Connah's Quay 24/08/20

[GrumpyGaz]

Had a decent session at Connah's Quay today.

Five bass, five plaice and two dabs. Fished two rods, the banzai GT with a Boss Rigs sole rig and the Aphex GT with a one up one down from, also from Boss rigs. The guy who made the rigs is a regular at the venue so why muck about tying my own. Black lug and rag, both as effective as each other today. Bass were 36, 37.5 , 38, 30 and a 20 cm. The flatties were all keepers but they went back alive, don't like the taste.

People fishing either side of me had fish and most caught one or two. The right rigs combined with the right bait made all the difference today. I had a great session today, best of the year so far.
I often get people ask why I'm sat with my rods when theres no water on the beach or bank. The answer is I'm having a good look at the features and working out where I think the fish are likely to hold up one it does flood.

It worked again today, watching the river from and hour before the flood enabled me to see all of the things the other folk that arrived later never did see. There was a gully about 40 yards out that i thought was the place to drop a bait and hey presto 12 fish landed.

[rob f]

I'm glad you had a better day than I did gaz , sorry I couldn't get there because of the traffic , may be next time

[bob1]

Good result mate well done and pics

[GrumpyGaz]

I'm glad you had a better day than I did gaz , sorry I couldn't get there because of the traffic , may be next time

Yeah, it was decent but it did take me over an hour and a half with the traffic. I managed to get off the motorway and used the A roads for the last 20 miles .

Next time mate, we'll pick a day when there are no festivals on

[pensioner pete]

Great session and watercraft, well done.

[GrumpyGaz]

Great session and watercraft, well done.

Thanks, I often get teased or told I'm mad because I arrive at a venue three or four hours before it's fish-able. Happens a lot on the Gynn funnily enough. I'm not wasting time, while I'm sat enjoying a sandwich and brew I'm looking at things. Gullys, rocks a bit of wood stuck up out of a flat bit of sand. Any sort of feature a shrimp or small crab may hide, a tuft of weed stuck to rocks that would offer a bit of cover to smaller fish and other tasty tidbits.

If I'm there three or four hours before anyone else thinks it's worth a chuck I've already decided the best place to fish that particular bit of beach or shore line and had ample time to set my kit up. On rivers I've even been known to chuck a weight as far as I can and feel for the deeper gully's. You lose the occasional lead but you know where it's deep and also know where not to chuck terminal tackle.

Before the fibro and arthritis slowed me down I'd spend hours digging bait and crabbing. You learn a lot about the shore when you wander about at low water. I packed it all in 16 years ago to do charity work but all I learned back then has worked again in the four months I've been back at shore fishing.

Watercraft is only part of it though, With the world living on the internet now it's easy to find out what local anglers are using as terminal rigs, the lads landing fish.... those are the rigs you should fish. Simple really.
Same with bait, find out whats on their hooks and do the same.

I may occasionally identify a flounder as a plaice but I know where they are likely to be whatever they are. And to be honest I wish every flattie identified as a big bass or cod anyway

[shacky]

Well Done Grumpy a Super session there

[Shane ousby]

Well done GG...day time recces never time wasted mate and estuary and sea shore marks never stay the same over the years always helps to give your self a little insight on the ground your fishing....

[JoeRoberts]

A good session Gaz, well done

[Fzappa]

Well done, a good session and photos................

Frank