Effort and Reward.

I have to admit that adjusting to freshwater lure angling on slow rivers has been challenging since I moved. 

Although I grew up fishing here on the Suffolk/Essex border, I fished very differently back then and to top that the area has changed a great deal. Stretches of river once fish-able without the need for clubs are now out of bounds for one reason or another. The waterways are so busy now and some areas are less accessible due to housing developments.

I am also adapting my light game style for a different set of species which has been harder than I anticipated at times, I have put in some work though and am yielding some pleasing results. 

One area of particular enjoyment is Chub fishing. Now I haven't landed anything of note as yet, I have lost a few decent Chub but that's what all anglers say right!

Nevertheless I am really enjoying casting tiny plugs, both divers and surface bugs for the warey Chub lurking under the overhangs of the Stour. I find it such a buzz to get a decent cast in as a Chub smashes a beetle imitation on touch down, its a thrill indeed.

I do really need to find some deeper water though as I keep losing better fish to the dense weed mid river!

I have also been getting a few Perch and small Pike on mini wobblers and the like. I know many favour Dropshot and general soft plastics for Perch especially, I just do like using mini plugs!

As much as I miss the variety of Wales I have to admit I am rather enjoying some of my sessions out here and I am just going to use the time to refine and build knowledge of the overall ecosystem, I can only envisage good things for my Angling by doing this in the long term. Even if some of the results aren't quite what I would like right NOW, building angling skill is always the right course of action right?! 

I shall be out at the weekend and I shall hope to share some more findings, but we shall see hey! 

Until then. 

Tight lines. 

Madeira - The Return

Recently I had a long overdue meet with these nutters;

As you may remember Scott and I had visited Madeira before and we have been keen to sample the fishing during the warmer Months and see if it would be any easier. Furthermore, after Gran Canaria Scott, Ross and I wanted to do another trip and we agreed to fish on this amazing Portuguese Island again, although a first for Ross.

The angling was a mix of bait and lure styles although I for the majority stuck to lure, understanding and meaning I would catch less but fishing on my terms nonetheless.

Well I have to say It was a blast and challenging!

I thought it would be easier than it was in summer but boy did you have to work for it at times. I personally elected for Jig fishing mostly and picked off some spirited Light Game targets.

Pargo on a HTO Shore Jig

Saddled Sea Bream on a 10g Shout Dangan jig

Debio on a 7g HTO Shore Jig

A larger Derbio on a 7g HTO Shore Jig

Ross and I with White Trevally, both using HTO jigs

Pargo on a 3g Apia Seiryu jig

Micro Pargo on a HTO Shore jig

I did a small amount of drop shooting too which also rewarded me with a new species; the African Striped Grunt:

Along with some Lure game I did employ some bait too with good success, firstly on a boat belonging to an existing friend of Ross's who we bumped into by random chance. We fished live Squid at 120m for Dentex which was just super cool and I can't thank Nuno enough for being afforded this awesome privilege!

Free-lined prawn for Derbio and Salema (another new species):

And lastly, dead-baited Bogue for my first ever Stingray:

All in all a cracking holiday with the lads and certainly another memorable one.

Tight Lines.

It's been a long time!

Not exactly a dope beat to step to but a change in rhythm for myself in recent years.

I've neglected my blog and to a degree my angling as other priorities took precedent. 

I have since my last post Moved away from Wales for a time and to Essex, I don't think this is the place for details but those that know me, know why.

So Essex isn't a patch on North Wales for lure game, mostly anglers here appear to have never grown out of making dens and like to cart about portable dens on wheel barrows 100 yards to their swims and then sleep out for over fed stock fish. There appears to be a uniform for this strange bunch too; it's  mainly drab clothing and its rather bizarre!

There is some lure game to be had though albeit mainly freshwater which entails being harassed by dog walkers, paddle boarders, kayakers and rowers. The rivers are all divided up into overpriced club venues with nonsensical politics often involved, I do so miss roaming the banks of the entire Glaslyn and seldom seeing another soul!

So here is what I have been up to:

I have had the odd trip to Wales too and another I shall do a separate post on.

I haven't really been taking so many photos as quite honestly I have been using a cheap smartphone with a crappy camera as may be evident. That will change though and I intend to fish more, at least as often as I can and update my blog better henceforth.

I don't envisage excellent things down here but I really doubt it will be permanent so we shall see how things go!

Tight lines for now.