Frustration..

After Saturdays fun session, we decided to try and repeat the form on Sunday. This time though Pete would be joining us and we decided to go further north and fished Overstrand hoping for a bass or two...

Karl picked Pete up and I met them down there. mrs Aitch wouldn't let me go until I'd got young Aitch to bed, to be honest if Karl hadn't rung my mobile asking where I was I'd probably still be there in bed with him, I was knackered. A flask of filter coffee and I was sure I'd perk up. It was a cracking night, the wind had eased to nothing unfortunately so had the sea, to be honest it looked perfect for smuts. We made our way down the cliff and walked southwards a bit.

stonking night, shirt sleeves weather.

I took my flattie fanatic and a fixed spool loaded with 50lb braid, my idea being I'd fish close and light. Pete and Karl tackled up with standard beach gear, but bugger them I want to talk about me and the braid rod! I hope some experienced anglers are reading this and can offer me some help. I had one of the most frustrating nights, nearly a bite a chuck and I missed or bumped most of them. I think most were doggies which I know can be a bit hit and miss, but in the last two sessions where I'd used the gear, I missed or bumped more bites than I can remember. I know braid doesn't stretch and your probably seeing the bites earlier than you would with mono, but several times I've held the rod and actually felt the fish biting before I've lifted into nothing (not striking). Anyway I'm sure there are plenty of guys out there with more braid experience than me, if so HELP!!!!

Pete was first off the mark with a dog. I was struggling with the braid setup and my dinner. The family Aitch had been for a swim and a carvery earlier that day, I'd had pork which occasionally has me back later on! A cat like leap from Pete had me forgetting my bubbling belly and it was obvious he had a real fish on, Karl and me walked over as he beached a superb bass of 5lb 1oz, a super fit fish in poor (bass) fishing conditions.

Solid and as fit as a butchers dog, 5lb of power packed bass caught by a dalek! The rumour is he's got a lot of that rubber strappy stuff, he doesn't just wear it on his head, allegedly.

Karl and me were struggling, I was getting bites I couldn't touch. I had managed a couple of doggies but the frustration was getting the better of me. I even started to leave the rod and just watch the bites. Pete managed a couple more dogs and a flounder before beaching another nice bass a little over 3lb. I was still missing bites and Karl was still struggling to get a bite, he did manage a whiting which I think forced his hand and he decided to call it a night shortly after midnight. While Karl was packing up Pete added a couple more doggies, in fairness Karl and me had had a hiding. Karl said bye and made his way back to the car park, we'd decided to have just one more chuck while we had some nice baits prepared. Karl couldn't have been in the car before my rod went doolally. The scrap on braid is awesome, I felt every head shake of the fish and a few minutes later I had a nice fish of 4lb 6oz to sit between Pete's 3 and 5lbers. That fish forced another couple of chucks before we called it a night at about 2am.

From the top the 3lber, 5lb 1oz and 4lb 6oz. We never take many bass, isn't it sad we feel we have to justify it when we do?

If there is anybody out there that thinks they may be able to solve the missed bite problems I'm having with the braid, here's the techy details of the tackle and rigs I've been using: Conoflex flattie fanatic mk2, shimano biomaster with 50lb dynabraid, 50lb rig body, 5oz of lead and a 3/0, 2/0 pennel on a snood around 14" and peeler crab as bait. I leave plenty of hook showing on both the top and main hook. Like I said it could just be the species ragging my bait out or even eels, but my bite to fish ratio is down around 20% with this setup, and to be honest much as I like to see the bites on braid and fish light, fishing without fish is just ing...