Si-fly
Well-known member
Well I guess like lots of you, a mix of bad weather and lockdown rules, has curtailed my fishing somewhat... Not that I've been that bothered as its been generally dire on my local marks!.....But we all need to get out, so last Friday I went to a quiet local spot out the way.
As expected it was quiet, the only other car there was a local lad. After a quick chat at a safe distance we were both loaded up and off through the mud to our chosen spots.
Rays were the target, with the flat conditions, and I soon had a couple of squid baits sailing out as far as I could... Hopefully into a distant mud gulley.
It was quiet as expected, and as the tide dropped down to low I could at least get closer to that distant gulley... This is a bonus of the Bristol channel... Fish a big tide, and you can get a long way out at low compared to a neap, simply by walking over exposed reefs and sand.
Fresh baits went out for the flood and not long after I noticed a bit of slack, I tightened back up, and then it went slightly slack again!... It may have been the building tide moving the lead, but just to be sure I tightened down and wound hard.
The rod arched over and I had what felt like a ray kiting in the tide.... The odd kick gave a slight hope it was a cod, but after a bit up popped a thorny.... First of the year, and a welcome sight on a cold day.
Out went a fresh bait and it wasn't long before the ratchet went and the 2nd ray of the day came in..... Again it pretended to be a cod for a while... Until it popped up under the rod!
It was now getting pretty cold out there and getting pushed off the reef I had a third and final ray.... Nothing big but a nice day out and a bend in the Fireblades ?
Cheers all ?
As expected it was quiet, the only other car there was a local lad. After a quick chat at a safe distance we were both loaded up and off through the mud to our chosen spots.
Rays were the target, with the flat conditions, and I soon had a couple of squid baits sailing out as far as I could... Hopefully into a distant mud gulley.
It was quiet as expected, and as the tide dropped down to low I could at least get closer to that distant gulley... This is a bonus of the Bristol channel... Fish a big tide, and you can get a long way out at low compared to a neap, simply by walking over exposed reefs and sand.
Fresh baits went out for the flood and not long after I noticed a bit of slack, I tightened back up, and then it went slightly slack again!... It may have been the building tide moving the lead, but just to be sure I tightened down and wound hard.
The rod arched over and I had what felt like a ray kiting in the tide.... The odd kick gave a slight hope it was a cod, but after a bit up popped a thorny.... First of the year, and a welcome sight on a cold day.
Out went a fresh bait and it wasn't long before the ratchet went and the 2nd ray of the day came in..... Again it pretended to be a cod for a while... Until it popped up under the rod!
It was now getting pretty cold out there and getting pushed off the reef I had a third and final ray.... Nothing big but a nice day out and a bend in the Fireblades ?
Cheers all ?
