A late in the year Bass Bash
Terry’s Travels
A late in the year Bass Bash
An invite for a crack at the Bass, how could I turn it down!
My old friend Ross Macklin heard I was in the Cork area, and extended an invite to join him and another great angling friend Ken Murphy for a few hours lure fishing. I first met Ross about thirty years ago (I can't believe I've just said that) on the banks of the mighty River Barrow. He walked up to me and told me who I was! "You're Terry Jackson"! I found that pretty amusing, and despite that, we have been good friends since.
With the "Ross Macklin package" came other top drawer lads such as Bill Brazier and Sidney Kennedy, who I now call my angling soul mates. It is amazing how a common thread of fishing brings people together in a bond that cannot be broken. It's not broke-back mountain or anything like that, but it's definitely a brotherly love. Apologies for the bro-manticism, but it is Christmas after all!
Ten years on, still a superb rod... 8FT 10-40g version
By good fortune, I had the Abu Rock Sweeper in the jeep, and a handful of lures. This was just in case I found the opportunity for some rock fishing for Bass or Pollock in the area. The prospects of a boat trip in the company of Ross and Ken was even more tempting. I purchased the Rock Sweeper back in 2014, and it is still a fantastic Bass lure rod by today's standards. The problem with high end Abu gear, if you can call it a problem, is that once you purchase it, you don't really need to upgrade. Obviously this is the reason they go out of production and a new version appears, not because the old kit is bad, but because it is too good! A few tweaks, and we all want the latest model.
Info and prices......https://venturarooftents.com/
After an un-planned night in the roof tent, a fabulous addition to my life-style, we met at the harbour and soon had the Dory launched. Being a boat owner myself, and happy to target anything that swims, it feels like I'm under-gunned heading out to sea with one lure rod and a box of lures. But Ross convinced me, this is all we need today. And being able to focus on one species isn't a bad idea, it can be too easy to become distracted at times, chasing shadows.
I'm being told off for something, no doubt
Ross has fished this area on many occasions, and has a great deal of experience in exactly where the hot-spots are, and how to get the most from tidal movements and feeding patterns. These are the benefits of a local and knowledgeable guide, cutting out weeks, months and even years of wasted hours on a new water.
Ken Murphy with the largest Bass of the session
Only part of a huge selection to choose, from Savage Gear Lures
We tried a quick drop over several areas as the tide worked us seaward, and although the fishing was slow, there were some sizeable Bass about. We were similarly matched on the numbers game, chopping and changing between Savage Gear Weed-less minnows and Westin Sandy Andys, both working equally well in numerous colour schemes. Interesting to see the odd ball of fish on the sounder, possibly bait-fish, with individual larger fish marking close by. Ken pipped the two of us with a fine fish approaching the eight-pound mark.
Spectacular display on the sounder
It wasn't until we drifted over a mark further out to sea, that all hell broke loose. It has been a long time since I have witnessed markings on the sounder such as this. A shoal of Bass over ten-feet deep from the sea-bed up, and probably two hundred feet in length. Working a lure became un-necessary at this stage. Simply drop to the bottom, if it managed to reach the bottom that is.....and lift the rod tip, drop again and thump...fish on.
Ross advised that this spell of madness is very short lived, when the tide turns to the flood, the shoal moves on and disperses, individually hunting out prey I assume. It was a case of "make hay while the sun shines", and we did just that. The wee Rock Sweeper took a hammering and performed admirably, as did the lures. A great tip is to carry a bottle of super-glue in the tackle box. Under these conditions, rubber lures are eventually torn to shreds by the ferocity of shoaling Bass on the feed, a timely drop of super-glue here and there extends the life of a lure ten-fold.
Trying to match the bait-fish
Our mentor's information was spot-on. The tide hit slack low-water, and began to flood. The sub-surface dynamics altered. The food supply must move on at this stage, or the predators have had their fill, or perhaps they simply head on to pastures greener. I don't know enough about this area, but I would certainly love to return to learn more. For certain, these areas are under immense pressure from commercial activity, and each passing year diminishes the stocks, but I live in hope, should I die in despair!
However, what a fabulous session. We managed an average of thirty to forty Bass each on light, sporting gear and incredible fun. I wish we still had this type of angling in the North! All fish on a catch and release basis. I fell in love with the Abu Rock Sweeper all over again, and teamed with the new Penn Slammer, what a combination!
Many thanks to Ross and his guiding skills, and to Ken, top angler and gentleman. A message to County Cork and Inland Fisheries, please look after our Irish Bass stocks, you are currently failing. They are an important and integral part of our eco-system, generate huge amounts of angling-based tourist revenue and stocks are low and fragile, playing with nature is a risky gamble, protect the future. Tight Lines, Tel.
