Spinning at Exmouth/ Budleigh

ade_j · Member Joined: Jun 04, 2008 Posts: 11

I'm fairly new to beach fishing in the Exmouth/ Budleigh areas and would like to catch a bass or two spinning, but don't have much experience of this. I can get the casting distance I want with a Dexter wedge without using a weight further up the line, but haven't had any luck so far. Are the fish likely to be feeding deeper and thus I require a weight, or are other types of lure a better bet? If I need a weight, how far should it be from the lure? Or is it just that not many bass have fallen to spinning yet this year at these venues and I'm too early? If anyone has experience of (successfully) spinning for bass at these venues I'd be interested to hear from you!

Cheers,
Ade

chrisandboys · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:11 am Post subject:

Dexter wedges are as good as anything for Bass. You will be able to get sufficient depth without using any additional weight as these do sink fast. You probably don't want to be using a wedge greater than 60g/2oz. You could try varying your retrieve, though I think a constant slow/medium is as good as anything.

sniggle · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:06 am Post subject:

How far to put the weight from the lure, in shallow water with jellies and eels as far as possible without causing casting problems. About 6ft is the minimum i use and if out with the long rod an 8-10ft trace is better. I wouldn`t use a wedge and weight as they will be a pig to cast and fish,a light toby and a lead are slightly easier to use, go for a heavier bass bullet or chrome pirk

sniggle · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:09 pm Post subject:

Also a JIF lemon full of candle wax weighs about 3oz will take a small lure or bait out 80yds and floats when it gets there!

eccles · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject:

When I lived at Exmouth I used to go spinning at low water right along side the slipway. Hardly ever failed because when the Exe Estuary dries out the bass have to come down the river and hang around by the dock until the water starts to rise again. Used to get small pollack there too using a small redgill and a one ounce bullet in front of it. Don't go too near the dock though - local chavs have chucked stuff in there over the years making it a bit snaggy.

rabbi2 · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject:

A warm welcome to the forum mate.

shannock · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:36 pm Post subject:

welcome mate enjoy

ade_j · Member Joined: Jun 04, 2008 Posts: 11

It certainly is snaggy around the dock- I fished off there in the winter and early spring using rag and caught quite a few small pollack and the odd wrasse, but have pretty much given up fishing off there as I was losing so much tackle. The slipway seems less snaggy and I can even fish baits on the bottom here without losing too much. I caught pollack on the slipway in winter on rag but now it seems to be all wrasse there if I use it as bait.

I will have another try at spinning- so far all I've managed from the slipway doing this is a mackerel. A good sized pollack rather than the 6oz efforts or a bass would be most welcome!

By the way, the guy in the tackle shop in Exmouth also said the clock tower was another good spot for bait fishing, but when I fished there I just got tonnes of seaweed catching my line. Has anyone had more success?

ade_j · Member Joined: Jun 04, 2008 Posts: 11

As an update I fished the low tide at Exmouth slipway yesterday evening, and blanked. Fished a Dexter wedge again, varied my retrieve, casted all over the place, both before and after the tide...and not a touch. Plenty of loose weed to catch on the lure though :-(

I also tried using baits on the bottom for a bit but the crab activity meant that even whole fish heads were gone in a few minutes!

eccles · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:21 pm Post subject:

I never used a Dexter there - always used a rubber eel behind a one ounce ball because this time of year they are looking for sandeels.

ade_j · Member Joined: Jun 04, 2008 Posts: 11

Some rubber eels arrived in the post via Ebay this morning so I will give them a go next week some time- thanks for the tip! Did redgills work at this time of year too? I'm guessing that they ought to as they also resemble eels in the water.

eccles · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:43 am Post subject:

Yes mate. Tie one on a snood about 18 inches long then swivel and bead then the one oz "pierced bullet" to give you some casting weight. I used to get a bass or two everytime at low water with that technique. I am somewhat surprised that the Dexter did not produce anything - have you tried using a 60 gm Dexter on the end of a set of mack feathers? That sometimes produces for me.

ade_j · Member Joined: Jun 04, 2008 Posts: 11

Well, I returned to Exmouth slipway yesterday evening, this time at high tide. Unfortunately the weed situation is getting worse and worse- it was totally unfishable, with both the weight and the lure coming back covered in weed every single cast. After an hour like this I gave up- not sure that I will return for a good while! On the plus side, I ambled over to Budleigh and thanks to the disappointing weather the beach was almost empty and there were plenty of mackerel about, so I'm going to have a go at hot smoking a few of them today using an old dustbin! Wish I could have stayed until after dark to have a go for some of the more interesting species there...

rorky · Joined: Jul 01, 2008 Posts: 1

Hi fish Budleigh (off beach) a lot, when enough makky caught for the pot then try spinning/lures. Found any thing thing like a dexter or metal eel still finds makky. Try a flying C / any thing that buzzes this will attract bass and other predators (thinking to use bait scent any feedback for this please).

I fish light 12lb line less than an ounce (spend a bit of money on braid) 9ft rod. This gets me out there with little effort and the retrieve is constant, the spinner will help with this.

At Budleigh the light and conditions are bizarre so always changing colours and lures every 10 or so casts using snap rigs on the end of the line. (Please; any suggestions to help me with the light there will result in alcohol). Weed is seldom a problem so fishing like this is quite calm giving time to think.