My Strategy for Bass, Rough Ground and South East Wales

“The experimenting and hard fishing of the seventies confirmed for me that (common sense) light tackle together with “species specialisation” was the best way to achieve improved “Job Satisfaction”, more consistent catch results and management of the vagaries of the upper reaches of the Bristol Channel, along the south east coast of Wales.  The idea was to single out the individual prey species (Rays, Bass and Cod) that appealed to me, taking every practical step necessary to ensure that only the species of the day was caught by using the correct technique, gear, bait in the known habitat, at the precise time and state of a particular volume (height) of tide, plus the compatible weather and sea conditions.  The extreme tidal range, clouded waters (solids in suspension) and closed geography do not immediately conjure up a picture of an archetypal bass habitat, ensuring that consistency in any form would only come from a more detailed awareness of the prey species, and the influences the “unique” habitat and “unusual” environment had on their behaviour.  The combination of this acquired knowledge and the tide table predictions were invaluable when adopting the “species specialisation” approach, providing a means by which forward planning became a viable option.  The sacrifice was to restrict fishing for the chosen species to only those occasions when all the factors in the equation came together, the reward was the luxury of a level of consistency on a scale rarely achieved with random fishing.”

Artwork by Derek Townsend

The concept of light tackle can be applied to all species, but it would be fair to say that along the south east coast of Wales, it is unanimously linked with bass and bass fishing.  A bass of 16 lb 4 ¼ oz caught by P. Lewis at Lavernock Point in 1979, opened many eyes to the potential that was on offer in these local waters. Undoubtedly, Don Cook’s splendid, Welsh record bass of 17 lbs 6 oz caught at Aberthaw on the 13^th July 1980, was final confirmation of the credentials of upper Channel bass fishing.  The acclaimed Marine Biologist, the late Donovan Kelly MBE, concluded that both of these fish were home grown and not immigrants from the continent, which was more than enough to quiet any doubts about their origins.  No one can argue that both of  these events are worthy of recognition, superb examples of what the extreme tidal range, clouded waters and fluctuating levels of salinity can produce, maybe only once in a lifetime.  Paced out over the years, there have been other reports of bass exceeding the 10 lb. mark, keeping alive the hopes of those whose sole ambition is to land a leviathan.  The reality for the rest of us is that our aspirations should be more conservative, with a small “c”, happy to log fish of more reasonable proportions, either as an occasional event or, preferably, with consistency.

The behaviour on the hook of different species, and how this will determine the selection of tackle, is dramatically demonstrated by the Rays and Bass.  When being reeled in on a shallow shelving beach, apart from the initial reaction, rays put in a dour performance reduced to little more than a tiring, exhausting sequence of raising and lowering the rod to draw the fish inshore and recover gained line.  When fishing into deep water from a platform, the rays deliberate survival strategy of sitting vertically in the water, exposing the full area of its winged body to the current, demands additional pulling power.  So the emphasis is on using the rod, reel and line that are sufficiently robust to counter this reluctance to come ashore.  

As the readers will confirm, any angler who has caught a mature bass on the appropriate “light” tackle will agree, no way can its performance be described as dour or unexciting.  Once again, the behaviour on the hook is the major defining feature.  The very nature of the reaction of a bass, sponsored by highly tuned survival instincts, opens the door to a wide spectrum of opportunity in terms of the level of light tackle chosen.  After taking into consideration the ground to be fished, the sea/ weather conditions on the day, ultimately it will be down to the skill, confidence and patience of the angler whether the fish is rapidly overpowered or allowed to express its potential before being carefully directed towards the shore. 

Stony Stare and Tight Lips!  

If you ask a successful bass angler to divulge any of the intricate details which have contributed to his/her consistency, you are likely to be treated to a stony stare and tight lips.  This is completely understandable when you weigh up the costs in time, effort and expense that have gone into acquiring the relevant knowledge and skills.  The reality behind most bass success stories is a well thought out and practised strategy that the angler has found, through experience, produces the goods regularly.  This does not mean that the successful strategy is the same for all the local bass anglers otherwise they would be turning up at the same mark at the same time/ tide state and conditions together.  Fortunately, the permutations of marks, tide states (spring, neap, high/ low water or in between) and sea/ weather conditions are so vast that the risks of any anglers reaching the same conclusion are minimal 

Developing a Strategy.

 When it comes to developing a strategy for bass, it has proved practical to treat rough ground and surf fishing as separate entities. The behaviour of bass on a “clean” beach, either during the chaotic circumstances of a storm sponsored, active surf or calm, no surf conditions, is far from predictable.  On the other hand, the “permanence”  of the gullies, fixed underwater structures and the like, will throw up a definite pattern of bass behaviour which is discernible and predictable.  The latter relates to fishing a favourite mark or marks regularly, confident in the accumulated knowledge of the best tide, time, conditions and experience.

 Derek admiring a bass of 5lbs. 10 Ozs., that fell to a well frozen velvet simmer crab of the soft variety

My personal strategy for rough ground was built around fishing low water of any tides that did NOT exceed 36 feet (Kings Dock Sill, Swansea predictions) in height down to the smallest, circa 30 feet.  Apart from proving successful in terms of consistency, the logic behind this decision was practicality and self preservation.  In the Bristol Channel, the remnants of the ebb, over low water and around two hours of the new flood, is a period that will demonstrate the dramatic difference in “volume” of water movement between neap and spring tides, which affect the physical opportunity to catch bass.  The conclusion was that the slower the “movement” of the incoming tide, the longer the angler could maintain his/her position, the result being the extended duration the bait remained “stable” on the sea bed, enhancing the chances of detection.  The volume and speed of the inrush of water during the initial stages of the new flood of a spring tide is such that any thoughts of holding position or stability are lost in the rapid retreat, and continuous recasting to keep in contact with the incoming bass running the shallows.  The combination of spring tides and an onshore blow have proved unpleasant, impractical and unsafe to fish in rough ground.

The need to forward plan for the pending bass fishing season from June to August, extending into early September, became the priority after completing the proposed programme for the early ray safaris.  Once again it was necessary to consult the tide table predictions and flag up all the tides that fell within the desired band of a maximum height of 36 feet falling to 30 feet.  Just to recap, the strategy being described was developed for   marks which had proven consistent over many seasons.  The logic of fishing low water of neap tides does have a lot of advantages, so it may be worth trying this strategy elsewhere in rough ground.  

Dawn to Dusk.  

The peak times for bass fishing coincided with the arrival of dawn or late evening, going into dusk.  The early morning shift was my favourite, arriving at the mark around 5.00 a.m. to meet the beginning of the new flood. Dusk could be equally productive and enjoyable for different reasons.  Restricting the use of headlamps to the absolute minimum meant that the potential for fishing at night had to be offset against the risks of stumbling around in the dark through uneven ground.  The perpetual, poor water visibility (solids in suspension) plus the strategy (excluding winds from the east) meant that ALL the listed tide heights below the 36 feet maximum that occurred during the day or night, could be considered for fishing with confidence, irrespective of the prevailing weather conditions.  Sea conditions varying from flat calm to very active water tumbling over the broken ground, have all produced their quota of mature bass.

 The Importance of Water Colour.

Ideally, the “colour” of the water which promises the best results should be relatively “clear” with a “milky” tint to it.  Experience has proved that the chances of catching bass when there is a dense band of the thick brown, heavily silted water stretching out to sea from the shoreline, are nil.  Bass seem reluctant to venture into this curtain of clouded water because the “solids in suspension” are an unacceptable irritant, passing across the rakers as the water filters through the gills.

A Virtue in Secrecy.

It has been established that bass return to the same coastal area each year following their winter sojourn.  This knowledge, heart warming as it is to any angler who has sussed out a consistent mark, carries heavy responsibilities from a conservation point of view.  If you do find a good mark, keep it to yourself or at least restrict the broadcasting of this information.  The last thing this local bass population needs is a bout of sustained, heavy angling pressure which could result in a real risk of decline in the resident stock.  Investigating a limited number of local marks thoroughly presents a better opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to enjoy an annual level of consistency denied those who travel up and down the motorway, following out of date catch reports.

Time and Tide, the Wish List!

Set out in the following list are all the tides, day and night, that meet the criteria of 36 feet maximum height to the smallest volume of 30 feet, during 2010.  The base options are there from which the angler can make a selection of dates which are compatible with his/her domestic or other commitments.  Closer to each chosen date, reference to the BBC’s 5 day weather forecast on the Internet will give an accurate idea of what the conditions are likely to be on the day.  There is satisfaction to be had when the forecasts and logic are rewarded with results.

Remember:  “When the wind is from the east the bites are the least, when the wind is from the west the bites are the best”.