Hi all,
some time ago (3 years) Chris Parker invited us to Wales for a spot of Bassing, now as most of you know I have never had any luck when it comes to Bass so we took Chris up on his offer, just to make the most of our trip I thought a couple of days in Lymington would round things off but more of that later.

The journey was OK except that I had one of the worst colds imaginable, it was so bad that when we were going through France I nearly turned back.

On arrival at the nearest village to Chris we phoned him to tell him where we were, the only problem was that it was impossible to say the Welsh names so we opted for the Tesco car park.

After a welcome drink it was off to bed in our digs for the next 5 days, a megga caravan, 2 bedrooms, big lounge, kitchen, toilet and shower plus the use of the washing machine and dryer.

After a leasurly breakfast Chris showed me his live sand eel set up, 3 massive tanks, 1 full of sand which acts as a filter and 2 others containing loads of live sand eels all the tanks are connected to each other with a pump to keep the water airated and circulating.

Launching the boat was a doddle, an 85 year old man with a 1953 tractor launches the boats at £8 a time and pulls them out again if you get in before 8pm, its a private slip so if you are just visiting get permission to launch yourself or pay the dosh and treat your self.

The weather was a bit naff to say the least so we could not fish the "top end" just around the corner from the launch site so it meant a trip down the Meni Straits, a round trip of about 40 odd miles.
These straits have to be one of the most dangerous places to go through, not for the faint hearted. I went through there 4 times and would not do it on my own.



The above is just a taster.

Time for some serious drifting for Bass. The terminal tackle was so simple but efficient, a Wydex hook, these are circle style hooks but with a double barb near the point. You will see the importance of these hooks later and at Lymington.
A 6ft leader with or without a tiny ball weight, light rod and fixed spool reel, free lining on the drift, what a way to fish.
A mate of Chris joined us off the banks, Chris left me on the boat to drift on my own while he went with Gareth to help haul his sand ell net.
I was drifting along ok but thought I had better start the motor as I was getting a bit close to the sand bank, the flaming motor would not start.
I knew it had to be a basic problem and it was, the engine was still in gear.
I picked Chris up with his load of fresh bait and we anchored up close to the sand bank quite close to Gareth. Gareth hauled 2 nice Bass up in what seemed like minutes but we blanked for some reason. As the tide was dropping we followed Gareth over the banks and headed for home.
No one on the other boats was catching and as evening approached the weather died down so we headed for the top end again.
A couple of drifts produced 2 nice bass, these were put in the tank and later transfered to the tanks at home (Chris's wife only eats fresh Bass and not frozen) and Pollock which were returned.
On day 2 Sonja joined us, it was still too rough to fish the top end so off we went back down the straits, Chris had a little surprise for Sonja, we stopped off at a castle on the way where Chris produced

[img]http://www.go-fishing.org/upload/files/chris&sonja.jpg[/img]



Strawberries and Champagne for breakfast (1200)
Sonja enjoyed the trip through the straits and Chris gave her a guided tour. The fishing was not too good so we went around Puffin Island. The tourists pay £10 a head for a boat trip and the only Puffin around was my breathing. There were some nice seals though

Again it was getting on to evening and the weather dropped so back to the top end and some serious drifting, this was Sonja's first sea fishing trip but she did an excellent job of hooking and landing Bass, Welsh Wahoo and Pollock.
I used my light 5 piece 6' 6" medium action (6 to 12 lb line)travel rod and had 3 Bass on 3 drifts, what a battle those fish put up on light tackle, I was well pleased with my self, Sonja and Chris.

Day 3 and due to unforseen circumstances the last days fishing.

Chris decided to push the weather and head for a mark that has a bit of a lee to it once you get there, getting there was slow as it was a bit rough. We anchored up and tried float fishing for Bream but every thing was wrong, wind against tide and rough plus the young gulls would keep picking up the floats and try to fly off with them.
We made a move and drifted a submerged rock mark, this was great fun and produced some nice Bass.

[img]http://www.go-fishing.org/upload/files/sonja&alan.jpg[/img]

We decided on an early night so after taking a couple of Lobsters and a crab out of one of Chris's pots it was off home for a BBQ



Just for Elton.

Chris does not de scale the Bass, just chucks em on the BBQ (gutted) this works a treat, try it out next time and see how well the meat is protected from sticking to the grill. That was my dinner, Lobster and a 3 lb Bass, I could'nt eat it all so had Bass sandwiches for breakfast.

For the last 2 days there was no way anyone was fishing the weather was too bad, so we went for walks and a drive up the mountains, a lovely area to visit.

I wanted to take some live sand eels down to Lymington with me and this is where the last lesson came in.
Chris had to go to work but he showed me what to do. You take a big plastic bag, his are clear and quite supple, about 2 foot across and 3 foot deep. Put about 6 inches of water in and about a dozen sand eels, now this is the best bit, you then place a thin tube leading from a liquid air bottle into the bag, squeez out all the oxygeon that you can and fill the bag with liquid oxygeon, remove the tube and tie the bag off at the neck. Place the bag of water and eels inside another bag for protection and there you have it, live sandeels for 24 to 36 hours. I loaded 3 bags up at 10am and gave one to Salar and Sonja
that evening in Lymington, the last one was released by Salar at 1600 the next day alive and kicking 30 hours later.

Sorry this may have seemed a bit long winded and there are no catch details, the actual fish seemed to take second place to a wonderfull location and great company. Thank you Chris, your lessons and advice came into use with great results the next day at Lymington.
Thank you also for the lures, the lads especially Rob Thompson were drooling when they saw them. I lost the trout one, Norrie was nearly crying when I went to put it away so had to give it to him.

Thats it except that if I get invited to go again I know we will both grab the chance.



Alan & Sonja

Great report Alan, thank you for sharing it and nice pics. Makes it very real for us. Isn't it strange that when fishing in good company and particularly from a boat among great scenery, the importance of fish seems to diminish? Nice to have, though and you seem to have had them all. Sounds like a great trip.

I'll second all of that Salar...

Lovely report Alan, great pics and tips...now all I need to do is find some live sandeels!!!

Art

Yup.. the report is up to your usual standard Alan.. excellent mate

Thanks lads, I did miss a lot out. All the joeys were caught by Sonja using Chris Goddards mini hokeyes. Thanks Chris they out fished feathers.

Chris Goddard drove down just to say helo and we met Sanctuary briefly.

Davy, it was a bit like visiting you, we did not want to leave and just loved the place as we did Lochalain.

Off to the next job so Lymington day 1 is on the agenda for the morning, Vagabond, any pics would be appreciated.

Alan

Very nice Alan. Nice pics, nice write-up and sounds like you had one terrific trip.

The water in that first pic does look a little nasty.

Glad you got over whatever disease had you down at the beginning.

Nice report sounds like you had a fantastic time.I'm jealous may well be up that way,staying at a mates cottage, in October Hint Hint

well jealous, hope amble is as good alan........ though i understand that the compnay there will not be quite as refined.

H iAlan,

Sounds like a great trip and some great fun, great write up and piccies too,

Alan, Great write up mate, your usual standard of course,...well done.

Phil, you might not have champers and strawberries at Amble, but still a very Genteel crowd you will be fishing with, if I do say so myself.... also, Alan has given me a pack of secret weapons for you to use on the wrecks....