Lessons Learnt.

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 6:31 pm

Fished a new mark Saturday and Sunday from low tide up. Got talking to an old guy last week who fishes only for Mullet, using a centrepin reel and small stick float. He enjoys plenty of success too! He told me about a bay he fishes for Mullet where Bass often come in on the tide. Very kind of him. Arrived there Saturday pm armed for Bass and waded in, only to find Mullet scattering in all directions. I reckon they were Golden Greys because they frequent sandy bays like this one and feed in very shallow water. Off came the Clouser and on went a Bloodworm.
Conditions were very windy, with large waves rolling to shore. Between the waves in the calm water, Mullet were breaking the surface all over the place. I targeted these for an hour without joy. I then saw fish feeding hard against the shore and remembered that I have caught GG's in similar circumstances before. First cast landed my fly on the sand. As I dragged it into the breaking waves, a fish struck but I missed. Next cast and a fish was on. I could see its flank gleeming silver as it accelerated along the shore in barely one foot of water. In recognition of last weeks theme, the hook came free. Not to worry, I now had the required tactic and many more fish to target. At that point I heard the noise of an engine. I looked sky ward but could see no plane. Then to my right emerged what can only be descibed as the next generation of jet skiers. Six small hovercraft came zipping past, yards from the shore. The noise was deafening and the effect on the Mullet disasterous.
I returned to the same mark Sunday pm but the shoal of Mullet were not there. Perhaps due to the very strong winds and large waves. The bay resembled the north sea, so I probably had more chance of Cod.
However, with each session I am learning more and more about Mullet and the flys and techniques which gain a response from the fish. I still need to learn how to strike more effectively and set the hook. I am loosing too many fish.
I have also learnt that Mullet are almost always present at the marks I visit, including large fish. The same cannot be said about Bass and that is why I intend to fish primarily for Mullet from now on.

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 6:49 pm

Good luck on that one mate,i lost patience with the blighters but saying that i think that if we fished together i could show you how its done!
Cheers
PS Had 3 species today...mackerel,an orse mackerel,and a bass.

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:34 pm

Congratulations on the hat trick me old mate.
How do you fancy this for a challenge then? I will take you out on a specified day to one of my Mullet marks and set you up to catch a good sized Mullet. You could then return the favour by helping me to catch a decent sized Bass, as I've never caught one over 2lb. If we are successful then I will change my forum name to Mullet Fly.
Ow's about it?

Member Joined: Jun 05, 2009 Posts: 90

Hello CC - sounds like you've been having fun!

Have a look at these links - they may or may not be helpful, but I think you might find them interesting at least....

Mullet link 1

Mullet link 2

Mullet link 3

I'm going to start having a serious crack at them myself...(glutton for punishment!)...

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:47 pm

Hi DW. Ta very much for the links. Link 1 is new to me, just printing it off for my bed time read, looks very interesting.

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 8:30 pm

nice to see u guys out and about and catchingi think my season has ended what with sorting boat out,and work,may get one effort in .i am settleling in to tying a few flies for nxt season .sorry for retiring so soon but passion still ther tight lines mick

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:32 pm

Nice report......I don't like bloody jet ski's...... wish they had never been invented......to intrusive I think......what's wrong with peace and quiet on the water/beach ?

Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 5:36 pm

Hi,
Been thinking about this one Mr CC
I think an approach maybe to feed an area up with those little sand hopper things that that pop around the rotting weed.
A few handfulls of these ahead of the approaching fish might turn them on a bit,chuck your fly in and hold on.Its slightly cheating nature i guess.
As to how you collect a good few handfulls of the sand hoppers........im working on that one!!
Any ideas?
Cheers
Dave

Member Joined: Jun 05, 2009 Posts: 90

bassfly wrote:

Hi,
...As to how you collect a good few handfulls of the sand hoppers.....

Just sit on the beach in a knitted bikini, eating a few egg sarnies. Give it half an hour...

Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:39 pm

Dave! That's the kind of crazy idea that just might work (I like your idea too DW, any excuse to wear a bikini in pubic). I'm sure a small shrimping net could be used to catch enough hoppers to fill a maggot tub in no time. A catapult would be just the job for feeding the water without spooking the fish. Then simply a case of casting a shrimp fly into the mix. Dave, I think you may well be the Isaac Walton of the 21st century.
Guess what I'll be doing this weekend!

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:06 am

Wearing a knitted bikini with a handful of fibreglass loft insulation stuffed in the gusset and jogging along the shore with tampons sellotaped to your forehead...correct me if im wrong.
Cheers

Member Joined: Jun 05, 2009 Posts: 90

bassfly wrote:

Wearing a knitted bikini with a handful of fibreglass loft insulation stuffed in the gusset and jogging along the shore with tampons selotaped to your forehead...correct me if im wrong.
Cheers

Sellotape has two 'L's

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:31 am

Well spotted DW...i dont usually make many smelling pisstakes either.

Member Joined: Jun 10, 2009 Posts: 91 Location: Winchester

MulletFly wrote:

Congratulations on the hat trick me old mate.
How do you fancy this for a challenge then? I will take you out on a specified day to one of my Mullet marks and set you up to catch a good sized Mullet. You could then return the favour by helping me to catch a decent sized Bass, as I've never caught one over 2lb. If we are successful then I will change my forum name to Mullet Fly.
Ow's about it?

Is this a new form of "If I show you mine - will you show me yours"?

Didn't know you could change your 'name' on this forum either!!

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:00 pm

More like a marine version of 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours'.