Daiwa Certate Bass Rods - 902ms / 802ms

You might be familiar with the Daiwa certate spinning reel - a true gem - but have you fished with the Daiwa Certate Bass Rods?

Last week I fished with both the 902ms and the 802ms - and had great fun landing some serious fish. A review is scheduled later this weekend in Bassfishing files.

Conditions South East - Week 38

I daren't say it - so I'm sorry I missed last weeks weather report but I think this week is looking pretty toughish. Moon phase is not the best but we cant have everything I suppose. Its the first time in a long time that I can relax a little bit about the weather for two days.

There is a colored section about 40 metres deep currently along the southern and eastern shoreline - it may take a while for this to settle - perhaps over the weekend! However I am not optimistic for the week ahead.

Next week its looking easterly - my least favourite of winds but at this stage of the game its becoming apparent that forecasts are only reasonably accurate to within 24 -36 hrs.

What can I say - after a summer like this years, fish get on with their lives - when its tough they do things differently, so must you or I as anglers.

A fishing report

There are a number of things going on in this REPORT - probably working on levels that can only be discovered over time and a re-read or two -

I can’t say thank you enough (to all of you) for what is a glowing example of what I am trying to achieve through SEAi, this report alone represents to me what the Bass fishery in Ireland is about.

Having fun, catching sporting fish on new and challenging methods, staying safe, camaraderie, memories, all done in a perfectly sustainable environment.

I worked hard those three days - no harder than normal mind you - I felt I needed to get the message across to somebody to demonstrate that SEAI is not just an 'aspiration, a bring somebody fishing type set-up’. It is a proper angling guiding service that has operated around the bass fishery in this country for six years now.

Whilst this post maybe written around SEAi - it’s really much more than that. Here in Ireland we have a bass fishery to rival any in Europe or indeed the world. However we as anglers seem to pay scant attention to the protection, exploitation, development and the conservation of the species.

Its time, as IRISH sea anglers, to start thinking constructively and positively about the future. To think about and act about this resource and those that need protection, resources that have the potential for continued development on one hand and exploitation on the other.

Rather than ignoring the in-action, rather than ignoring the inability or lack of will to prosecute illegal offenders, (this only empowers them to continue), rather than listening to and following blindly the rapidly emerging experts - you must realise as Irish Sea anglers that this fishery is here and needs your support. Nobody else can do it!

It’s down to you to drive and change the in-action, to ask questions about protection, to do something and realise the value of what we have - the potential, the expertise, the challenges, and to acknowledge these things and do more, for ourselves and by ourselves, for a change and indeed, the future of bass angling in this country.

Thank you Pat, Andy and Gerry.

Bass fly fishing Ireland - P10 - Where should I fish?

Here we are a third of the way through the SWFF section already. Looking back over the previous six sections I can see where some posts need to be re-written and indeed more information added. That will be done in time, at the moment I want to keep moving forward at the rate of one posting a month. That will mean by next Spring we should be up to post number 14 or 15.

SWFF - Part 1 of 21 General Fly Choices

SWFF – Part 2 of 21 – The instinct of the decision

SWFF – Part 3 of 21 – Where is my fly

SWFF- Part 4 of 21 – Choosing a fly

SWFF – Part 5 of 21 – Fly-casting for saltwater

SWFF – Part 6 of 21 – Choosing the right fly lines

SWFF – Part 7 of 21 – Where should I Fish

Where should I fish?

In the articles section of this blog you can find detailed descriptions of how you can attempt saltwater fly fishing both on the The Rocky Shore and within and around estuaries Estuaries. Perhaps you can use these quick links to access the articles at a later time,

Looking at all that water around the coast its a big place – this is where you are going to flyfish and isn’t it a pretty big place? What I want you to look for and indentify are places like

The mouth of estuaries.
Rocky headlands.
Points of land that stick into the sea.
Long stretches of beach that suddenly stop.
Deep patches of water that lie close to shore.
Where rivers flow into the sea.

Circle these places on your map – these are all possible fish holding areas. Pick some that are relatively close together but offer different types of topography and concentrate on those. Open your tide tables look for the next low tide, and then when the time is right pop the children in the car and tell your wife/partner that you are taking the smallies on a picnic/treasure hunt, hence the map and compass. Remember you will often be travelling to these places early in the morning so a long distance journey is not recommended. Look at the maps in the weather section of the newspaper and note the wind direction. When you arrive at low tide look for deep pools, rocky patches and reefs, holes and gullies, water colour, try to imagine when the tide is rising where does the water flow and how does it flow around and within the area. Are there any ambush sites where predatory fish will be lying in wait? Is it possible to access these areas as the tide is rising and are these areas a safe place to fish? Note what way the wind is blowing and how is this going to affect your casting ability/range/accuracy. Keep visiting the areas with the children or for long romantic walks with your loved one and as the year moves closer to summer, activity in the water should increase, baitfish should appear, sea trout, bass and mullet will show themselves on or above the surface. Keep constant notes of wind direction, temperature, tides, phases of the moon, natural activity. These notes will, over time become your fishing reference

Of the areas that you have chosen perhaps two or three will have most if not all of the following

A strong geographical feature – like rocks, headland, or river mouth etc.
Will have displayed high levels of natural activity – bird life, and fish life.
Is prone to tidal currents like slacks and fast eddies
Is easy to access and safe to fish
Is fishable in different wind directions.

This is where you are going to fish. Let these three places be your own private hunting grounds, get to know them like your back garden. Begin to feel comfortable there in all conditions and begin to anticipate the effects of the combinations of wind, tide, and temperature on your fishing environment and the wildlife that inhabits the area. There is always the opportunity with time spent at the water either fishing or simply observing to add to that vast database that is necessary for success. For instance, you will learn that a sudden drop in temperature (by two degrees or more) or a sudden change in wind direction, or a slight combination and change of these factors will turn fish off for a while and make them harder to catch. Weather will also play havoc with your casting and mood, its difficult to get motivated at times but no one else can make you pick up that rod and get out there!

Next Month (October) - When should I fish?

Jump for your lives

A week in September

letters and phone calls etc

I met some people at the weekend who spoke to me about their frustation at not having had any reply to their letters or phone calls regarding illegal bass fishing in Wexford. This is nothing new and all I can say to you is to continue to send the letters, make the phone calls, make copies of them and send them to politicians and anyone else whom you can think of !