My 2nd Joe and I are not even halfway through the ‘guiding season’ here at South Devon Bass Guide (one that will be extending into January, February, and March for Joe) and I can already say that it has been a brilliant one!
Trust me when say that there are some wonderful ‘Client Captures’ posts in the pipeline too, including the largest of the season at 69cm… However, in the narrative here I wanted to highlight just what a fantastic job Joe is doing by describing the diversity to the methods and lure types, alongside the variety to the venues and conditions in which he has successfully guided his clients onto fish within over the past few weeks.
57cm Bass to the ‘Paused’ Pulse Tail
Joe’s client Mark landed the stunning 57cm bass above on the 140mm Savage Gear Gravity Stick Pulse Tail in white. There were a number significant components that, I believe, contributed to this capture which are:
- The bass took the lure on ‘the pause’ – a lethal element to the retrieve that Joe had specifically asked Mark to administer.
- The bass seemingly ‘switched on’ 2 hours into the ebbing tide, again, during a period which Joe and I had discussed could be the optimum period in the tide based on historic results. We had therefore built the session around Joe being there with his client at that specific time.
- A final, controlled pause was always completed when the lure was 1-2m away from the edge of the thick weedy (bladder wrack) margins, as this is often the predetermined trajectory along which the bass will hunt – especially in the dark, within the deeper mid-sections of the estuaries.
Another ‘Bright Moon Bass’
As you can clearly see, there was a high and bright Moon that had risen above the cliffs during this open coastal guided session for Joe and his client Dan. And as per a number of bass that both Joe and I have caught, or guided our clients onto recently (see here) it was the black Wave Worm Bamboo Stick that did the trick in under the soft glow.
Unfortunately, I cannot find these lures anywhere in stock, although here is a good alternative from Bass Lures UK that I’ve personally purchased for when I eventually run out of the real thing. Of note here, is that alongside catching a number of smaller bass to the surface lures earlier in the day during daylight, Dan’s fish struck on what had been confirmed as the final cast of the session – proof that perseverance, and knowing when to remain in situ is the right thing to do rather than move or even to change the lure itself…
The above is great example of ‘The Million Dollar Question’ of whether to ‘stick or twist’ as it were… And the truth is, the answer generally comes with experience, or by fast-tracking that knowledge by acquiring the services of a guide for a number of sessions – I believe this is why our 3 Day Packages are so popular, and why 80-90% of the people who partake in them return year-upon-year.
‘And another to the ‘Black Worm!’
Linking into the above, handing a black lure to a client to fish in the dark, or asking them to persist with one until the sky is illuminated only by the stars and the horizon has disappeared, is a skill in itself – one that only credibility will allow you to carry out.
A rugged and remote cove, with a reef containing a series of interlinking gullies and depressions covered by only a couple of feet of water towards the high-water period was the scene of Gary’s capture. Yet again, it was the black Wave Worm, retrieved in steady and controlled manner at a speed of one rotation of the reel’s handle per second, was all it took for the Gary’s new PB to strike.
“The best day of my life apart from the kids!” This is how Gary describes his experience of catching and releasing the splendid bass above and below. A great memory indeed, but one I am sure he will get to experience many, many more times by putting his new-found skills to use in the future, be it with Joe or on his own.
Rough Seas and Seaweed
Clearly, and as mentioned in previous posts. In the course of being a Professional Guide you will be required to overcome certain conditions and circumstances – most of which will involve the sea state and condition on the day. We can plan all we like, but there will be occasions when the unexpected and adverse elements will serve to test us – which in the case of Steve’s sessions below were completed when the wind was rather strong for the time of year, and from a variety of directions within the same day!
Coming from military backgrounds, both Joe and I are trained to see a challenge as something we have to overcome if we are to be successful in our objectives. Working around problems is in our DNA therefore, there is always a Plan B, C, and D if necessary.
When the wind blows hard, as a guide you have two options: embrace it or shelter from it. In the case of the latter you will generally be fishing in calm, clear water. Where as, in the case of the former, although you be faced with some aerated and fizzing seas, as has been the case over the past three summers now, you risk being ‘weeded out’.
One of the solutions to this problem, be it on the open coast or indeed within an estuary if you choose to be exposed to the effects of the wind are to utilise a slim, soft plastic lure with as little weight added (by virtue of a weighted hook ideally) and to retrieve it slowly through the undertow or margins. This is how Steve, under the guidance and tuition of Joe, achieved the catches above and below:
Natural Colours
If you’re reading this, then you will be already be aware of quite how ‘finicky’ bass can be at times. Fixated, disinterested, or just downright fussy is a difficult problem to overcome. However, by going ‘back to basics’ and just thinking about placing something in front of them that ‘matches the hatch’ so to speak will very often reap rewards.
The bass above was a classic capture, whereby a change to a natural-coloured paddle tail lure (the Savage Gear Gravity Stick in the Green/Khaki pattern) within the clear water, a bright Moon, and just as the light was rapidly fading saw this one snaffle the lure in the trough/gutter of the beach – again, all under the direction of Joe who is absolutely excelling – not only in my opinion, but that of the clients he has recently guided (standby for an updated testimonials page).
2nd Guide Joe’s Remaining 2025 Availability
If you would like to book a professionally guided bass lure fishing session with Joe, or for further information please complete the Contact Form at the bottom of the page. You can also you can email us directly at: southdevonbassguide@yahoo.com.
8 Hour Guided Sessions
1. 8 Hour Guided Sessions for between 1 and 3 anglers completed in January, March, April and December will be at a priced at £150 for 1 angler. If the person booking wants to add a 2nd angler the price is £250, with the total for a 3rd angler being £300.
(A deposit of £50 is required to secure each position).
2. 8 Hour Guided Sessions for between 1 and 3 anglers completed between May and November will be at priced at £175 for 1 angler. If the person booking wants to add a 2nd angler the price is £270, with the total for a 3rd angler being £300.
(A deposit of £50 is required to secure each position)
The dates that Joe has available on all of the above are as follows:
December – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 17th
3 Day Package Dates
The South Devon Bass Guide Ltd 3 Day Packages are for 3 people (you do not need to know one another, and you can come as a singleton to join the other two anglers). They incorporate 6x 4 hour guided sessions, over 3 days/nights of fishing, and includes 3 nights BB (Double en-suite room per person) at the excellent Chillington House – South Devon Bed and Breakfast Hotel).
The price is £529 per person
A deposit of £200 is required to secure each position.
All places are Fully Booked for 2025 however, please complete the Contact Form below to be kept informed of Joe’s 2026 Dates
Thanks for reading.
Marc Cowling – Owner/Director South Devon Bass Guide Ltd
South Devon Bass Guide Ltd 