Here we go again then chaps, into April and the clocks have gone foward, which can only mean one thing ... its time to thrash the sea to a foam once more !!

Have conducted the first couple of 'Recces' of the year off of Hillhead. Topography of the area has changed, as it normally does over the winter. At low water the river running from Titchfiled harbour now has a fairly deep channel that continues out past the first marker, whereafter it shallows up a bit before deepening again past a sandbank to the left and then shallows again where the shingle rises up before meeting the open sea.

First sortie last Wednesday evening saw a large gathering of fish (bass/mullet?) on the seaward side of the far shingle bar. A cast over the bar into open water 10 - 15 feet out saw the water explode with fish. And that is the problem ... once spooked they are even more difficult to hook into. So cast short to start and gradually move out as required.

Friday evening I chose just to fish the deep channel of the river section. Fished one of my own new patterns, a bit like a Montanna in green and black flecked chenille but with a green marabou tail and rose 15 - 20 small fish, hooking four or five but landing none. I had tied this pattern on a size 4 hook, intending it for the bigger bass and it was evidently too big for these smaller fish to take. Even so ... great fun watching the little devils chasing it in and nipping at it. Have now tied same pattern on a smaller hook and also tied a small treble into marabou tail on larger size.

Saturday evening I had another bash standing in the shallows casting out to sea over the shingle bar. again plenty of fish showing but none taking, for me that is! Chap to my right hooked and lost three fish and told me he has had bass to four pound in the last couple of weeks. He was fishing very small rubber eels (eddystone type) in black. Not your purist 'fur and feather' agreed but hey, if it works ....... One word of warning if you fancy an early season outing, wrap up warm! By 'eck that was cold once the sun started to dip.

Tight Lines.

BIG Col