The slow part of the season...

This month saw proper winter weather finally arrive upon us with plenty of snow, low temperatures and ice on the canal. The bad conditions along with increased work obligations contributed to the fact that I've done very little fishing comparing to last year.. Albeit I have managed to get fish from the salt later than ever before in the UK so I cant complain too much..
I did a few sessions on the F&C canal with the best results coming before ice up a couple weeks ago.. I've yet to encounter any perch but got a few jacks. A day just before the really cold weather came through was particularly good with the jacks getting really aggressive but I only had limited time and managed one jack while losing two that attacked a spinnerbait. I was fishing a light rod and couldn't set the large hook properly..

Pretty jack.

Icy...

After that day the canal has been pretty quiet and thus today despite the low temperature warning and brisk wind, I decided to head up to loch Fyne as I knew I would catch something there.
It was sunny for the most part with a cold NW wind and the occasional snow falling, making for an unusual fishing day but in the end I did manage some fish although as expected it was hard work.
I started with long dropshot rigs and heavy leads of over 10gr and various scented lures. As the tide receded I switched to cheburashka and paddletails as I could now work them better and with fewer losses since the current was weaker and didn't drift and snag my lures. I lost a better fish on the cheburashka and other than a few missed bites all fish were caught on the dropshot rig. This was to be expected as the fish have slowed down their metabolism and prefer more static presentations. Moreover scented lures where clearly more effective today again due to the low temperatures and sluggish fish. All fish were caught around midday.

Nice camo on this one..

They dont shy away from larger lures..

Clear cold and windy... Not ideal!

I should've scaled down and played with these guys..

Some notes from the day:

• Smaller lures would probably have been more effective as I would target the tiddlers specifically but instead I gambled for something better that didn't materialise..
• Fine wire, extra sharp hooks are a must.. Losses in winter due to weak hook-holds are more strongly felt!
• The larger fish were absent this time. Smaller fish always more active..

I think we are now in the hardest part of the year fishing-wise and any opportunity/chance of success should be exploited. Its a time for improving presentations and general fishing efficiency with usually meagre results. I do feel though that a decent fish in this time of the year is much more valuable and memorable than one in the warmer months..
In the following weeks I think a visit to some more protected marks is in order and time for the lightest/finer approach with small lures to take place. This includes the canal were I've yet to fish with UL cheburashka..

Tight lines!

Gear used.
Rod:  MC KG Evolution, KGS-832ST 2.53m, 3-15g.
Reel: Shimano Stradic ci4 2500f
Mainline: Sunline Tenya PE 0.7
leader: P-line Halo fluorocarbon, 10lbs
lures: Scented worms, prawns on dropshot.

First fish for 2015!

Today I made my first outing for 2015 and as I wanted guaranteed results I visited Loch Fyne again and expected to have a similar session like last time..
The conditions were almost identical  although the waters were very high and slightly stained after the rains.
I was going to begin with small inchiku jigs (14g) working them on the bottom after filling their muppet with scent. This worked very quickly and I got the first codling of 2015 up. So far everything seemed similar to last time and I had high hopes for the outcome of the session...

The weather has been unreal!

Filling the muppet with scent...

First fish of 2015!

Alas, for the next couple hours I was getting very few tentative bites and only a couple tiny pollock and poor cod to show for my efforts... Moreover due to the strong current and the high water taking my line through rocks and kelp deep down. I lost numerous lures (all my inchikus) and practically emptied my reel of braid!
Disappointed, I walked to the car and picked up my UL dropshot gear with 6lbs fluoro mainline. This setup doesn't cast far really but I hoped that the abrasion resistance of fluorocarbon would help and plus I had no other choice!
I tied a new long dropshot rig with a #8 slim offset hook and a 8g metal pilker for weight. I used various lures, from worms and prawns to paddletails with the latter being more successful at the better fish..
The fish finally started to show towards late afternoon and a couple codling entertained me on the ul gear. Because of the lack in casting distance I wasn't able to target the deeper areas and thus decided to call it a day before 4 o'clock. I new more fish were hanging deep as a fellow angler with much heavier gear and metal jigs, managed some coalies and pollock although he struggled as well..

Even poor cod were few and far between...

Nano pollock..

Better codling showed in late afternoon.

On the prawn..

Good fun on the Ul gear..

This was by far the worst session I ever had in this mark and I believe the most serious reasons for this are the possible emptying of the adjacent fish farm cages (no fish-no feeding-no leftovers) and the stained/high waters due to the heavy rains.. Still it was another spectacular sunny day and getting those few first fish for the year a good start to my 2015 fishing. Moreover its another example of how differently fish can behave in otherwise similar days, with the exception of a couple small factors. Learning every day as they say...

Tight lines and best wishes for a good fishing year in 2015!

Gear used.
Rod:  MC KG Evolution, KGS-832ST 2.53m, 3-15g. Awa Shima Qlite spin, 1-5g, 2.40m
Reel: Shimano Stradic ci4 2500f, Tica Libra 2500SA
Mainline: Sunline Tenya PE 0.7, Sunline FC guide special fluorocarbon, 6lbs
leader: P-line Halo fluorocarbon, 10lbs
lures: 14g inchikus, various worms, prawns, padletails on dropshot.

Im not done yet!

Well since moving to Glasgow and with the Christmas and New Year holidays upon us, I had very little time for fishing. A few short sessions in the Forth and Clyde canal were honestly pathetic! I was needing some fish and got my chance today since I got a few days off from work. I had only one mark in my mind.. Loch Fyne! Surprisingly, although the temperature was quite low (3C), the lack of wind and the bright sun made for a very pleasant day. I used the tried and tested presentations of cheburashka/offset hook/paddletail and Salty Bait/Gulp and started getting bites from the start.. I could see a few cormorants and a seal working the area so I knew the fish were around, although I would prefer if the seal wasn't there!
After a couple casts and missed strikes (I got rusty!) I finally got the first fish up. A small pollock opened the day and more fish followed soon after. I got the usual species with a few plumb codling making the catch even more special. some pics and notes from the day below:

First fish of the day..

Codling were in superb condition..

What a day!

Decent codling..

Baby octopus? Squid? looks like I'm using tubes next time..

Feels like there's more of a better stamp around now..

Pollock from the 'abyss'.. Skinny and full of eye parasites..

Not nice!

Poor cod numbers high as ever!

• Mild day - fish feeding well afternoon onwards.
• Codling plumb and in much better condition than pollock. Found pollock with eye parasites near the bottom, not codling..
• Bite frequency not very different to warmer months! Albeit fish stayed deeper.
• Not necessarily slow retrieves best.. Codling attacked even on faster speed.
• Found codling feeding on small molluscs..
• 3"- 4" paddletails on 10-12g cheburashka most effective.
• cormorants and seals good fish indicators.
• Poor cod unaffected by the cold!
• Pilkers, stick baits not very effective today. Fish wanted natural presentation bounced on the bottom and at times would hit as the lure passed over kelp/rocks on the way up.
• Increased number of missed fish. Either due to not taking the lure well or getting unhooked.. 
• As expected, deep basin areas in the sea lochs fold fish even in the coldest weather.
• Possibly better stamp of codling now.

A much needed fishing session and I'm now convinced that the sea lochs are year-round fisheries for rock fishing! As long as the correct location is found there are plenty of fish to be had..
Another note from today: I saw two groups of anglers fishing around me with a combination of baits/lures and  they had meagre results (a couple dogfish). Testament to the effectiveness of rock/finesse fishing, I just don't get why more people are not getting into it! The net and even the magazines now are full of info and anybody can go for it.. The west coast is a true LRF heaven and so many people are missing out!
I'm pretty sure that this was my last saltwater venture till the change of the year and I hope to have a few sessions like this one in the next year as well. Might visit the canal tomorrow and try again for a Forth and Clyde canal perch!

Tight Lines!

Gear used.
Rod:  MC KG Evolution, KGS-832ST 2.53m, 3-15g.
Reel: Shimano Stradic ci4 2500f
Mainline: Duel Hardcore 4x4 PE 0.6
leader: YGK Nitlon DFC fluorocarbon, 8lbs or P-line Halo fluorocarbon, 10lbs,
lures: 3"- 4" paddletails, Salty bait/gulp.

Change again..

Well I've now moved to Glasgow after a 10 day holiday, driving around Scotland and North England. I did almost no fishing but I enjoyed visiting places that I haven't been for in a while.. I did get the chance for a couple casts at Loch Linnhe and I winkled out a couple codling but not much else. I'm not complaining though as this is the latest I've ever fished saltwater in a year and I'm pretty sure that with the first opportunity I'll head straight for Loch Fyne since its not that far away..  I am optimistic that there will be fish to be had in the lochs throughout the colder months. Below a little video and some pics of my last fish here.

Hope they will still be there in January! 

My last pollock for 2014..

I need to find a place with bigger ones!

I have to look closer at home first though, and the Forth and Clyde canal seems promising..
I already identified some stretches on Google Earth and today had my first reconnaissance session near Maryhill. I was after perch mostly but seeing how cold it got since yesterday I thought it more likely to catch jacks.
I started fishing jigheads but then switched to dropshot with a pilker instead of a weight, something that's worked for me well on tough, cold days. After a few casts around likely looking spots, I was soon getting the jacks I was waiting for.. Really tiny pike but they were my first fish from this canal and in this horrible weather very welcome!
After fishing for about an hour and a half I decided to call it a day and head home.
I was very surprised with how well the fluorocarbon mainline (I couldn't find my K2K traces!) managed to withstand the jack's teeth as it took 4-5 fish till I had to retie.. I think that it was a good choice upping the line to 6lbs and using it exclusively on dropshot.

New canal looks promising..

Some nice features..

Tiny jacks were the catch of the day!

No matter how cold, they always give some sport..

Another baby pike.

Don't think I've caught smaller!

I will now start focusing more on the canal for my every day short sessions and whenever I get the chance (weather allowing!) I will still make the trip to the lochs to see how the fishing changes in the colder months. Moreover I'm really keen to try with the heavy gear on the East coast for bigger cod, but that may be more of a gamble returns-wise... In any case I'm not hanging my rods (!) and hope that the canal lives up to expectations...

Tight lines!

Gear used.
Rod: Awa Shima Qlite spin, 1-5g, 2.40m
Reel: Tica Libra SA 2500
Mainline: Sunline FC guide special fluorocarbon, 6lbs
Rig: dropshot
Lure: LFT Live baby shad with pilker instead of lead.

Fishing with stickbaits and senkos on the sea lochs.

Although I have now moved to Glasgow and I'm currently on my holidays. I managed to put a few sessions through before I left and I was pleased to find out that the fish were there till the end. One method/presentation, that although I used quite late in the season, provided me with some good fish was finesse fishing with soft plastic stickbaits/senkos. Therefore below I give a few points on the way that I've used them for my fishing here.

• Better used at areas that slope fast in good depth with plenty of rocks and kelp. Steep (bluff) rock walls, points and bays are all good locations
• Presence of current is advantageous. 
• Size 4"- 4.8" best for the fish I encounter most often in my marks. Big enough to attract the larger fish but also small enough to offer good hook ups with smaller fish.
• Size 2/0-3/0, 2-4g weighted wide gape offset hooks  most suitable for the best presentation in the deeper water. 
• For my slightly shallower marks (still deep by normal standards!) tungsten insert nail weights added near the lure's centre, may be a better choice than weighted hooks as they retain more of the lure's weightless action.
• Heavier lure models are easier to fish in these depths.
• Horizontal fall is paramount. Many bites OTD. 
• Slow retrieve not always the most effective. Mix and match will show how the fish want it.
• Colour not so important although the addition of sparkle/glitter seems beneficial.
• Heavily salted/scented and with added pork fat etc can give better results in tough days.
• Better to tie the knot straight to the hook for added sensitivity.
• Solid tipped rods have worked best for me.
• Added spinner blades (blink) can 'wake' fish up.

Some ways I rig them:

With added blink...

..It does work.

On weighted offset hooks, best for deep waters.

On standard offset or twistlock hooks with insert weights,
for the slightly shallower marks.

Work well as trailers on madais...

...And jigs.

And a couple videos of fish caught with them!

Overall these lures have consistently sorted the better fish for me and I have now added another card up my sleeve.  As I've mentioned before, they are not a method for every day or every mark, but in the right place they can regularly catch you the best fish.
The weather got noticeably colder the past few days and I don't know how this will have affected the fish up on the lochs. I'm planning a short visit though so I will soon find out..!

Gear used.
Rod:  MC KG Evolution,KGS-832ST 2.53m, 3-15g.
Reel: Shimano Stradic ci4 2500f
Mainline: Duel Hardcore 4x4 PE 0.6
leader: YGK Nitlon DFC fluorocarbon, 8lbs or P-line Halo fluorocarbon, 10lbs,
lures:4"-4.8" stickbaits.