The Mighty Samson

Black Tide Fishing’s Chris Kennedy tries out a new lure on some unsuspecting bass.

- Chris Kennedy

There is something special about picking up a lure rod, packing light and heading out at this time of year to target bass. From Lyme Bay to Hengistbury Head, Dorset has some of the best luring ground in the country, with its sharply shelving shingle banks, expansive surf beaches, sandy gulleys, tranquil harbours and dramatic rocky ledges fringed with flowing kelp.

My brother, Mike, had been keeping a close eye on the autumn weather, looking for the wind to drop and for a reasonable level of clarity in the water.

It’s often a delicate balance; if the water is too calm it affects the fish feeding, and if it’s too rough the churned-up sea bed clouds the water, making lures harder to spot. We headed off in the early afternoon towards the tourist attraction that is Lulworth Cove, a place swarming with people making too much noise, slurping ice cream and generally detracting from the natural beauty and character of the place.

I know what you are thinking; most anglers wouldn’t want to be anywhere near that, they’d seek peace, quiet and solitude, which is exactly why after leaving the car we walked for an hour, east over Bindon Hill, one of the biggest in the county, following the track down to Mupe Bay. The area benefits tremendously from being part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) ranges, which are closed to the public during the week. It’s one of the few places that has hardly changed in the last century.

The natural habitat is in an almost pristine condition, with huge numbers of deer, foxes and other wildlife. But it is the various munitions scattered across the land that have made this place unavailable for development, and being closed to the public for periods has helped preserve it.