snatcher
Well-known member
Les and his family had been staying on the Clashwhannon site all week. On the last day of his holiday he had decided on a days toping to which I had been cordially invited. The third member of the crew was Shaun,Les's youngest son.
We really did struggle to catch mackerel for bait. Les tried all of his usual "banker marks" but the fish were just not there. In total we managed just 3 mackerel with a sprinkling of sandeel. As a by-catch on hokais we were picking up cod,whiting and gurnard. Some of the cod went to about 2lb and all were safely returned.
Les decided to anchor up at his tope mark and to fish initially without rubby dubby,hoping to pick up more mackerel whilst waiting for the tope runs. We did not have long to wait for that first run which Les struck into. Les had only been playing his fish for a couple of minutes when we got a second tope run. Young Shaun struck into that one,a double hook up - luxury
I held Les's rod whilst he "handed" in his fish,a fine looking 40+lb female
After a quick pose for the camera the fish was quickly returned to the water then we both watched Shaun playing his fish to the boat. Les expertly lifted that one into the boat and it was quickly unhooked. It was a male about 30lbs, The tope traces used were heavy mono tied direct to circle hooks.
Somewhere along the line Les got "done" by one of the tope and here is the proof - ouch!!!
It was decided that I would take the third run. Whilst waiting for that run I tried a baited hokai on the bottom and picked up this dogette. It had to be the smallest LSD I had ever caught but it is a good sign for anglers of the future LOL
Here is a picture of Les with one of his gurnards. He did manage all 3 species,nice one Les.
Well that third run never happened and Les decided to have the last 20 minutes having a go for plaice closer in. Les put on black lug for bait whilst I tied on a dexter wedge and tried to tice in a pollack. Les picked up another gurnard whilst I picked up a coalfish and a gurnard. Its the first time I have caught a gurnard on a spinner!
All of that salt air had given us an almighty thirst so we just had to finish up with a few beers at the Clash. We bumped into Matty Burrett as he was passing the Clash and he was still buzzing as he said he had just had a terrific day on the pollack.
Anyway Les thanks for the day out with you and Shaun. We all caught fish and as usual the craic was good.
John,signing off from Mariners Cafe,Drummore.
We really did struggle to catch mackerel for bait. Les tried all of his usual "banker marks" but the fish were just not there. In total we managed just 3 mackerel with a sprinkling of sandeel. As a by-catch on hokais we were picking up cod,whiting and gurnard. Some of the cod went to about 2lb and all were safely returned.
Les decided to anchor up at his tope mark and to fish initially without rubby dubby,hoping to pick up more mackerel whilst waiting for the tope runs. We did not have long to wait for that first run which Les struck into. Les had only been playing his fish for a couple of minutes when we got a second tope run. Young Shaun struck into that one,a double hook up - luxury
I held Les's rod whilst he "handed" in his fish,a fine looking 40+lb female
After a quick pose for the camera the fish was quickly returned to the water then we both watched Shaun playing his fish to the boat. Les expertly lifted that one into the boat and it was quickly unhooked. It was a male about 30lbs, The tope traces used were heavy mono tied direct to circle hooks.
Somewhere along the line Les got "done" by one of the tope and here is the proof - ouch!!!
It was decided that I would take the third run. Whilst waiting for that run I tried a baited hokai on the bottom and picked up this dogette. It had to be the smallest LSD I had ever caught but it is a good sign for anglers of the future LOL
Here is a picture of Les with one of his gurnards. He did manage all 3 species,nice one Les.
Well that third run never happened and Les decided to have the last 20 minutes having a go for plaice closer in. Les put on black lug for bait whilst I tied on a dexter wedge and tried to tice in a pollack. Les picked up another gurnard whilst I picked up a coalfish and a gurnard. Its the first time I have caught a gurnard on a spinner!
All of that salt air had given us an almighty thirst so we just had to finish up with a few beers at the Clash. We bumped into Matty Burrett as he was passing the Clash and he was still buzzing as he said he had just had a terrific day on the pollack.
Anyway Les thanks for the day out with you and Shaun. We all caught fish and as usual the craic was good.
John,signing off from Mariners Cafe,Drummore.
