Watercraft - When Technology Lets You Down

It's been all go for my friend recently planning then celebrating his wedding. Was a fantastic night that even had some guests clambered over the rocks out the front of the hotel to have a chuck for bass during the evening do. Can't be leading anglers to water and not expecting them to fish. He's settled back into normality and got a chance at some fishing with his dad for the first time in a few months and it was a proper trip back in time. 

As they were setting up the boat, Jamie noted that his dad should probably think about a new hat seeing as his Daiwa one dates from 1991. A staple lucky hat with that much experience is a hard thing to let go! Their boat is well set up with mod-cons from a fishfinder with livescope for spotting fish & features to a bow-mounted engine for holding over spots. Neither of those were options though, these amazing tools can boost your catch but they're not much good if the batteries aren't charged and you leave the head unit back at the house so it was tea leaf reading smoke signals & old-school fishing all round. 

Between them, it was time to mark out features and landmarks, dig out the mud anchor and start hunting for fish. With one fishing out, casting shads or ned rigged creature baits, while the other fished vertically working a dropshot rig they were able to cover water until they found fish.

And find them they did! A return to angling, a day away from it all, no technology getting in the way and 5 absolute tanks of Perch to the boat.

Jamies best came on a Pink Crayfish fished on the Ned Rig with a 3.5g Jighead. The method is based on a finesse US bass fishing style developed by Ned Kehde, the ned rig is simply a small soft plastic lure rigged on a mushroom head jig. The standup shape of the jig lends itself to a natural presentation that's unobtrusive to fish. You can cast and retrieve them or work along the bottom, kicking up puffs of dirt and leaving a creature bait waving enticingly stood up proud on the jig. 

They shared the spoils but Jamie played his part as netsman and photographer for the pick of the bunch that his dad caught using the dropshot. This method is getting on for ubiquitous, scaled to catching anything from big Wrasse to tiny Minnows, the main thing Ron does to set his apart is keeping any movement you impart related to imitating the fish's food. Scaling down and fishing a Bloodteez lure that mimics a bloodworm there's not much point in constantly flicking or dancing the lure around when the natural has an enticing wiggle. 

A bit of watercraft, a lot of casts and a great day back on the water!