WELSH RAREBIT

    

     There are only two types of fishing that I use carbon rods for these days, sea fishing and lure fishing. Combine the two and for an early week on the Llyn peninsula, it was an easy choice. For a family holiday at a new place, I was never going to pack beachcasters and bait. It was always going to be lure fishing off the rocks, maybe once in the few days available.

     It goes without saying that having eventually located a likely looking spot, the weather would turn and make it unfishable. Loz and I have been holidaying at places well suited to wildlife photography for donkey's years so although I gave it up a while ago he still comes with us and does his own thing.

     During one of his forays he happened across a couple of coarse fishing ponds within walking distance of the cottage so with our options limited by the weather, we scratched together some rule compliant tackle and gave it a go.

     Like all small fisheries it was laden down with rules, the first on the list being no braid. Consequently I found myself fishing with 50 metres of fluorocarbon hooklength material wound over a full spool of braid. I nicked a couple of feet of 8lbs fluoro off Loz for hooklengths and fished a small waggler right up against the reeds with supermarket baits.

     Frankly we both had an enjoyable day catching many carp in the three to six pound bracket on our makeshift gear. My seat was a tackle bag stuffed with cushions from the cottage living room. The fish don't care what you are using, do they? Although we had corn and meat with us, and caught on both, bread was the best by a country mile.

     The fish were nearly all in stunning condition and a pleasure to catch but Loz took the honours for best fish with a very large, probably double figure grass carp. I'd never seen one in the flesh before and it was a real shame we hadn't got any scales with us. It looked like a record chub in the water, definitely an interesting and unusual catch.

 
     We had a thoroughly enjoyable day's fishing in pleasant surroundings marred by just one thing. At home I have a fine selection of light carp and avon rods made in split cane by some of the country's most accomplished rod builders. To go with them I have a plethora of quality centrepin reels ranging from wide drum aerials to look-alike Mordex Merlins. Some made of wood, some of bakelite and without exception all are perfect for this kind of fishing. In fact I bought them for this very purpose. Instead I had to use a seven foot Savage gear carbon lure rod and a small sea fishing fixed spool. Bloody typical!