This year the weather conditions have been very complicated to search for the bass by sight or by streamer.
Repeated storms with strong winds for more than three weeks prevented me from guiding and fishing for my pleasure, but also from prospecting new areas and new estuaries.
Complicated weather conditions, but sometimes favourable for taking a very big
This morning, the weather continues to play tricks on us. In any case, it is a good news for our Breton rivers which are now high and fresh. This bodes well for our salmonids after this hot summer.
However, still not possible to go out for sight fishing. My favorite technique which is a real challenge and provides incredible sensations.
Knowing well some Breton estuaries, I know spots where it is possible to make big or even very big bass with streamer, sometimes on sight, sometimes on micro-hunting, or simply by combing some holes where they come either to feed or to feed.
No real activity this morning. Two small shy hunts. The water is very heavy and high. The wind between 30 and 70 km ! But that's not going to stop me !
By fishing spots that I know by heart, I end up finding an inhabited area.
I take a first discreet touch on a well weighted streamer to stay on the bottom, but still nothing. I change fly and color. A model which allowed me to take my PB (personal best = biggest fish) a few years ago and immediately from the 3rd cast, I will take a first fish which seemed nice at the touch. It takes badly and does not remain pricked! I'm a bit angry about it !
Believe to the end!
Then two casts later, I cast near the opposite bank, and made a long, fast strip to move water and create vibrations. Immediately, a wave forms and rushes to my streamer. I stop, then accelerate by making small fast strips. The wave intensifies and I take a very big hit. I strike immediately. It is at the end and it is heavy!
Nothing moves, then the fish goes to the bottom, probes and puts big headshots. I know I have a big bass on the end of my line, but I still don't know its size. It will take me several minutes to get it to the surface. I see that it is over 70 and very round. The adrenaline and tension are at their maximum!
He doesn't let himself go in spite of my attempts to restrain him and make him come on my edge. The fight will last a while, because the current is strong and he knows how to use it. He came up to the surface several times, but then fell back and started again. I had a few big scares, especially when he went towards a buoy's rope.
I manage to tire him out, but it's not far from 7 to 9 minutes of powerful and violent fight so that I manage to make him come on the edge to ground his huge head!
It is massive, sublime and it is certainly a very old fish (15 years or more) considering its shape, its size and its few injuries.
A true beauty of nature. I admire it, take some pictures and return it to its element.
These bass are really great creatures and opponents. At the fly, these fish will give you an incredible feeling!
My biggest this season with this fish easily exceeding 4 kg!
I was ecstatic, shaking, and couldn't even fish for more than 10 minutes. The adrenaline took a long time to come down!
I hope to make a few more nice ones before the end of the year, but I'm not sure if I'll do so big, and then leave them alone for the biological rest (January, February, March).
The equipment I use to track very large bass
These big bass require a very special equipment. A strong and powerful rod. A powerful and progressive drag with no weak points. A reliable and resistant leader.
Here is what I use for my streamer fishing for sea bass in Brittany, whether on the coast or in the estuary.
- Rod: SAGE Maverick 9 feet silk
- Reel: Redington Behemot 7/8
- Silk: Rio Striper intermediate
- Leaders: YGK Fluorocarbon, and 27° tip
- Fly : Home-made Streamer
