Writer or wronger

I guess its no big secret that these days I write monthly in Sea Angler Magazine on lure casting for bass. I count myself lucky to be doing so and am thankful to Mel Russ the Editor and the wider SA team for the opportunity. They obviously believe that I've got something good to say; although as a writer you are always plagued by self doubt as to whether what you write is actually interesting! (Do let me know by the way - your opinion is welcome and it couldn't be easier to comment; simply hit the link below and go for it. The only thing I ask is that you moderate your language!).

As this blog develops I'm going to need a few pointers on where to go with my writing and here again your opinion is both sort and welcome. Some keen subscribers to my previous (and now no longer used) blog at www.sea-bass-safaris.co.uk were always willing to give me a heads up on the kind of stuff that interested them or indeed that they wanted to learn more about. Many thanks if you were one of those people and you are now reading this.

From mackerel to spider crabs and squid to bass you'll find it all here. I look forward to you joining me.

Cheers Tim

Season 2013 top shallow running lure

So here it is; basking in the warm glow of a successful bass catching season. This shallow runner was the go to lure of last season and it was the one that produced the most hits and hook ups.

It’s great in every sense; easy to cast with a smooth set of internal casting ball bearings and aero dynamic in flight. More dart like than lure like, as it goes through the air. Some lures, particularly the stuff from the cheaper end of the market will tumble as they fly and consequently lose momentum and therefore distance. Not this little beauty.

It’s a suspending lure and it swims at around 1.5m but this you can vary depending on your reel crank speed and the angle of your rod tip. The trick with this breed is to swim them slow. Crank in and once it hits wobble speed you are there. Its action is tight, vigorous and crisp (apologies for that as it sounds like I’m describing a Cabernet Sauvignon rather than a lure – am I becoming the Jilly Goulden of lure casting?).

The colour is very sprat like under water and it shows off a nice flash. Be careful though as I believe it’s all too much sparkle for clear water days. A bit like tinsel adorned Christmas trees in June – too flashy and way out of place. No she (and now I’ve given this lure a sex) is best on low visibility days and something around 1.5m to 2.0m is near perfect. She is however very happy with a dirty swim and she’s out the box quick if there is colour in the water.

It gets better. She talks, well at least rattles. The ever clever Japanese know how to load a lure with rattles and inside her you will find 2 types of and 4 sizes of, ball bearings. That could be a random decision by some guy in Tokyo but I’m prepared to believe that it’s more likely that science has shown Yiksi Tamoto (made up name) what works. There are lures whose rattles would only appeal to babies and snakes and there are lures that bass like. She (it’s about time I named her) is one of the latter.

She is the saltwater version (written as SW) of the Luckycraft Flash Minnow 110mm. I’ll leave the hunt for her colour up to you but look hard enough you’ll find it. I call her ‘trythisone’.

Becoming epic

With the changing of the year - a slightly belated welcome to 2014 by the way - comes the launch of our new identity. We are now epicfishing and our marketing will begin to feature this new logo. The existing websites www.bassfishingtrips.co.uk and www.sea-bass-safaris.co.uk will continue (although bass fishing trips has been epic'ed for 2014!). And our thriving facebook sites www.facebook.com/bassfishingtrips and www.facebook.com/crabfishingtrips are still growing daily. If you haven't had a chance to check out what we are planning for 2014 or indeed had a look at last years great catches then now is your chance!

Bass lure fake?

I’m always trying to learn more about lure casting for bass. Sometimes this involves watching what others are doing, following trends; and sometimes I like to trail blaze. Not always easy this as there are plenty of better brains than mine putting some serious time, and sometimes serious money, into lure casting. One way that I try to take the lead is through research. The cold winter months bring ample time and opportunity to dig into the ether through the www. I focus my efforts not on whom is doing what at home - no mindless UK forums for me – no I look east, more specifically to the Far East.

I’ve written before about the Japanese and the Koreans, rod angling mad countries that lead the world in lure casting skill and tackle development. They know their stuff and it is their stuff that we eventually get. The supply chain of quality lure casting tackle to the UK is steadily improving but what arrives here is already dated there. Our ‘band wagons’ are old hat to Mr Yamimosho. Yes we may think we are at the height of lure casting fashion because we buy a red rod for silly money but we are wrong. We are buying something that has already trended months, if not years ago, in Asia.

Our tackle trade suppliers spend time and money trying to convince us of a new need, a new must have that only they and their paid consultants have access to – and you can have too, at a premium price. But I tell you this - they are selling Asia’s old hats. They are TK Max and you’ll only go there if the misses makes you! If you are serious about your lure casting for sea bass then look into Asia. And I do, all through the winter.

This lure I’ve just got hold of out of Thailand. Its wickedly clever, great casting ball bearings running smoothly down its centre line as you would expect, floating but 18g of casting weight, VMC trebles (very nice). Like the colour too (it is trending at the moment – so bare that in mind for your winter stock up). But it’s a fake... well sort of anyway. It is made in China, not Japan or Korea and because of this it costs the equivalent of £6. But this is not a cheaply made lure. It mimics the build quality of the best. No this is another Chinese master class in product manufacturing. Do it the same, just do it cheaper. Haryu – remember the name because in a year or two’s time (late again) we’ll see it in on our favourite retailers’ shelves.

And that’s the point. Don’t wait for others get out there, start looking now. The internet allows us world wide access to what others do. I know that I will keep looking and buying from the Far East. If you’d like to learn where to start looking then do submit a comment and I’ll share some links.