Oct 2025 - Sessions with Chris

I recently guided Chris for a couple of sessions, and as a self-confessed lure novice, we started right from the basics. First up was casting and retrieving with fine braid and light lures, along with how to avoid the dreaded wind knot. Once he was getting comfortable, we moved on to working a surface lure and learning the “walk the dog” technique.

This first session took place at dusk, so it was short but productive in terms of learning. We followed it up with a quick hour-long night session on a usually reliable beach. There were a few tentative taps on the Albie Snax, but nothing really committed, aside from a flounder that ended up foul-hooked on a needle-style lure.

The following day, we headed to the rocks for a more hands-on session. We targeted an area of submerged reef known to hold pollack to around 4lb. There is a mixing of two currents that happens at this specific location, and alongside the cover provided by the reef, it makes the perfect ambush location for a number of pollack.

To reach the back of the reef, we used Fiiish Crazy Eels on 15g heads, allowing for long casts and a fast sink rate. I demonstrated a “fast sink and draw” retrieve and explained how hits often come on the drop. Sure enough, Chris was soon into the action. Pollack up to around 2lb were tapping at the lure as it dropped, and it proved to be the perfect introduction. He quickly learned to distinguish between the feel of the jighead knocking against the reef and the unmistakable tap of a fish.

This mark is also a transit point for bass. They don’t tend to hold there long, but they do pass through with the tide. Chris managed two bass in consecutive casts, the better fish estimated around the 4–4.5lb mark, which was an excellent result. It was a stunning fin-perfect fish that was in excellent condition, blue fins and fired up, it was a fine example of the bass we have access to.

As things slowed, we moved to our final mark to focus on surface fishing. This area features strong current and barely submerged rock pinnacles—ideal ambush territory for bass feeding on baitfish moving through with the tide. With structure, current, and bait all present, it’s just a case of timing it right. Here, that window is typically the ebb from high down to mid tide.

Chris landed a handful of school bass to around 3lb on surface lures, missed a few more, and by the end of the session, he was confidently working lures and fully “hooked” on the method.

A great couple of sessions with plenty learned and plenty caught. It was a pleasure to guide such a fast-learning, keen angler and show what’s on offer if you’re willing to put in a bit of effort, along with the range of techniques we can use to make it happen.