Salthouse Sunday 15th April 2012 – 1st Leg Summer Accumulator

After a 3 week break members were suffering withdrawal symptoms and were keen as mustard to get the new season under way but the weather gods were again attempting to have a say in this. With northerly winds predicted of anywhere between 15 and 29 mph, all were feverishly scanning the various weather sites to select the one that gave the most favourable for a comfortable match. None of this was going to determine what was actually going to happen and with the biggest red arrow for the whole of the country at Weybourne on XC the 29 mph was closest to the mark. However, with a straight northerly and no serious swell this gave us sea that was easily fishable and more importantly ideal conditions for those early season bass. This was confirmed by two gentlemen from down south round the corner joining us on the beach who normally balk at anything northerly in North Norfolk but they had just one objective for being there, BASS!

Despite these breezy conditions a healthy turn-out gathered nice and early at Salthouse beach car park for a 10:00 a.m. start. With the new regime of devolved responsibilities in place as agreed at the AGM “young Henry” was off like a shot to peg the beach on our usual match stretch, westward in front of “little eye” mound, well done Henry!. After selecting their pegs with the new “bigger balls” all were soon off to find their allotted slot, well all except “no buddy” Turk who was making his usual leisurely drive to the coast and the start of the season was to be no exception but he did make it in time, just! The small tides had laid down some flat shingle below the main bank and the last high tide mark so the majority pitched on this flat expanse but with 5 hours of flood to come some were finding it difficult to decide exactly where to set up (front or back?) There are always of course the exceptions with “sandy coke” Loke opting for the top of the high bank where he knew he would not have to move from there, he always plays safe!

With a stiff northerly there was no other option of where to fish and that was in the gully shore side of the bar. At the whistle this is precisely where everyone went with some on the edge of the bar and others just behind the breakers. At this stage everyone was pretty apprehensive about what to expect, it was a perfect bass sea but if they didn’t appear then would the slight lump push the flatties out, a good question! A strong northerly does allow a reasonable cast on the shingle ridge and prevents too much lateral movement particularly when there is a reasonable swell. This was the case here and it was further helped by a small tide and less current so everyone settled in for a reasonably comfortable session. First to card on his first cast was again “yoda” Thomas (peg 5) as he hauled in through the breakers a rather spent 31cm flounder but worth plenty of points. With just 15 minutes gone could this start a flounder fest for him but how wrong this thought was as the match progressed. Things looked quiet all along the stretch except for “red stuff” Randell (peg 7) who soon had a double shot of dabs coming up the beach, typically Henry! The mountaineering man “sandy coke” Loke (peg 2) was also getting in on the act in his own way by landing a 20cm Smelt.

Things weren’t going too well on the higher order pegs as “no name yet” Ellis came sauntering down the beach to report that only “no buddy” Turk had a couple of dabs on his card. A real success for Andy after weeks of despondency showing he can mix it with the rest and demonstrating that patience and determination finally pays off in this sport. With the tide beginning to push things started to liven up and who should open his bass account this year but none other than “red stuff” Randell. A wry grin lite up his face as he finds that it makes 36cm and nearly 37cm which took him into an early lead. It wasn’t long before another of the silver beauties was coming up the beach, well not quite up the beach as “end peg” Allen (peg 4) had to go for a swim to recover his 42cm specimen as he scooped it out of the surf. “Good job I had my waterproofs on” he remarked as he lost no time in getting his bait out to search for a repeat performance; a fish that is not a swim! With action all around him “morecambe man “ Conway was having a torrid time as his vast array of baits and rigs was producing nothing then out of the blue he was holding up a 36cm bass, only just in but he was off the mark.

As the tide started to flood more heavily the fished sensed this and “sandy coke” Loke (peg 2) added a 36cm bass to his smelt whilst “steady” Carter (peg 3) carded the largest fish of the day a 47cm Bass surprisingly caught on rag tipped with crab. Things also picked up at the other end as “no hat” Attew (peg 15) found a 46cm bass even though they’d nicked a few bits of his knee cartilage a few weeks ago, well done Sam under the circumstances. With a nice tide picking up others started to pick up their specimens with a 36cm to “the consultant” Allison and a 44cm version to “last cast” Watts. This left the rest bassless as “captain” Ellis (peg 3), “silver fox” (peg 11) Neave who was on an afternoon promise, “no name yet” Ellis (peg 12), “yoda” Thomas (peg 5) and “class act” Thorburn all having to be satisfied with flatties. Also in the sizeable bassless frame was “scout man” Lawes whose usual repertoire of bass had deserted him except for an undersized schoolie and had to be content with the only sizeable whiting to save his blank, nice to see you back Matt!

As the tide started to peak the weed came on, not serious but just a bit of a nuisance and enough to take your line around as the wind turned slightly north westerly. Until then the day had remained dry as “weatherman (end peg)” Allen pointed out how the 2 squalls had missed us only for the heavens to then deluge us and for the wind to tear through the buddies. With an hour of the flood left those on the edge of the shingle became rather apprehensive and stated decamping to the safety of the bottom of the top bank. Amongst these was “morecambe man” Conway who was making a late charge with a number of small dabs and flounders but he needed another bass to put him in the frame. Unfortunately, this was not to come but not so for “end peg” Allen who found another 38cm specimen and “no hat” Attew also a 38cm bass which would put them in the frame. Probably angler of the day was “class act” Thorburn who was using all his skill to compete without a bass and found a 29cm, 30cm and a cleverly hook 36cm flounders to keep him in contention. However, in the end his match was with “last cast” Watts on next peg where they were nip and tuck throughout and just managing to pip him on his last cast with a 22cm dab against Mike’s undersize 17 1/2cm dab. That’s what this game is all about!

At the whistle it was that 47cm bass that did the business for John “steady” Carter who also managed to find 3 reasonable flounders and 2 dabs to take the honours with 3lb 8oz from 6 fish on end peg 1. Next on the other end peg 15 was Sam “no hat” Attew just 1 1/3oz adrift with his 2 bass giving him 3lb 6 2/3oz from just 4 fish. Final podium slot went to the other two bass man Ivan “end peg” Allen with 3lb 5 1/3oz from 7 fish. Paul Thorburn took the club heaviest flat points on the day with his 36cm (1lb 2 2/3oz) flounder and John Carter the club heaviest round points with his 47cm (2lb 3oz) bass. John took the super pools with Paul second (2lb 14oz/6 fish) and Mike Watts third (2lb 13oz/4 fish).

With just 64 fish being recorded weighing around 26lb not a particularly good match for numbers of fish but this was more than made up for with the arrival of the bass. The weather and sea was a typical summer’s day apart from the temperature and that gave the majority the sport they yearn for in the summer. For the others, their turn will come and I’m sure they’ll have bass on their card in the near future. An excellent match with plenty of banter, plenty of competition and at last no politics which bedevils matches these days, let’s hope it continues. Next match is at Kelling via the Muckleburgh Collection on Sunday 22^nd April fishing 10:00-3:00 with LW at 2:35 on a 4.7m (Cromer) tide. I have a feeling if the forecast is as predicted we could be in for another bass and flounder day particularly as the local peel is just starting.

Club Match Result Top 5

1^st    John Carter         3lb 8oz
2^nd   Sam Attew          3lb 6 2/3oz
3^rd   Ivan Allen            3lb 5 1/3oz
4^th   Paul Thorburn    2lb 14 2/3oz
5^th   Mike Watts         2lb 13oz