January has been as January was expected, life beyond fishing had to take priority. Sometimes it just works out like that. I think that’s when I realise I am sort of a grown up, when fishing isn’t the priority. But, knowing a little fishing drought was coming I made sure to sneak out for a couple of hours at the start of the month. A friend was enjoying some great whiting fishing on the south coast and with conditions being cold and calm, they were the perfect target. They aren’t a hard fish to catch, tackle and bait is simple, if they’re there, you’ll catch them. I was fishing a deep water mark and so long casting wasn’t required. I took just one rod, a light carp rod with some three ounce leads, plenty for the calm weather. Bait was some squid from the freezer and the rig was a basic two hook paternoster.
It really was a cold evening and I regretted forgetting my gloves. Fishing just one rod, I was set up in no time. I baited the needle sharp size 1/0 hooks with a strip of squid on each hook. No need for elastic, the casts were going to be gentle 50 yard lobs and if there fish were there, the baits would be taken in no time. It wasn’t a minute before the rod started bouncing away. With a braided line and a light rod, a modest whitting can give an exciting bite! Give them another minute and instead of one, you’ll be winding in a fish on both hooks, a double shot!
And that’s how that very cold but very pleasant evening played out. A fish or a double shot every cast. A dog fish thrown in for good measure and a great view of the planets rising out of the south sky.
The rest of the month has been a bit of fishing tackle DIY, cleaning the boat cover, completing my coaching safe guarding certificates and generally keeping fishing on the brain without actually going. As I write I’m hoping for the first Friday afternoon fish of the year. The evenings are really drawing out now and whilst it’s cold and set to get a lot colder over the next few days, the dark of winter is behind us now. Spring is just around the corner and the fishing lessons will start again soon. I can’t wait.
Good luck!