Code name 'Cheburashka'.

Although LRF is a relatively new thing, the idea of fishing ultra light with lures has been around for a while... Especially in eastern Europe where anglers for a long time have utilised ice fishing jigs (eg mormyshka, pilkers) and small lures targeting various freshwater predators of smaller size. The perch in particular have a large following and gear specialised for their fishing such as micro and nano jigs (mikrodzhig). From YouTube videos I got interested in some of the gear used there and what caught my eye were those small simple articulated jigheads with the double 'ears' called cheburashka. It took me a while to find somewhere to buy them from, as I didn't know their name at first, but I finally managed to locate some on eBay and an e-shop in Latvia. After receiving them I started using them more and more in my fishing and to be honest they almost replaced normal jigheads at my bottom fishing! Their versatility where you can clip whatever hook you like in an instant and also use them quickly for pegged carolina rigs, the attractiveness of the combo with the soft bait moving more freely (sort of like a jika rig) and most important, their cheap price have made them indispensable for my fishing  especially when working the bottom.

Various types of cheburashka..

Productive combo for clear bottom.

Killer!

My favourite combo is a 4g cheburashka with a #8 Owner Slim Offset hook along with a slim soft plastic such as a Jackall Mebaru Bushi, Ecogear shirasu, Sakura AJ worm etc. A variety of fish will take and the combo is pretty weed/snagless although not as good as a standard texas rig.
Ive been using them for a couple months now and have only positive points for them. They come in various sizes and types, with the most simple one having two eyes where you can add a split ring and a hook although this would need plugging single type of hooks so that the hookpoint looks up (not that important I find). My way though, is to cut with pliers the top of the eye, pass the hook and close it with the pliers. Then again you can just buy the ones with the clips where adding the hook is easier. I have also used such variations of the articulated jighead form Japan by Ocean Ruler and although they are very good, the eastern European ones are just cheaper!
Some pics of fish caught on them in recent sessions and also a video from my day off in Loch Fyne. The weather was really crap but I still had a productive session!

Pretty wrasse!

The mainstay species...

Poor cod are an underrated beautiful fish..

Gurnard are always a pleasant surprise.

Thanks for reading!

Gear used.
Rod:  Majorcraft CRK-T782AJI
Reel: Mitchell Mag Pro1000
Mainline: Sunline Siglon fluorocarbon, 3lbs
Rig: cheburashka
lure: Ecogear Shirasu worm, Tict brilliant, Mebaru bushi long, Sakura AJ worm, Ecogear grassminnow.

More action and then a blank!

A few days ago I visited Loch Etive again for my weekly fish-fix. I arrived at the loch around mid day and although there was a strong breeze coming down, I was not disappointed as I thought to use the wind to my advantage. So I started fishing near the start of the basin and was planning to make casts towards the middle of it and allow the lure to sink on a tight line and be drifted by the wind. The casts weren't very long but fish seemed to be holed up quite close in. I fished a 2g jighead and a 2" Sakura AJ worm as it was heavy enough to cast but also light enough to be moved by the wind in a controlled manner. Moreover the AJ worm is of glow material something that Ive found to really attract these deep water fish.
As soon as the lure hit bottom it got attacked most times and although I was using nanofil instead of fluorocarbon, I was usually able to tell when the fish bite by the line movement changes. The reason why I didn't go to fluorocarbon was because I intended for the line to be lighter and easier to move with the wind. Fish started coming thick and fast with codling and pollock dominating the catches.

Id never think codling were so aggressive!

After a while I got my fair share of these little fish and I decided to move towards the mouth of the basin to target the larger pollock with the Carolina rig. I followed the same tactic like last time where I would cast near the opposite rock wall and let the rig fall on tight line. The fish weren't as aggressive as last time but they seemed to commit a few turns in the retrieve after the fall. I got plenty of fish close to a pound along with a nice fish of around 2.5lbs that fought superbly but lost a much better specimen after it manged to chafe and cut the line on it teeth. I was not using fluorocarbon as a leader opting for a strong mono but alas it doesn't have the abrasion resistance of braid. Lesson learnt...
I also got a bonus species as a little trout attacked the lure just as I was retrieving it fast to get it over some weed and out of the water!

What else will I catch in there?!

A good fighter.

The next day and after getting my license I went for my first freshwater session in Loch Awe. A truly awe-inspiring loch that I'm sure holds some good fish although it may take some searching.. I fished for a few hours changing several spots but without seeing any action.. Although there were dead insects in the water, I saw no surface activity and I guess Ill have to persist..

Loch Awe at the Castle.

beautiful place.

Lets see what this week brings..

Tight lines

Gear used.
Rod: Awa Shima Qlite spin, 1-5g, 2.40m
Reel: Mitchell Mag Pro1000
Mainline: Berkley nanofil, 6lbs
Rig:carolina, jighead
lure: slim glowing lures proving very effective.

The articulated jighead.

One type of rigging/presentation that Ive been using more and more lately is the articulated jighead combined with an offset hook and slim paddle tail lure. I have come to realise that along with weighted hooks for slim sluggo/ribster lures, these two presentations are very suitable for targeting both wrasse and bass successfully without having to specialise the presentation too much according to species. As this would be impractical in the short amount of time I have available along with the gear at hand...
Thus Ive had some really nice wrasse lately, in the early morning sessions while targeting bass. When the bass don't play ball I just start working the lure slower and near the bottom and big wrasse are usually up for it.. At times I had really aggressive takes when the fish attacked near vertically taking the lure subsurface! The jigheads Ive been using the most are from the company Delalande at 10gr and the lures have been the Sakura Majikeel Shadtail and modified Savagear Sandeels.

As I had some large Savagear Sandeels spare since I don't use the heavy gear as much, I decided to modify them so that I could use them with articulated jigheads, albeit in smaller weights. To achieve this I just make lots of incisions to the lure (makes it loose) as shown in the pics and also cut a small part off the front part, to make it a bit smaller and closer to the profile of the sandeels Ive seen here. (around 12cm).

The cuts.

The finished lure.

The weather has started to get more unstable and it seems to have affected the bass, as I haven't encountered them on the last two sessions. Moreover the fry has also moved from my usual mark and I'm thinking to try a couple different marks in the coming week as it is going to be my last week on this Island and I want to go with a bang! I don't think I will manage to target any bream as the time is short and I intent to focus on wrasse and bass even more.
 The night fishing shows no sign of slowing thankfully, with Scad coming in ridiculous numbers. Again, when the right pattern is found the results are instant. I have noticed that around high tide the fish push sandeels up to the surface under the harbour lights, while as the tide ebbs, they prefer to hunt near the bottom. I have used a 1.8g Tict Dart jighead combined with a 2" Sakura AJ Worm to great effect, working it near the bottom with a medium-slow retrieve and jerks letting the lure flutter down and pause it. I usually get hit as the lure falls or when I move it again. Moreover 3" Gary Yamamoto swimming senkos have worked well, especially with a heavier jighead when fish were active near the surface.

 

The following week I will try and devote as much time as possible to fishing but even if I don't catch  any big ones I think it wont matter as Ive had a very good season this summer and thoroughly enjoyed the fishing here. More over I'm really looking forward to fishing on my holidays for different species and back in freshwater too!

Tight lines and thanks for reading! 

Gear used.

Rod: Major Craft KG Evolution KGS-832ST 2.53m, 3-15g and Golden Mean Symphonia, 8.6", 0.6-8g
Reel: Shimano Stradic Ci4 2500f and Mitchell Mag Pro 1000
Mainline: Spiderwire Ultracast Fluorobraid 10lbs, YGK nitlon DFC fluoro leader 10lb and Toray Bottom Attacker Fluorocarbon, 3lbs
Lures: various