Bass Plugging

[Paul Molyneux]

Hi

I am new to the site, but not to sea fishing.

Plugging for Bass is an area that I know very little about but want to get involved in.

I live 400 yards from a beach in South Devon.

I am looking to buy a suitable rod, reel & breathable waders.

I have seen advertised a Fladen Ed Schliffke plugging rod 20-50gms but do not know anything about this rod.

I was also advised to buy a Shimano baitrunner 5000 but having talked to Shimano service dept, they said very unwise. Designed for Carp fishing and will not stand saltwater treatment for any length of time.

Waders, I am looking at Scierra and Snowbee. Any suggestions?

I would appreciate any guidance from anyone with knowledge in this area.

[Jim Roper]

Get a life jacket or flotation suit as well.

[Paul Molyneux]

Thanks Jim

 

I already have one. A Sundridge. I started serious shore fishing in 1976 and targeted Small Eyed Ray.

Bass plugging I know little about and would love to hear from anglers who do this.

[Norm B]

Hi

I am new to the site, but not to sea fishing.

Plugging for Bass is an area that I know very little about but want to get involved in.

I live 400 yards from a beach in South Devon.

I am looking to buy a suitable rod, reel & breathable waders.

I have seen advertised a Fladen Ed Schliffke plugging rod 20-50gms but do not know anything about this rod.

I was also advised to buy a Shimano baitrunner 5000 but having talked to Shimano service dept, they said very unwise. Designed for Carp fishing and will not stand saltwater treatment for any length of time.

Waders, I am looking at Scierra and Snowbee. Any suggestions?

I would appreciate any guidance from anyone with knowledge in this area.

I prefer the neoprene chest waders, several makes, much the same price. Good idea about the life jacket, get the manual one as the auto may go off if hit by a wave.

[Paul Molyneux]

Thanks Jim

I have a Sundridge flotation suit.

I have been shore fishing since 1976 and specialised in Small Eyed Ray so I have most of the eqipment for this type of night fishing from the rocks and beach.

Bass plugging interests me and I would love to hear from anyone who has knowledge in this area about suitable equipment.

[Paul Molyneux]

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QUOTE(Norm B @ Nov 12 2006, 09:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I prefer the neoprene chest waders, several makes, much the same price. Good idea about the life jacket, get the manual one as the auto may go off if hit by a wave.

 

I also have lifejackets both manual and auto. I have a 5.6 Avon RIB

[steve pitts]

Hi Paul

 

Nice to meet a fellow convert of the plugging variety and I'm sure that you'll be successful down in S. Devon

It's still not too late for bass, with some good fish being reported on the BASS forum.

 

For plugging, mobility is the key, so whilst your life jacket might be a wise precaution, I would leave the flotation suit at home - unless you're trying to loose weight and want to sweat off those pounds.

 

For the same reason, breathable waders are the better choice for hiking around on the rocks. I have a pair of Vision Extremes, matched with Simms Guide boots and they have proven both comfortable and hard-waring during the past 3 seasons (April to December) and I also use them for piking during the winter.

 

Just noticed your mention of the RIB, so ignore my floatation suit advice if you're going afloat.

 

Rods - 10ft or 11ft rods appear to be the standard and many pluggers use carp rods, as there have been few rods designed specifically for spinning. I've used several carp rods over the years and find a test curve of 1.5 - 2lbs about right for most plugging applications.

 

The Ed Schliffke plugging rod is very popular and is an ideal rod, as is the Mike Ladle Surespin (both 11ft I believe) The ML rod has won lots of praise from many anglers and some say it's the perfect bass plugging rod. I think that they cast and cost around the same. I haven't used the Ed Schliffke rod, but know from experience how nice the ML rod is (available only from Veals Mail Order I think, unless you can get a second-hand one and I don't see too many owners parting with theirs!)

 

Reels - Shimano baitrunners (sizes 3500 / 4000) are ideal, even though they are not saltwater-proof (few reels are) As long as you give them a good swill off in fresh water after use, they will last 3 or 4 years. I've used one and it is a good spinning reel, even though it is designed for freshwater/carp fishing.

Shimano also do the Stradic and Twin Power, which are spinning reels and have a fantastic line lay, making fishing with braided lines (which I prefer) a doddle. The Shimano Stella 4000 is the mutts nuts, but at around £500 is a serious investment - bullet-proof though.

 

I've also used Diawa reels over the years and a long time ago an old Mitchell 410, so I guess the answer is to find a reel within your budget and look after it and it should give you good service.

If you have around £80 to spend, I would recommend the Stradic.

 

Hope this helps

 

Cheers

Steve

 

PS Plugs - lots to choose from, but start with floating divers such as the Rapala jointed 9cm and 11cm in blue and silver and if you want or need a heavier lure, then the Yo-Zuri crystal minnow or the Maria 'First' make excellent bass catchers.

Edited November 12, 2006 by steve pitts

[Paul Molyneux]

Hi Paul

 

Nice to meet a fellow convert of the plugging variety and I'm sure that you'll be successful down in S. Devon

It's still not too late for bass, with some good fish being reported on the BASS forum.

 

Thanks very much Steve

 

This is the sort of information I was hoping to get.

 

You have been extremely helpful.

 

I have considered both these rods the ML made by Diawa for veals is £79.95. The ES I can get from Alderney Angling for around £46.95 as this rod has been reduced.

 

May be worth getting them both then and having a spare.

 

I have looked at the new baitrunner 5000 XTE and also fancy the Diawa Laguna 4000 Bass which is offered in this months Sea Angler as an exclusive from Veals in their pull out supplement. The latter reel is designed for saltwater use. Do you know of this reel?

 

Seems you favour breathable waders over neoprene. I also scuba dive and have a neoprene drysuit. Neoprene can get quite warm. I was leaning more to breathable waders rather than neoprene.

 

As for plugs, I have just bought a Rapala J13 jointed in blue and a sliver SL13 in sandeel colour. Just orderd 3 Duel Aile magnet lures for surface bass. I am trying to get my hands on a Crystal Minnow suspended. This hopefully will cover most of the situations I am likely to encounter.

 

The place that I live is calles Wembury. The mark that I fish has produced good bass on live eel to 8lb 4ozs.

 

I must confess that I start as a complete novice with plugging. I knew Ed quite well in the late 70's we were in the same club and competed against each other with Small Eyed Ray He also came to my house and drunk most of my Southern Comfort. He then moved down to North Cornwall and we lost touch. Ed is a tremendous angler and I would not expect him to put his name to a rod that was not up to the job.

 

Do you prefer braided lines over nylon?

 

Any other tips you could give wpould be most appeciated.

 

Best wishes

 

Paul

[Paul Molyneux]

Steve

 

Do you use the stockingfoot or booted type breathable waders?

 

regards

 

Paul

[Norm B]

Thanks very much Steve

 

This is the sort of information I was hoping to get.

 

You have been extremely helpful.

 

Snipped.

Do you prefer braided lines over nylon?

 

Any other tips you could give wpould be most appeciated.

 

I use braid but I've found a cheaper alternative, it's a co-polymer called Illusion, available from Rok Max, it's non-reflective with very little stretch. It knots well and the only downside, if it is one, is that it breaks well above the stated BS. I tested the 10lb line and it broke at about 16lb, which is no bad thing, unless you're into line records. It's good on a F/S or multiplier, worth a look at the price.

 

Best wishes

 

Paul