2 days of introductory quiver-tip fishing and lure fishing for predators, with Justin, Théo and Gaëtan, 3 young residents of a children's home on a fishing stay with pecheado, to recharge their batteries. During this weekend in September 2019, our 3 participants will enjoy discovering quiver-tip fishing for coarse fish and fishing for predators with soft lures, in particular black bass fishing.
Saturday's programme: introduction to quiver-tip fishing for roach and bream
From the moment they arrive for this weekend of quiver-tip fishing and lure fishing for predators, our young champions get busy setting up the swim and preparing the tackle and the groundbait. Each of them, with the help of their fishing guide instructor, chooses the rig and the type of cage feeder to use. Gaëtan will choose a paternoster rig. Justin and Théo opt for more safety with a traditional rig. The cage feeders used will be 30 g. A bigger model will be used to lay down a more substantial amount of groundbait at the start of the session. So, after placing about ten cages of groundbait in their respective swims, the boys set up a new feeder, smaller but still weighing 30 g. The baits used will mainly be red and white gozzers. A few handfuls of pinkies will be added to the groundbait.
After a difficult start with very few bites, and despite conditions that are hard for young beginners at this type of fishing (wind, waves…), the fish gradually came into the groundbait. Fussy at first, they seem less wary and the bites become more definite. Justin decides to change the length of his hooklength to shorten it. The tips then bend more violently when the fish takes the bait. Bream and roach landed become more and more numerous. Gaëtan even had a nice bream, which he was bringing in with perfect control, attacked by a catfish a few metres from the bank… That confounded whiskered fish surprised us all and gave us a good laugh!
In the end, about forty fish were taken out of the water, not counting the countless big bream and roach missed or lost, especially at the start of the session.
Sunday's programme: lure fishing for predators
After a good barbecue at lunchtime, we load the equipment and head for the federation ponds at Neuillay-les-Bois to hunt black bass. These ponds, owned by the Indre departmental fishing federation, are an excellent alternative for lure fishing from the start of April. Indeed, lure fishing is allowed there, strictly catch-and-release, on the pond reserved for black bass, which covers about 3 hectares. Fishing is done mainly from the bank. The pond is very shallow and surrounded by trees, stumps and other dead wood all around its edge.
So we decided to hunt the black bass mainly with soft lures. To begin, Théo chooses a Texas rig fitted with a Senko-type worm, Justin a craw, also on a Texas rig weighted on the shank, and Gaëtan a creature bait. Barely 5 minutes into the session and the first fish is already hooked on Théo's braid. With a firm strike, the fish runs straight into the stumps. Théo tries to counter it by positioning his rod in the opposite direction. The fish does not like it much… and up it goes, leaping out of the water… and again!… and finally frees itself. A shame, because the fish looked very nice.
Once the disappointment had passed, our young trainees carried on searching with less success. Changes of lure, colour, size… and only a few small fish come to join us. Justin then goes all out, switches to the baitcaster and rigs a 20 cm eel-type soft lure. First cast and bang!! A fish… and what a fish! After an epic fight, Justin is proud to pose with his fish of over 50 cm. Théo will also rig a big soft lure and will also catch a nice black bass of over 45 cm, Gaëtan not being lucky this time.
A superb weekend introducing quiver-tip fishing and lure fishing for predators with 3 young enthusiasts whom we will very certainly be happy to welcome again soon