jack

Hi Terry. Dont rule out the Fladen Maxximus range,My son -in law is a stockist,I have had a good play and testing of some lighter rods.They look extremely well made ,and come competatively priced I have something in almost every weight,but there would be little point in asking me how they handle fish.! ! How the hell would I know. jack

THANKS EVERYONE.. No cards please,Just send Fish !! jack

Looks to me like the sort of bite,I had from "midges" when fishing in western Scotland last summer. jack

Alun. This was the final straw. I have now built a little shrine to yourself in the corner of my den. I shall offer up prayers to it daily in the hope that something may affect my own fishing abilities.. Fantastic result....Well done..Jack

No excuse for anyone on a tight budget,not to have a digital camera. I bought one at Argos last weds. for SIX pounds 75. [just for the crack !. Its great.It works fine,produces acceptable pictures [about phone standard ] has its own driver disc;usb cable ;tweeking programme,and a little pseudo leather carry case and a wrist strap. It is virtually the size of a matchbox. and will take either 20 or 60 + photos [ you can select quality.] I have tried it indoors and out [no flash 'though,and the pics are O.K..Unfortunately there is no preview facility built in camera,but I have written off to complain ! ! . great for the old Christmas stocking I reckon. PS. I have no connection either with Argos or the Chinese manufacturers. jack

Would you belive it ! all this publicity came to light the day AFTER I bought myself a new camera [sony DSC-W55 ] It seems fantastic compared to my previous Olympus C765 Which at the time was state of the art for its price.This newly aquired item however bears all the usual warnings about Knocks and damp and Sun and Sand....It just goes to show that Technoligy often moves faster than ones ability to pay for it...Ah well ,how to convince her indoors how important it will be for me to upgrade in the summer. jack

Who dares wins.. jack

Tues night was disgusting here at Shaftesbury.I was awakened at 02.20.by the lashing rain on the bedroom window,and the wind was rattling my hanging tiles on the back of the house.As I lay in the dark listening ,I was sure I could hear a distant church bell,After some minutes of this I got up and opened the bedroom window slightly,and yes sure enough there it was,as in the Arthurian legend of the sunken city of Lyonesse.a muffled church bell was tolling through the wind and rain.Sleep was gone now,and determined to solve the mystery I arose ,went down,put on mac and hat and went out into the back garden. There it was,that ghostly muffled bell tolling in the night.The dog went back indoors and I set off alone. At the bottom of the garden is a panelled wooden gate,mostly hidden from view by A baggage trailer and a garden shed. I shone my torch and approached the sound.........and there behind the trailer and touching on the long gate bolt was a .... 16kg empty Calor Gas bottle. giving off its mournful peal each time the wind gusted................... It took ruddy ages to get back to sleep,and get me a cussing from her indoors. But it might just have been Lyonesse..jack

Would you believe it Gordon. I got just those symptons you describe when I was out on the boat with Andy,The week-end before last,Perhaps it's something in the Poole Bay air. ! jack

Following Paul D's little drug test scam,can I ask whether there are any plans afoot to test club members for drugs following any fish catches.? I seldom catch fish myself,but feel sure I would hit the jackpot on the testing front,and suspect that Mad Mike might be a close contender too. If we opened up a separate club list of best drugs taken ,it would at least give me a chance of success at something,..[ you can tell there is little to chat about on the fishing front..sad is'nt it ? ] jack

Andy and I set out on Sat.on a very pleasent Flat sea at 08.30.And that was the best part of the day,other than meeting Charlie afloat in his new Craft. It blew and it splashed. The tide screamed in the harbour all day. And there was no tide out to sea.I am covered in bruises.I spilled my tea twice. We ran out of gas for the kettle. We used up lots of lovely bait and touched nothing.And that was all before lunchtime.I was actually glad to give it best.and thats a first !. Can't wait to get out again....jack

Well done Andy..Do you think you could restrict your fishing to once a year That at least,would give the rest of us a sporting chance...jack

Thanks Charlie.....Sorry we did'nt hear you,but you know what it's like ,What with the rain pouring down; Radio 2 going strong; the heating at full blast; and the hood of your flotation suit up...Such suffering ! ! ! jack

and another..jack

I still can't find a pic to identify my wrasse. However it seems I did get a couple of dolphin pics before my camera died.I will see if they will upload

Andy said," no matter what the weather is doing,we are going out on Sat." So we did.Out from Cobbs toward the ledge. [new ground for us] Beautiful flat run,surprising how there is little perception of speed in these conditions.Suddenly a huge splash caught my eye,and as I watched a large black figure left the water some 100yds away,into the air with a wonderful curve and crashed into the sea with a beautiful "belly flop."An Atlantic Dolphin . We shut off and were treated to a 5 minute disply from at least 5 of them culminating in thier coming to us and playing around and under the boat.I had no idea thy were so big. We could have touched them with our boat-hook.Having seen the activity ,another nearby boat [pot boat] came across and the Dolphins left us to join him...We anchored up in the making tide some 100 yds from the closest rocks on the sounder and fished our sqid baits bact toward the ledge.The huge rolling swell was quite spectacular but not particularly comfortable..After 2 hrs and 4 dogfish.I had the best take in a long time ,My rod bucked and kicked as I played the fish that had taken my Double calamari offering. When we saw its Pale brown back and good size we grabbed the net to land our Cod. Ha ! Ha ! fooled again . We landed the biggest wrasse any of the 3 of us had ever seen.It was about 24 " long ,much pale blue on the fins and belly.and when I picked it up in a towel ,my two hands were only about 1/2 way around its middle .I didnt weigh it and as I found during our dolphin encounter,my camera battery had died of non-use.We then returned to Poole harbour where we donated our

Well done Alun. You are an example to the less motivated members [myself definately included ] If you want to get amongst the fish,you'v got to put in the effort and determination.You reflect my own dedication to the sport in my younger years. I am delighted for you.Jack

Well Done Charlie.Boat looks FANTASTIC.I dont envy you both all the work you have put in,But I do envy the finished product.Something to be really proud of.Congratulations from Andy and Myself.

microscopic hooks not needed. Dip size 16 hook in treacle then in " ready Brek ". jack

Fantastic fish.Well done. Now that Garry has told me Baiter slip is clear,I may just pop out to the car park on Tues or Weds.I could do with a little tester run for my outfit. .. jack .......... ....... .............. No NO NO .! ! ! Only joking really. My 10" zodiac is good ,but not that good.

Thanks Gary.I will try my luck in the week. jack

Thanks for that David,I had no idea there was a car park anywhere close to the shop.I will call up a map of poole and see if I can find it. jack

Thanks for chipping in,everyone. I dont really mind the fees. As my inflatable is only 10' and as well as the trailer,has its own wheels attached,I could manage it on my own as a doddle.But not across a shingle bank as I am a decrepit old major back sufferer.I could not even make use of Martin's redundant shovel,Although I would be only too pleased to give him a ring when the slip is blocked,if he feels he would like to keep his hand in. I have checked out Lake road and could manage there,my problem then is parking in Poole.with the car and boat to pick up worm,I planned to walk to the shop from Baiter,I am a picky old sod are'nt I ?.Still with a little thought there is nothing that can't be overcome. [although death appears to offer a challenge ] L.O.L. jack

I was in Poole yesterday,so decided to check out fees etc. for Baiter Slip. I was only marginally surprised to see that there was no " winter rate". for launching,but thats life these days.However I was annoyed to see 3 men struggling like mad to drag thier smallish R.I.B.on its trailer across a Shingle bank ,some 8-10 foot wide and 1 foot deep about half way down the slip . Surely if the public are to pay for a facility they might at least expect to find it useable.If the council can pay a Warden to check on parking tickets on Baiter,he could at least be asked to periodicallly report on the state of the slipway.It did not get like that in a couple of days.I intend to use the slip with my small inflatable,to go flattie hunting,but I know I cannot manage to drag it over that shingle bank on my own.To whom does one [complain] draw the fact to thier attention.? jack

Congratulations.! .Mike..I would like to think that more than my thumb would be pink after catching a fish like that.As it is I am sure my face is looking a bit GREEN around the edges.Well done again..jack