Been there, done that, got the t shirt.?Usually get keen and go out end of may, blank and then call it a pile of shite and not go for a couple of months!
When do the bass start Elwyman? I’ve scouted out a couple of spots in north Wales so want to try for them this year. Also want to get a mullet on fly!My best chance of an early sea trout is to go bass plugging in the Menai Straits. Once caught a 4lber in mid May, my earliest river fish is early June.
I went to have a look at the river Clwyd this afternoon. The river is still about 18" above summer level and carrying a tinge of colour. The sun came out and it was quite warm around 3pm, when there was quite a good hatch of Grannom, an early caddis fly. Never saw a fish rise, but it was nice to be out. Looks like there has been some big gravel movements over the winter.
I've heard of the odd bass being caught on lures already, but as a rule of thumb I once read that a sea temperature of 10C usually heralds the start of decent fishing in the Straits......I think that's when the crabs start to peel their shells and the bass come in to feed on them. So around mid April usually.When do the bass start Elwyman? I’ve scouted out a couple of spots in north Wales so want to try for them this year. Also want to get a mullet on fly!
Interesting, thanks! I’ve caught a few bass on fly but only small ones on holiday. Like you say, not enough time during the salmon and sea trout season!I've heard of the odd bass being caught on lures already, but as a rule of thumb I once read that a sea temperature of 10C usually heralds the start of decent fishing in the Straits......I think that's when the crabs start to peel their shells and the bass come in to feed on them. So around mid April usually.
I'm very much a part time bass angler....theres just not enough time to fit it in when the salmon and sea trout are about!
Which river ?I'll be out in the next couple of weeks but don't expect to catch anything til mid May if I'm honest ?
Only ever landed one April seatrout but if you don't try... Etc lol
It was the Lune.Which river ?
Oddly enough, the early run I'm talking about did the opposite.The River Glaslyn in North Wales, near Porthmadoc, has always had a reputation for early sea trout, with quite a few caught in March and April. I was told that most of the early fish come from the bottom end of the river near the Cob.
I'm not 100% sure, but I suspect the early Glaslyn fish are mostly caught in the tidal estuary, as seems to be the case with a few Irish rivers.....presumably there is good feeding for them.Oddly enough, the early run I'm talking about did the opposite.
Ran straight to the top.
The old saying that some rivers fill from the top down may have a basis in truth ?
I've heard of the odd bass being caught on lures already, but as a rule of thumb I once read that a sea temperature of 10C usually heralds the start of decent fishing in the Straits......I think that's when the crabs start to peel their shells and the bass come in to feed on them. So around mid April usually.
I was told the same thing by a very experienced angler on the south coast, I spent a few years beach fishing around the Solent and he told me to watch the sea temperature as you were told. 10C and the crabs starting peeling, the Spider crabs arrive and the Bass (the juvenile fish in the Solent don't move)
As for the early start, I had a few hours on the Severn yesterday, started out as a meet up with other Bailiffs as there was a difficult situation with 8 poachers last weekend which ended with Police involvement. It was quiet yesterday, one salmon angler out spinning. I saw no fish below Shrewsbury and visited three lengths, I fished one, my first outing with a double handed rod for over twenty years I got back into it and fished some nice water, there was still 5 - 6" off water on and clear. My wader repair worked but I obviously missed another leak and ended up carrying cold water. A lot of weed was ripped out in last years floods, there are still huge areas missing and the river bed looked barren but there was a big hatch of March Browns, very few takers. A local fox had been busy, the head of a Pheasant and a Magpie in one copse! The more people I talk to, the more contact anglers have had with sea trout on the Severn. It might be one of those strange obsessions that I embark upon, a sea trout from the Severn
I normally give it a go in the straits in June but my annual trip has been moved to July this year? Crab will have finished peeling in number by then but I will be targeting the bass in the hope of a cheeky sea trout. Normally see loads of sea trout when targeting bass in the northeast but I’ve never landed one. Saw a double figure fish landed last year on a hard metal lure and it went backMy best chance of an early sea trout is to go bass plugging in the Menai Straits. Once caught a 4lber in mid May, my earliest river fish is early June.
I went to have a look at the river Clwyd this afternoon. The river is still about 18" above summer level and carrying a tinge of colour. The sun came out and it was quite warm around 3pm, when there was quite a good hatch of Grannom, an early caddis fly. Never saw a fish rise, but it was nice to be out. Looks like there has been some big gravel movements over the winter.
Interesting about the crabs EM. Do people target bass with crab flies? I know people fish crabs for permit etc in the Caribbean but never heard of U.K. bass anglers doing that. Maybe we need a saltwater thread??I've heard of the odd bass being caught on lures already, but as a rule of thumb I once read that a sea temperature of 10C usually heralds the start of decent fishing in the Straits......I think that's when the crabs start to peel their shells and the bass come in to feed on them. So around mid April usually.
I'm very much a part time bass angler....theres just not enough time to fit it in when the salmon and sea trout are about!
I own a savage gear crab lure that I have had for a number of years and kept for best ? I threaten to use it every year. I have heard of lads using crab flies however I couldn’t confirm or deny if they are effectiveInteresting about the crabs EM. Do people target bass with crab flies? I know people fish crabs for permit etc in the Caribbean but never heard of U.K. bass anglers doing that. Maybe we need a saltwater thread??