Coalies on the fly and a try for the plaice.

There was finally a break in the weather and a calm period in the swell so it was finally time to try for the coalies on the fly.
Have to say I was like a child at Christmas, I was busting to hit big coalies on the fly. Thoughts of finger burning runs hard diving coalies where running through my head lol.
So with that after work on Friday I was straight out to my coalie hot spot. I had the 12lb class sonic sk3 as well. This was to help pin point them.
I got ready and out I went. I gave a spot a try in 16ft of  on the way out and on my first cast WHACK,
Coalie on and not a camera running lol, The head cam was turned on in time to swing my first coalie on the fly into the kayak. He wasn't of much size about 1.5lb but not a bad scrapper and I was delighted to see him.
Un fortunately I had a camera malfunction and the photo's are light for this report.
But the head camera was working fine so I have that video, not my usual but that's all I got this time.

I tried a few more casts there with no joy. So out I went and tried the feathers to find them. There where no tight shoals of them so they where not showing on the fish finder. It didn't take long to find them but they where not the usual size, they where 1.5lb at best and some only just 1lb. But there where enough about to try the fly rod.
Out the fly went and with 40ft of water to sink through it took a while to get down but with in a few pulls of the line they hammered it.
I did keep a few for a friend of mine and these fish all had slipper limpets in them so they where tight on the bottom.
Never the less they still hit the fly with out any bother. I will be tying some heavier flies. Here's the fly that I used. Its a home made job so I don't have a name for it's just some buck tail, halo tinsel, copper wire body and a double beaded head to help it dive.

I will try a lead wire body the next time.

I had a great few hours on the water and had at least 35 coalies. On both fly and feathers. About 12 of them where on the fly and the ret where on the feathers.

 

The next day Oliver, Declan and myself head for a flattie venue hoping for plaice, dab and flounder and maybe even a ray.

The wind has been sitting in the east for a few weeks now and this day there where big tides, so far from ideal conditions. But at this time of year you have to take every opportunity you get.

Out we went and anchored up on the chosen mark and I was using a lynx plaice rig on one rod and a spreader on the other.

My line was down about 10 minutes and I got a good take and a decent rattily fight up came my best plaice for a very long time.  

I was delighted to say the least.

That's the Lynx plaice rig in it's mouth.

We thought this was a sign things to come.

But no it wasn't it was the only flattie we had that day and the lads where saved from the blank with some feisty 4" whiting lol.

Here's Oliver with his blank saver.

Declan was not to be out done he had a few as well and a spider crab and an edible crab. Show off lol.

Agh we had a good day despite the poor show of fish and we'll be back again. To see what we can winkle out of this spot.

Thanks for reading and tight lines.