Hooked on Bass - click image to buy

Uk Bass fishing book

Hooked on Bass written by Mike Ladle & Alan Vaughan is a true classic. It explains all you need to know about fishing for Bass around the British Isles. Topics include, tackle for Bass fishing, venues for Bass angling, case studies in specified areas, Bass habitat and their life cycle.

The book is well written, and you just need to absorb it from cover to cover as these men tell you how to catch bigger Bass. They are also talking from their own experiences and wealth of knowledge.

The book has some great pictures and diagrams to help explain certain aspects of Bass fishing. It is a must have for UK saltwater fishinermen!!

Bass fishing on shore and sea - click to buy

Bass fishing book

John Darling a well published writer, explains how to improve you catch rate when sea fishing for Bass. Common tactics for catching Bass are covered in this book, helping you to fish harder to catch that dream Bass. Tips on where to search for Bass along the coast line will improve your success. Lure fishing is covered in good detail as well as different baits for the Bass fishing. There are also chapters in the book covering off shore boat fishing for Bass.

The book is nicely illustrated with diagrams and photographs throughout its pages. All in all a good read, and a book to have on your shelf as a source of information, tips and ideas.

Sea fishing properly explained

Sea fishing properly explained

Sea fishing requires a high degree of knowledge and skill and this book ensures that you can turn occasional ‘luck’ into consistent success. This book will allow you to: understand tides; know which natural foods different fish prefer; identify the types of seabed and coastal areas that shoals frequent; and, learn to use the correct tackle, bait and techniques. This book will fully equip the reader with the ability to make expert catches from beach, rock outcrop, estuary, pier, harbour wall or boat.

Top sea fishing books list

1. The Sea Angler’s Step-by-step Guide to Bait and Rigs
2. Sea fishing properly explained

Sea fishing baits and rigs

Sea fishing books

Over the next 10 days I will bring you the most popular sea fishing books that are bought through this site. I hope you might get some ideas for Christmas presents, or books to add to your library. I will bring them to your in order of how many are sold from this site, so it will be the top 10 best sellers.

The Sea Angler’s Step-by-step Guide to Bait and Rigs

Click the image to buy this book

A great introduction into the world of sea fishing. This book will guide you through baits and rigs and how to present your end rig to get better catches of fish. It will show you how to make your own rigs, use the correct bait and how to preserve bait. The book is full of pictures and diagrams to help explain the principles it talks about. It is also written in plain English and is an easy, yet valuable read.

Anyway, here are the results.

• Overview of world fishing - 14%
• Big Game - 14%
• UK Game fishing - 11%
• Carp fishing - 11%
• French Carp scene - 6%
• Tackle - 36%
• Clothing - 3%
• UK Jigging - 6%

So the winnner is SEA FISHING TACKLE. I have spent hours as stated before to try and bring you more information about the latest sea fishing tackle, but I am finding it a bit of a thankless task with suppliers reluctant to pass information, despite over 500 people reading this site every day…. They will learn.

I have written a few articles about Abu fishing reels as below

1. Abu Garcia Cardnal reels
2. Okuma boat and shore reels

Otherwise check out this link to the sea fishing tackle index.

Please use the contact form if you want to market your sea fishing tackle if you are a tackle supplier.

fishing for answers

I dream of using the good old lugworm again but in Orkney although there are plenty of casts the worms are so deep that unless you use a JCB you have no chance of gathering enough for a decent days fishing, Any ideas?

Can any of you help Michael with the above question. I have never been to the location to dig bait so I cannot really help or advise on this question. Please comment on this sea fishing question if you can help out.

Here are some past posts on lugworm collection

• Collection lug - from youtube
• Digging lug worm

I would love to hear from some Scottish sea anglers. There are over 30 people a day looking for advice on sea fishing in Scotland and I cannot help them at all! A few popular questions would be,

1. What species are you currently targeting in Scotland
2. What are some good Scottish shore marks
3. What fishing gear do you use
4. How cold is it currently??
5. How does fishing in Scotland differ from England (southern)
6. What is the quality of the shore fishing in Scotland now

If you can help with any of the above questions, please comment on this post or send a mail via our contact page. Personally I would also be intersted in hearing about the quality of the off shore sea fishing in Scotland. I would imagine that it is far better than that of Southern England…??

Abu cardianl fishing reel

My first spinning reels was an ABU CARDINAL 50. It was a very durable reel and lasted years of fishing by my brother on the Isle of Man before it ever got to me. I believe it has been dropped down more cliffs than you would have thought possible. It still works to this day and I would never part with it as it landed my PB Bass at 9LB 6OZ

I guess because of the outstanding durability of my Cardinal, when I got a few quid together I went out and bought another…. Again I am very pleased with this reel. Its very well engineered, with no play and instant anti-reverse. Under pressure it works very well. I prefer the rear drag systems, just personal preference.

Anyway here is a brief run down of the Abu Cardinal range,

• Abu Cardinal 100 series - 5 bearings, the largest one holds 250 yds of 12lb line
• Abu Cardinal 170 series - Designed for saltwater, with stainless steel components. 4 bearings, gear ratio of 5.1:1, the largest one holding 325 yds of 20lb line
• Abu Cardinal 300 series - Instant anti-reverse. 5.1:1 ratio the largest holding 210 yds of 10lb line
• Abu Cardinal 500 ALB series - designed for saltwater use. 10 bearings with 5.1:1 gear ratio, holding 250 yards 12lb line. Multi disc drag system to manage your double figure Bass!!
• Abu Cardinal 600 ALBi series - 7 bearings, 5.1:1 gear ratio holding 250yds of 12lb line. Ideal for saltwater use with a Carbon matrix front drag.
• Abu Cardinal 700 LX series - built to last! saltwater reel. 7 high quality bearings, 5.1:1 gear ratio holding 250yds 17lb line. Carbon matrix drag.

There are lots of other models still out there which I have not mentioned here. If you own another model and would like to share you thoughts about it please comment on this post. Also, if you are interested in a particular model, then please ask and lets see if we can find you some help regarding the Abu Cardinal range.

Abu Garcia Reels

The first fishing reel off the production line was the Abu Record® C 1941 and then came a few names we know to this day - Ambassadeur® reel C 1952 and the Cardinal® spinning reel C 1965. The company is producing high quality, ground breaking reels to this day, as I am sure you know.

The quality of Abu Garcia fishing reels, is reflected by the accolade of being rewarded “Purveyor To The Royal Swedish Court,” That’s the small crest you will see on the side plates of Abu reels. This award is given to the manufactures of the best quality, well engineered products!

Abu Garcia have a large product range and they are constantly bringing out new reels to meet the tough requirements of modern anglers. Abu reels are sold across the globe and used for many, many different species, testing the tackle to the max!

The latest reel I know about is the Revo product line. I will, as I said before, introduce you to many of the Abu reels over the coming weeks. If you currently own an Abu reel, I would love for you to comment on this post at the fishing blog and share your thoughts and opinion about the reels you own. I am off now to photograph 3 of my Abu reels and will show you very soon.

In the mane time - tight lines!!

Beach and Boat reels

Value Sea fishing reel

Okuma have produced a well developed multiplier that is well priced for keen Kayak anglers and others, new to beach casting and boat fishing.

Why is it good a good multiplier for Kayak anglers? Well fishing reels are not designed to get fully submerged and constantly soaked. You need a reel that can take the abuse, yet affordable enough to replace when it starts to wear… This in my opinion means using reels of this type of quality, not cheap, yet not the end of the world.

Magnetix beach and boat multiplier range

Anyway, now the the facts about the Okuma MAGNETIX beach and boat multiplier reel range, starting from £69.99 (introductiry price), I quote from Okuma.

After 2 years in development and a global field testing project which saw the prototype models being used and tested under a variety of situations and conditions, Okuma is proud to unleash its’ Magnetix beach and boat multiplier range.

Okuma has taken the rigid, super strong body from the award winning Convector Pro range and incorporated its’ complex magnetic breaking system into the reel. Delivering an awesome tool for distance casting and ultimate spool control.

• Solid graphite body.
• Magnetic braking system.
• Solid frame with stainless components.
• Stainless power handle.
• High speed gear ratio 6.2:1.
• Aluminium spool.
• 2 stainless ball bearings.
• 1 Way clutch roller bearing.
• Rulidium drag system.
• Titanium coated level wind (level wind series only).
• Brass gears.
• 5 Year Warranty.

If you have used one of these reels then please comment on this post to let us all know how you found the reel, things you like about it as well as thing you don’t like.

Lure fishing tips

1. Replace the hooks on a regular basis.
2. Rinse in fresh waster and dry after use.
3. Use the correct knots to attach the lures.
4. De-weed the hooks after each cast.
5. Adjust the lure by bending the nose eye to adjust swimming action.
6. You can try making your own lures.
7. Fish them Fast, then try them slow.
8. Try large lures, then try small ones.
9. Surface lures might out fish diving lures on the day….
10. Check the integrity of your line of fishing near reefs and rocks.
11. Try using braid.
12. Fish tight to fish holding objects.
13. Work the shore line hard.
14. To cover a lot of ground “cast and move”
15. Use well “balanced tackle”
16. Keep a record of your lure fishing trips and compare and learn.
17. In strong winds use dexter wedges and heavy casting lures.
18. Invest in a quality reel to avoid line twist.
19. The same lure, on the same tide, on a similar day will probibly work wonders.
20. STAY SAFE.

Lastly, unlike I did one day. Make sure you tie the lure on before throwing your £8 plug into the tide and stand there waving it good bye!!!

You could also have a look here at amazon or at Tackle Bargins for good quality sea fishing lures

Anymore ideas or tips on lure fishing??? Please let us all know by commenting on this post. Thank you.

Are you Floundering yet

I feel it is not really cold enough for the Flounder to be coming into rivers like the Exe, Teign, Camel, Fal etc but I would love to hear from you if you are already getting good catches.

How to catch Flounder

For those of you who are looking for a bit of Flounder fishing advice, have a look here at some articles from the past regarding catching flounder from the shore.

• Flounder fishing - Hints and tips
• Flounder rigs - The use of beads and sequins
• Fishing the estuary - Tips and ideas for estuary fishing

I would also love to hear from anyone using new and interesting ways to catch flounder. The goal for me this year is flounder on the fly, even if it is a baited fly for that initial catch.

Latest fishing tackle.

New tackle and reviews

Many of you keen anglers and readers of the fishing blog have been asking me for months and months, to bring you the latest fishing tackle. Well today I have started for you. I have spent the last 4 hours emailing many of the biggest names in the sea tackle industry, asking them to add me to their mailing lists, media packs and so on….

I hope soon to be in a position where I can bring you the latest fishing tackle news.

Fishing Tackle replies so far,

• Rapala have replied and offered some interesting information and ideas. Lets hope others will follow suite.

• I have just come of the phone (1410hrs) to a gentleman who is, at this time, in the final stages of developing a new “super lube” for fishing reels. Adding distance to casts and longevity to the internal workings. The best thing about this fishing reel lube is, it is very affordable!!! More information to follow very soon.

• Hardy and Greys have added me as well now!

• Tronix - Lots to talk about in the new year….

If you would like to send me information for publishing on this blog about tackle you have tried and would recommend, then please comment on this post or email the fishing blog or if you produce fishing tackle and would like a bit of free promotion like wise, comment or contact us.

BTW - I had to laugh when I saw found the photograph I used here… hope you are not to upset by it.

Using Rag worm as Bait

1. A single or a few small worm can be hooked through the head area leaving the tails to wiggle below. This creates a bait full of movement, ideal for Flounder fishing. Harbour rag or Maddies work well for this.
2. Use a bunch of rag worm laced up over the hook onto the line. This is good for presenting bigger baits and casting longer ranges than from using the method above
3. The use of rag as a cocktail bait can prove very successful indeed. Thread on a bunch of rag and tip it with another bait ie. Crab, Squid or fish bait.

So depending on the target species and combined with the sort of range you are looking to cast, or the tide strength you are fishing in if from a boat, Rag can be used in different was dependant on the circumstance, location, method and prey fish (don’t give fish with small mouths a huge bait!!)

Digging Rag Worm

Find a location where it is legal to dig. Ideal Rag worm beds tend to be more gritty, composed of coarse sand and gravel. Harbour Rag are found in softer conditions, more silt / sand mix. Get some local knowledge and go from there.

I use a wide pronged fork and generally trench (dig in a long line through as many surface holes as I can find). Take out a fork full of substrate, then another one further back, but joining the first hole. I then go back to the first hole area and go one fork deeper, keeping to this pattern. Effectively you are making a trench two forks deep. You need to check each fork full carefully for any rag and place them into a bucket as you find them.

You can dig individual holes. Start infornt and dig quickly taking small fork fulls at a time, back and past the hole. Rag will move quite quickly, so be sure to dig at a reasonable speed.

For storage keep them in some torn up news paper or vermiculite to keep them moist, but not dry. Stored in the fridge they should last a good week as long as you remove the dead and dying on a daily basis.

If you have any tips or questions regarding the digging of Rag worm please comment on this post.

Collecting Lug worm

The above video is a great bit of work showing you how to dig and collect Black Lug worm. I also have written a few ideas here - Collecting lug worm