Daniel Welch has secured an early lead in Combe Martin SAC’s lure competition tempting this 57cm bass on a Lipper 90 lure.
CMSAC Lure Competition
Daniel Welch 2 bass. 107cm
Ross Stanway 1 bass 53cm
Bass off Ilfracombe
Daniel Welch has been enjoying some great sport off Ilfracombe landing bass and pollock.Fiiish Black Minnows and Penn Conflict Inshore rod doing the business.
Combe Martin SAC Lure Competition standings at present
Ross Stanway bass – Total 53cm
Daniel Welch bass – 50cm
Lure Competition Leader
Ross Stanway has set the standard in Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs lure fishing competition boating a bass of 53cm.
The competition runs until October 29th and is sponsored by Ilfracombes High Street Tackle.
CHANGING LURES TO CATCH MORE BASS ?
I enjoyed a short evening session over low water recently that prompted me to ask myself a question? I started the session fishing a shallow boulder strewn shoreline bumping a megabass soft plastic lure through the shallow water. After half an hour searching familair ground as the tide pushed in I had nothing to show for my efforts. As is often the case I followed my instinct and moved to some deeper water thinking that the bass were too wary to come in close as it was very calm and clear.
After scrambling a hundred yards over boulders I cast out the same lure and on the first retrieve had a fish hit the lure close in without hooking up. A couple more casts resulted in nothing. I changed over to a an IMA hard plastic lure and cast this out working it back briskly. After two or three casts I was jolted into focus as a fish hit the lure hard. After a short spirited tussle I released a bass of a couple of pounds.
A few more casts brought no response so again I changed lures. A black Fillish minnow was sent out and after two casts another bass of simular size. These were the only two fish caught but I ponder as to what difference the change of lure made. On some sessions I frequently change lures for various reasons. Depth of water, water clarity, suspended weed and matching what I think the bass are feeding on.
The question I asked myself is did changing the lure result in me catching the second bass or would I have caught it anyway? There are so many variations that can make the difference in a each fishing trip and much of what I do is driven by instinct. The size, colour and design of lures undoubtedly makes a diffrence but how much and how many lures does an angler need? With limited time to experiment I only carry a small selection of lures that I have confidence in introducing the occasional new pattern when I am tempted at the tackle shop. I suspect that lures catch more anglers than fish. If you asked ten anglers their top ten lures you would undoubtedly get ten different lists?
Shallow water bass
It is always good when that first bass of the season hits the lure! I have not invested much time in lure fishing for bass so far this year as I have been focussing on other species. My first session after bass a couple of weeks ago was thwarted by dense weed that made fishing the shallow ground I enjoy fishing virtually impossible. The latest session saw clear water and a gentle wave hitting the shoreline. I love this visual fishing in very shallow boulder strewn water bringing a soft plastic through very shallow water. The bass will move in with water just covering their backs and when they hit the lure there is a flurry of spray as the fish fight hard on a tight line clearly visible as they struggle before being brought to the shoreline.
It’s Bass on the Lure Season!
Combe Martin SAC member Jack Philips got his lure fishing season underway with this 48cm bass that was tempted on a 5 ” Megabass spindle worm.
Conditions are good and the water is warming up so CMSAC members will start to register fish for their Summer long lure fishing competition sponsored by High Street Tackle.
The New Patchinko 125 Colours Are Arriving…..
After a very long wait the latest new Xorus colours are now available in the Patchinko 125 – we expect them to arrive here around 11th May…there is only a limited number available and they are available now to pre order…..
The stock pictures do not do proper justice to them in reality so I have taken this picture above using models we already have in the shop in the relevant colours, as follows from the top – Spring Minnow, French Wakasagi and Metal Ayu.
Lure Fishing Competition for Combe Martin SAC members
High Street tackle are sponsoring a lure fishing competition for all paid up members of Combe Martin SAC – http://cmsac.co.uk
Regular updates on North Devon Angling News and on Combe Martin SACs Facebook Page
High Street Tackle carries a vast range of the latest lures to tempt both anglers and bass,
High Street Tackle Publish New Blog
High Street Tackle New Blog Post Published…
Read High Street Tackles latest blog post here – https://www.highstreettackle.co.uk/blogs/Match-The-Hatch–Spring for some spring time inspiration/ideas.
Our blog facility is quite new and will be updated as regularly as new products and general information determine. So far we have published some useful articles covering the following subjects
and a couple more specific new product reviews.
As always feel to contact us should you have any queries…..
New Rods from Penn – Review From High Street Tackle
From the new 2022 range from Penn there was this range of rods – the Conflict Inshore…with the pandemic related absence of a trade again in 2021 I had to purchase these blind, just based on specification and instinct as well as some assurance from the sales rep. When they arrived I have to admit there were 2 thoughts that immediately crossed my mind. The first was ‘wow’ and the second was ‘why didn’t I order more?’
With reference to the second thought firstly – this has been rectified and more have been ordered….
Now let me explain the first thought…I am of the opinion and have even happily mentioned to the sales rep on more than one occasion that whilst I am a big fan of many of the rods across the range from Penn they have never really been a brand synonymous with the types of lure rods that are favoured by most UK customers for modern lure fishing….Japanese style, slim, fast action blanks with small lightweight guides – well, it has to be said that with the Conflict Inshore range this is now old news!
Now for some finer detail and better introductions to why I think this is such a good range of rods – do note though that none of this is meant to sound like one of those ‘best rods since sliced bread’ things though…keep reading and you’ll hopefully see what I am aiming at here. In the Conflict Inshore range there are 2 sub ranges if you like – known as the Conflict Inshore and the Conflict XR Inshore. The Conflict range is based around as the catalogue states, an extra fast Japanese style low diameter blank constructed with carbon X-Wrap technology. Finished off with SW proof K -type guides and VSS style reel seats this range comprises 9 different models ranging in price from £69.99-£89.99.
The Conflict XR range is different in that the blank is of a higher quality carbon and the use of Fuji Alconite K-type guides and a Fuji VSS reel seat. In this range there are 7 different models to choose from with the price range being £124.99-£149.99…..so here is the reason for the first part of my excitement about these rods then is that I am more than happy and confident that they fit perfectly within their price brackets as a worthy consideration for customer purchases. As an example, for those who know me will know that my favoured line up for a so called entry level rod for general lure fishing was previously based around the following rods, Favourite Cobalt 902MH, HTO Lure Game HLG27MH or a Major Craft Ceana CNS 802MH, well now you can confidently throw in the Penn Conflict Inshore 9′ 30g or 8’2 45g for 2 examples.
The second exciting bit for me, is the inclusion in both ranges of models aimed at boat lure fishing, again doing this the modern way! Shorter rods comprising a short butt and long tip design/construction. I know there are some very nice rods out there such as those offered by Smith, Tenryu and the HTO Nebula SP but for those customers who are looking for something a bit more entry level or not requiring such a big budget as it may not get used that frequently for instance, now we have something to fill that gap leading us to a straightforward conclusion to this article, these rods come from a very reputable brand with good availability and superb back up service.
Should you need any further information then please feel free to contact us……
The Conflict Inshore can be purchased here https://www.highstreettackle.co.uk/penn-conflict-inshore-spinning-rod-4702-p.asp
The Conflict XR Inshore can be purchased here https://www.highstreettackle.co.uk/penn-conflict-xr-inshore-spinning-rod-4707-p.asp
Daniel Welch takes lead in CMSAC lure competition.
Daniel Welch has taken the lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing competition that is sponsored by High Street Tackle. The competition ends on September 5th with presentation of prizes coinciding with the clubs annual fun fishing event on Ilfracombe Pier.
1st Daniel Welch – bass – 72cm (Boat)
2nd Wayne Thomas – bass – 67cm
3rd – Daniel Welch – bass – 62cm
High Street tackle sponsor Combe Martin SAC,s annual lure fishing competition that runs from July 1st until September 5th. The competition is open to paid up club members with a first prize of up £200 of quality lure tackle with £100 for the runner up.
Longest bass – To tip of the tail, overall length.