By Richard Hassall
Looking back, for an outing report that occurred in June it must be said a lot has happened. Any fishing trip with the club is special and so worthwhile, especially when we are confronted with so much, like further Covid-19 escalation, boarder closures and the Beirut blast. The thought that an ammonium nitrate stock pile bigger than the one that exploded in Beirut was just up the road and had the potential to blow our boats out of the water, what’s a little rain?
Salmon numbers have been dented with targeting from commercial fishing, the market of pet food and lobster pot bait. What’s a little rain? Needless to say, participation dropped closer to the day. I met Simon Skerman at the ramp and tried my hardest to have him onto his first salmon. I was a little concerned his 6 weight was a little under-gunned with floating line, however, amongst the trout flies we found a few suitable clousers and surf candies. We tried the moon island bump and Swansea channel. We chased a few birds, only to find them on a bait fisherman’s discarded burley bucket all to no avail. In amoungst cold wind blasts and rain squalls, the plan was now to downsize, shift to bread flies and burley up a few smaller mullet and bream. Simon grabbed bread from the servo and it was not long before we were heading west, looking for the stacks of the power station. Unfortunately, torrential rain made that impossible. Slightly lost, I askied a random under a bridge and found we were at Toukley. We persisted, trying to conjure a fish for Simon up a creek. Fishing out of the wind, all we could find were wood ducks and sea gulls. One highlight of the morning was the sight of a bonded pair of sea eagles, which land in the trees above. We headed back, only to have the outboard stall. Knowing my electric motor was playing up, I thought I may have had some rough fuel. On checking, I wasembarrassed to find only dregs left in the fuel tank.
Option one was to chase down a distant yacht under motor, or option two to head for the distant house amongst the sea of trees. We saw a guy on his jetty and after a confused conference, limped around the point to the nearest settlement. After tying up at a jetty, fuel tank in hand I went in search of fuel. I was relieved to find the walk only a short distance. Fuel and KFC chips in hand, I joined Simon with my peace offering. Still tied up to the jetty, we set the burley trail and floated double bread flies out. After repeated enquiries, I came up solid on a small bream. We were going back wet, three hours overdue and one fish. Simon and I had fun.
It was only returning John Roberts call, I heard Jeff Medherst had been down to Catherine Hill Bay for nothing and no other fish were caught.
Facebook threads about the day included Len Verrenkamp “No fish, just rain in between periods of no rain” John Roberts commented, “No fish, got wet, saw a dolphin. Company warm and fun” I’d like to thank Tony for a great day in the rain and wind today. Made a trying day much much better. We have days like today to make average days seem great.” Jeff Medhurst replied, “You weren’t trying hard enough John. I bagged a nice flattie over near Eararing outlet! Brownie stated, “Great effort boys kudos to all of u.”
Hopefully, things changed for the better as six days later, Anthony Rayner posted: “Update on Swansea trip on Sunday. Although no salmon appeared to be about there were lots of boats out looking for them. Weather was much more pleasant than last week. Did okay with flathead!”
