still no mullet!!

[Leon Roskilly]

I tried a mark at Rainham today. One that I've tried unsuccesfully before.

 

There's a sloping area of weed, out to the flat estuary mud.

 

As the tide comes in, the fish work along the weed line, in very shallow water.

 

Forty minutes into the tide, I was beginning to wonder why I was bothering fishing there, when there are proven productive marks around the towns.

 

(To be honest, I've grown tired of fishing the town marks. I know them pretty well now, and it's a matter of if the fish are having it, I can catch. Else I blank. I need a bit more of a challenge now).

 

Anyway, not a sign of a fish, and I had that doom feeling.

 

Then... was it the wind wealing the surface?

 

No, there was a swirl. Fish are around!

 

And so it went.

 

I saw a number of fish inside the weed line, (perhaps attracted by my mashed bread groundbait) but not a bite

 

As the water deepened, the signs of fish disappeared too. (Were they still there, but deep, or had they moved upriver with the tide?)

 

But I'll be back there soon.

 

If there's fish around, sooner or later I'll learn how to catch them, and as I said, I need a challenge.

 

Tight Lines - leon

[Vagabond]

Is fly fishing over the weed feasible? If so its worth a try. You need a few inches of water over the weed though, 'cos that green stuff attracts your fly like a magnet

 

Mullet pulling line off fly reel - magic!

[Guest sslatter]

Any patterns you could recommend?

[Vagabond]

I usually start with an unweighted Size 14 Pheasant Tail, cos I've caught on it in several places. However, there may be an element of self-fulfilling prophecy in that as its the fly I use most.

 

I have also caught on gammarid shrimp imitations, and green nymphs.

 

Usually I only get one fish - or none! - the commotion if I do hook one puts the others off. However, just one mullet on fly makes it a special day

 

If there are maggots about in piles of rotting seaweed, a Peach Doll is worth trying - could be worth chucking a few loose-feed maggots in anyway, and perhaps nicking one on your fly like sea-trout fishers do.

 

[ 01. June 2003, 08:48 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

[Guest sslatter]

Okay. Thanks.

[Chippy]

Graham

 

Keith (that had those 19 last week, including the 8lber), was using red tag flies - a grayling pattern i believe. Might be worth a shot?

 

Paul

[Chippy]

Well I broke my recent duck of smaller fish tonight......managed to get a a skinny looking 4lb 9ozer...

[WeymouthSean]

Caught another 3/1/2lb mullet since my last post. Yes the last 4.5lb mullet did go back. I would have to be mad to eat them out of Weymouth Harbour! The only mullet I have not returned was in Spain when I had a load of Bulgian refuges all around me who looked like they were going to cut my thoat if I didn't give them the fish to eat. I did want to return the fish though!

 

Well aware of the age of these fish and the fact that they are slow growing. Thankyou!

 

Takes my running total to 7. I think I have chippy on quality rather than quanitity but maybe that's changed since the last time we spoke. What's your total now chippy!

[Jim Roper]

WeymouthSean:

Yes the last 4.5lb mullet did go back.

I thought you meant 4.3 Kilos!!!!

[Chippy]

I've had 12 now, with a total weight of just over 25lbs - smallest was a pound, biggest 4lb 9oz.

 

Hopefully if I can bribe my boss with a pint at lunch, I'll be out of work early today to go back to my favourite lunker spot!!

 

Come in number 13 your time is up...