Sea angling clubs and plugging for bass

SEA ANGLING CLUBS
Malcolm Gilbert of AMMO Baits and B.A.S.S recently asked me why I thought so few sea anglers were members of clubs? I'm a prime example. The only club I'm a member of nowadays is the International Game Fishing Association.

There are numerous influences that have seen the demise of the UK club angler. Competition fishing got too competitive for many and the friendly club atmosphere was lost causing a mass reduction in the ranks. Another factor has been the loss of many clubs, especially those that were founded amongst the employees of major manufacturing companies that have since downsized or folded altogether. Also some clubs and organisational committees were maybe too distant from the membership creating a "them and us" situation.

How to make clubs popular again?

So how do we make clubs popular again? To swell the ranks of club members we need a radical re think and get back to basics. We need to bring back the club atmosphere where the club is the channel through which you book boat trips and organise excursions to noted shore venues. Going mob handed in a coach or mini-bus helps get the cost down and this is getting ever more important.

Clubs need to cater equally for freelance anglers and match anglers. Non-competitive anglers are interested in species fishing and specimen awards for notable fish. Certificates cost little, but mean a lot to an angler that has worked hard for a target fish. Freelance anglers are fed up with subsidising matches and match anglers with their annual fees.

Clubs need to negotiate with local tackle dealers for discounts on gear. Good casters in the club can give casting demos and lessons. There should be monthly rig tying evenings, maybe talks by the more successful match and freelance anglers on tactics, technique and conservation. Another good one is to hire a few fishing videos and make a social evening. I also think that clubs need to undertake proper tagging schemes and could arrange fishing trips around a tagging programme. And don't forget the monthly newsletter distributed to every member covering gossip, news and forthcoming events. It's all about giving club members a full package that keeps them involved in fishing even when they can't get out to sea.

Like I said, it's back to basics stuff, but this fundamental attitude to running a club has been lost by many and is the basic ingredient of a successful organisation. Anglers need to see something for their annual fee, and rightly so. I'm not an expert on club management. I'm just trying to get some of you out there re-motivated and thinking about how we can get clubs back to being a focal point of angling?

TIPS AND TRICKS
Spray and splash when boats are underway will soak the reel and get right in to the gears and inner workings causing major corrosion problems when assembled rods and reels are placed in the rod tubes along the boat gunnels when travelling to marks. Cheap shower caps costing less than a pound make excellent waterproof reel protectors keeping the reels dry and ready for action, plus minimises the need for maintenance.

PLUGGING FOR BASS

Plug for that special bass

Plugs need to be around 6-inches long, though bass will hit lures twice that size. Carry both floaters and sinkers. Jointed plugs like the Toothy Critter Mauler from Masterline are good, but single bodied plugs with good actions such as the Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow are excellent at medium retrieve speed. Some surface poppers like the Maria Chico Boca from Veals can really get the bass frenzied in calm seas just as dawn is breaking. My other favourite is the Rapala Sliver Sinking Silver/Black. These are all proven killers and use these lures as examples when choosing others.

The best times to fish are the hours either side of sunrise or sunset. Chose rough ground with boulders and weed beds prominent. Depth is not important. Bass will feed in just a foot of water, though catches are more consistent if the depth averages 6-feet. Plugs are short-range weapons with casts between 15-metres and 25-metres most successful.

Work the water close inshore first before wading. When wading, go slowly and create as little wake as possible. Try to cast from behind any larger boulders, even if it means crouching, to disguise your outline and keep the rod tip low during the retrieve. Bass can see well in clear water.

Ignore stories about trying to increase the movement of the plug by varying the retrieve. Bass hit steadily retrieved plugs better than plugs that have wild unnatural actions. Remember bass are looking for easy targets. Only if bass are seen to follow the lure in but not take should you speed up the retrieve.

Bass hit lures either from underneath and behind or sideways on. You'll see a bow wave of water a couple of seconds before the bass hits. Don't freeze at this point, keep retrieving at the same rate. Only when you feel the weight of the fish on the line should you lift in to the fish just to make sure the hooks are set.

Crushing the barbs on treble hooks allows easier release of fish and you won't lose any fish as a result.