A new topper for my box..........

I picked up a new topper for my box last week, which I hope will prove to be a catcher:

86mm & 13g in a pretty mullet pattern (the new smaller size Z-Claw "Phelps"). I think this little fella may fill the gap between a standard Z-Claw and some of my smaller toppers when the conditions are as calm as they have been recently (well that's the theory anyway).

 

 

I picked mine up at Chesil Bait n Tackle ( http://chesilbaitntackle.co.uk/ ) - seriously nice people & a shop very well worth a visit if you are in the area.

 

I'm hoping to get another sneaky trip in this week to test out the "Phelps".

 

That's all folks......tightest lines.

Just got the Cobra.

Just picked up a few replacement lures - and a new one for me - the IMA "Pugachev's Cobra".

The Cobra is a small top-water bait & looks as though it will do the trick (weighs in at 12g at 90mm & comes with ST-46 #6 hooks).

 I know a couple of spots where I'm confident this lure will bag a fish or two - take a look at the videos to see the action.

Thanks for reading (again)......& tight lines.

A spot of fun.

After a failed mission (35mph winds) in Pembrokeshire I decided a quick trip to Dorset was the way to go, so at short notice I chucked my gear in the rental car & headed down from Cardiff. On arrival a bitter cold NW wind was a blowing but we were in with the chance of a fish or two.
I arrived at lunch time and met up with Mark (any excuse to avoid work lol). After a few hours of thrashing the water for a schoolie each we decided it was time for a change of venue.

True to form, Mark clipped on a weighted sluggo (jig head) and on his first cast shouted over he was into a fish. "What sort?" I shouted over "weed fish or rock fish?" thinking he had just tripped a snag, and suddenly Marks rod arched over & the fish screamed off up current much to my suprise taking line as it did so. Being a true fishing buddy I declined Marks request of help grabbing it (well what are friends for), and after a fiesty scrap he landed the below at 63cms.

By now it was getting dark & we fished on with Mark taking another schoolie around the 3lb mark. A bit dissapointed at being beaten 3 to 1, I headed back to my hotel with the hope the morning session would be better.

The next morning I woke to find the wind had dropped with weed making the fishing very difficult (about 1 in 10 casts was coming back clean). Just as the sun broke the horizon my lure got smashed at distance and a fair bit of line was stripped from the reel on the inital run. Fish landed it measured 58cms and was a very solid fish as Marks had been the previous evening.

Somewhat happier I cast out again and was hit straight away by another which also gave a good scrap, this one went 54cms. I fished on for an hour or so, but the tide was slack & I had to leave to get back, so I missed the push of the flood which I suspect would have fished well.

We didnt catch any great numbers, but the fish we did catch were decent fighters so we were both happy & had some fun as we always do.

Hopefully I will get another trip in the the next few weeks (Dorset or Ireland both tickle my fancy), so with any luck I might catch a few more before silly season (winter) starts.

Thanks for reading!