What a night!

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 11:10 am

Instead of fishing our usual reliable, 'comfortable' venue last night we decided to tackle a different one. This one is situated on the 'back' of the island and is subject to the forces of the english channel.
The whole place is one big submerged reef and, although shallow, wading about on it is treacherous, and great care is needed in order to negotiate it.
To cut a long story short after a fruitless couple of hours, a grazed wrist and several pints of water in my waders (!),and being shadowed by a couple of kayaker's, i settled on a spot on the most prominent part of the reef.
In front of me was a deeper channel studded with large, car sized rocks rising out of the water. With the oncoming tide surging over the outer borders of the reef and causing quite a flow, and doing it's best to knock me off balance, plus the gentle wind being a tricky right to left, accurate casting to the calmer water behind the rocks was difficult. From the first cast i knew it was going to be a bit special as my clouser got hit hard and fast, and although only a few ounces the schoolie made the most of the fast water pouring past the rocky hideout. After that the hits and the fish came thick and fast, and although i didn't connect with all of them due to not being able to stay in direct contact with the fly all the time, i managed a dozen or so fish to around 2lb, much to the bemusement of the nearby kayakers who only managed a couple of fish, despite the fact that i could see fish breaking surface all around them to which they seemed oblivious.
All in all it was exciting, atmospheric sport at a great, if tricky venue. There are some good fish here, and good numbers, certainly over 5lb, i know this from bait fishing the adjacent beach and having caught them to this weight there.
I hope to invest in a kayak myself for next season in order to make the most of venues like this as it would be much safer than wading about on the rocky submerged ground.
A thrilling venue and one to which i shall return hopefully more suitably equipped next season to tackle the beasts that i know are swimming there!

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 3:05 pm

Sounds awesome - time seems to be ticking down very slowly at the moment as I anticipate my IOW trip next month! Kev

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 4:02 pm

It'll come soon enough Kev. Actually i get like that every time i'm going fishing at the moment!

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 9:05 pm

Nice one...im on the hover craft!
Pick me up in 10 mins.
Cheers
Simon

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 9:38 pm

nice one chris.u had a few fish but like u say safety cums first as me and bassfly found out today .u can get sucked into the fishing but always keep a eye on your retreat back tightlines mick