I'm writing this because quite simply, I've been left in the unfortunate position of having to turn multiple people away from sessions. The weeks in summer holidays have been solid and I appreciated from the off it would be likely be busy but, sadly, time and again, people want the same dates. I'm but 1 guy, sorry.

I'm running Modular courses of 10 sessions with numerous people right now and of course, they have pre-booked and get first blood on tides etc. Others have booked up around the best tides on both full and new moon cycles so again, these are full until Oct, sorry.

But, Oct through mid Nov is prime time and to be honest, outside of the modular course guys, I have lots of prime slots left. I know It's not traditional for guys to go Bass or lure fishing in these months but to be honest, these traditionalists have it WRONG. They are 2 of the best months of the year.

Don't forget, I've written the whole blog around multi species lure fishing and based the year upon our findings. I've already got multiple commitments in 2011 for the Spring Bass run during May so don't miss out, get a booking IN before they are gone. I hate turning people away, it feels like I'm letting them down but in reality, I can't do anything about it.

So, counting LRF, HRF and plugging (If you don't know what they are, you should read earlier articles), lets look at the year so far and the prospective year to come..

Jan -- March

LRF / HRF Pollack, Pouting, Wrasse, Bass. Still quality Squid around.

April -- Early June

HRF Wrasse (abundant), Spring Bass run (some great sessions we've had), Pollack slowly drifting away. Some early Mackerel/Snipe LRF. Gutter wades and Skishing start to show up good fish. Cuttlefish run inshore.

Late June -- Early August

Dog days for Bass. Still possible on faster runs or in any whitewater but Bass become so satiated with available food on the outer reefs that shore fishing, whilst still good at prime times can become unpredictable at best. Wrassing HRF still firing, Mackerel, Garfish etc LRF and chances of Golden Grey and Thick Lip Mullet to fly tactics in the gutters. Skishing finds fish on the outer heads.

Mid August -- End September

Bass returning for the Autumn run. It gets better as it gets later. Triggerfish now established as are Thin Lipped Mullet. In fact, most Silverfish are now abundant in the fast and shallow runs all around the SE, SW and NW of the Island. Now is the start of the traditional Squid (Eging season). Scad should start to show in numbers around Sept as serious LRF targets at night around Harbour lights. Skishing the SE and SW gutter systems can produce insane numbers of fish to lure tactics.

Oct-- Mid November

Bassing at a premium if weather plays ball. Everywhere they are. All methods usually productive.  Thin lips start to tail off with the first storms as do Triggers but it can either be a mass exodus or, a slow one. Each year is different. Japweed is on it's last legs in the gutters and Bass start to drop away faster down the gutters to the kelp resting beds. Skishing the SE takes serious pre-planning at this time due to the use of commercial and so called 'recreational' long trot lines allowed in this sensitive area. SW isn't too bad as we tend to skish outside the normal range of any wading angler regardless of tide and boats would be crazy to approach the reefs in the swells we can skish safely in. Pollack start to return in numbers SW and NW. Pouting start to get bigger, Red Mullet are established along the North and East coasts. Snipe (garfish)  fishing can be crazy as they shoal up on the headland races.

Mid November -- Jan

Pollack, Pout, Wrasse, Snipe, Bass, Squid all possible and in some years the Bass lure fishing carries right through till the early new year.

I've pretty much glossed over alot of what is possible as much is weather and tide dependant. There is NO NEED to put away your lure rods in British waters. This isn't a guess, it's a fact. We've done it, been there and got the Tee Shirt. Some of guys who fished LRF last winter have had the best Bass season ever this year and we are only half way through. It's all about developing the skill sets required to detect bites and takes others won't even realise they've had. Poor them LOL

I have a new rod on test loaned out to me by Tom from Monster Tackle. It's a Lucky Craft ESG 7' 7" as seen here.... ESG II Thanks Tom, it's nice to be able to make as many comparisons with mid -- high end gear as possible and to offer conclusions to readers of this blog because, it can be a minefield out there.

Well, I've only fished with it once so far so, it's way to early to make comparisons and conclusions. I have landed 1 Bass of 3.5lb with it and worked lures 3" - 5" with heads 5g -10g on the rod. It actually ticks all the boxes as a great HRF rod. I know it's listed as a plugging rod on the MonsterTackle site but, it's much more a PE #0.8 - PE #1.5 rated HRF rod in my opinion. Not quite as fast in the taper as my MegaBass Silver Shadow but, it has a reserve tank in the lower butt section, a down locking reel seat like the Tenyru's I like so much and, the rod doesn't have a re-mortgage price tag at this performance level. Extremely lightweight, great guides and plent of performance and grunt to act as a decent HRF Rockfish and Bass rod IMHO. Like I've said, more on this as the days tick by.

Anyway, until next time...sorry for those who I've not been able to help this summer and

We'll catch up later..