‘…..Ghost town and haunted love
Raise your voice, sticks and stones may break my bones
I’m talking loud not saying much’
Is this the perfect storm that will ‘trigger’ bass fishing in its wake along the southern coasts?
And if they do return will anything have changed? Have we learned anything genuinely important from their absence?
Weather Warnings
Issued at 14 August 2012 – 11:20
Weather Warning
A combination of high winds, heavy rainfall, abnormally low pressure and high tides will cause dangerous conditions in south Munster and east Leinster during Wednesday 15th August.
Gale to strong gale force easterly winds, later veering south-easterly to southerly, will occur. Frequent spells of rain will result in accumulations of 30 to 50 mm generally, with higher totals possible in mountainous areas. The will be a high risk of coastal and river flooding.
Valid 0000 15/8/12 to 0000 16/8/12
Gale Warning
Easterly gales will develop this morning on all coasts of Ireland and on the Irish Sea; winds veering southeast to south will reach storm force on southern coasts and strong gale force at times elsewhere.
Issued at 06:00 on 15-Aug-2012
Small Craft Warning
See gale warning.
Issued at on
Blight Warning
Weather conditions conducive to the spread of potato blight will occur in parts of Munster and Leinster over the next few days especially in the coastal areas.
Issued at 01:00 on 9-Aug-2012
Its certainly a new challenge for me and my business, the decreasing numbers of fish that is! Lets be honest here there’s no avoiding it, bass are largely absent from our coasts at this time. Talking about it openly has its risks and of course its own complications regarding the possible reasons any or all of which could be a cause for their absence.
Funny thing though, there’s largely a BIG silence around their absence, or else an exaggerated picture of their presence. Yes there are fish to be caught, some, but at this time this is the exception rather than the rule. So forums and blogs and websites remain quiet – not voicing the obvious but infrequently reporting an ‘exceptional’ fish.
Four bass anglers for four days for four fish – a frequent unit of effort calculation that sums up the real situation.
Staying silent about it is of course another strategy, an easy one.
Whether it be a natural phenomena, a change in behaviour or something more serious its largely extant around our normal prolific ‘bass coasts’ at this time. For me I need to strike the balance between fairness and expectation with customers currently arriving at my door.
Again yes there are fish to be caught but the unit of effort is enormous, has been for weeks and weeks. I have been personally motivated over the last twenty day run by the positive attitude of my customers, their eagerness to learn new techniques, presentations, casting, even new locations. As a bass fishing guide (and where it fits) I have had to push all my timings, options, variations in equipment and solutions, techniques and experience to be at its very best.
If you’re a recreational angler I share in your frustration, as a person who largely makes his living from Guided Bass Angling well I guess its a very different and worrying perspective. I remain optimistic and now have a weeks holidays ahead to think and gather my thoughts.
When they come back will we ask what was all the fuss about?
What fuss exactly?
After 20 days of remarkable experiences with remarkably patient, enthusiastic and great people I can only reflect on the many many moments. The methods and locations, from shallow running surf through driving current, into estuaries, climbing out onto sunny flats, from distance casting soft baits to double hauling ten inch flies fished on T-17 and XL50’s!
The fun the frustration the joy the tired sore bones and muscles and wet waders and resignation and hope and ready to try again and again.
Londoners, Dubliners, Newcastle, Ireland, France, men and women battling the environment, the weather, reaching within themselves to push the techniques to perfect it to realise that no forum or book or blog can replace learning it, doing it!
Perseverance has its own rewards. Thanks to all of you. – Jim
If you have been trying to contact me via 086 344557 or text to this number during the past 36 hrs – I havent been able to reply as I sat on my phone on saturday afternoon!
Just replaced it this morning and doing all the usual updates etc.
Apologies – Jim
THIRTYARDS 
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