Gettin Wet, On Shields Pier

[Paddlesac]

Took myself down to Shields again today for a few hours of crab feeding

I had a couple of new "bits" to try, including some home-made rotten bottom clips, made from cable sheath wire that work a treat My new tripod, that also came well up to snuff and I was trying some braid for the first time.

It was a bit wet and miserable but I've been out and about in a lot worse so just got on with it;


When I got there, there were three other lads on the end of the pier, over by the small wall, I think one of them had a fish shortly after I arrived but I never saw it, as I was busy getting sorted out.

The braid was just some cheap stuff off ebay, it looks and feels like thread and I wasn't too confident it was anywhere near 30lb bs but I got snagged at one point and the 40lb leader snapped, rather than the braid, so.............


I'd called in to Moonfleet for a wrap of frozen black lug and combined this with some frozen summer mackerel and some squid.

I was getting bites pretty quickly and after about 15 mins I managed to finally connect, with a nice little pollock, about 1.5lb ish, quick picture and back in next to the steps.


It would have been a cracking catch on the float but even on the big rod, it still took off

I snagged a few times, and the rotten bottom links I'd made did the business on all except the one where the leader snapped

Anyway, the other lads left and as the tide came up, the wind picked up as well and started chucking the odd canny splash over the wall above the blocks, so after an hour or so with the end of the pier to myself, I decided to pack up

All in all, a satisfying few hours, with me breaking my duck on the new rod and reel

Happy days

Steve

 

[the tornado]

ssp

ssp

that's what it's all about mate enjoying ya self

 

[Leej]

Nice report and well done on your fish mate

 

[Daz65]

Good report mate

 

[Nooo Fish]

Nice one mate. Them surfblasters cast lovely with the braid on don't they.

 

[Paddlesac]

Nice one mate. Them surfblasters cast lovely with the braid on don't they.

They do actually!

Except when you;
A: trip the bail arm at the "critical" point-that is when you really don't want it tripped during a cast!:red:

And
B: forget to switch the "non reverse" back to "non reverse" after faffing on with bait and hooking the weight on the rotten bottom and whatnot:red:

Tripping the bail is bad enough, as it would normally lead to a crack off but adding "B" to the mix, means that you get a right snarl up in the line, as well as in my case, a canny whack across the knuckles as the handle flies backwards at high speed, and then trying to stop it after everything went nipples up

Mind, once I'd hand balled the line back in, the braid wasn't too bad to sort out, in spite of it going around the reel body, rotor, handle and my tackle box in the wind!

I'm wary of the braid mind, it looks and feels like it'll cut through flesh like a hot knife through butter!

ps: forgot to add this yesterday:
South Shields Pier Seal 21 October 2013 - YouTube it was floating about all afternoon, first on the sea side, then it seemed to be watching me and followed me back along the pier! I was asking it what is was up to but it just kept rolling it's eyes

 

[Nooo Fish]

Nightmare mate. Ha ha. I haven't had any of that happen to me yet. I was wary of the braid when I first used it but you get the hang of it quick enough. I sometimes use a thumb button with my FS reels but if you haven't got the drag locked down braid will cut through the plastic is it slips.

 

[Thunderpants]

Great report and pics mate. Nice to see there is still the odd pollack about.