Popping for bass in Luce Bay 14 July

[Snatcher]

Well this was my first serious attempt at popping for bass in Luce Bay this year. It has been a real bad year weather-wise for fishing with no decent settled periods.

 

Last night seen the Bay looking mirror like with just the tiniest ruffles on the surface,was this to be the night??? I had had a few earlier attempts at the the bass using spinner/popper but had blanked! being honest with myself though it had been a bit too early in the season for raising the bass up to the top as the water was still cold.

 

Well Corrie had just came onto the box in our caravan so this was my sign for a "sharp exit" LOL,jumped into the car and drove north from Drummore to my preordained fishing mark. I arrived there with not a soul in site. I set up my greys 10' 18-60g spinning rod and a fixed spool loaded with 15lb mono.The popper I tied on was my favourite Yozuri Aile Magnet which had done quite well in the past. Elected to plum for wellies and not chesties as it was a fair trudge along the beach to my fishing mark.

 

 

Trudging along a shingle beach is really quite aerobic - who needs to go to a gym to get fit,just go yomping around the MOG!!! Arrived at my spot and cast out the popper as far as I could. It did not go far as a knot went flying through the rings.This happened again a few more times in the next few minutes so I decided to totally respool the reel with new line. It was the sensible option.

 

 

What a difference it made,nice smooth casting with signs of knots or kinks - luxury! There was also no sign of any fish either apart from a shoal of mullet sipping away at the surface just a few yards away. I had been wondering how long "Sammy the Seal" would take to arrive,90 minutes to be precise.Took a couple of shots of him with the camera and then tried to bounce the popper off the top of his head. He soon got the message and vamoosed.It was at this point I forgot I had wellies on and not chesties,oh well its only water!

 

The light was starting to go now and I could see a large shoal up sandeels being herded into the shore by I presumed either bass or mackerel. I cast amongst the commotion a couple of times and not a touch. Damm it can be so frustrating at times.The sandeels made a return a few minutes later and I could see the predators showing shemselves occasionally and they did look like bass. Bang at last,I was praying it did not come off and it didn't. There it was,my first bass of the season on a popper.It was only a small schoolie but I did feel a bit chuffed. After a couple of photos for the record book I quickly slipped off the single hook point in her lip and away she swam to rejoin her mates and recount her nightmare tale to them!!!

 

 

Well I had broken my "duck" and decided to call it a night as I was feeling tired and was due to go toping with Tom "Toonfireman" the next day.

 

Snatcher

 

Editors note !!!! as usual. l am typing this report up on my laptop in the caravan and will post it up from Drummore Information Centre when I get the chance. I had trouble sleeping so started typing up this report at about 04.30 Tue 15 July this morning.

 

Mind you getting up early does have its benefits. Check out this Luce Bay sunrise as taken just now through the caravan window.I could think of worse places to be.

 

 

This is your roving Mull of Galloway reporter signing off

[phil dean]

looks great snatcher, i made it near to dumfrees on Sunday, but didn't fancy the rest of the journey that day, I was already sick of being behind caravans

[SeanP]

Another good read there Snatcher, have you ever tried braid for spinning? I have been using 20lb powerpro, wouldn't go back to mono now, it can be a bit troublesome when new, but once run in it's really good.

Sean

[fishbonkers]

Hi,

 

At last some popper anglers - I thought we were going extinct !!

 

I haven't fished Luce Bay but I love using poppers in similar terrain in Kerry. I find that stillwater like in your picture isn't as good as water with some foam / suds in it. In frothy water I've had bass hit the popper as soon as it hits the water. Also I think that the wary older bass aren't afraid to rise up in frothy water.

 

Keep on popping... and do use braid, you have much more control over the movement of the popper, and if it snags, you can usually pull it out !

[Ken Davison South Wales]

Nice report Snatcher and great pics.

[Snatcher]

been meaning to try braid for spinning Sean but never got around to it yet. I do use braid for boat fishing though!!

[SeanP]

Hi,

 

At last some popper anglers - I thought we were going extinct !!

 

I haven't fished Luce Bay but I love using poppers in similar terrain in Kerry. I find that stillwater like in your picture isn't as good as water with some foam / suds in it. In frothy water I've had bass hit the popper as soon as it hits the water. Also I think that the wary older bass aren't afraid to rise up in frothy water.

 

Keep on popping... and do use braid, you have much more control over the movement of the popper, and if it snags, you can usually pull it out !

 

Yeah that's definitely another big plus for braid, one mark I fish is fairly shallow and weedy, I tend to fling a 20g toby as far as poss, using mono you stood a good chance of losing it if you get snagged, using the braid a good yank and they nearly always come back.

I must try a bit harder with those poppers, tend to keep going for the old faithful tobies

[Snatcher]

Yeah that's definitely another big plus for braid, one mark I fish is fairly shallow and weedy, I tend to fling a 20g toby as far as poss, using mono you stood a good chance of losing it if you get snagged, using the braid a good yank and they nearly always come back.

I must try a bit harder with those poppers, tend to keep going for the old faithful tobies

 

yes SeanP I am a popper "convert". Do use spinners and sandeels when the situation dictates though!!!