Tough times in Wexford

But Martin keeps on coming up with the fish.

Bass fishing Wexford -

Martin Allison – Scotland, kicked off his four day stay this morning. We decided to go soft as Martin hasn’t had much exposure to the techniques and methods used.

The pin tail is a soft jerk from Illex with a ringed section over the last 2 cm of the body then finished with a short needle which vibrates at the slightest stimulus. This is the perfect model for weightless or drop shot fishing and is best worked slowly through weed beds or on a light jig head in clear water or when the fishing is particularly difficult.

I rigged the pintail on a Texas jig head. This head gives you all the advantages of a Texas style rig combined with all the presentations of a jig head.

The triangular shaped head gives you two key advantages:

1) Stability and excellent presentation of the bait on the bottom

2) It helps with a swimming jig action on the retrieve.

The Texan hook benefits from the patented “Aeropoint” system and is made from strong wire with an extra large gape to guarantee a better hook penetration and hook hold.

Martin took a few moments to get into his stride and after a short warm up we were into fish in pleasant sunshine and broken cloud. We took and missed several fish – all part of the game.

We changed colours and the range of the jig head weight throughout the session and tide moving from 1.8 through the 3.5 and onto 5.5 grammes.

Colour choices were chartreuse tail, blue w/Holo, and pearl white.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illex soft baits and jig heads are available at Henrys Tackle and SEAi

We could be doing something similar in this country BUT...

We are curtailed as usual, and we haven't got the balls to use Irish people working on the ground in the industry for years to help promote it. No, we leave that up to 'experts' from elsewhere.

read this interesting article here

Is Wexford's biodiversity an economic engine ?

June weather summary 2011

Unsettled weather in June led to almost all stations recording above average rainfall amounts for the time of year, especially in the south. Shannon Airport experienced its wettest June since 1998, while due to thundery downpours in Belmullet on the 21st, the highest daily rainfall for the month of 34.7mm was recorded, its highest at the station for June in 25 years. Mean temperatures this month were lower than normal for June, with temperatures across the country being around 1°C below average. Shannon Airport, Valentia Observatory, Roche’s Point, Dublin Airport and Belmullet all reported their coldest June since 1972.

Almost all maximum temperatures for June were recorded on the 3rd, during the period of high pressure at the start of the month, while the majority of minimum temperatures were recorded between the 9th and 12th, when the country was affected by cool northwesterlies. The minimum air temperature of 0.5°C at Mullingar on the 10th was the lowest recorded for June in 20 years at the station, while both Valentia Observatory and Claremorris had their lowest minimum temperatures recorded since 1991, with values of 4.6°C and 1.0°C respectively. Grass minimum temperatures recorded in the Dublin area on the 10th were the lowest for June in over 40 years.

Despite below average temperatures, sunshine for the month was above normal everywhere, but it was still the dullest June since 2005 at Knock Airport with 134 hours reported. The highest daily sunshine was at Casement Aerodrome on the 3rd with 15.9 hours, while the value of 13.5 hours at Cork Airport on the 3rd was its lowest June maximum daily sunshine since 2003.

Cistin Eile-A great Wexford restaurant

We took a fish last week (see post below) and we had it cooked specially in a local Wexford restaurant by Chef Warren Gillen. Jobst, Selby and John really enjoyed another aspect of the Wexford fishing. See a review of Warrens restaurant below.

Warren Gillen has a well-earned following in the South-East and many happy diners who remember his previous restaurant in Wexford Town, La Riva, will be delighted to see him back as proprietor-chef of Cistin Eile.

A long, narrow premises on several levels separated by a few steps, it's a simple little place with nothing wasted on the decor - green gingham style oil cloths on the tables (but good glassware and china) - and the focus very firmly on excellent food, pleasant, attentive service and good value.

Reception is friendly and prompt - Warren also greets his customers himself and later checks on them at each table, as has always been his way – and new arrivals immediately feel at home.

Warren is a great supporter of local and artisan producers and his short, interesting menus have a sense of place and promise contemporary Irish food with a rustic tone.

A speciality of Tony Butler’s black pudding with apple purée and cabbage salad makes a particularly pleasing starter, and you will find dishes not often seen on other menus and inspired by tradition, such as grilled Doyle’s corned beef sandwich with onion relish, or liver & onions with grilled bacon & porter jus.

Fish cooking is deceptively simple in the hands of this accomplished chef and, whatever he is cooking – Meyler’s natural smoked haddock chowder, perhaps, or grilled hake with broccoli, salted alomonds and orange butter sauce - his skill is in producing dishes that are richly layered with flavours yet always enhance the delicious seasonal (and, often, less expensive) ingredients he has so carefully selected, and never seeks to overpower.

This small restaurant is serving the best of contemporary Irish food prepared by a gifted chef who enthusiastically promotes local ingredients, and merits wider recognition.

With an outstanding kitchen backed up by well-informed and pleasant staff, and offering great value for money, the world will surely beat a path to his door.

Wine is supplied by Jim Neville of Wellingtonbridge, Co Wexford, whose brother has a vineyard in Langeudoc, Pat Neville Domaine Aonghusa. The list is quite short but will be added to in time; meanwhile it is very adequate.

Another day at the bass fishing office

Its not a nine to five nor a Monday to Friday job. Its the greatest and the worst job in the world and at times I know if I stopped it wouldn't and couldn't be for long.

I’m sitting here now marking off the days that have already passed by since March. Remembering each one and the highs and the lows.

So many hours spent securing those days, worrying about them living in anticipation and hope and more anticipation. Then they are gone and I’m left with all the experiences.

I’m stopping for a few days now as its been a bit hectic – John, Paul, David, Ray, Jobst, Selby, Fintan………..its time to think a little, recoup for a few days tidy the gear and put the memories down, catch up on mail etc. Not quite half way yet not quite leaky smelly waders and broken gear repaired yet not quite panda eyes Ibuprofen and red bull breakfast time yet! Thanks so far.