Scilly numbers of fish........

Sunday saw me heading up to Tresco to escape the carnage that was going on down on St Mary's, it was the World Pilot Gig Championships!! You couldnt move here so the best plan to keep my sanity was to head off to another island and smash some wrasse!! Hopes were high as we have just had a nice prolonged period of west and south west winds that have brought the sea temperatures up and slightly over 10 degrees. There was a little bit of swell but conditions on the whole were perfect (not many times can I have said that recently!!!!!).

I always have wanted to fish the North end of Tresco as it screams wrasse when you look on google earth.

 

As you can see from the photos the water was crytal clear and boy were the wrasse in a feeding frenzy! Straight from the off it was like a switch had been flicked and all those months of waiting patiently for the action to kick off was soon forgotten.

The wrasse were mainly on the small side but it was great fun. I had 30 fish before deciding to move on in the search for the larger wrasse that I was sure lived in and around the boulders. It was interesting to note that it really didnt matter what colour lure I had on from the first gulley as they were feeding like crazy they nailed each and every colour!!

The move was worth it as I took this better fish of 4lbs on a purple/blue lure. Plenty of blue in its mouth and spots on dorsal and fins which mean that they were still spawning so I switched over to a Blue Tube and the better and more aggressive wrasse nailed it.

This one of 4.5lbs was caught using a carolina rig with a 2ft trace, a method which seemed to find the better stamp of fish and put up a cracking fight in the shallow water. When I say shallow it was taken in 6ft of water and headed for every boulder trying to escape!!

Another move and more fish, again in shallow water with the Hawg Junebug Stickbait doing the damage.

By now I had caught upwards of 60 wrasse, much more like it after such a hard winter and all returned after a brief photo. It was time to head back to the New Inn pub to have a much deserved pint before getting the boat back home. Whilst waiting the five minutes for the boat I couldnt resist having a couple of  last casts from New Grimsby quay. Tap tap and it was wrasse on, and a great end to a cracking day. Silly numbers of fish, nothing massive but great fun all the same!!!!

Its slowly starting to wake up....

I ventured up to Bryher in the hope of getting amongst the pollack that should be feeding with this settled weather. They have been strangely absent for most of the year due to the storms and ghastly easterlies! Tides were perfect as was the weather with overcast conditions which we prefer for the pollack as it seems to favour the predatory nature of them. Maybe they feed more with the darker conditions making ambushing their prey easier?? This is proved many times as the action can come thick and fast at sunset and sunrise when the pollack really start feeding hard.  Neil was going to join up with me for the start of the flood, the prime time at this mark we have found! 

Shipman Head above can be an awesome spot, plenty of deep water and tide racing over the many pinnacles that are to be found within casting distance. We have both had many good fish from this spot, not to mention being smashed up on more than one occasion!!

I had brought along a new toy to play with, an 11ft Century Vectura and was keen to see how it would handle the deep water and hopefully some rod bending dives from a heavy weight pollack or two. Initial thoughts are that it is quite tippy but with it rated from 7g to 45g it could prove an interesting rod!! With its through action it loads effortlessly and recovers lightning fast meaning the 35g Fiish Minnow I was using was flying out!!

Action wasnt exactly frantic, as I expected with the back tide, but a few small pollack kept me going. Most were under 2lbs with a slightly better one around 3lbs taken just before low.

Bang on low, I hooked a cracking fish, slowly reeling the Fiish Minnow it was getting heavier, usually a sure sign that a pollack has taken the lure, and then all hell broke loose. With the Shimano Rareniums drag tight I could really see how the Vectura handled a better fish. I caught a glimpse of a stonking pollack just as it dived under the reef in front of me rubbing the 23lb fluorocarbon leader and snapping me off! After turning the air blue I set up again and was straight into some more pollack but none of the size that I had lost (typical anglers and the one that got away I know!!!!!!)

The best fish went 5lbs, not massive but very welcome. Neil joined me just as the tide was starting to pull and hopefully herald the better stamp of pollack to show. We threw every soft plastic that we had brought and apart from a few smaller fish up to 4lbs it just didnt happen.

A strange day, we really did think that we would bag up but maybe everything is still waiting to really kick off, its close maybe next time...................................

Idle Hands . . . . . .

In case some of you have been living under a rock for what feels like the longest winter in history: easterlies, gales and ground seas have pretty much ruined all hope/opportunity of fishing recently. So apart from sulking, swearing and wishing I lived somewhere warmer I decided to really think about my approach to HRF-i.e. wrassin with softies! 

I cut my teeth in lure fishing as a kid in South Africa, when I was introduced to bass fishing for fresh water large mouth black bass by watching friends, then "idols" on ESPN and various other satellite channels, I soon mimicked what they did, how and why. It didn't take long to work my way through a succession of outfits until settling on a baitcasting duo-pretty standard stuff given the style of fishing.

So...what the hells that got to do with this HRF lark? Well the similarities between freshwater largemouth bass and wrasse are undeniable! 

Behavior, aggression, territorial-ness(!), their love for structure and features to name but a few. Both can be forced to hit lures, both will definitely strike something to satisfy their inquisitive nature, and of course both engulf lures mistaking them for food. 

What then about the method...?

Jigs, soft plastics, carolina, texas...sound familiar...? All born out of freshwater bass fishing. Yes, this is no revelation I know. We are all familiar with some similarities in the rigging methods and the lures themselves, so what's my point? Why do we copy every aspect of a freshwater method of fishing for a fish which is so similar to FW bass, use the same techniques, but we use different rods and reels!?

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense to use baitcasting gear! Better casting accuracy. Better sensitivity/feel(imho). Better choice of rods-albeit on the USA market mostly. So if it's Better-Better-Better, why aren't we all doing it? There is a common misconception that these little baitcasters are a 'mare to cast/control, and have no place in windy conditions, but that is far from reality. Most modern middle-of-the-road baitcasters come with centrifugal and magnetic brakes plus spool tensioning knob; so yes, that's three means of effectively taming these unruly little devils. With too much time on my hands due to crap conditions, I had to satisfy my fishing obsession online, with "important research" on the matter. And that's where it got tricky. Not much tackle or info available for this "niche" in the UK. With a little help and advice on various forums and Facebook groups (thank you Mike Sullivan!), I eventually bought an Abu Revo stx gen 3, a mouthful, but a masterpiece in engineering!

The other misapprehension is that baitcasters don't have the cranking power, drag or robustness as they are, after all, born out of the freshwater scene. This reel is not the best available by any stretch, rather a good mid-range example of what is available these days : 11 bearings, choice of 3 different gear ratios, a massive 20lb max drag and aluminium main (ct) frame. All suggest that they are more than capable of handling our beloved rock pigs. I still lust after my "perfect" baitcast rod, and the more  research I do the longer my shortlist gets, so when I came across a second hand option at a good price I snapped it up in the form of a  Majorcraft Days 7ft heavy BC rod. Not perfect, but will tide me over while the search continues!

Now, before this goes any further, I am not discounting spinning reels altogether saying that you must switch immediately or you will get lost in the constantly churning gears of this evolving machine that is HRF. Lets face it, this-like all forms of fishing- need only be as simple or as complicated as we choose to make it. But with too much fishing "down time" and a mind that's enslaved by tides, tackle, techniques and ways of improving, this seemed to me a very obvious move to make. I have only had one proper little session with this new set-up and two aborted sessions (one in 25mph SE-desperate times!) so maybe it's too soon to say that I am fully converted, although I can't see myself ever turning back. I am yet to have an over-wind that needed more than a yard of braid (yes I am using braid which supposedly is impossible) to clear. No issues with digging in, unless pulling for a break directly onto the spool-which you should never do with braid no matter what the reel. It just feels a far more natural and intuitive set-up than my dedicated HRF combo, and is far more enjoyable to use. Granted this may come from an extensive background with this type of gear, but, if YOU know someone who has a BC set-up- borrow it, crank the mags up, engage the centrifugal brakes and let her rip...you may never look back! 

Tightlines all, until next time - Neil

 

AT LAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God where do I start!!!!!!! This winter must have been my worst ever with regards to fishing, I simply havent been for months and apparently have been a total nitemare to be around (sorry)!! What with the strong easterlies then big southerly gales and the enevitable groundseas it has been impossible to get out with any hope of safety or actually believing that you will catch anything!!!! Slowly but surely things are a changing and it cant come soon enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With the water temperatures still way down on last year it has been noticeable from the distinct lack of sandeels and bait fish resulting in fewer sea birds around the islands and the numbers of pollack caught have been the lowest for years! Finally with our weather finally deciding to settle we should all see the catches improving day to day. Even the wrasse, our usually ever obliging soft plastic quarry have been almost non-existant and certainly far from their aggressive feeding best of last year but yesterday was the start of things as I actually managed to get out for a few hours (yes for those that had thought I had sold all my gear and started knitting, I havent but have been dormant).

I decided to head out under the airport to the marks that hadnt let me down all last year, water clarity was unbelievably good, best I have seen this year in fact and if I could remember how to fish I felt in with a chance!! Starting out with the Major Craft Crostage I rigged up a small crawfish pattern called Ghost Shrimp texas style and within a few casts and the odd missed bite (the expected rustiness from lack of fishing) I had the slamming over and the first of many wrasse was brought to the landing net.

Several small wrasse followed before I decided to move in the hope of finding some larger fish with the dropping tide.

A change to a new as yet un-named soft plastic from Jackslrf which certainly looked the business brought more success.

Notice the blue spots appearing on the fins and dorsal tail, a sure sign that the wrasse are starting to spawn.
This fish put up a decent scrap as it tried to find sanctuary in its rocky home. Now that I was back in the groove I changed over to my new toy, a Century 7'7'' Vectura-Ti. I got this rod purely for the big wrasse that Ive hooked and lost before. It will be put through its tests over the coming year but it certainly feels powerful, way more powerful than the Century HPR 7'3'' model that I have used before. This new range of rods are based on the exact same blanks as the HPR's just with the new 3M Powerlux™ resin system used and have the much improved Titanium SiC guides fitted as standard. I made several casts with the new rod and found it a joy to use and was certainly more than a match for many small wrasse up to 3lbs.

A final move back across the bay for the start of the flood saw the wrasse continue to snap up the lures being offered and were of a slightly better stamp with a couple of 4lb fish bending and testing the Vectura.

Things were starting to go quiet so I decided on having the last cast when I hooked the biggest fish of the session, not massive but at 5lbs it made the trip all the worth while.

All in all it was great to be back out on the rocks and even more pleasing was that I hadnt blanked. Now all I have to do is learn how to take photos again and everything will be ok!!!!!!!!!!

BLOWING AWAY THE COBWEBS

As with most if not everyone, this weather is really getting to me! When I look back on last winters diary it is frightning to see how little I have been out fishing this year due to gale after gale!!! I had to get out on sunday as cabin fever was setting in. Problem was it has been so bad around the islands this last week that I had to search the entire coastline to find some clear water, I honestly cant remember it ever being this stirred up and dirty!!!

I eventually found some shelter and clear water at the corner of Porthhellick, a spot that hasnt really been the same since it was netted by somebody for wrasse to freeze down for pot bait, but it was the only place to fish so I had to give it a go. I set up with the Century HPR 7'3'' and a texas rigged Jacks 4'' Hog in the Craw Swirl, (a lure that worked particularly well at this venue last winter) completed the set up. The sea was starting to discolour as the tide covered the boulder strewn brow so I wasnt going to get long before heading home.

With my polaroids on I could see afew fish starting to appear, moving over the boulders and after a couple of casts the wrasse came on  the feed.

Admitedly they werent the biggest wrasse that I have ever caught, but after an age of not fishing, they were very welcome indeed!!!!

I saw a better sized fish almost at my feet so cast to where I thought it was heading towards and bang, a much better sized wrasse was soon heading towards the landing net.

At 4.8lbs it certainly was worth braving the elements for and after recovering in a rock pool I took the opportunity to test out my new cameras underwater feature. Something that I will be trying a great deal more over the coming weeks.

By now the sea had come over the boulders and the water was too dirty to fish effectively so it was time to head home. At least I hadnt blanked and had finally managed to blow the cobwebs off the tackle-roll on the spring I say!!!!!!!!

LONG TERM TESTING OF CENTURY HPR LURE ROD

I have used and abused various beachcasters from the Century stable for years and years. Many years ago it was the Ignitor, then the Fireblade Sports for all my rough ground fishing for Huss and Rays, the Tip Tornados for lighter beach work and these days I have a pair of TTR's for all my tournament casting. No matter which rod, they have never let me down landing plenty of fish from all over the South West and around the Isles of Scilly and casting my leads on the field to new pbs!  

Nowadays, my fishing is mainly for wrasse and pollack around the islands using soft plastics and various techniques. It is all about catching fish using lighter tackle to get the most enjoyment out of the sport and of course, having fun!! When I heard that Century had designed a range of lure rods, specifically aimed at lure fishing for bass, pollack and wrasse I was eager to see one for myself and to try one!!  What was even better to hear was that the rod was developed with the help of Keith White, his brother Kevin and the rest of a band of serious lure anglers over in Jersey who had got on board with what Century wanted to do. This meant by the time us punters were getting the rod it had already been tested to the maximum and landed some serious fish!!! 

I had to try one and my old mate Andy Kendrick very generously lent me his prized rod to have a go with over the winter and to see how I got on with it, well mate I am afraid that you cant have it back!!! 

There are basically three rods in the Century HPR range, 7'3'', 7'7'' and a 9' and each one is rated to handle different weights. Question is what does HPR actually mean?? Well put simply, High Performance Resin. These rods are up to 35% stronger with this new resin, whilst still maintaining the desirable action and most importantly flex! Another bonus is that the new system is almost twice as hard as conventional resins meaning it resists scuffs and surface knocks much better - perfect for me and rock fishing!!

The rod I have been using is the 7'3'' model which is rated to cast 3.5-25g. Over the last few months, I have put the rod through its paces, admittedly it did take a little bit of getting used to as it is a very different rod to what I have been using. When I say different, I dont mean in a bad way, very far from it in fact!!! If you pick it up and wiggle, shake, whatever you would normally do when you first pick up a new rod, you may think its heavy and doesnt feel like many other Japanese lure rods do. BUT first impressions can sometimes be very confusing!!! It is heavy as it has a counter balance system in place, you dont have to use it though as the weights are screwed into the butt of the rod.

Attach a reel to the rod (I use a Shimano Rarenium 3000) and the rod is perfectly balanced.

As I fish with my rod in a 45 degree angle I find it makes it easier to twitch and fish soft plastics more effectively, this is where the counter weights comes into its own and feels so natural. It also gives me much more feel and sensitivity this way. The HPR registers bites amazingly well with its sensitive tip and in an instant you can strike and its fish on!

I have found the HPR to be a joy to cast with, a texas rigged soft plastic and 7g cone weight is never going to go extreme distances but then it isnt designed to. The rod loads really quickly and sends the rig out with ease. It is equally just as good with short range pitching and flipping between boulders and into holes.

But what does it fish like? Well the rod has a mental amount of power lower down in the mid section and into the butt and is coupled with a tip so you can feel everything going on with your lure as it bounces over boulders.  I have used the rod not just with texas rigs but carolina rigs and also drop shotting and it excels with each method and has landed me several wrasse over 5lbs and topped off by a pb lure caught wrasse of 6.2lbs.

I have lost count of the number of wrasse that I have landed with it. But should you hook into a real heavy weight kelp donkey that is hell bent on heading towards its hole then you have the rod to put the brakes on it - the tip will bend and then the real power comes in!

I cant rate the rod high enough, if you were looking for a rod to target wrasse, pollack and bass with soft lures I would have a serious look at this range of rods, just dont leave it to wiggle in the shop!! 
As I write, this already impressive range of rods has been ''upgraded'' with new graphics and a different set of Titanium SiC eyes to replace the K quides that were on the previous models. They have also been renamed and are now known as the Vectura-Ti range, thankfully they are the exact same blanks as the HPR though! The range though has a new member, an 11' model, that you just know is going to be a serious piece of kit!!  This new range is being released in February 2013 and according to reports, they have an even quicker response and feel and will be priced at the same points as the HPR's-I cant wait!!