09/04/12: There is a general buzz of optimism within the small band of anglers that regularly haunt the coast line that encompasses the Burren. The seas and skies are coming to life and fish are starting to show on many of the well-known marks on the rocks and beaches in North Clare. Terns are feeding heavily and the odd gannet can be seen patrolling the margins between the reefs and open water. Dolphins are once again hunting the gullies and even the occasional otter can be seen in some of the most surprising places.
Good sized plaice were caught in a recent club competition along with nice huss, dogfish and some pollack.
School Bass have been taken on crab and lugworm in various locations and many lure anglers are starting to wake from their winter hibernation. Mackerel are not yet showing even though they are being caught in the surrounding counties.
I have been taking advantage of the run of big tides to scout out marks that I think will hold fish and although I have been carrying a rod most of the time very little fishing has taken place which has not been my intention but conditions have dictated it.
There is a mark in plain view where I have never seen an angler so I took the time to park and walk to it. It takes about twenty minutes to get down to it and involves going through a few fields and gateways. It would not be ideal to go there heavily armed with two fourteen foot beachcasters and a seatbox. Although the walk is not that far the way is arduous and requires some holding on to rocks.
A lonely dolphin was hunting the gully and hunting hard, spending very little time on the surface and moving at speed following the same pattern of a figure of eight along the gully and then round a kelp strewn rock at the far end. I though it would move off but after about an hour Idecided that it would be me that moved along as the dolphin showed no signs of wanting to share either the mark or a decent photo of itself.It is amazing how different a mark can look at low water when you are picking your way along the rocks. I will be back to fish this area but it looks as if it will hold more pollack and wrasse than bass and the gully that I wanted to see turned out to be much deeper than I had hoped for even though it was surrounded by many shallow sandy bottom patches. If you recognise the area from the photographs I think it would be well worth spending some time getting to know the area.
As I picked my way along the rocks coming to the more frequently inhabited parts I found a nice flat platform for a rest. On that platform there was a very nice set of braid blades, not the kind of thing a tinsel tosser would have left behind but an item that some thought went in to buying. If they are yours you are welcome to them back, but only on the condition that you bring a carrier bag with you as I picked up your empty bottles and food wrappers as well!!
Back to deep water and I was surprised to see an otter which I presumed was a sea otter due to the lack of rivers or lakes in the area. I was gutted that my camera ran out of batteries before I could get a decent shot at it.
My new rod and reel arrived during the week. I have not given either of them a good testing yet but all I can say at this stage is I cannot believe that vast chasm in performance an action between a modern purpose-built lure rod and my old pike spinning rod. Sometimes you just cannot see how bad things are until you step away from them. Even on a budget it is possible to get a serviceable rod and reel and a box of lures to get you going.
I have asked around on a few forums for a bit of advice on the lures that I wanted to start with for fishing shallow reefy ground and I am pleased to say that most of the replies I got pointed me in the direction of lures that I had already considered.
Just as a note to myself, it may be better to buy lures in the winter rather than at this time of year as I could not find anywhere with a tackle house feed 128 shallow mullet in stock on any of the websites I tried.
Neil
