Plugging for Bass from the Shore

[JuanPablo]

Hi Guys

I normally do a lot of plugging for bass on the gower coastline in south wales. Will detail what methods I use and tackle but am also keen to hear what works for you around the rest of the country!

My usual setup consists of an 11ft purpose built plugging rod designed by Ed Schliffke (makes angling videos from cornwall). I first tried this rod when Ed came up and fished with us at Worms Head. Its got a gutsy mid-section and so is ideal for heavy ground bass plugging but on the flip-side the tip is light enough to flick out the lightest of plugs.
Over the shallower ground my favourite plug is the jointed thunderstick in silver or silver/blue. it is heavier than the floating rapala's of the same size (about j11 size) and it only dives to 2.5ft . if you stop retrieving it will float back to the surface. this plug is made by the same manufacturers of the surface popper.
For deeper work I find the Rapala Countdown to be good. At these deeper marks distance isnt necessary but depth is. The Countdown sinks at a rate of 1ft per second. You can count the plug down and if you have a sound knowledge of the mark you will be able to work the plug across the top of the weed beds. when you start to retrieve at a steady pace the lure will stop sinking and maintain a level depth (unless you speed up or slow down the retrieve).
Because of the marks being very rough ground I always use at least 8lb line and this has not even spooked mullet away on the calmest of evenings! Normally use a 10lb line. Some people say that attaching the plug directly to the mainline using a special ''rapala lure knot'' is the only way to get the lure to work properly...i have found this to be untrue and find that line links can be a problem when tied in this manner. i use a tiny berkley clip with a breaking strain of 45lb and it does not affect the lure action or fish catching abilities at all! this link makes it much easier to swap plugs if necessary.
I use a Shimano 5010GT Baitrunner as a reel. The baitrunner facility (originally designed for searing carp runs) is absolutely ideal for bass fishing (the bigger baitrunners are great for fishing crab on the bottom) and despite being a rear drag reel the gears have been designed to cope with double figure carp and catfish so they are more than capable of bassing in the sea.
If the bass arent showing its always worth switching the plug to a darker colour or one with orange / gold as I find pollack seem to target this colour more?!

hope this helps - please share your tactics as i know things work differently across the country

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Very interesting read - well done

[steve devon]

good info

[kiwimarty]

A great helpful post. Thanks.

[JuanPablo]

thanks guys. has anybody else been plugging for bass before? veals angling do a very good bass video (about 2.5hrs long!) which describes all about using plugs for bass along with all other methods of catching them. Ed Schliffke also does a brilliant bass video which shows plugging indepth aswell.

[tommy a]

Is plugging just limited to rock fishing or is it for beach fishing as well. I dont cast out that far but was thinking of having one line with worm on and another with a plug to just throw out and wind it in - correct ?

Cheers

[JuanPablo]

yeah it will work on storm beaches really well but the only thing with plugging is that you need to work the entire beach till u find the fish. unless your lucky enough to catch an onshore breeze more often that not its VERY difficult to punch the plug out into the teeth of a south westerly on a storm beach so get in the water about waist deep and just cast across the water tables - this is more than deep enough for the bass but its not easy to do while bottom fishing aswell. if you dont hit fish in the first few casts of the plug you move along a bit and so on....

[derby4life]

i gave this ago today JuanPablo at borth but it was so windy and the water was chocolate but i had to go caus i'd just had a delivery 24 plugs and was dying to try them for bass....so i will have to wait till next year now

[Simon TorbayFishing]

Very nice info!

[derby4life]

this is hoq rough it was