Lure and Flyaking the Lleyn

[deerphil]

The day before my eagerly awaited yakfishing trip to one of my favourite places, my
car decided to let me down - again ! ( However with my courtesy car delivered it
was "trip on" albeit yakless. I was not going to chance damaging this brand new car by
trying to cobble together a way of securing the yak - with no bars, so rock fishing it was.

After a near 3 hour drive and a hike down the hill, I arrived at the very end of the Lleyn
overlooking Bardsey Island.



It was a very enjoyable session catching Pollack, Mackerel and some beautifully marked
Wrasse




I say " enjoyable ", but, I felt a little disappointment as I climbed back up the headland
at dusk.



The fishing had been good , the scenery spectacular and I really should not be feeling any
disappoitment ? but I wanted to be yakfishing ..... and I had missed my opportunity. I really
wanted to be drifting around in one of the Lleyn's clear blue water bays, gently casting a
lure this way and that, whilst soaking up the special atmosphere that this area has to offer.

Needless to say, with car fixed, and me needing my "fix", I was back recently , taking
advantage of a brief WWW window. To get here I drive past many venues along the North Wales
coast that produce better fishing and bigger fish, but I love this place !



My plan was to flyfish for Bass in the morning and light lure fish for anything else that
swims after dinner. The conditions were fantastic and with my " Sandeel" fly on a sinking
line at the ready, I couldn't wait to get started.



After a few casts, a sharp pull, and my strike produced .... nothing
This was repeated several times before eventually a fiesty Mackerel had the fly rod hooped
over. They can certainly pull a bit on this set up ! A couple more soon followed before a
huge bull seal arrived and , not surprisingly, it went quiet again.



A Guillemot joined me soon after, diving around the yak, hunting baitfish. It was great to see
all this activity and it suggested that the bass would not be far away. I concentrated on
casting in this same area for a while with excited anticipation.




Then, Bang ! -- Bass on !



A lovely fighting fit silver lies in the yak, taken on the fly , I'm a happy man !



Of course it went back - I might keep the next one. I love seeing them swim strongly back into
the depths just as much as eating them.



I managed to hook another too, which released itself at the side of the yak.

Sticking to the plan, I resumed after a bite to eat, with the intention of fishing the light lure.
Plug fishing for Mackerel on a 5g rod and 8 lb line, here in these crystal clear waters, is
something that I just can't get enough of - I love it !



They hit the shallow diving minnow with such force and display real power when given a chance.
I think Mackerel are beautiful pelagic fish, worthy of fishing for in their own right. Of course
they taste as good as they fight too.



A few small Pollack and a couple of decent sized Garfish joined in the fun also. The frantic
jumping of the latter ensured their quick release - they were camera shy.



It had been a wonderful session and as I was landing back on the beach, I was already
reflecting on my memorable "light lure" early Autumn day yakfishing.

The beautiful bay



The beautiful yak fishing




And the beautiful flyaked Bass



I will return as soon as I can, I just can't get enough of the Lleyn.



Stay safe all,
and enjoy your kayak fishing.

[Chris Hayes]

A lovely report, and some nice fish. That's what it's all about. Nice one

[cobrakev]

As usual Phil.  Inspiring  !
Kev.