Another blank out.

[TerryW]

Has anyone caught anything in the Lepe or Browndown area from a boat in the last few months.

Just had my third blank and I'm wondering if I need to start thinking about going further afield. . .

I've been watching the inshore trawlers in the Lepe area. They don't seem to bring anything up in their nets. Is the area exhausted now?

Terry

[Norfolkboy]

Hope your luck comes in soon, Terry

[TerryW]

I am wondering if the trawlers have hoovered the solent out?

Didn't blank all Summer and Autumn. Loadsa small stuff that went back but never biteless days for two rods and fresh baits every twenty minutes.

Very odd.

Maybe I need to get away from Southampton Water and try the Needles or the Nab area? A good excuse for a nice long run. Very expensive on juice though. . . .

[Gremlin]

Fished 3 hours tonight over high at Hayling. Very mild and calm.
There's no weed here (OR COD!).

Plenty of small whiting (despite these baits on 3/0s) ...



but encouragingly, 3 plate-size dabs!

[TerryW]

Originally Posted by Norfolkboy

Hope your luck comes in soon, Terry

I don't think luck is my problem. Luck might see the odd blank. . . .

I must be doing something stupid. With a boat you can easily move, get out of the tide, go to spots where different species are likely to be found.

There isn't any good excuse for "blanking" except not understanding what is going wrong and I think this is where I am at . . . .

I have learned not to fish strong tides. Those nice people in Bells of Hythe have giving me one or two good spots for Summer. But maybe I am doing something really dozy. I use Rag and Squid a lot.

I've been using two 4" squid on a 6-0 hook on a running ledger with the upper most squid held in place by a small loop to maintain a nice bait presentation. That worked for me when I fished off Harwich a lot (I used to work out that way).

Do you think I need Lugworm to be in the fish? or smaller baits (is my bait scaring the fish away)?

Terry

[Gremlin]

Merry Christmas, TerryW!

I fished my back yard last night (Weds) and got a codling (no great shakes!) on my last cast .... after a lot of perseverence!

Seems to me you are fishing a specialist bait and targeting largish cod.

Now, there's a few of us around who knew that was a good idea when there were 'more and bigger' fishes available to us.

Now there isn't, and you must adapt accordingly ...
decide on your tide and venue;
sort out your target species and fish accordingly.

You'll almost always catch.
Remember the matchmans' motto ... 'I'll catch whatever is in front of me!'

For squid, I keep this up my sleeve from boat or shore ....



I keep producing these 'samples' and submitting to the major mags ....
they seem disinterested; so I now give out useful stuff fer free.
If we all did that, I guess mags would disappear.

2009 resolution ... I must rite a burk!

[TerryW]

You make the bait look good enough to eat. If I had seen that earlier today I'd have had it for the Christmas dinner starter.

I've been using a similar set-up to your pictures using rag instead of lug. Probably not as tidy as your set-up and without feeding the worm into the squid. I don't use an upper hook but just make a loop and pop it over the squid's tail (thin end). This is a bit simpler and doesn't give trouble with the upper-hook foul-hooking. I hate that when I am returning stuff.

I like the idea of extending the time you get a juice trail with the lug worm and the slow-release from the squid mantle. Very clever. My hat is off to your enginuity.

I usually, fish with two rods. One set up with smaller baits on 4/0 hooks and one set-up for large cod (6/0 hooks with one large or two medium squid).

Last trip I caught a 6" pout on 6" of squid? The pout went down as a live bait on the 6/0 hook that had the squid on it. I thought it worth a try but nothing obliged.

I'll try smaller combination baits and get some lug. I am toying with the idea of doing the Needles or Bembridge Ledges soon. The days are a bit short for long trips and I am a bit nervous tonning around after dark. So, it will have to be a very well planned event (more of a commando raid than a fishing trip).

Thanks for the great advice. I'll order a copy of your book as soon as it is in print. Keep up the good work.

Terry.

[Gremlin]

Keep in touch by email/PM and I'll dig you some bait and catch YOUR fish if you give me a chance ...