Friday On Stingray.........

[alun j.]

 

A long day's fishing........of two halves.......... both going to Terry !

 

A nice start just after 7, with plenty of water at Mudeford; in next to no time on these speedy Warriors, we're over to the Needles and find mackeral in short time . Into the neat little Tec tank we're keen to see how well this neat little set up works.

 

A few other boats are drifting nearby and , like us, trying different drifts on the ebbing tide. Action is steady, with just a few snags snatching the hook , weight or both. [ but you can always get your float back!!]. Th main difference was Terry hooked most of his fish........ whereas most of mine came off.

 

By lunchtime score was 4 - 1 ; five fish between 3 lb and 6 lb. 7 oz.

 

A long stand of water and weak flood slowed the action but , with the breeze, did give us interesting long drifts right along the top of the ridge/ reef ....but unproductive. Tec tank works well, keeping several mackeral [fairly big ones] alive. Only dwnside is the big 'head' of foam on the surface that nedds frequent skimming........and you can't see what's in the tank......but it works OK.

 

Back home to mine for a rest, a meal and a change of tackle [ with lights] and we're back out at 8 for an evening looking for sole. This was a reply of my last trip 2 weeks ago..... a couple of sole with the first of the dark and plenty of small bream and a few small bass to keep you busy; this faded away [ like our sleepy selves] and increasing weed was annoying , so we pulled stumps just after 1 am.

 

A smooth trip back in, despite shallow water, to find an excited rather than 'manic' Moore on the slioway.......... clearly in love with Enticer and tales of big bass on conger tackle.......Well done Gordon, your 'cracking' year continues !!

 

Terry and I 'crashed ' out within minutes of getting back to mine [ 10 mins away]

and surfaced late morning to clear up . Thanks to Terry for coming done , taking me out and showing me how to do it [again !!]..... I am losing my touch.

 

More practice needed !!

 

Alun.

[plaicemat]

I must put a stop to reports like that, it's tempting fate and certain to put the death knell on any success I've been having. I was really pleased with the bass success as I proved to myself that the float method works well, despite my previous first try on Maverick. I really didn't know what I was doing then but after tuition from the boys on Thursday night, I think I've got it right. Only 2 hook-ups with the planet and the float was retieved both times. Also, the KeepAlive tank worked pretty well, with only a couple of casualties and we don't know what state they were in when they went in to the tank. The scum on the surface was a trifle annoying, a mixture of foam and fish poo, but it was no problem to skim it off occassionaly. I did notice with the thicker construction of the KeepAlive tank, the white exterior and the blue inside, there was very little raising of temperature of the water in the tank. I got the 14 gallon tank but should have gone for something bigger as 14US gallons is only about 11.65 UK. Great for sand eels but a bit small for mackerel.

 

The evening on the sole was good as the one I had, at 1lb 3oz was a PB for me. I look forward to trying again for the flat fellas as the season progresses.

 

Thanks to Alun again for his hospitality and fine food and wine and good company on the boat. I look forward to the re-match.

 

Terry.