Preparing for a Bass Fishing Trip: My Four-Shift Ritual

Dreaming of the Coast:

There’s something deeply satisfying about planning a bass fishing trip—especially when it’s done in stolen moments between the chaos of a 12-hour shift at the chemical plant. My preparation always begins on the first of four long shifts: two days, followed by two nights. The routine is as much a part of the trip as the fishing itself.

The Calm Before the Storm:
After handing over and ensuring the plant is running smoothly, I settle in with the first of three piping hot coffees. For about an hour, the control room is quiet—just me, the hum of machinery, and the anticipation of the trip ahead. This is when I escape into planning mode.

Weather & Wind: The First Deciding Factor:

My first check is always the BBC weather forecast for the southern side of the Llyn Peninsula. Bass fishing is all about conditions, and wind speed is king. Anything under 12 mph is ideal—calm enough for comfortable casting but with enough movement to stir up baitfish and other fish foods. Stronger winds can turn a promising mark into a washing machine, so I watch the forecast like a hawk.

One of my favorite spots on the Llyn

Tides: Timing is Everything:
Next, I study the tide tables. My sweet spot? A rising tide around 4.2 metres — enough flow to get the bass feeding without making lure fishing impossible in stronger winds. A larger tide also means more water movement, which often means more active fish. If the wind is up, a strong tide can help compensate, keeping the water oxygenated and the bass hunting.

Local Reports: The Final Puzzle Piece:
Before locking in my plans, I scour local catch reports, forums, and social media groups. Are there algal blooms making the water murky and thick with weeds? Has thick weed been an issue on certain marks? These little details can make or break a session. If the reports mention bass being caught on soft plastics over hard lures, I’ll adjust my tackle box accordingly.

Gear Prep: A Mental Checklist:
With the conditions assessed, my mind drifts to gear. Will I need weedless Soft plastics? Should I pack an extra set of light fluorocarbon leaders for clear water? By the time my shift ends, my kit is mentally packed, and all that’s left is the final countdown to the trip. Oh, and the most important items are food, drinks, and ice packs that go straight into the cooler box.

“Prepping for the trip is my escape – a mental lifeline to the coast amid the chaos of pipes, valves, and the plant’s relentless grind. Then, when a bass finally hammers the lure every forecast scanned, every tide times, clicks into place like it was meant to be.

Perfect Bass Fishing Getaway: My Six-Day Escape Ritual

There’s nothing quite like those six days off—a chance to swap the hum of the chemical plant for the sound of waves and the thrill of a bass hitting the lure. If the fishing’s good, I’ll stretch it to three days, thanks to my incredibly understanding wife. She tolerates my obsession with grace, and I make sure to repay her with thoughtful presents, holidays, and meals out—after all, happy wife, happy fishing life! . Another holiday in Kalkan, Turkey, has been booked for September 25. I enjoy it, but will miss the great September Bass fishing. I have to be fair, give and take, and all that.

Home Away From Home: Pods, Tents & Comfort:
If the forecast screams rain (as it often does in Wales), I’ll book a £50-a-night pod in Penrallt—central to all my marks and a dry haven after a long session. When the weather plays nice, I’ll semi-wild camp near the coast, soaking in the solitude. My trusty BMW 520d is the perfect companion—smooth for long drives, spacious enough for all my gear, and still has room for the fire pit and wood. Because let’s be honest, no fishing trip is complete without a crackling campfire under the stars. And talking about the kit to take:

Decisions, Tent or Pod?

The Aptly Named Barrel Pod Is All You Need

Packing for a Bass Trip: How My BMW Turned Into a Tetris Game Gone Wrong” 

Let’s be real—my 520d is officially a bass fishing clown car. What started as “just the essentials” has somehow morphed into:  

Enough lures to stock a small tackle shop *(but still forget the coffee flask)  

A tent big enough for a family of four (I fish alone)*  

A windbreaker (because Wales might surprise me with… more wind?) 

Camp chairs (To admire the view)  

A fire pit (plus “just a few logs” that now resemble a small woodland)  

The boot looks like a gear explosion—every time I open it, something falls out. My passenger seat? Gone. Buried under waterproofs, spare rods, and a suspicious number of snack bags. And yet, without fail, I’ll arrive at the mark and realize:  

1. Left my staff (knee saviour) leaning against the garage
2.  Forgot the “lucky” hat that doesn’t work, but I wear it anyway  
3. Somehow packed three torches, but no spare batteries  

Steve Jones, aka “Golden Balls,” travels light —one rod, a pocket of lures, and the smugness of a man who’ll out-fish me with half the gear. Meanwhile, I’m over here like a one-man fishing expedition, unpacking for 20 minutes to find my reel.  

Does anyone else’s car look like a tackle shop vomited inside it? Or am I the only bloke who brings “just one extra bag”… every single time?  

(P.S. Next trip, I swear I’ll pack lighter. Maybe.)

The Art of Forgetting (And Why I Need a Checklist)
No matter how many trips I take, I always forget something. Two weeks ago, it was my coffee flask—a disaster when you rely on that first brew at dawn. Then there was the time I left my staff (walking stick) behind, a nightmare for my dodgy knees on rocky marks. I really must make a checklist.

The Journey: Part of the Adventure:
The two-hour 100-mile drive is something I genuinely enjoy. Spotify playlists, TalkSport debates, and fishing podcasts make the miles fly by. But the real ritual begins when I pull into the layby high above Nefyn, scanning the coastline below. No forecast or report compares to seeing the sea with your own eyes—the swell, the colour, the movement. This is when I truly start to relax, the excitement building with every mile closer to the mark.

Soon, I’ll be wading into the surf, flicking lures into the tide, and feeling that electric connection between man, rod, and fish. There’s no better feeling.

Lure Obsession: My Go-To Arsenal for Bass Fishing:

I’ll admit it—I’m a total hard lure fanatic. There’s something deeply satisfying about matching the right lure to the conditions, the tide, and the mood of the fish. Over the years, I’ve narrowed my selection down to a few trusted killers that rarely let me down.

Long-Range Casting: Bay Ruf Manics / Hunthouse 155’s
When I need serious distance, especially in a stiff headwind, nothing beats the Bay Ruf Manic. Its weight and aerodynamics let it punch through the breeze, hitting those far-off feeding zones where big bass lurk. The back-end fluttering action on the retrieve drives them wild—just a steady crank with the odd twitch, rod high and wham!

The New Favorite Colour Hunthouse / Bay Ruf Lure:

Mid-Range Workhorses: IMA Komomo11
For mid-range casting, the K11 is my absolute go-to. It’s got the perfect balance-enough weight to hold in the tide but still agile enough to work in shallower water. I love fishing it over mixed ground, bouncing it through gullies and over sand patches. The bass can’t resist that subtle wobble, especially when using the joker or flashing plate colours. Daytime Chameleon, night the Joker Flashing Plates.

Close-Quarters Magic: Baby Patchinkos:
When the fish are tight to the rocks or in shallow surf, the Baby Patchinko is my secret weapon. It’s a finesse lure—no aggressive action, just a delicate surface disturbance that drives bass into a frenzy. There’s nothing like seeing that explosive surface take, right at your feet.

The Postman Came Today:

Midwater Assassins: Sasukes:
Sasukes are deadly, especially mid-water on a slow retrieve near boulders. I have had some lovely fish using the Mullet and Cotton Candy colours

Soft Plastic Struggle (And My Annoyingly Lucky Mate)”

Let’s be honest: soft plastics test my patience like nothing else. I’ll rig up an Abby Snaz or a Dolive, cast out with all the optimism in the world, and then—within 20 minutes—I’m done. The slow retrieves, the subtle twitches… it feels like watching paint dry. Meanwhile, my rod tip might as well be a metronome lulling me to sleep. Before I know it, I’m frantically digging through my box for a hard lure – anything with a bit of life to it.

And then there’s Steve Jones. Aka “Golden Balls”. The man could fish with a shoelace and a paperclip and still out-catch me. He’ll be casually working a Dolive, barely paying attention, and bang—fish on. He has this knack.. Again, and again. Meanwhile, I’m over here, swapping lures like a madman, muttering, “How is this even fair?!”

Steve smashing it with his favorite Dolives -he loves a white colour:

I know soft plastics work. I’ve seen the proof, I’ve caught with them for God’s sake— but most of them end up in Steve’s net. But unless the bass are chewing, I can’t stick with it. Give me the clatter of a Patchinko, the thump and whoosh of a Manic, the violent surface-strike of a Komomo 11 lure—that’s fishing. Soft plastics? They’re the vegetable side dish I force down my tummy before getting to the proper meal.

Does anyone else feel this pain? Or am I just cursed with the attention span of a goldfish and a mate who’s secretly part-bass?

(Steve, if you’re reading this—I’m onto you. Witchcraft is the only explanation.)

The One That Got Away (From My Tackle Box)
No matter how well I plan, there’s always one lure I forget—usually the one that would’ve been perfect for the day’s conditions. The last trip, it was my Fiiish Black Minnow (the one time the bass needed subtle movement over anything else). Next time, I swear I’ll pack it… maybe.

And finally, lure fishing for bass is about adapting, experimenting, and sometimes going with your gut. And when that rod slams over, none of the second-guessing matters—just pure, heart-thumping joy.

What’s your never-fail lure? Let me know—I’m always looking for excuses to buy more!

(P.S. If you ever want to geek out over lure tweaks or tidal nuances, you know where to find me!)

Tight lines, all see you out there!