First reasonable bass of the summer

[RichardB]

22/07/06

Fished under the cliffs at Hillhead (Brownwich), 20.30 - 02.00. High water 22.24.

Bait was mackeral on a 2 oz sliding ledger - 4/0 pennel rig, fished at close range.

Conditions looked very promising - a warm evening with a southerly breeze putting a nice chop on the water, although the tide at 4.2 meters was slightly smaller than I would have liked.

But after a bite-less few hours, tiredness was starting to get to me by about midnight (been out with the family all day) and I almost packed up. I knew though, that hanging on till the ebb got under way properly was my only chance of saving the blank.

Sure enough at about 01.15 the bait runner buzzed, the rod tip was lungeing over, and at last I was winding into a fish.

A lively bass that wieghed 3 lb on the dot. It took a mackeral head and guts.

Although not that much to 'write home about', this marks the end of a dry spell for me bass-wise (apart from schoolies), hopefully the shape of things to come ! - it christened my new carp rod and gave a good account of itself. It will grace our table this week .

[Snatcher]

Nice report. Got my first bass of the season last Sunday on a popper. It was a similar size

[Norfolkdan]

Nice one Richard

[RichardB]

Thanks chaps. Seems to have been a long time coming, although I must admit I've been on a bit a smoothhound 'thing' up till now.