Catch on your first cast, it'll be your last!

28/11/2010

Bait -  mackie/squid/sand eels
Rigs - Pennel Pulleys
Tide - high >>> low
Place - Taynuilt pier, Loch Etive

Well with a bit of trepidation about the temperature and an eye to the weather, dad and I sent out for the shores of Loch Etive. After an uneventful drive we arrived to some of the best scenery around.

It was a brisk -3C as we left the warmth of the car to  set up. However, the air was breathless and the lack of wind actually made it fell warmer than the cars thermometer suggested it would.


It didn't take long to set up as there is a car park right at the end of the pier.

As the title of this blog suggests, I cursed us by catching on my first cast a nice big fat doggie. Dad and I thought this was a good omen but unfortunately that is where the fishing interest stopped.

But with the continuing great cloudless weather dad and I had a great day enjoying the vistas.

We were both entertained by a couple of feathered pal. A wee young cormorant which was catching a lot of wee bait fish round us.

And a plucky Robin that spent hours with us eating the crumbs from our lunch.

We packed up as the wind got up and the sun and the temperature dropped. Great day out with Paw and looking forward to another trip back to Etive.

05/11/2010 - A small surprise at Arbroath harbour.

Bait -  mackie 
Rigs - Pennel Pulleys
Tide - low >>> high
Place -Arbroath Harbour (cage - 4)


Though the wind, swell and weather conditions were not the best as ever I continue to take any opportunity I can to get out fishing.  I'd arranged to meet Dougie and Ness at the Harbour after work around 18:30. I arrived to find the harbour full but thankfully Dougie and Ness had managed to bag one of the cages.

Cages 4 was good as it was low-tide and the first two cages don't have any water to fishing them till about mid-tide.

As the conditions were not really conducive none of us had a great deal of expectations and wondered if the fireworks display would scare off any fish? Still the fireworks were a great spectacle and I have to say much better than I expected.

As to the fishing the crabs were out in force and there was little in the way of bites. Still it was a nice evening with the stars out in force and in good company.

The whole night I had only one bite, and it had my ratchet rattling Cod I was hoping but noting little fight I realised it was not a Cod. When I had it in close I was surprised by Dougie's shout that I had a Lesser Spotted Dogfish on.  I never had my scales, but it was around the 2lb mark.

It was lip hooked so easily released to fight(ish) another day.

We fished on till around 01:15 but there was not to be any further action unfortunately.