Post by BOF on Sept 23, 2006 11:41:28 GMT
As a number of you have surmised I am back a bit early from my trip to Devon. Thanks to some pretty rubbish beds, and a visit from Hurricane George.
Now Devon can be a wonderful place to go, as millions of tourists confirm each year. But my main aim is to catch some of the Mullet that frequent its bays and harbours, something that I have repeatedly failed to do, on previous years.
Woolacome Bay Mid September
To this end Her Indoors and I set off last week to Ilfracombe to try to end my Mullet drought.
For tackle I took my usual traveling telescopic Carp rods, a Shimano VX 6010 reel, and a few spare spools of line varying from 5 to 12lb b.s.. With these I hoped to cover a whole range of options, from float fishing in the harbour proper, to legering over the sand at the harbour mouths.
Bait isn‘t usually a problem in seaside resorts, with Prawns, Joey Mackerel, and Squid being readily available, from the local tackle shops.
I found the tackle shop on the way into Coombe Martin particularly helpful, if a little bemused that I wanted to actually catch Mullet, rather than any of the usual, perhaps more edible, species.
So we spent a few harmless days wandering round bits of the North Devon coastline, finding beautiful, (if dry), harbours, magnificent cliffs, tree lined roads. Some so narrow that my car could barely get down them, and reversing back to the last passing place became a frequent, if not exactly loved, pastime.
Her Indoors being blown around a bit at Coombe Martin Harbour
Eventually as the week progressed, and the tides became more favorable, ie there was actually water in the harbours, we began catching a variety of mini species, but alas no Mullet.
Other folk had them, some to a good size too. But the bites were tiny !
Now most sea fish slam into a bait, with all the delicacy of a road accident.
I mean they are not into subtle in any way, either leaving you with an empty hook, or a pretty irate fish thrashing around. But not the Mullet, oh no, not at all.
On the float, due to the wave action, I repeatedly reeled in robbed hooks with no apparent sign of a take. On the lead I resorted to tying my pieces of Mackerel flesh to the hook with some 1.1lb hooklink line, as there was no sign of a bite, yet time after time I would reel in empty hooks. As soon as I left the skin on the slices of Mackerel however, the ghost takes dried up, and the Pouting, or mini Coal Fish, would have time to get at the baits. Even, on one occasion, a Herring like fish all of 5” long, that shone like it was chrome plated.
However as the tides became more useful, the winds had risen at the same time, up to the point where we were told to think twice about driving anyplace exposed.
Finally we heard that we were due to get a visit from the remains of Hurricane George, 80mph winds and heavy rain.
Oh what fun I thought, NOT !
Now Her Indoors and I, being fogies, suffer a bit if the beds are not up to our standards, and these beds had been giving us the tough time treatment since day one.
I had even tried dragging the mattress onto the floor one night, to no avail.
So we had a quick discussion about the prospects, and decided to pack up and go, a day or two early.
Not a great problem as, out of season, the accommodation had only cost us £135 for the two of us for the week. Perhaps we had got what we paid for then, as the other folk seemed to be enjoying themselves ok.
So we used the excuse of the beds to try to avoid the Hurricane and legged it for home early, but still Mulletless.
Perhaps next year?
BOF
Now Devon can be a wonderful place to go, as millions of tourists confirm each year. But my main aim is to catch some of the Mullet that frequent its bays and harbours, something that I have repeatedly failed to do, on previous years.
Woolacome Bay Mid September
To this end Her Indoors and I set off last week to Ilfracombe to try to end my Mullet drought.
For tackle I took my usual traveling telescopic Carp rods, a Shimano VX 6010 reel, and a few spare spools of line varying from 5 to 12lb b.s.. With these I hoped to cover a whole range of options, from float fishing in the harbour proper, to legering over the sand at the harbour mouths.
Bait isn‘t usually a problem in seaside resorts, with Prawns, Joey Mackerel, and Squid being readily available, from the local tackle shops.
I found the tackle shop on the way into Coombe Martin particularly helpful, if a little bemused that I wanted to actually catch Mullet, rather than any of the usual, perhaps more edible, species.
So we spent a few harmless days wandering round bits of the North Devon coastline, finding beautiful, (if dry), harbours, magnificent cliffs, tree lined roads. Some so narrow that my car could barely get down them, and reversing back to the last passing place became a frequent, if not exactly loved, pastime.
Her Indoors being blown around a bit at Coombe Martin Harbour
Eventually as the week progressed, and the tides became more favorable, ie there was actually water in the harbours, we began catching a variety of mini species, but alas no Mullet.
Other folk had them, some to a good size too. But the bites were tiny !
Now most sea fish slam into a bait, with all the delicacy of a road accident.
I mean they are not into subtle in any way, either leaving you with an empty hook, or a pretty irate fish thrashing around. But not the Mullet, oh no, not at all.
On the float, due to the wave action, I repeatedly reeled in robbed hooks with no apparent sign of a take. On the lead I resorted to tying my pieces of Mackerel flesh to the hook with some 1.1lb hooklink line, as there was no sign of a bite, yet time after time I would reel in empty hooks. As soon as I left the skin on the slices of Mackerel however, the ghost takes dried up, and the Pouting, or mini Coal Fish, would have time to get at the baits. Even, on one occasion, a Herring like fish all of 5” long, that shone like it was chrome plated.
However as the tides became more useful, the winds had risen at the same time, up to the point where we were told to think twice about driving anyplace exposed.
Finally we heard that we were due to get a visit from the remains of Hurricane George, 80mph winds and heavy rain.
Oh what fun I thought, NOT !
Now Her Indoors and I, being fogies, suffer a bit if the beds are not up to our standards, and these beds had been giving us the tough time treatment since day one.
I had even tried dragging the mattress onto the floor one night, to no avail.
So we had a quick discussion about the prospects, and decided to pack up and go, a day or two early.
Not a great problem as, out of season, the accommodation had only cost us £135 for the two of us for the week. Perhaps we had got what we paid for then, as the other folk seemed to be enjoying themselves ok.
So we used the excuse of the beds to try to avoid the Hurricane and legged it for home early, but still Mulletless.
Perhaps next year?
BOF
ing the bank on my near side, and my offside mirror overlapping theirs. Oh joy !