“I would LOVE to catch a bass on a lure in January Marc…”
Essentially, this was ‘the brief’ that I conveyed to Joe, the 2nd Professional Guide at South Devon Bass Guide, as we planned for what would be Joe’s first guided session of 2026, of what will be his first full year of completing it on a full-time basis.
His client for the day was Ed, a professional in his own field who had travelled all the way down from London Town – as many do. So following what was an exceptionally cold night for the South Hams, the area I’d decided on sending them offered the opportunity to fish four three hours either side of low-water, along a stretch that provides a number of stances to target both those ‘patrolling and positioning’ bass that I so often write and talk about…
Joe and I knew that the first 1 hour 30 minutes of the flood would be the absolute optimum period on the furthest-most mark from the car – a good 2 miles as it happens! Pleasingly, like clockwork (although it’s never that simple of course!) following a cast just outside of the main ‘ribbon’ of current where we know the bass ‘mooch’ for crabs, Ed felt that marvellous ‘pluck’ through the Major Craft Seabass Custom he was yielding.
The culprit was duly landed, again by following Joe’s instructions to keep the rod tip low as he walked backwards with the fish thrashing on the surface. And what a fish she was! 55cm (4lb) of prime, mid-winter bass that, following some admiration of its beauty, was gently released to ‘feed and breed’.
“I cannot thank Joe enough Marc. I know I’d read about it, but I really didn’t think a bass on a lure in January was possible! Joe was excellent. Really, really professional, knowledgeable, and above all, confident that I would catch which really helped me”
All-Year-Round Guiding Service
South Devon Bass Guide is the ONLY bass lure fishing/guiding service in the UK that operates for 12 months of the year due to the excellent fishing opportunities at our disposal. What’s more, alongside being exceptional diverse in regards to the terrain, south Devon is also noted for its outstanding natural beauty.
My 2nd Guide Joe’s 2026 winter dates can be found via the tab: 2026/27 Availability.
Thanks for reading.
Marc Cowling
Owner – South Devon Bass Guide Ltd
South Devon Bass Guide Ltd 