dodders
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 11, 2021
- Messages
- 202
- Reaction score
- 1,053
- Points
- 93
- Location
- SE Cornwall
- Favourite Fishing
- Shore
Most of my local open water marks are a bit lumpy at the moment with no sign of anything different for the foreseeable. Some will probably say Bassy, but last time I got weeded out and didn’t fancy a repeat.
Last night fished a very sheltered spot from high to low which coincided with darkness. It’s the sort of spot you don’t want to go near in the daytime as you’ll be surrounded by people, especially with it being half term. There used to be a few thornbacks from this area, but they are now a bit thin on the ground, but live in hope.
I had no live-bait, so I fished with big baits of frozen squid, bluey and mackerel on drop-down pulleys with circle hooks as the pennel. Fishing for whatever came along.
Forecast was for heavy showers, and just as I was about to cast out, realised I had left my coat in the car….20 mins wasted as I left my gear unattended and trotted back to the car!
This turned out to be one of those nights where I hardly had time for a cup of coffee. First cast, within seconds tips banging and out comes a strap of about 3lb. This continued on both rods, with a strap every time, albeit they were of a decent size to pull back a bit, all over 3lb.
Half way through the ebb I hooked up on something which was obviously bigger, and then all began to get solid. I managed a bit more line but eventually It was stuck solid. I could still feel the fish thumping but couldn’t move it. 10 mins of solid pressure with 20lb line didn’t work, so let the line slack whilst I had a coffee and tightened from a different angle – rock solid. The next thing was strange. Decided it was time to pull for a break, so got my piece of wood to wrap the line around and began to walk backwards and there was no resistance. Reeled in my rig, hooks and all? (fish moved and got rid of hooks in the few seconds before I went to pull for a break??)
Next cast, had an absolute screamer, the multi’s were set on ratchet and it just flew. By the time I got to the rods maybe 10 yards of line had gone. Big fish on, but in light of the last finding snags I gave it some real stick, but it was a big weight on the end. Got it in ¾ way and ping – Gone. Bitten through the 60lb amnesia. Decent conger I guess.
Ended the night with several eels up to 8-06, a couple of doggies and a couple of pouting.
Nearly came a cropper when packing up. One headlight had packed in, the other was quite old so I was trying to be economical with light as I walked back to the tripod with my rod. Suddenly I was flying forwards with rod in hand towards a large rock. This has happened before and my only thought is for the bloody rod. So, in that split second, mid air, I threw the rod away from the rock, giving up my only hope of breaking the fall and hit the rock hard with my belly. It was like a self inflicted Heimlich maneuver. Luckily there was no-one about to hear my very loud scream!
Main thing is no damage to the rod, and I survived without any noticeable damage
Last night fished a very sheltered spot from high to low which coincided with darkness. It’s the sort of spot you don’t want to go near in the daytime as you’ll be surrounded by people, especially with it being half term. There used to be a few thornbacks from this area, but they are now a bit thin on the ground, but live in hope.
I had no live-bait, so I fished with big baits of frozen squid, bluey and mackerel on drop-down pulleys with circle hooks as the pennel. Fishing for whatever came along.
Forecast was for heavy showers, and just as I was about to cast out, realised I had left my coat in the car….20 mins wasted as I left my gear unattended and trotted back to the car!
This turned out to be one of those nights where I hardly had time for a cup of coffee. First cast, within seconds tips banging and out comes a strap of about 3lb. This continued on both rods, with a strap every time, albeit they were of a decent size to pull back a bit, all over 3lb.
Half way through the ebb I hooked up on something which was obviously bigger, and then all began to get solid. I managed a bit more line but eventually It was stuck solid. I could still feel the fish thumping but couldn’t move it. 10 mins of solid pressure with 20lb line didn’t work, so let the line slack whilst I had a coffee and tightened from a different angle – rock solid. The next thing was strange. Decided it was time to pull for a break, so got my piece of wood to wrap the line around and began to walk backwards and there was no resistance. Reeled in my rig, hooks and all? (fish moved and got rid of hooks in the few seconds before I went to pull for a break??)
Next cast, had an absolute screamer, the multi’s were set on ratchet and it just flew. By the time I got to the rods maybe 10 yards of line had gone. Big fish on, but in light of the last finding snags I gave it some real stick, but it was a big weight on the end. Got it in ¾ way and ping – Gone. Bitten through the 60lb amnesia. Decent conger I guess.
Ended the night with several eels up to 8-06, a couple of doggies and a couple of pouting.
Nearly came a cropper when packing up. One headlight had packed in, the other was quite old so I was trying to be economical with light as I walked back to the tripod with my rod. Suddenly I was flying forwards with rod in hand towards a large rock. This has happened before and my only thought is for the bloody rod. So, in that split second, mid air, I threw the rod away from the rock, giving up my only hope of breaking the fall and hit the rock hard with my belly. It was like a self inflicted Heimlich maneuver. Luckily there was no-one about to hear my very loud scream!
Main thing is no damage to the rod, and I survived without any noticeable damage
