The DFR Custom Build.

Having wanted a new rod for a while, I decided to take the plunge and get myself a custom built rod made by Richard at Dorset Fishing Rods.
Earlier in the year I spoke to Richard about the type of rod I was looking for to see what he could come up with. Basically I was looking for a rod that would give me extra distance on the cast, as well as being light enough to fish with all day. I was after a rod that would have a quick recovery too for the top water work.
Richard suggested a St Croix blank and my only instructions on cosmetics were "black & gold" so it was pretty much up to Richard to decide on the design.
Something I did want was  a rod with the perfect butt length  & reel seating position, so after measuring our a few of my other rods (under Richards instruction) we found what was hopefully the optimal postitioning for the reel seat - Richard knew I would be using this with a Stella 4k so the weight was a known factor.

When I received the rod I was very very impressed with the build & design, so of course I was keen to put it to the test. First thing I noticed was that I was getting alot of extra distance on the cast (the rod compresses beautifully even with a little flick) and the braid rings / eyes seemed to let the line fly out - wonderful!
After some use I love this rod - it is light and responsive but has enough grunt to tame a decent fish in a current as well as being a pleasure to use all day.

Anyway here are a few pictures - sorry for the quality as the do not do the rod justice & I am not much of a photographer as you can see :)

Should anyone be interested in a new rod from Richard he can be found here: http://www.dorsetfishingrods.co.uk/

Thanks for the rod Rich - I promise to use & abuse it to the best of my ability :)

Tight Lines !

Tough going but a few fish...........

Just back from a week in Pembrokeshire where the fishing turned out to be about as tough as the weather (which has been awful over here for the last two weeks).
We started out with some rough Southerly weather which turned the Havens waters into pea soup (of course the West marks were dead calm & pretty dead as far as the fishing was concerned).

Start of the week proved very difficult & although I caught a few schoolies, things were just not right (even the clearer water West was devoid of life & any real water movement).

Being a tad frustrated with the conditions it was a real boost when the wind swung West (if only for a day) & it looked like things were on the up as the fish started to get that little bit bigger although not easier to catch.....

Not long after taking a fish of 48cms I was standing on a rock talking to Ricky (I had finished a retreive a while ago & was just holding my rod in one hand), when suddenly the water below me exploded and the rod was nearly ripped from my hand. I looked down to see the rod arching to the water & a flash of orange - arrgghhh pesky wrasse has popped up I thought until I managed to turn the fish from the boulders it was trying to dive under - yeeeessssssss Bassssssssssss...........
After a short but mental fight I landed a cracking orange / copper coloured bass of 60cms (really the wildest take I have ever had - the lure just lying on the water at my feet & not even a turn of the handle lol).
I will never know for sure, but I suspect the fish had followed the previous cast, which was probably 30 seconds gone - madness!

The next and last days fishing I managed a couple off the top (schoolies again), it was great to see fish feeding on top again (its been a really wierd summer so far - way less fish than last year & most to diving lures wheras last year almost all came off top!)

Anyway - enough for now, Iwill also try to some pictures of my new custom rod from DFR - its a beaut!

Tight Lines..............

Gone Fishing.

Gone Fishing......

Fishy pics to follow soon!



Not much to report...........

I must admit that I have been lazy about doing a report on my last trip to Dorset a few weeks ago (in my defence - the conditions were terrible & the fishing worse, so theres not too much to say)

All we caught were a few schoolies (also few & far between) despite fishing four days & walking a hell of alot of miles trying to find the fish!

A couple of pics................

A foot of swell would have been perfect

A night schoolie

 Getting smaller!

A first lighter (from the dirtiest water ever)

 I will be off for a spot of plugging again in a couple of weeks & really hope to actually catch something a bit bigger!


Tight lines guys n gals!

Nice start for Alex...........

Just received the below from good buddy Alex who has hit the ground running - the fish was 72cm (hope you havent peaked too early Alex lol). Very well done mate!

Tight lines all.......................

The vid to Grahams pics (wow)

Here you go - the video to Grahams GT pics - all I can say is wow ! Enjoy...............(hope you liked the pressie on your car Graham btw lol)

Oh - I know I owe a trip report (still trying to get my head round it..)

Tight Lines...........

Gone Fishing.

Gone Fishing!

Be back soon.....

Some cracking fish!

Graham B has just sent me the following pics of some spectacular fish hes just caught (I'm sure Graham will let us know a bit more in the comments box) - I just love the dog tooth pic!

Very well done big fella (wish I was there & would be if the finances allowed it)

Pity you cant catch a decent bass mind lol

Cracking monster stonking beasts mate (catch up soon)


Tight lines all.....

El Blanko

Just got back from a couple of blank trips so not much to report (off again in a couple of weeks though so its not all bad).

Just a quickie...............

Gone Fishing.

Gone Fishing!

(weather permitting)

Back Soon!

Meanie Queenie...

Omar just sent me these pics........a 120cm Queenie caught on the Don River (biggest Omar's seen down that way so hats off).

Isn't the grass always greener eh? - well done Omar!

Anyway - off to sort some lures as I should be fishing next week (hopefully the weather forecasts are wrong as its looking like NE winds but its gonna be great just to get out again).

Tight Lines!

More Down Under..............

Just got this one from Sue & Omar down in Australia...........

Here's a mad day at the beach for your blog Tom.... Sue dropped me at the beach this morning on the way to the shop. Said she’d be back in an hour or so to join me & wet a line. Off i headed, bagged a load of live whiting in the cast net & set off to the end of the sand spit. 30 mins later, a nice queenfish (~60cm) & a decent Golden Trevally (~80cm / 10kg) had given me little G-Loomis stick a workout. Both the fish went back as I didn’t want to give up yet & the fish would have cooked in the heat had I kept them. Didn’t even get a picture.

 

Sue joined me a bit later. I had been using her rod with a spinner, so tied on a live-bait rig for her to have a go. Sue can tackle her own gear, but I’m quicker & needed her to get a bait in quick. Whilst I changed her rig, she was holding my rod. “OMARRRRR, FISH OHHNNNN”. The old Omar would have grabbed the rod back, but no longer. 5 mins later she had a nice dinner sized queenfish. 10 Mins later I got a smaller queenie. 10 mins later again & Sue is shrieking that she's on again. “Go on then girl, sort it out....” Awesome job. 15 mins later another nice trevva on the beach. It also went back as the queenies were coming home for tea & we don’t freeze fish; take enough for a feed & let the rest go.

2 more whiting left in the bucket. Sue’s given up as her arms were sore....... Out went another whiting on the Loomis. 5 mins later, fish on. Now, here’s what I think happened. I had hooked a good sized queenie or trevally or barra; who knows. Pretty sure I saw the tail of a queenie. Next thing, line has zipped quickly across to the right. Just started making a bit of line back when I saw a 2m long bull shark launch out of the water not 10m from us. This was a mad sight; the whole shark fully aerial, with what I think was my queenie in its gob. No sooner had the shark hit the water again & my line parted. Oh well, never would have had a chance with 100m 12lb braid on the little 3000.

Fish for tea tonight.

Think Sue deffo outfished Omar on this one lol - well done guys (great fishing as always)

Tight Lines all............

Missing out...............

It looks like I will be missing out on this years trip to Asturias, not only that - it looks like the fishing may be good for the lads (have a squint at Manels blog here: http://pescamanel.blogspot.com/  .

Gee & fizz.

Last years report can be found here http://tomsfishing.blogspot.com/2011/04/late-trip-report.html - we had a great time & alot of fun (Asturias is a great place to visit).

The boys are off mid March so best of luck to them!

Manel, Mark & Dario wave dodging.

Anticipation must be high as Joe's updated his blog (here: http://lurefishingforbass.co.uk/bass-fishing/back-to-asturias-spain/ ) & Gees has posted on his blog too (here: http://grahamhillirishfishing.blogspot.com/2012/02/easy-jet-to-asturias.html ).

Fingers crossed we will get to hear about some good catches...

Tight lines all........