Outside Days » sea bass

Devonshire Flyrod McNab: Saltwater

Howard — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:01:26 +0000

My fascination with all things saline began early, on what now would be a staycation, but then was a seaside holiday. As saltwater fly fishing has moved from the subtropical bonefish north into temperate waters, I have been able to combine my two passions and reduce No. 2′s irritation with me.

David Pilkington is another convert to a phenomenon I have written about here: bored fly fishermen finding alternative quarry at which to fling fluff…albeit considerably larger dust bunnies. Having failed on the freshwater sections of the Devonshire McNab, we were determined to turn around our fortunes by heading to the sea (not the first Brit to think this would be the making of my adventure). We kitted up in the carpark, surrounded by intrigued walkers and ponies: donning waders and strapping washing up bowls (line trays) to one’s waist caused a sensation among the less fashionably attired. Setting off across the sands to meet the flooding tide, we passed a host of promising looking depressions that would be fish-holding pools on our return journey.

As soon as we reached the water, all our dreams of crystal clear seas were shattered: the swell resembled a tossed salad. Saltwater decorated with rafts of seaweed, driftwood and swirling sand charged up the race to meet the turbulent spate freshwater. Imagine fishing into Realtree camo, and you’ll come close. Double hauling frantically to get the best of the clearer water, it was impossible to tell whether the knock on the end of your line was a fish or a passing pallet. Undetered, we fished on, David watching the incoming sea to make sure we could still beat a hasty retreat to the diminishing beach. After a couple of hours of good effort with nothing to show except improved technique, we accepted defeat, and returned to the welcoming fires of the Arundel Arms where a consolation dinner awaited us.

Clearly, this is not an adventure for the weak of cast, the pessimist, or those afraid to fail. But then what true challenge is? The tides and runs of sea bass and sea trout make this a trip with a limited window of availability. If you fancy having a go, don’t hesitate in getting in touch to secure the best dates.

Devonshire Flyrod McNab: Freshwater

Howard — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:57:48 +0000

We wrote this blog more than a year ago, but had to hold off sharing it with you for editorial reasons. Now, in the gloomy rain of autumn, it seems appropriate to hark back to summers gone, and dream of the ones to come. As I have observed when trying to justify my attempts to catch barbel on the fly, fishermen invent new challenges when bored. The Arundell Arms staff, passionate about their flyfishing, have invented the Devonshire Flyrod McNab: brown trout, sea trout and sea bass on the fly in a day. I’ve been desperate to visit the infamous Arms since I was 10 and keen to learn to flyfish. Needless to say, my parents couldn’t be convinced to send their kid off to Devon on his own, and had no interest in accompanying me, so I had to satisfy myself with drooling over their brochures. Thirty years on, Anne Voss-Bark was kind enough to invite me and Number Two to stay and attempt the McNab.

The 2008 season was a challenging one on the spate rivers, with the constant rain making conditions unpredictable, but I packed my rods in great anticipation, and headed west. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of staying at the Arundell Arms, it is famed as much for its fabulous food and hospitality as for the 20 miles of fishing on the Tamar and its tributaries.

Conditions on the Tamar resembled the Nile in flood, ruling out any night time adventures as the water was just too dangerous to fish for sea trout in the dark. Come the morning, it was apparent we would have to be clever with our fly choice to tempt salmonids of any flavour to take. Needless to say after several hours of dangling Pilkington Bumbles (our ghillie’s foolproof invention) in likely spots, we conceded defeat and beat a hasty retreat to the welcoming arms of the bar. Under fishing paraphernalia that would make the most accquisitory collector blush, we plotted and schemed the salty part of the day’s challenge.

Bass on a Surfboard

Howard — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:53:21 +0000

We all have the odd crazy friend who is determined to blend their sporting passions to create new fusion sports. I seem to collect them, and Kayak Nick is the sanest of the lot. For the aficionados of these pages, you will remember my first excursion with Kayak and the aptly named Special John…John flipped the unflippable kayak in seconds, gaining his moniker and some very wet gear. So when Nick was being visited by angling journalist Toby Coe and asked me to come along, how could I resist?

The best time to catch bass on the fly are the bright early mornings of late spring, summer and early autumn when the light is low and the sea quite flat: the bass love to feed on the surface in these conditions, making them ideal targets for the fly. Fortunate conditions for 6ft plus blokes sitting on the equivalent of a surfboard with sides and juggling rods, paddles, and now a camera. Of course, the gods smile on the righteous, so I want to know what Nick has been doing: the day dawned grey, blustery, and altogether not bassy. But when a journalist comes to call, you make the best of things.

The unpromising weather was compounded by the council informing us they couldn’t retrieve (a certain journalist’s) car keys dropped into a storm drain as the Queen was due any minute. Launching our kayaks into the surf, we were off, exploring the fecund marks around the Portsmouth coast. We were into small schoolies straight away, but it wasn’t until the contractors arrived to retrieve the keys that I hooked the fish of the day. If only I’d had a camera to capture the esteemed journalist hopping down the beach, camera in one hand, waders around his knees. But with a 3lb bass on the line in one hand and the paddle in the other (fighting to bring the fight within camera range), I still would have missed the shot. We can’t control the weather, or guarantee the fish, but a day out with Kayak always produces cherished memories.

For those up for the challenge, this type of fishing takes you to marks inaccessible from land or bigger boat, providing great sport and the opportunity to see our native wildlife from a different perspective. If you are interested, get in touch before the bass move offshore for the winter.

Salmon, trout and….tuna?!

Howard — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:37:35 +0000

With my son in an Irish boarding school, I have taken to haunting Ireland’s rivers and coast in search of perfect sporting opportunities. We’ve bagged two new jaunts based around Dingle Bay in County Kerry: salmon and trout on the lower stretches of the River Caragh and albacore tuna on the fly offshore.The Upper Caragh appears in the pages of Salmon & Trout on a regular basis, but until this season, the Lower Caragh was a net fishery. And fly fishing for tuna? The skipper caught the European record albacore in 2007 on lures and is absolutely convinced that the piscine champion of the northern seas will take to the fly.

There are no rod records for the Lower Caragh, so short of sticking a wet finger in the wind and guessing, we can only tell you the Upper Caragh records 250-300 salmon a year, and the net fishery was declaring a similar number. The river is dotted with the riffs, ripples and pools that make salmon fishing so exciting. Sea trout and brownies also run in the river, and there are an abundance of sea bass in the sea pool and estuary, making multispecies days a possibility.

For regular readers of these pages, you’ll know I’m easily goaded into non-traditional sporting challenges, egged on and accompanied by Special John, Kayak Nick, Tobias the Pedant and Tony. When I heard the nearby wildlife touring boat turned its hand to a little offshore tuna fishing for a few months a year, I had to challenge the captain. So he’d caught the European record…could he help me and anyone crazy enough to join me tackle tuna on the fly? He’s game…are you?

***there are still a few places for rods on a trip the first week in August to fish the Lower Caragh’s salmon run***

Itchen(or) for Bass on the Fly

Howard — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:01:38 +0000

I recently had the pleasure of fishing with fellow Orvis Endorsed Guide Justin Anwyl for his species of choice, sea bass. Justin spends more than 300 days a year taking clients out after bass, and on his days off is frequently found flicking fluff for them himself.Its hard to resist such passion, even when it means hauling yourself out of a warm bed hours before dawn is considering breaking, and making for the coast.

Based at Itchenor in Chichester Harbour, Justin fishes the flooding tide: the incoming water brings sea bass’s favourite snack, juvenile fish. Tying Deceivers and Clousers on the end of 7 weight line, I loaded my 10ft Zero Gravity ready for the off. And once again, I proved a jinx. Justin and I each caught foot long school bass, but the big girls elluded us. Between bass and muntjac, I have decided I must have offended the gods. Trying to placate my wounded ego, Justin reckons saltwater fishing in the UK is very tough and variable. At this time of year, he’d expect to catch the larger fish, while the summer tides are great for school bass in numbers.

To make the best of the saltwater flyfishing opportunities, your casting needs to be up to scratch. If that’s you, feel free to get in touch. If your double hauling needs a bit of a polish, Justin’s shore-based academy is among the best places to learn. The partridge season is well underway (we’re shooting around the odd combine), despite nature’s attempts to throw us off course with bright sunshine and absolutely still days following in the footsteps of howling gales and torrential rain. Now all we need is a bit of autumnal fog and we will have the complete collection. Get in touch for last minute gaps in lines, a mad dash north for grouse, or for the few remaining bargains.

I Canoe Can You? Seabass on the Solent

Howard — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:18:42 +0000

According to Ratty, there is nothing more fun than messing about in boats. Well, he was nearly right. Add a fly rod, some bass, and an early morning start and it achieves perfection. Good friend, local ghillie, and all-round piscine guru Nick Richards has decided to share the secret to bass on the fly (he caught more than 300 himself last year): the kayak. No, not an exotic fly of enormous proportions, a flatbottomed canoe. Nick’s fleet of ocean kayaks is stabilised for coastal waters and kitted out for fly fishing.

Kayaks offer the opportunity to follow the fish, enabling Nick to show clients sporting fishing at unusual marks all within the Solent. For the familiars of my blog, you know I am always eager to a.) get someone else’s opinion of a new sport and b.) get one up on Jon. So roping him in as a lab rat was a no-brainer. We set off from Portsmouth seafront at 4am, and the gods were with me. Before we’d gone 500m, Jon was upside down and thoroughly wet. Neither Nick nor I can work out how he’s done it (but then that’s Jon, achieving the impossible) as we’ve tried and couldn’t, no matter how hard we laughed.

This fishing isn’t for beginners: casting with your ass at sea level takes a bit of getting used to. Try sitting on the floor and casting a decent line. Fortunately, sea bass aren’t as skittish as wild brownies. And proficiency at swimming just makes good health and safety sense, even with the life jacket Nick insists on. As for anything challenging, the rewards are great.

The UK shore-caught record for sea bass stands at 19lbs 113/4 oz, achieved from Sandown Pier on the Isle of Wight. From a kayak, the fight might replicate a husky pulling a sleigh, but there is every chance of tackling a double figure fish. My favorite summer snack, mackerel are another common catch. If only they grew bigger, they’d be the king of the sport fish: pound for pound they put up a fantastic fight on the fly.

So if, having practiced your prone casting in the lounge, you fancy having an early morning or late evening go at the bass, drop me an email and I will put you in touch with Nick.