So after missing out on fishing over the weekend I went through my well worn procedure for after work fishing. My rods packed in with my tripod in it's rod carrier and my reels, leads and rigs in the shakey box so they could be quickly lifted into the car in the morning as I headed to work. That morning the bait of frozen Mackerel, Squid and sand eel placed in a cool bag with ice packs along with frozen juice bottles filled with frozen water that so the bait would be defrosted as needed at the mark.
Preparations the night before went well but I was awoken to rain and gale force wind that morning but on checking the forecast the weather was to improve so I continued. On arriving at the mark there was a light NE wind but this gave a wave and tidal rip well past the winds strength. The tidal rip was which may to wave or it may have been due to the Shannon outputing fresh water into the estuary and effecting the tides.
First three casts each gave a dog which I left to long for the bites to develop as they had took the hooks well down, as often times here quick strikes result in missed fish, but I managed to take the hooks out. After that it went quiet as after low water the tide went dead as the whatever was pushing the water down nulified the neap flood tide rip.
As it went dark my LED head torch showed it's inadequacey as I couldn't see the reflective tape on my rod tips. My expensive Tiga head lamp is still out of action but I have just ordered bulbs off of Ebay. I had debated going for a decent LED head lamp that doesn't have a battery the size and weight of a small child attached to your hip but I hate letting something that should be still functional go to waste.
I managed to see a snatched bite in the darkness on a running ledger that was probably a strap. I felt no weight on the retreive so left the bait out for 5 minutes but the fish did not come back for it. When the trace was reeled back in the bait had been pulled up the snood. I'm guessing the fish may have grabed the bait and the hook was caught on a snag. I had what looked like a shoal of whiting rip apart another bait and tie the 4/0 hook in a knot and a final doggy before 9pm that chin hook itself.
People: Me
Duration: 6.30pm until 9.30pm
Tide: 17:47 1.90m 00:19 3.60m
Weather: NE breeze with a slight surf. Mild.
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Pulleys penels 2/0 on one rod and 4/0 on the other
Results:
4 dogs
Report:
Monday, October 8, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
Co Clare, #fishirl, 30th-September-2012
People: 8 anglers.
Duration: 12.00pm until 4.00pm
Tide: 12:37 0.5m 18.53 5.0m
Weather: south west wind
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: I used pulleys and running ledgers.
Results:
Me blanked. Two winner had 2 dogs most others had 1 dog
Report:
I meant to hit Dunlickey before hand for fresh Mackerel but I slept it out due a mixture of tiredness, a never ending cold, drink and a the wind and rain. I had never fished this mark before but had heard of big ray being caught and deep water. I set up a the first point which was more sheltered with only a slight wave compared to a further out point being hit by the wind and surf. There was kelp poking out of the water so I set up with 30lb SL30 but the water was neither deep nor deperately snaggy once past the first kelp. Where I fished the tide was not strong and the water wasn't that deep.
The lads to the right picked up fish throughout the comp but fishing was very slow. Saying that one of the winners had 9 bites from the middle of the bay with only two fish to show and a couple of big fish were lost. The nearest I got to some action was when my lead was tripped. Maybe a fish or maybe some weed. The top hook of the penel had slid away with most of the bait so if it was a fish it was lost due to this. I just can't get decent penel tubing anymore to hold the penel hook in place and keep forgetting to twist the line around the hook shank for extra security. All in all my first blank of the year and I won't be coming back here in a hurry after my worst session of the year.
Duration: 12.00pm until 4.00pm
Tide: 12:37 0.5m 18.53 5.0m
Weather: south west wind
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: I used pulleys and running ledgers.
Results:
Me blanked. Two winner had 2 dogs most others had 1 dog
Report:
I meant to hit Dunlickey before hand for fresh Mackerel but I slept it out due a mixture of tiredness, a never ending cold, drink and a the wind and rain. I had never fished this mark before but had heard of big ray being caught and deep water. I set up a the first point which was more sheltered with only a slight wave compared to a further out point being hit by the wind and surf. There was kelp poking out of the water so I set up with 30lb SL30 but the water was neither deep nor deperately snaggy once past the first kelp. Where I fished the tide was not strong and the water wasn't that deep.
The lads to the right picked up fish throughout the comp but fishing was very slow. Saying that one of the winners had 9 bites from the middle of the bay with only two fish to show and a couple of big fish were lost. The nearest I got to some action was when my lead was tripped. Maybe a fish or maybe some weed. The top hook of the penel had slid away with most of the bait so if it was a fish it was lost due to this. I just can't get decent penel tubing anymore to hold the penel hook in place and keep forgetting to twist the line around the hook shank for extra security. All in all my first blank of the year and I won't be coming back here in a hurry after my worst session of the year.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Deep water mark, Co. Limerick, 16th-September-2012
People: Me
Duration: 11.30am until 3.20pm
Tide: 12:31 0.40m 18:48 5.20m
Weather: NW Moderate gale to calm with heavy showers to gale
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Running ledgers with 4/0 hook and pulleys with penel with 4/0 2/0 hook
Results:
9 ray. A few smallers one but the biggest was around 9lb
Report:
I went out with the intention of fishing a sheltered mark, as the wind was blowing, 2 hours either side of low water with the intention of getting ray and a decent chance of a good huss or conger. I was going to mix up pulleys and ledgers to see which worked best. I find a one up one down the ray always take the top hook but the big congers take the hook below the lead here.
I arrived down to good conditions with only a wave the other at distance. First three cast produced three ray to mackerel squid on ledger and pulleys.
After that the wind and wave picked up and the bites went dead. I cast farther out with one rod searching for more fish while with the second rod I searched closer. At low water the fishing picked up again with most of the fish coming close in to ledgers. This may of been just due to casting my ledgers close in only as some fish did come to pulleys but I concentrated on the ledgers. This produced fish on the shortest of casts with false casts producing. At the end I had one last fish with a lob when normally the fishing would of been dead due to the tide run. No conger or huss but I can't complain about the fishing especially when I get a fish like the one below that bent my rod over with it's dives.
Duration: 11.30am until 3.20pm
Tide: 12:31 0.40m 18:48 5.20m
Weather: NW Moderate gale to calm with heavy showers to gale
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Running ledgers with 4/0 hook and pulleys with penel with 4/0 2/0 hook
Results:
9 ray. A few smallers one but the biggest was around 9lb
Report:
I went out with the intention of fishing a sheltered mark, as the wind was blowing, 2 hours either side of low water with the intention of getting ray and a decent chance of a good huss or conger. I was going to mix up pulleys and ledgers to see which worked best. I find a one up one down the ray always take the top hook but the big congers take the hook below the lead here.
I arrived down to good conditions with only a wave the other at distance. First three cast produced three ray to mackerel squid on ledger and pulleys.
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| First fish |
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| Most of the fish were this size |
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Currachs, Co. Clare, 9th september 2012
People:9 anglers
Duration: 12.00pm until 4.00pm
Tide: 12:21 3.7m 18:35 2.0m
Weather: Mainly pleasant with squals
Bait: Fresh Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Running ledgers with 4/0 hook and running paternosters, pulleys
Results:
I had one 6lb bull huss. Winner had 19 fish at the steps mainly dogs but a large gunard was also caught, at the currach 6 larger fish came second
Report:
First cast of a pulley penel locked up in the kelp so I switched to 30 lb line and single hook ledgers. The best of the bites I had were at the start with missed doggy bites including a fish that spat the bait at the shore line. I also had a conger run that locked up but I managed to get my gear back with no fish. I put the lost fish down to in part putting to much bait on as I'm used to baiting penels.
Others around me faired better so copying tactics I tried a 2 hook flapper but my hooks were too small to hold enough bait against the crabs and switched from a ledger to a paternoster ledger. A doggy caught by one angler had a mackerel head stuck in it's gob that it had pulled from another competitor's hook. I lobbed out half a head and caught this fella but no more bites for the last hour.
Duration: 12.00pm until 4.00pm
Tide: 12:21 3.7m 18:35 2.0m
Weather: Mainly pleasant with squals
Bait: Fresh Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Running ledgers with 4/0 hook and running paternosters, pulleys
Results:
I had one 6lb bull huss. Winner had 19 fish at the steps mainly dogs but a large gunard was also caught, at the currach 6 larger fish came second
Report:
First cast of a pulley penel locked up in the kelp so I switched to 30 lb line and single hook ledgers. The best of the bites I had were at the start with missed doggy bites including a fish that spat the bait at the shore line. I also had a conger run that locked up but I managed to get my gear back with no fish. I put the lost fish down to in part putting to much bait on as I'm used to baiting penels.
Others around me faired better so copying tactics I tried a 2 hook flapper but my hooks were too small to hold enough bait against the crabs and switched from a ledger to a paternoster ledger. A doggy caught by one angler had a mackerel head stuck in it's gob that it had pulled from another competitor's hook. I lobbed out half a head and caught this fella but no more bites for the last hour.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Bleach Lough, Co. Limerick, 24 August 2012 #fishirl
A work night out gave me my opportunity to try fresh water fishing and introduce my two eldest girls to fishing. The preceding week had me researching about the basics of trout fishing as I had never fished for let alone caught one and showing my girls how to cast and retrieve with a spinning outfit. I also purchased worms and lures from Steve's shop on Denmark street.
http://www.igotworms.net/
We arrived out just in time to get one of the last available boats, as road flooding due to the torrential rain had delayed us getting out the Lough. Club member were guiding on the boats and showing us the basics. It was also apparent that there were plenty of fish rising and jumping. I started out with a mepps type lure golds with red spots as recommended by Steve. Early on while trolling, as the boat was driven between drifts, I felt a bang and was into a 3lb rainbow. The trout jumped out of the water and took line off my reel in an enjoyable fight until it was finally netted. Shortly after I had a trout jump out after the same lure as I retrieved at speed to avoid a boat that had moved into our path to net a fish on the fly.
My eldest daughter then saw her float move or more precisely it was pointed out to her. After turning the handle the wrong way round and causing a tangle we thought she had lost it but after it was untangled the fish was on. She carefully brought it to the boat with adults shouting instructs and landed her first fish. My next daughter missed a trout as she pulled the bait out of the water when the float moved and the fish didn't come back.
As darkness fell, the fish stopped rising and we were called in. Everyone had a great time with the worst of the rain holding off and plenty of fish caught. Our fish were steamed up and we all enjoyed some fresh naturalised fish for lunch the next day. A big thanks you to the Lough Bleach anglers for there help.
http://www.bleachloughanglers.ie/
People: Two eldest and I pluse work collegues
Duration: 6:00pm until 9:00pm
Weather: Heavy Rain everywhere but here where only light showers
Bait: Earth worm, mepps, tais devils
Rigs: bubble floats with size 2 hooks
Results:
Eimear had a 1lb rainbow and I had a 3lber
http://www.igotworms.net/
We arrived out just in time to get one of the last available boats, as road flooding due to the torrential rain had delayed us getting out the Lough. Club member were guiding on the boats and showing us the basics. It was also apparent that there were plenty of fish rising and jumping. I started out with a mepps type lure golds with red spots as recommended by Steve. Early on while trolling, as the boat was driven between drifts, I felt a bang and was into a 3lb rainbow. The trout jumped out of the water and took line off my reel in an enjoyable fight until it was finally netted. Shortly after I had a trout jump out after the same lure as I retrieved at speed to avoid a boat that had moved into our path to net a fish on the fly.
My eldest daughter then saw her float move or more precisely it was pointed out to her. After turning the handle the wrong way round and causing a tangle we thought she had lost it but after it was untangled the fish was on. She carefully brought it to the boat with adults shouting instructs and landed her first fish. My next daughter missed a trout as she pulled the bait out of the water when the float moved and the fish didn't come back.
As darkness fell, the fish stopped rising and we were called in. Everyone had a great time with the worst of the rain holding off and plenty of fish caught. Our fish were steamed up and we all enjoyed some fresh naturalised fish for lunch the next day. A big thanks you to the Lough Bleach anglers for there help.
http://www.bleachloughanglers.ie/
People: Two eldest and I pluse work collegues
Duration: 6:00pm until 9:00pm
Weather: Heavy Rain everywhere but here where only light showers
Bait: Earth worm, mepps, tais devils
Rigs: bubble floats with size 2 hooks
Results:
Eimear had a 1lb rainbow and I had a 3lber
Sunday, August 19, 2012
The steps, Co. Clare, 19th august 2012
People: Me
Duration: 11.30am until 3.30pm
Tide: 13:31 0.50m 19:47 5.10m
Weather: Southerly wind with squals to sun
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Pulleys with 2/0 penel on one rod, 3 hook golds and cascade size 2 on other
Results:
17 dogfish and two dabs
Report:
I started hitting fish a half hour. Dogs preferred the paternosters as is usual hear with sand eel with the dabs going for the bottom hook. I had a few doubles missing a trable of dogs due to carelessness in singing them in but managed one treble below. As the tide flowed harder at the end fishing slowed singles. When the fish are biting this well I was surprised not to meet a few ray, straps, huss or something else especially as the pulley rig wasn't being hammered by dogs.
Duration: 11.30am until 3.30pm
Tide: 13:31 0.50m 19:47 5.10m
Weather: Southerly wind with squals to sun
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Pulleys with 2/0 penel on one rod, 3 hook golds and cascade size 2 on other
Results:
17 dogfish and two dabs
Report:
I started hitting fish a half hour. Dogs preferred the paternosters as is usual hear with sand eel with the dabs going for the bottom hook. I had a few doubles missing a trable of dogs due to carelessness in singing them in but managed one treble below. As the tide flowed harder at the end fishing slowed singles. When the fish are biting this well I was surprised not to meet a few ray, straps, huss or something else especially as the pulley rig wasn't being hammered by dogs.
 |
| Treble to a golds with the dab taking the bottom hook |
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Fav mark, co limerick, #fishirl, 27-June-2012
People: Me
Duration: 6.00pm until 9.40pm
Tide: 18:03 1.30m 00;23 4.20m
Weather: Moderate westerly
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Pulleys penels
Results:
Dog, Fresh water eel and Dab
Report:
Poor fishing but the wind blew hard a times causing a wave. Caught a fine sized fresh water eel that must of been 2 lb that snotted my pulley.
Duration: 6.00pm until 9.40pm
Tide: 18:03 1.30m 00;23 4.20m
Weather: Moderate westerly
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Pulleys penels
Results:
Dog, Fresh water eel and Dab
Report:
Poor fishing but the wind blew hard a times causing a wave. Caught a fine sized fresh water eel that must of been 2 lb that snotted my pulley.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Corlis , Co Clare, #fishirl, 10-June-2012
People: 6 anglers
Duration: 12:00 pm until 4:00pm
Tide: 11:01 4.20m 16:57 1.20m
Weather: Pleasant
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Mainly running ledgers 4/0 by me
Results:
I think I had 4 fish with a couple of them huss the rest dogs. Got the biggest fish below and my of come second. Winner had 9 fish.
Duration: 12:00 pm until 4:00pm
Tide: 11:01 4.20m 16:57 1.20m
Weather: Pleasant
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Mainly running ledgers 4/0 by me
Results:
I think I had 4 fish with a couple of them huss the rest dogs. Got the biggest fish below and my of come second. Winner had 9 fish.
Monday, May 21, 2012
G's mark, Co limerick, 21st of may 2012 #fishirl
People: Me
Duration: 6:20pm until 9:50pm
Tide: 19:07 4.7m 01:05 0.8m
Weather: Westerly wind and pleasant conditions#
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid, black wrap
Rigs: one rod with 3 hook scratching flappers size 4 hooks fluoro etc
one rod at distance with an up and over eel wrapped in squid
Results:
1 ray and 3 dabs
Report:
As usual here I fished close in for dabs and small fish while I waited for ray at distance. I sometimes can have 20 or 30 dabs here which is great fun as they bite hard for small fish and fish to eating size can be caught here. They have a preference for wrap tipped with mack but tonight it was a quiet with a few missed bites and only a whiting and a flounder caught close in.
Around 9pm I had a slack line bite and it produced the ray below. This was followed shortly after to a fish with a bigger struggle that locked up and was lost on a snag. After that a another bite at distance that produced a dog. Disappointing in some ways as this is a double figure fish mark but a pleasant enough evening.
Duration: 6:20pm until 9:50pm
Tide: 19:07 4.7m 01:05 0.8m
Weather: Westerly wind and pleasant conditions#
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid, black wrap
Rigs: one rod with 3 hook scratching flappers size 4 hooks fluoro etc
one rod at distance with an up and over eel wrapped in squid
Results:
1 ray and 3 dabs
Report:
As usual here I fished close in for dabs and small fish while I waited for ray at distance. I sometimes can have 20 or 30 dabs here which is great fun as they bite hard for small fish and fish to eating size can be caught here. They have a preference for wrap tipped with mack but tonight it was a quiet with a few missed bites and only a whiting and a flounder caught close in.
Around 9pm I had a slack line bite and it produced the ray below. This was followed shortly after to a fish with a bigger struggle that locked up and was lost on a snag. After that a another bite at distance that produced a dog. Disappointing in some ways as this is a double figure fish mark but a pleasant enough evening.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Deep water mark, Co. limerick, #fishirl 7-May-2012
People: Me
Duration: 9.40am until 2:00pm
Tide: 11:41 0.20m 18:03 5.20m
Weather: westerly wind. Mild.
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Pulley penels
Results:
2 ray.
Report:
This time Fishing took a while to get going with the fish coming at low water. Dead after that with a lost fish on the snags close in. Here's one of the fish.
Duration: 9.40am until 2:00pm
Tide: 11:41 0.20m 18:03 5.20m
Weather: westerly wind. Mild.
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Pulley penels
Results:
2 ray.
Report:
This time Fishing took a while to get going with the fish coming at low water. Dead after that with a lost fish on the snags close in. Here's one of the fish.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Deep water mark, Co. Limerick # fishirl, 22-april-2004
People: Me
Duration: 11.10am until 3.20pm
Tide: 12:09 0.80m 19:25 4.80m
Weather: NW wind.
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Pulley penel rigs.
Results:
8 ray and dog mainly to mackerel squid wraps but some to sand eel squid wrap.
Report:
The ray came in on the first cast and it was tough to keep a baited trace in the water with 6 rays and couple of lost fish on snags close in early on.The fish were caught at distance and mid range mainly to pulleys with mack/squid. After low water the flood was quiet. I still managed 2 more ray and my first dog from this mark after a few years fishing here. It was also only the second dog I've seen caught here. In past years I had very poor fishing here on the ebb but this time all the fish came on the ebb. I have no working scale but took a pictures of some of the ray.
Duration: 11.10am until 3.20pm
Tide: 12:09 0.80m 19:25 4.80m
Weather: NW wind.
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Pulley penel rigs.
Results:
8 ray and dog mainly to mackerel squid wraps but some to sand eel squid wrap.
Report:
The ray came in on the first cast and it was tough to keep a baited trace in the water with 6 rays and couple of lost fish on snags close in early on.The fish were caught at distance and mid range mainly to pulleys with mack/squid. After low water the flood was quiet. I still managed 2 more ray and my first dog from this mark after a few years fishing here. It was also only the second dog I've seen caught here. In past years I had very poor fishing here on the ebb but this time all the fish came on the ebb. I have no working scale but took a pictures of some of the ray.
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| Lovely markings on this ray |
 |
| Largest and by far the smallest ray |
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Ferry pt, Co. Clare, #fishirl , 01-April-2012
People: Me and 5 others at a Shannon AC comp
Duration: 12:00pm until 4:00pm
Tide: 14:15 3.70m 20:09 1.90m
Weather: Sun with showers
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: I used 3 hook golds rigs with size 2s
Results:
I won with 4 dogs
Second had a 2.2Kg ray
No other fish were caught
Report:
I hot one dog on the flood and missed a couple of bites. At low water the fishing went dead but on the flood I had 3 more dogs. The dogfish were caught further out and the biggest fish was caught at medium range and is below.
Duration: 12:00pm until 4:00pm
Tide: 14:15 3.70m 20:09 1.90m
Weather: Sun with showers
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: I used 3 hook golds rigs with size 2s
Results:
I won with 4 dogs
Second had a 2.2Kg ray
No other fish were caught
Report:
I hot one dog on the flood and missed a couple of bites. At low water the fishing went dead but on the flood I had 3 more dogs. The dogfish were caught further out and the biggest fish was caught at medium range and is below.
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| The biggest fish on the day |
Sunday, January 8, 2012
The Strand, North Kerry, #fishirl, 8th-January-2012
People: Me
Duration: 9.10am until 1.20pm
Tide: 11:06 1.00m 17:18 4.50m
Weather: Sunny but a cool breeze.
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Pulleys with 2/0 penel on one rod, 3 hook golds and cascade size 2 on other
Results:
1 ray and 3 dabs
Report:
I had a few Dabs but the fishing was quiet until half 12 I had a ray to a size pulley wishbone rig where it chose mackerel over sand eel.
Duration: 9.10am until 1.20pm
Tide: 11:06 1.00m 17:18 4.50m
Weather: Sunny but a cool breeze.
Bait: Mack, Eel, squid
Rigs: Pulleys with 2/0 penel on one rod, 3 hook golds and cascade size 2 on other
Results:
1 ray and 3 dabs
Report:
I had a few Dabs but the fishing was quiet until half 12 I had a ray to a size pulley wishbone rig where it chose mackerel over sand eel.
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| January ray caught on a size 2 wishbone pulley to mackerel. |
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