Lure fishing for wrasse on Alderney with Molix lures

Molix S-Stick 4" Savetta

Where should I start ? I think if I said I moved to the salt water lure heaven 2 weeks ago, I dont think these words is describe it properly the wrasse fishing over here. Had a good few takes and my biggest one is so far over 5lb fall for the 3.8" Molix RA Shad in Smoke Sunrise colour. The ground here is a little bit different then the usual deep gullies in   Donegal, I fish over the same rocky ground but its very shallow compare to home , the wrasse come and feed on the rocks with a tide and move back with the next one, but the methods is exactly the same , slowly bump on the rocks with the lure.

Molix 3.8" RA Shad Smoke Sunrise (texas style rigged)

For this style of lure fishing I would suggest to stuck up as many as you can variety of weighs to your tackle box and more finesse are they the less chance to stuck with. And I also like to use a lot of different set-ups, the 3 most important for me and they always in my box: jikka, texas and weighted weedless hooks. Im using the Illex Element Rider S230M 5-28g rod for wrasse the reason is its sensitive enough to feel the lure even on 5g weight but also have a serious power from the back bone to fight with the 5lb wish. I using the Daiwa 20lb SW. Tripple gamma Leader, surprise surprise not fluorocarbon, this leader designed to be super tough for salt water lure fishing no rock will break it. I have my weights from 3g up to 14g max (in all type texas bullet leds, jikka leds and belly weighted hooks) because I think the wrasse fishing on lures is a game of senses, you need to get your rod and your terminal tackle in harmony with the swells, thats why I carry a lot of different weights, the wrasse are not a predatory fish so they dont gonna hunt your lures, they are more curious and can be spooky at the same time. Dont need big heavy weights to touch the bottom need a little movement only witch if you have the right weight on the swell will do it for you and its simple and more natural then twitch it all around the place. And I leaved my favourite part at the end the lure choice!!! If you say wrasse I would say Molix! ;)

 Molix Sligozzo 4" Pumpkin Seed

Wrasse love paddle tails, the Molix Ra Shad series comes in lots of colours to chose from but my favourite wrasse colours is :green pumpkin, pumpkin orange, mx june bug, smoke sunrise, water melon gold chart. Im not using bigger than 4.5" lures for wrasse this size cover the medium to huge size of them so most the time either way I will have fun.

The Molix 4.5" S-Stick is a real player with the swell, the lure has an interesting shape like nearly a triangle and because of that falling in the water slower that other lures, sticks against the swell and the main body slow it down the movement. At the same time the thiny tail with the air bobble in it moves to different way and always pointing up , brilliant lure i love them in savetta colour, blue notte, ghost gill,marron glace.

And the Sligozzo....4" perfect chunky monkey, savage for wrasse! Like rag worm on steroids with annoying thin flapping tail, of course wrasse want it to bite it and they coming in awesome colours too: cinnamon pepper, watermelon red black flake,bloody pumpkin, natural shad, motor oil.......the sky is the limit.

I have my lures from www.fishonlures.co.uk and here is a few more snaps because i also love photographing them as well....hope the few info was helpful and see you on the rocks....tight lines ;)

Pike fishing in Ireland...the story of my last trip here with Fermanagh/Monaghan Boarder Fishing Guide

16lb pike on 28g Illex Element Rider lure rod

So yess this was it, my last trip done before I will move away to the Channel Islands for a while. And  decided to book a trip with http://www.borderfishing.com , chasing big pike on big waters. I mostly does my fishing in lakes and have pretty awesome results at the past so I was like my last trip has to be big. I had one of my best experience on the water for 2 days, learned a huge amount of how this style of fishing needs to be done. However good gear I take with me it wasn't really enough for the really big girls, I lost an absolute monster because of that, but its proofed that my lures is slay fish big time but need the big boy versions of them for this job. We had not really the best weather conditions, 30 mile/hr wind and rain showers non stop, but I put my in it and fished really hard to catch some beauties. My guide Gerard Smith does an absolutely awesome job, he did everything what was possible to get me fish in this bad weather conditions, and yes I had my fish. And I also set a record up on the boat straight after a few cast, I landed the smallest pike ever it was around 20cm and my lure was 15cm, well I wrote a history just from the other end of the game :)

Big or small, we love them all as they said, well that little micro jack was actually super cute. This place is just absolutely magical and breath taking. My accommodation sits in the heart of the country side, traditional Irish beautiful farmhouse run as a family business nearly 40 years. I booked together when I booked my trip with the guide. When I arrived I was too exited to put my bag up to my room , my blood was boiling to get out on the water so jumped in the car and ready to rock, but a lovely lady runs to the car and introduce herself and ask me that what I would like for dinner, I was delighted, what else could you wish for after 12 hrs on the water than a home made meal when you arrive! When we arrived back after the first day I had a warm shower to heat up and dinner was ready, the lady explained that they have a separate dinning room for guests but she made the table in the kitchen because I was  alone and not nice to eat alone, so she take me to the kitchen and it was really lovely and friendly atmosphere and I had my dinner with my guide, sharing good stories and had a laugh and my 3 course meal was delicious traditional Irish dinner, I tell you now that lady really knows how to cook ;)

The pike fishing in Ireland is more like a feeling, I would say if you are a really serious pike angler you must do this trip in your life. The fishing is simply will blow your mind away there, could catch them in any size and if you are in good hands you could hit your fish of the life time easily. And the place is just magnificent, when you get up on the morning look out on the window and the whole country side wakening front of your eyes, dress up quickly and the hot full Irish breakfast ready waiting for you on the table, hit the road arrive to the water get on the boat and the sun comes up while you raping the waves to get to the destination is just pure priceless and if you didnt find that a miracle  just dont go fishing any more because this is what is  all about. Old  enchant churches in pieces and some of them renovated and kept the way it was hundreds of years ago, castle towers visible from the forests and the huge rain clouds front of you gives a dark angry shades for all and when is the sun comes up everything sit around you in peace the way they sits for long long time........

And you knows that in the deep under your boat could lurking the same old angry green irish monster waiting to take a lure or the bait , every pike there what I caught between 2 days it was an awesome memory even the smallest witch sets the new "boat record", a great laugh what we have about, the swearing words when I lost my big one and when the stormy rain hits us. Well this is all about and i couldn't wish better company and host to do my last pike fishing here for a while. I definitely will be back and thank you for the awesome memories for Gerard Smith I really enjoyed my trip, first class!

Sad but happy.

Well tight lines and keep tuned for my new salt water sessions :)

And some more pics bellow ;)

Perch fishing with Pezon&Mitchel Hiker Micro Check rod combinated with 2" Molix Freraky Rock

   Pezon&Mitchel Hiker

For one of my last trip in Ireland I choose to be a river session (we have no close season here). Bring two rods one for pike the Illex Element Rider S230M 5-28g and my Pezon&Mitchel Hiker Micro Check 270 5-20g for perch. Around lunch time when pike fishing going all quiet I was into my perch mission. The river was flowing medium fast so I try a whole  range of weigths and technics to find out witch depht the perch lurking and how fast my lure need to move to make them interested. Also great test for the rod too, made to work the light soft plasics with it. The winning choice was 5g jikka rig, bump it on the bottom dead slow in the current of the river. Because of the solid tip the rod is extremely sensitive, soon as the led touched the bottom i felt every single rock down there. Takes a little time to get use to figure out witch bump is a bite and witch one is just structure of the bottom, but once you get the hang of it this rod will give you super awesome perch fishing. I cant wait to try it out on salt water  next. First class soft plastic rod for the "current job".

2" Molix Freaky Rock (june bug colour)

The lure witch does the damage on this session is a 2" Molix Freaky Roock in june bug colour. The water clarity was pretty stained but the perch seems wasnt interested in bright colours, so I decided to go dark then and boom fish on. Its a really special little lure, in the two long tail  have a built in air bubble its keeps the tail pop up and gives a lure non stop movement in the water.The two flat "lobster claw" imitation on the side is flapping all over the place when the led knock the rock on the bottom. The other two chunkier , perfectly round shaped fin on the top bring the weight to the head, gives the tail and claws more movement with every twitch you make. I set it up with weedless hook and 5g jikka led because the bottom structure was pretty hard to fish with open point jigheads, but works extremely well if you choose the jigging technic.

So at the end I have one of my best perch fishing experience on the river screen yesterday with this rod and this lure, they just really does the job in finesse fishing, give me over 20 perch and some was in  quiet nice sizes as well. The part 2 of the session will be about the morning and evening piking of the same day....coming soooooon, keep tuned! 

Tight Lines ;)

First impression of using the Pezon&Michel Hiker Micro Check rod

Been quiet at the last few weeks because the conditions of the weather unfortunately. Plus I catch a very bad flu witch tie me to the bed for pretty long time. But in between I manage to put my hands on a Pezon&Michel Hiker Micro Check rod. As probably many of you knows its so hard to get rods and goodies from france , mostly long waiting game with the postman but when its finally arrives totally worth the feeling. Last saturday decided that cant wait any longer I need the hit the bank so badly no matter what, well when I said no matter what I mean ready to face 50+mile/hr S/W wind right in the face where the spot, spiced up with rain and ice showers. Roughly all week was the same so kinda expect that water levels will be high and hard work to find a place to put the line in, some lakes/rivers we tried had swells like a sea, but fish was in my mind so put up the "lets do this" emotion on the face witch changed very quickly after 10 min to the "f....k this s....t" face.

However the conditions pushed us to the limit to try everything pretty much where we find H20 in the area. The bright side I could play with the rod lots of different ground, but firstable back in time a little when I unwrap the stick at home. First thing when I grab the parts "wow this is heavy", well the weight of the blank is heavier than what I expect under the "Street Fishing Concept", but thats not a bad omen at all. Put the parts together and get a usual wiggle with , felt  tiff and so soft at the same time, weird i didnt find the balance at all in the rod, but still no reel, line or lure on it. The lenght of the rod is 2.70m and rated 5-20g and these details made me so courious, sounds perfect for my soft plastic fishing but I didnt connect with the rod......yet. Take another closer look and yeah its has a solid tip on it.....light bulb in shine and then I start getting the concept ;)

And now back to last saturday when the magic begining and this rod is deny nearly everything what I wrote above like first wiggle and handle (what you normally do in shop) and let you to feel what is the Street Fishing Concept by Pezon&Michel . Arrived and start put the gear together, screw my little Pezon&Michel Luxor 2500 reel on first hahah keep it in style/ and I need slow reel for cold water anyway.  Booom yeah put the reel on and the rod is in total perfect balance, the end of the handle sits just right above the elbow a little, for perfect cast and a rod weight is just disappear to your forearm without feel any heavyness. Put the Sunline Superbraid 5 braid trough the eyes, leader tied on and the lure at the end 3.8" Molix RA Shad. Now the first cast with ........cast the lure out like a rocket 30m without any huge power cast, just like a catapult, with a little more power in it 50m bang on with 10g led. Actually because the solid tip the rod feels like super fragile, I had a good few cast before I was confident enough to give a big wack but the rod handle it no problem. On the river screen out in the current the sensitivity is outstanding when bump the lure along on the bottom feels every single rock. This was one of the reason what I was looking for in the rod, if I bring it out for salt water for bass in ashtrays......will be super fun.

And finally against all the weather procedure I hooked a little jack. Really made my day after all, take my lure just right about 2mtr front of the stand and when the fish realised the hook set did a straight run right under my feet.....i was like " noooo dont do this to me that I gonna loose it front of my legs" than looked up the rod was in perfect circle and I started to work the fish out from between the wooden legs of the stand.  Super that the real power of the rod comes from near of the handle, its like when you driving a car and turn the wheel once i was feel it and have confidence of the power what the rod has I easely could turn the fish with it the way I wanted. The pike was around 2kg not a monster at all but the fun was super on that rod. I can imagine for a good perch or zander fishing too in light style and even if hook a big fish its dont gonna be a problem to land with. One thing what I didnt try and I dont feel its gonna work at all if wanna over load the casting rate even just a few gramms. At the end im super impressed and love the rod.........5* soft plastic fishing, 5* on light plugs and 5* for power and sensitivity........i just could recommend!!

Tight lines ;)

Salt water lures for pike

Lovely saturday trip, ice showers, -1 degrees, 6o mile an hr average wind speed, high water levels and tea coloured water. This conditions was on the lake when we arrived. The perfect weather for lit the fire and just stay in all day for regular people, but not for us, we was determined to go pike fishing no matter what nothing could stop our mind about. And at the end its all worth it.

This green beauty made one of my best memorable strike and fight. Jumped out of the water 3 times like a trout does and made my reel smoke on full tight several times. The fish was in top condition and so aggressive. Take my jikka rigged 5" Reins Fat Rockvibe Shad in Wakasagi colour, wasnt any kinda hesitation when she bite it, straight hook set and huge run. Im still buzzing after a day, pure awesome adrenalin injection.

5" Reins Fat Rockvibe Shad Wakasagi

I find it interesting to start using salt water lures for pike. Quiet convinced that that by the years pike pretty much educated, on some often fished waters they skip all the popular fresh water hot colours like fire tiger etc. The Rockvibe shad also very effective on salt water for any predators such as Pollack, Coalfish, Seabass. In coloured water the lure was more look like white and super visible, that what I was exactly hope for. The 10g led and Illex 4/0 super sharp weedless wide gape hooks make the perfect moves out of this lure without snagging.

Another smaller pike of the trip

This smaller pike falls for another salt water lure, IMA Sasuke 130 Gouriki 25g. I just called the ultimate casting champion, 100m easily without any pressure. This lure designed for distance in rough conditions on salt water, the action comes when the lure dig in the swells and the rattles going mad inside, pretty loud. As we dont have a joys of swells on still water you have to work this lure pretty hard like under water popper on fast retrieve. Same effect comes from the rattles , the shiny belly flashes up non stop and the little spots on the side and the shape of the lure quiet reminding for a trout.

IMA Sasuke 130 Gouriki 25g

All the fish has been released safely for another day fight. It was absolutely awesome and on the plus side I take the "fish of the day trophy" home against the guys........should I say AGAIN :D

Tight lines ;)

Molix S-Stick against the waves in Co.Donegal

Packed the gear and head to Donegal for 4 days to start the new year with. Well this picture is shows the beautiful side of the Atlantic coast line, lovely calm beach,light swells, standing and spinning away on the rocks, stunning sunset. So relaxed mind clearing joys of fishing.

And this is the grey side of the elements. The picture no where near give back the impression of the 15 meters waves way out at distance . We have huge swells as well where we was stand but trust me it was breath taking to even just watch it. 68 mile/hr wind created those monster waves, makes me think that never under estimate the sea, if its hit you just will completely wash you away like a feather. 

Lure: Molix 4" S-Stick Savetta

Hook: OMTD  FatWorm 3/0

All what we caught and I think I still could say  we did well by the way, one small coal fish on Molix 4" S-Stick. Some places where deep so we used up to 25g weights but still couldnt really keep in touch with the lures because the strong swells. The S-Stick in Savetta colour seems does the business, could retrieve with various methods and the lure perfectly has the " walk the dog" action under the water or on the surface fished as weedless. The white belly flashes with every twitch and the purple sparkles gives and extra shiny effect for the lure witch drives any predatory fish mad.

So at the end we have been there, try our best and proof that we could catch fish 12 months a year. Sometimes its calm sometimes its rough but people who call themselves fanatic anglers, really nothing cant stop us to be there even if no fish just the feeling, thats fishing! But remember safety first no matter what!

Tight lines guys for the new adventures ;)

Ice ice baby....winter is arrived

Christmas blues is over so decided to go and do some super early morning trip for perch.

Super early i mean we arrived in dark wait for the sunrise in -4,5 degrees. Everything was frosted white and crispy.

It was absolutely freezing to stand out there and try to cast. And if all this wasnt enaugh the ice on the rod tip and in the eyes made every second cast difficult. Reels are become frozen and the braid is just one pure ice block, we was keen to get the sunshine out .

The fish was lurking just right at the bottom of the canal we felt the tap tap taps but they seems not in the proper feeding mode at all. The winner lure was the 3" Molix Caleo Craw Watermelon Red Black Flake, rigged texas style and slow like super slow retrieve on the bottom. 

Molix Caleo Craw 3"

Brilliant lure together with a great method to use on texas rig as people use it for fresh water bass. The little craws go bananas every twich,  if I was a fish I would eat it too. Cant wait to try it out on the salt water screen tomorrow for wrasse in the Atlantic Ocean Coastline as well.

At the end the frozen fingers ,ears, rods and reels all worth it. And now off to pack to Donegal for a 4 day wrasse and pollack fishing, hope weather will play balls on the rocks. This is better than therapy :) Tight lines guys for the new year :)