then WALLOP!
Feed shallow got nailed.... big bend... and me shouting stay on!!!!!
and she did!

Barbless hooks fell out! slipped her back and off she went.... me punching the air "YES!"

Then out with the F.S. again and after a few more casts a swirl and i thought no way!
Bang! fish on!
smaller but lovely.....

But sadly the hook had torn a gill and she/he bled very badly... so home for a meal ... its years since this happened so we were due one i guess...
A few more swirls ... but time ran out very quickly... and work called... back home with the fish... and dash for work with time to spare for a coffee and to say.....
Thank you Iain Mortimer!!

It says a lot about the water quality in the upper harbour.... Bass off Brian Boru bridge next week..........(LOL)
EDIT.> rod ..Fladen 11ft Maxximus Predator.. reel..Shimano Nexave 4000 rb.. line 10lb mono..lure Feed Shallow Mullet 128.

finding my feet...

2011-07-27T23:16:00.003+01:00

Camera?

Q520

2011-07-27T22:45:00.005+01:00

I bought a mountain bike a little while back, and i have really enjoyed getting back into cycling.
As a kid i used to cycle miles to go fishing, on a "racer" i bought with my confirmation money!!
Up to now i have only done a little "off road" stuff and it does feel like great fun...
So now i am looking for a few spots to go in the Autumn and winter to fill in between the fishing trips.
So i hope to bring my new camera too and practice a little with that also.....
So i guess ... watch this space....
Oh a new label needed??... em? ....photogcycle?
Time is everything these days....but if i get a few trips in it will be good fun...and Emily my oldest got a rightous off-roader too!

Plopsicle.............

2011-07-24T11:09:00.006+01:00

Time to do a bit of fly fishing off the top, the Bass were bulling for the feed shallows just under the surface.....
Gurgler... plopsicle... and crease fly.... on a floating Rio out bound #9 line and a 9ft leader 10lb straight through.....
I have been using Stroft, but i'm going back to the Drennan for now.....

Guess who caught the Bass in the link above? click on the plopsicle!

EDIT... just back and the weather didnt play ball.. very windy and very coloured water.....ah well ...a bit of a wild goose chase!!

Mr. Fish Jersey.

2011-07-22T23:48:00.006+01:00

I went out on the kayak on Friday evening with the Feed shallow lures that i ordered from Mr. Fish in Jersey.
I trolled out to a mark over reef with a parfeel re-gill and after loads of plucks landed a small Pollack.
Enough of that! They were obviously all pretty small if they cant get that down their gob!
The lure i tried first was the feed-shallow mullet 128 and ...it stayed on for the rest of the evening.
After landing one on the yak, i made my way to a spot only accessible by sea and pulled in for a break.
So ...then cast the lure and five more fell to the mullet lure in about an hour and a half....
It looks great in the water and the Bass inhaled it.... 6 in total.
A great evening out and it was dark when i returned to the launch spot.
Home for a pack of Tayto and a cold beer!
Thanks Mr Fish!

They arrived....

2011-07-22T00:01:00.002+01:00

Well the cult Lures are here, and i guess i should give them a go....

Converting lures to single hooks....

2011-07-16T22:29:00.003+01:00

I am not too sure about the conversions i tried, the weight of the hooks may be affecting the action of the lures, so i must try them a few more times to get a feel for what's happening....

Heart stopper......

2011-07-15T23:55:00.003+01:00

Had an explosion of water on a slug-go rigged weedless (black) this evening, a heart stopper!
But no hook up, and she took off......
tried lots of other stuff too.....
but failed........thats Bass fishing........

Back to the hot spot....

2011-07-13T21:54:00.003+01:00

On Monday evening last, i got back to the hot spot from last week.The weather was great, and all the signs were good.. as i unloaded the gear to the yak. I had brought my old rod, from the early eighties..which my daughter uses now ...to have a bit of fun on some light tackle. And as i paddled there, i noticed the birds (gull's) sitting on the rocks, also there were no gannets or terns diving...in fact, no sign of life at all really....
So.. i trolled a red gill in blue and white... and nothing happened... after a while i drifted across a good reef in deeper water and cast out ..sink and draw... bang ..the Pollack were on form...
and after a fish every cast and i don't know how many, i got fed up and tried to pursue the quarry i came for...
Different lures and Sp's resulted in nothing except the occasional pollack...
That's Bass fishing...
They were away somewhere else.......

A welcome Pee break, resulted in a lovely part of the world...

Ended up playing hide and seek in the yak...........

Quick trip with soft plastic lures only...

2011-07-04T23:21:00.004+01:00

A quick trip out tonight off the shore, and the sea was pretty "snotty" both in terms of wave height and weedy conditions.......
But i managed a small school size fish and a follow...
So a result i guess....
The finesse 7 inch worm on a jig head, did the biz for me... I tried several other types of lure but got weed every cast....

Kayak fishing Heaven.....

2011-07-02T15:58:00.011+01:00

Yes... fishing heaven... one of those days you think.."IT cant get any better than this...."
Set the alarm for 3:45am... but my phone is set not to alarm on Saturday or Sunday...D'oh!
Sat bolt upright in the bed at 4:15 am and wondered why the alarm didn't go off?
The car was loaded, so a quick Java and away!
Launched in perfect conditions and set the fly rod up with a small red-gill eel on an inter. sinking line ... the mark was a paddle away and i could troll to it..
The rest is history, i watched the gulls working the surface and where ever they went i did too and i got hit after hit of some quality fish and they all fought well on the fly rod..The final tally was ten Bass and two pollack..(usually the other way round without the Bass...lol..)
Back to the launch spot later to see a nice rolling surf in to the beach, so everything strapped down and the mobile slipped inside my dry suit neck!!
I got taken by a wave, but leaned back and braced out with the paddle and surfed in perfectly!!
What a morning!!!!!

Edit.... The video just does not do the situation justice... but its only a mobile phone! Sorry!

Attack of the clones.......

2011-06-28T22:04:00.003+01:00

Well, the conditions were spot on, but not a sign of a bass.
I fished for 4.5 hours off the kayak, and my bum grew on to it....
My legs were like sp's when i got in, and my bladder the size of a rugger ball.....
But the clones came and they came and i got fed up taking pics of them.
The Single hooks on the lures worked well, and the slug-go caught fish too... how do they fit it down their mouth???
I used a new sp too http://www.agmdiscountfishing.co.uk/floating-finesse-worm-blush-6pcs-p-1813.html
and it got hammered each time.. i think this will be good in another spot i know away from the pollack....

More conversions....

2011-06-25T22:25:00.001+01:00

weather to fish or not?

2011-06-24T22:15:00.005+01:00

Weather is all over the place!
So... Plan hatched..... Monday... Lure only.....North westerly winds....
A trip outside the harbour must be on...
Come On The Bass!

Time to try my experiments!!

Dash for Bass ends in disappointment...

2011-06-22T23:16:00.002+01:00

Fly rod and a few bits and bobs... anchor/ drogue nav light...
Straight after work to a spot i found during my paddle training...
And when i got there it was full of weed.... brown sludge weed...no.. not a correct scientific name for it...in the water it was pretty, but it just clung to the knots and flies ... and i could not escape it... i gave up around half ten.....

Again no sign of sprat or sand eel ... still cold and windy too .... summer???????

Spot the difference.....

2011-06-21T23:21:00.000+01:00

Some more experimenting...........

Cork Meet.

2011-06-21T22:51:00.008+01:00

Where are you off to dad?

Yes... the Kayak meet was finally here... about 15 yaks on the water...

The sat avo was very windy, but we made the best of it in a sheltered spot... or so we thought till the wind shifted!

We all fished hard but only two Bass were caught and i had blanked..

Heading in the end of a difficult day....

Some chaps got up in to cobh and raided an off licence!

Back to the campsite (Thanks Pat!) and some food and a few beers...

the doggies were raiding......

6 A.M. Sun. ....Joe's Kelly kettle caused holiday flight mayhem!

The earwigs in it made the coffee taste better...

Roche's point! and a big swell but little chop... real kayak fishing!

Well no Bass for me, but lots of pollack on lure and mostly fly rod... Two good Bass were taken though....
The Pollack were down deep and the Rio T-11 line got down fast, and trolled very well indeed.....conditions got worse and I headed in to the shelter of the harbour and had more Pollack, but smaller....
Great weekend!

Cork Kayak Meet....

2011-06-18T10:12:00.001+01:00

Well today is the day...over the next two days a bit of plastic navy fun!
Stay tuned for a kayak feast for the eyes!

http://www.irishkayakangling.com/forum/index.php

3:33min later.........

2011-06-14T23:17:00.001+01:00

Found some finish line pic's.......

Cream crackered at this point.......

Kayak salt water Fly.... avoiding the spiked one...and a first on the fly..

2011-06-09T23:25:00.003+01:00

Got to the venue and the chop was up, but do-able..
Launched and fished for a while... until a nasty squall made me dump anchor and run for cover on the slip...
Piddled down for 30 min., but i held on till it cleared, and the sea calmed...
T11 rio.
9 ft 10lb drennan leader (lots of kelp).
Bleeding clouser minnow 1/0 in chat.
Lots of Pollack, lost count... and a nice codling! A first i think??
And no Bass T.G.
Just as things really hottened up another squall loomed ... so i legged it... and it lashed again!!

Ocean to City race.

2011-06-05T10:49:00.012+01:00

Got my Time off the Ocean to City site... 3:33min.. i guess not bad or a first over 15 miles!!! ( I am chuffed!)

Well it was a great day on the water, and the weather was very good.The only problem was a stiff breeze from the north in our face for most of the race, but we got there in the end.
I think i came in around 3.5 hours, but i will find out later in the week.
And if i am going to do it again... i will do it in a sit inside touring kayak!
They burned me up!!!!!
(actually there was a RTM Tempo kayak which was VERY fast!)
Ah...... now .....back to the fishing........

Sat 4th June.

2011-05-30T22:37:00.003+01:00

Well......next Sat. is the big day, and the weather has changed.... the forcast is good!!!
Must eat loads of steak and spuds now to build up the strength.......

A week......

2011-05-27T23:28:00.001+01:00

It's only a week away....................

Paddle plan

2011-05-16T23:10:00.004+01:00

Season closed, so what to do?
A paddle will clear the cobwebs... about 3 hours in total and the paddle back was hard due to the wind in my face...
Foud a crackin mullet mark though.... will post some vid later....
So i think a try with the "Poo" fly may be in order... remember it???

Bass ban...

2011-05-14T10:29:00.002+01:00

BASS BAS IN FORCE FROM TONIGHT MIDNIGHT..STOP.
NO BASS FISHING FOR ONE MONTH ..STOP.
SEASON RE-OPENS ON JUNE 16TH 00:01am HOURS ..STOP.

for future reference...

2011-05-05T23:25:00.002+01:00

I got this paddle in a couple of weeks ago... the long paddles are for a reason.....

Rain rain go away................

2011-05-05T23:18:00.002+01:00

This is the dry moment.....before the rain...

If there is one thing we do well in Ireland...... its rain.....

Fitness paddle with a fishy twist....

2011-04-28T21:15:00.008+01:00

I wanted a good long paddle, so i set out from Aghada Pier and headed for Roche's point.
A soft lure was also deployed... why waste an opportunity??
Well, there were no hits on the way out, but the water was unreal, so calm!!
I met a harbour and Grey seal on the way too, and as i neared the point i saw something unreal.... some type of dolphin/porpoise (not sure) breaching the surface in the distance... there was a pod of them there having a great time.
Too far away for my mobile to capture though...
Out i went outside the harbour for a peep... and the reason the pod was there became obvious....Mack's breaking in there thousands right under the lighthouse...
I trolled my eel type lure through the breaks and hoping to catch a Bass under the onslaught, but i only connected with a good size mack which i shook off the single hook.
Easterly breeze not helping with the Bass????
Now i could only stay for 10/ 15 minutes because the sun was now dipping and the long paddle back was yet to come...
I left the pier at 6-30 pm and left the point at 8-33 pm and touched down again at 10-10 pm... arms were tired and legs and bum numb.....
A great night on the water....
Some proper Kayak fishing needed soon!!! The pollack are waiting(i hope)....

Hard won victory.

2011-04-28T20:40:00.003+01:00

Easterly winds never do much for my fishing.... i still really don't know exactly why.. but the weather was sunny and calm and i went to a shore mark.
I set up and fished away and as the sun set on this mark i thought the pollack would come on the feed at least.
Slug -go sp's and hard lures were the choice of weapon!
After a while i finally got a take and this "perfect" little fellow came ashore for a photo...back he goes......
He took a white Abu rocket minnow 110mm.....
The fishing never improved though but the sense of summer was great...
Roll on the south/ south westerlies!!!

first of many!!

2011-04-28T20:38:00.000+01:00

4 am start.. no Bass but a very close encounter

2011-04-16T22:13:00.002+01:00

My 2011 Account is open!

2011-04-11T23:13:00.006+01:00

Well what a night,
The north westerly wind should come over the hill and flatten the sea on the mark i was to fish.
Got there and it was perfect, but a little bright. I started with some weightless weedless slug-go in foam.. and straight away ..nearly ..i could see fish moving.
No takers, so tried a few different lures.. again nothing... every now and then a flash of silver .....
Then the sun dipped behind the hill.. a shadow fell over the area to be fished.. and i put on a favourite lure of mine....
Bang! fish on!
Landed and a very nice fish too just over the 4lb mark...photo and released... then another missed hit... then a big hit.... good fight and landed a 5.5lb'r.. this was looking good... photo and released... then during the evening 4 more smaller fish all on the same lure... photo etc!!
And as it got dark i changed the lure to a black slug-go weight/weedless and twitched it in and BANG! fish on!!!
Seven Bass in total and about 4 missed hits!!
What a way to start the season.... glug! glug! Beer o clock!
Here is a sample of Irish gold..em ...i mean silver.......ahem..

Dawn raid fizzled out....

2011-04-09T21:31:00.005+01:00

Up before 5 am and off to the mark.
The plan was simple... lure and soft baits on two rod's and hopefully get the first Bass of the season....
I launched before first light and it all looked great!
The conditions were good, although the east/south east winds never seem to help me!
But again... nothing..
Not too worry though the terns have arrived, so the eels will be moving and the sport should begin..
I think the numbers are not in the harbour yet, so a shore trip is on the cards next...I may even have a picture of a "fish" to put up????

Setting up....flat calm and a flooding tide...

Coffee break.....

getting fed up!!!!

Ah well... cheer up time Chicken Jalfrezi and Lots of BEEEEEER......
Maybe i should start a cooking blog.....LoL....

2011-04-01T20:57:00.004+01:00

Well the forecast was pretty poor.. but i thought i could have just a paddle behind Cobh island...
The south westerly winds should come over the top of Cobh and flatten the water...

And for once i was right!
Flat calm water with the sound of high winds rushing through th tree's on the top of the island.

Funny....a fly rod found its way onboard for a troll while paddling...
Not very much sign's of life... i saw one sea trout jump and one mullet in the shallows..
But i got a good paddle in.....

So things are still slow... but early next week i plan to try again for my first Bass of the season....

I guess its a start....

2011-03-26T20:37:00.003Z

Out looking for Shirley today.... but she no show...
I did get a nice Pollack on the fly rod... nice....Tried all my tricks but the Bass didnt care!!
Were they there??

I thought i had a plan.......

2011-03-18T21:42:00.003Z

All set.....

Hmmmm... calm?

Too calm......

Pee time......

tea time......

is that a seal?? yup! a big one... (dot)

Home again......

5 hours on the water... fly... lure... and feather (hokkai)... nothing... what a day though... got the miles in and i could feel it.
Got a bit lumpy later on and i got the most out of the day, a few boats about too, and i think they had the same luck as me.
Next trip is to my favourite reef... outside the Harbour.

Sea temperatures...

2011-03-07T23:02:00.002Z

Crabs.......

2011-03-04T21:50:00.005Z

Went feeding the crabs tonight again.......
The only event full thing that happened was, on the way back, a startled bird flew right in to my lap!
so some photo's .... the bait was razor and joey mack... and some S.P's on the lure rod....

Window

2011-02-26T23:05:00.003Z

lookin like a Bait seis is on the cards .....
Razor and some whole joey mack... and squid??
And a lure rod to keep me sane!!

Hunting Billy......

2011-02-25T21:08:00.004Z

Went hunting Billy tonight... ya ...its very early, but its mild enough.
Got there to find the Fog was pretty bad, but went out and took a compass bearing.
(its in the Harbour anyway so i would have not ended up in Wales!)Trolled and jigged some soft plastic's but to no avail.
BUT!
I did see some fish moving in the shallows and located a very promising spot for the summer too...... so things are starting to happen!

Got to try out my new Kayalu Kayak light too... its the dogs!

I may have to keep my marks secret...

2011-02-12T18:15:00.003Z

remember last season????

Herring..........

2011-01-29T15:31:00.007Z

I went out to see if the cod were about today, but after a few herring popped up on feathers, i put on a herring style S.P. to see if anything was chomping on them.
But after a long while there were no takes...
It was nice to be on the water... but blooming cold!
Forgot my gloves too so the ol paws were blocks of ice (specially with an aluminium paddle)
All the herring were this size and smaller....

This Sat. looks good.....

2011-01-27T21:02:00.002Z

This Sat is looking good....and i have a free pass....

<*(((>{