Post by bass on Jul 15, 2006 8:01:06 GMT 1
:)After an aborted trip to fish Hythe in kent (wind was a very strong south westerly) we decided to fish near some rocks at Folkestone.Although the conditions weren't perfect and it was quite rough we were able to use our light setups.Bait was Mackerel which were cut into large sections (about three baits from one fish).After carefully attaching a tail section to the pennel I cast about 30 yds to an area of flat rock (we had fished the gulleys earlier but had problems with crabs).After an unaventful half hour I reeled in and feeling rather dejected went through the usual ritual of removing half a ton of wrack only to find my offering to the spikey gods had been munched by .... you guessed it....crabs.After the usual "we should've gone down the pub,"and then the reasuring "mind you Bass always strike when you least expect it,"we decided to carry on "After all there's still about an hour and twenty till high water"we said.A further half hour passed and again another shed full of wrack to clear off my line.My mate wasn't doing any better.A further cast to the flat rocks with another tail section,check the line isnt running over any rocks,check its going to run smoothly through my small tripod,rod nice and low,engage freespool,set ratchet,perfect.A nice clear moon,ferrys in the channel lit up like Christmas trees,the lighthouse at the end of Admiralty pier in Dover,screeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam !!!!!!my thaughts are rudely interupted by.... A run!with my heart beating in my throat,I carefully lift the rod from its rest. The reel still screams as Im holding the rod and shows no sign of stopping.Pay out line,engage spool,switch off ratchet,rods starting to bend STRIKE......HES ON!After a short tussle and just when we got him to the base of our rocks he makes a successful dive into them.I let out some line and wait a few secs,"hes off again see if you can lift him, mind you dont slip and squash my fish" shortly after my mate emerges from the gloom holding a 4lb Bass.Not a huge fish but when you haven't caught old spikey since last November,very welcome and great for the old confidence.Its incredible how much confidence plays as a factor in catching Bass.If it were available in bottles it would be as important as the peeler crab to the Bass angler.As anglers we all go through periods when it seems we cant even catch a cold let alone a fish,then you have a good day, confidence is restored.Im now reading my copy of Hooked on Bass.....Maybe next weekend i'll catch that double.