TomBettle Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 (edited) I recently purchased a 2.7m inflatable and 4Hp 4s outboard to try and teach my 5 year old to drive (yeah right). Before it had even seen the water I had fitted a couple of rod holders. Added some launching wheels and I can keep it i the garage and wonder down to the beach whenever I feel like a quick play. Today was my day off so I trundled along sandbanks and launched at the mini slipway going into the harbour at about 08:30 this morning. I have recently had a couple of rods off of Stan M (from WSF). I have to say, his Alba range of rods are absolutely first rate, but today I was using a "toy" that he knocked up out of the tip section of a 5 weight flyrod. Super lightweight and a dinky fixed spool saw me heading out "offshore" to a reefy bank just outside Poole Harbour on the way towards Old Harry. About two knots of ebb tide shoved me along and with the engine in little more than tick over I dragged a cheap Abu plug as close to the rocks and kelp as I dared. Nothing happened until I reached the final 200m of the bank the the tiny rod lurched over and line began singing off the reel at quite a rate. Instinctlively I shoved the engine into reverse and tried to steer with my knees to get some line back on what ever was hanging onto the plug. Reeling in a fish, trying to open the landing net and steer astern with yuor knees in a flat bottomed inflatble of just over 2m is less than easy, but this fish was well hooked and proved enormous fun on the brilliant little rod. Several powerful runs later and I managed to tangle the landing net in the hooks of the plug, but the Bass was mine and soon lying in the bottom of the boat, coming home for tea. Nothing more from this reef so I headed into the harbour and over to Brownsea Island where I found an eddy between two jettys. Swapping to a 16 gramme dexter wedge which I duly jigged just off the bottom and I was very quickly rewarded with two small Pollack which were promptly returned. Then nestled right alongside the "Maid of the Islands", the big yellow island tourist boat which was moored to one of the jettys I hooked something better which zinged off and hung deep for quite some time. Again another fine Bass was in the net, followed in quick succession by two more. All three were returned much to the pleasure of the National Trust staff who were watching from the jetty. What can I say, great fun in such a tiny boat with such a tiny rod. Total distance travelled about 7 miles, total fuel used about 1.5 litres. 4 Bass to about 5lb or 6lb and sub 1lb Pollack. What a lovely morning. Tom Edited May 28, 2007 by TomBettle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 Right, I'm selling the boat and buying a LiLo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Fox Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 (edited) What a great day Tom! Mike PS Bob, how on earth do you expect someone to perform an RNLI SEA Safety check on a lilo?????? PPS Inner tube and pair of flippers would save on fuel.... PPS Admin edit needed? Edited May 25, 2007 by Mike Fox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 lilo's fine - just make sure you have a seperate pillow section as a safety precaution................. nice catch Tom - boating can be cheap and fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 Jammy git Well done Mad Mike PS selling Merry Fisher, getting a blow up dinghy. This world has no bloody justice in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugazi Posted May 26, 2007 Report Share Posted May 26, 2007 Total distance travelled about 7 miles, total fuel used about 1.5 litres. Tom you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack Posted May 26, 2007 Report Share Posted May 26, 2007 Well done Tom.I use my 3.10 Zodiac every day when I go to N.Wales. But beware of Bass spines when you lift them into the boat,I now have a piece of industrial grade carpet on the inflatable floor in the back section of the boat.[i punctured mine,last year.] .I have just purchased a little road trailer and hope to fish in Poole this season.I have a 10hp outboard which is difficult for me to lift in and out ,so I plan to trail it with the engine in place.I only have a Ford Ka. which takes neither roof rack nor tow hitch,so I have to use my Campervan,which is a bit "overkill"on slipways,but I hope with this setup and a little common sense I can manage by hand {even with my 2 replaced hips and a bad back. at least if I fall in the boat, I only bounce and not crunch ! ] They say,"where there's a will, there's a way," and by the sound of other posted comments I will be a figure of envy and not pity.Thanks for the encouragement Tom.See you on the water..jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted May 27, 2007 Report Share Posted May 27, 2007 Nice one Tom The fun of small boat fishing can be great and that's without fish of the stamp that you landed. Has anyone seen the Fishing advenbturer on cable/sky. He takes a small inflatable and elec outboard on his travels and gets towed around by the fish he catches. He looks to have great fun But he does seem to be as mad as a hatter. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted May 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2007 Total distance travelled about 7 miles, total fuel used about 1.5 litres. Tom you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugazi Posted May 27, 2007 Report Share Posted May 27, 2007 Cheers Tom it sounds great fun and having just looked at the Avon range the Rover R3.1 Lite looks very interesting. It appears to be a 10ft mini RIB with folding transom that allows it to flat pack into a valise for carriage and can be carried by two people. Gordon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack Posted May 28, 2007 Report Share Posted May 28, 2007 For anyone planning to carry their inflatable in the boot in its bag,I can recommend the ones now being produced with the new type of inflatable floor.They really do inflate as hard as a plank,and give you a proper V profile in the water.I am told that this type of inflation is now being used as fold-up surf boards with great success.My Zodiac Fastroller is an example [although a bit pricey ] jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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