Oh how fickle our fizzy mistress at this time of year.
Teasing and tantalising with her blue, blue eyes, green tears swelling with the empty promises of bag-ups that should have been.
Or in the vernacular: ‘books and covers’ - ‘looks and deceit’.
So with 3 (albeit short) blanks for me this week, numerous friends also beguiled and demoralised and with the weekend’s forecast set to blast the coast a shade of Campbell’s let’s move quickly on…
To the positives!
Which are:
It ain’t over yet.
Once the filth clears next week, the forecast (for now at least) is settled and I wouldn’t be surprised if we get deep into, if not right to the end of November just as we did last year.
I had my latest fish ever last year on 1st December and I’m still hopeful of beating that record before my rapidly disintegrating waders up and run off in terminal revolt.
So, while we’re waiting all full of hope and unfettered optimism, here are my ramblings on a good six months of absolutely battering and abusing my equipment - what made it without a single complaint and what gave up the ghost completely.
OMGear!
Dear God. It’s almost upon us. The months of despair with nothing to stave off the event horizon but the shiny precious’s that come in the post with those oh-so-sexy Japanese postmarks.
This probably won’t help your deepest mid-winter buying addiction but at least it might steer you in the value/quality direction, ensuring that the money is well spent and not just spent.
Lionel.
I’ve tried all sorts over the years but this stands out for the very reason I’ve not had a single instance this season to think about it - ever.
Thousands and thousands of cast, hundreds of fish and not a single wind knot, snap off, failure, fray, nothing.
Tasline X8 20lb and only available in the UK here (as far as I’m aware):
https://www.jigabite.co.uk/productspds.aspx?sectionID=167&mv=9&sn=1
It’s not cheap (and the 150m spool is currently sold out) but has to be the best I think I’ve ever used (also think it rather dashing in white).
Rodney.
We’re quite keen on this year’s Apia line of lure rods as you might be able to tell from the pic:
Fear the roll-ups and general sloth may preclude any sponsorship deal but a striking advert for the Foojin RS line nonetheless.
2 well-loved Sky Highs and my Vivogue which I still think is the pick of the bunch.
Even after six months of using pretty much nothing else, I still only get it 100% right one cast out of ten but when you do…. wowzers - off she flies to the horizon.
And as for the tippy tip?
Well, still can’t really put a digit on it which is another reason I like it so. The sensitivity and responsiveness are just on another level to anything else I’ve come across.
The Sky Highs like most high-end Japanese rods are light, crisp, precise and easy on the user. The Vivogue not so much.
You have to remember what you’re holding, and put effort into the art of casting it, like you do a fly rod and line, or the excellent HTO Nebula range and because of this it feels like you constantly have to be on your game to get the best out of it. For a default lazy angler like myself, the challenge is something I appreciate. And the satisfaction when you do get it right, although nothing like a double haul with a perfect loop, it’s up there.
Reely?
My poor, salt water-soaked and absolutely hammered Shimano Twin Power XD.
How I don’t deserve you and nor have I any idea how you manage to keep on turning. You should be seized, should be dead but somehow you remain as faultless as those clever Japanese wizards intended when they fashioned something so close to perfection.
I did have it serviced last winter, so I guess it was in fairly good spirits but still.
Do you really need to spend that kind of money on a reel?
No. Of course not but look at her:
Obviously needs a pimped-up power knob and some Tasline wrapped around her waist but apart from that… I bought both my 3000 and 4000 versions second-hand and have never had anything but troubless joy from both of them.
Money well spent? I think so.
We’ll cover lures/flies, terminal tackle, leaking waders and my very excellent Simms Flats Boots during another lull in the action but for now we’ll finish on the dear departed or:
DNF’s
Not so many really. Thanks to the excellent Tasline I’ve lost only one lure this season and that was on the biggest tide of the year and eaten by a chalk bombie so far out on the reef that, well, fair play.
The 179-fish-between-us session saw untold flattened trebles and split, split rings and the passing of possibly my favourite lure of 2023.
Rest in pieces little one, by gom you caught some fish before you Karked it.
Yes they’re cheap but I’ve had the same happen to £30 Shimano Responders and with far less fish on the board than this one notched up so again, well died.
And rest assured Matt from BassluresUk has already been on the manufacturers to ‘make them stronger!’ 🤣
The only other snuffing out and DNF this year was my beloved Dialuna which, after 2 heavy seasons of outstanding service, slipped its carbon coil.
No hard feelings, just miss you is all and it can’t be easy being so delicate in such unforgiving hands.
I am sorely tempted by the new 2023 Dialunas but couldn’t possibly justify yet another rod until at least December.
Whatever gear you try not to buy this off-season, two things to remember:
Yes, you do deserve it and yes, it will make you a better fisherman.
And if you need someone to take the heat - wives, partners, therapists can get me here:
Excellent piece there, Sir & you sum up the numbing, tooth-gnashing frustration of topmarkblankery so well.
I'm due for an attempt on two marks today, but the two new lure packages are of course delayed & it's dregs-only.
Mighty impressed with your single loss- I run at about four per sesh!
I'm just testing a rather unusual ABU JDM Xenomorph 11' 35g rod- it's quite something (think 90m for a 30g, sidecast flick). Ideal for those Suffolk schoobs....