Wedger

Very sad news about Alex. He taught me a thing or two back in the 70's and gave me plenty of good advice. We'll miss him. T

Success requires confidence and ability............ May the force be with you Mav.

Martin, Do I get fined for not using the club link to Amazon If I pay the commission direct to the club............... will that prevent me from having a dodgy record

Spot on plaicemat Also makes your fish taste like turps (Ooops Martin )

Paul Talking of smoking, you reminded me. A short while ago I spoke to Adam re smokers, recipes, books etc and I promised to turf out my old Innes Walker 'smokers bible'. Couldn't find it but I just had a shot on amazon as a last resort and........... presto it appears it was revamped and printed again in the 1990's. I've ordered one as it was so cheap

Rich, My scope will need to go off to the menders It's go a nasty that I'm unable to fix (jammed on high power ). I've made enquiries today with the manufacturer re digital photo's etc. but from what I can gather we just need the correct adaptor ring and a compatible 'snapper'. I'll have a chat with my no. 2 son who is doing photography at B'mouth Institute. I'll let you know when we're fixed up. I'll do the DEFRA thing tomorrow. Wedg.

REMEMBER CHAPS VERY IMPORTANT Only use hardwood for food smoking. Many softwoods contain toxins and you will be ill

Rich, you have a PM

Crossed fingers for James..........sounds like a valiant effort! Well done Jimbob.

Martin, Many thanks, will get onto it this week. Cheers, Trevor

Charlie, I recall a Souter Mi25 for sale in Poole some time ago. It had a petrol 205hp. Would probably stand fitting a turbo-diesel 2-250 hp by a smart chap like your good self. I'll bet it's still for sale . You could go to 300 hp + and be the first on your mark in every comp. and fish all the club water from Poole . (Biased) Wedger Good Luck. PS Were fitting our new Nav. & radio kit to 'Otter' this week and making inroads re mooring. Hope to be able to give you a serious report on performance after mooring facilities are secure. Some safety kit still needed, flares. rings etc. but otherwise 'hot to trot'.

Rich, Further to our interest on the other thread............... I'm waiting for a response from my expert buddy about this whole issue of bass scale collecting, reading and records. Our greatest task will be learning the finer points of interpretation, but comprehensive recording at sea will be the key to project success. Suggested bedtime reading perhaps the work of B.A.S.S. who are still requesting scale samples from a particular size class of fish I believe. Also CEFAS Technical Report 103 which can be found on the net. Report 103 offers some interest from the scale collecting and viewing aspect, and suggests a slightly different site of scale sample. My suggested kit. (this may have additions subject to Prof. advice). Field kit tweezers self/reseal poly bags permanent marker measure scales digital camera Study kit Scope I have a 7-45 diameter binocular bench type ( mineralogists set I think) great lighting setup. (DOH! Needs fixing) Has camera slot also but needs looking at to see if I can fix a digital camera to it. You can, of course, use a very simple microscope but low mag is essential. Small file system PC Regards Trev

Unregistered Guest Chappy (Mad Mike) My understanding is, that bass begin to breed at an age of about 8 years. There may be a size element to the onset of maturation but I doubt it is 8lbs. I have taken fish of 4-5lbs which show gonad development. I will check the species data with DEFRA. The option for the angler as I suggested, less than subtly, was that anglers take only what they need for their immediate use if they intend to take anything, i.e. weight for weight of whatever. Conservation of a species used for food. Once you have decided that you will take fish for the table. If the intention is to take fish for food, I am suggesting that if the angler takes a 15lb fish and returns 3 x 5 lbs of younger fish, he does the species a far greater service. The younger fish will be slightly more evolutionary adapted. In other words, by removing one that has reproduced for many years, in spite of its weight has only a third of the genetic diversity and therefore a third of the adaptation capability of three smaller fish. It has contributed for several more years than the 5lb fish and is now out of date by several generations regards evolutionary adaptation. Hair splitting I know, but mathematically and biologically undeniable. The sizes referred to here are just a mathematical example and not meant to represent what I or anyone else may take. It is the theory on which you could base a selective take, given the opportunity, if take is what you intend to do, whilst maintaining the best interests of a species

Just on the point of 'which fish should I take' I see it thus. Purely from a species conservation point of view. Bit like any population management, achieving health, strength and productivity through genetic diversity. Genetic diversity, ensures adaptability, this is the environmental insurance policy of all species. From abundant healthy populations: A few small fish taken does no harm as there are so many. As they have demonstrated their ability to survive thus far, those fish which have reached maturity should be allowed to contribute to the population for a few years and so I would take fewer of these. (8L0*dy pair trawlers notwithstanding). Larger fish have actually contributed genetically for several, if not many years, so it does no harm to the species to take a few of these as realistically their genes are not needed. The conservation of large specimens is a matter of keeping the whole growth potential available which is quite important, and for the enjoyment of those who wish to see/use them. That

Rich, Not too at all A reasonable sample is 4-5 scales just in case you get a difficult one. I take them the flank about half way between the lateral line and the main dorsal fin. Popped into a little placy bag will keep forever. Sample of 3 scales read per fish as a minimum to ensure your not reading replaced scales of younger age. These are usually smaller, but not always, hence the 4-5 starting sample. For fish being returned I suggest not taking directly adjacent scales thus exposing too much skin in one patch. If your really concerned you could have a dab of anticeptic handy, but personally if you

Charlie, bravo If we all had this attitude............... you could walk on them,.......... from here to Sydney ! and just so there is no misunderstanding.................. declare ye all who cannot kill what you wish to eat!! Or should I say'.......... Declare ye all who cannot eat, all you wish to kill'

Chaz, Doesn't it bring a whole new meaning to the expression, 'aptitude' I am Wedger

Saturday is the day!! and tight lines chap!

There speaketh a true gastronaut after my own heart . All in the best possible taste.............. ................. If ya guna kill it , ya'd beta wana eat it . If ya wana eat it , ya'd beta be prepared to kill it . Veggies notwithstanding................

GOOD LUCK & TIGHT LINES JIMBOB!

Found this one today whilst looking for materials for the fish farm. They appear to offer a very dashing, quick service for made to measure portholes. boat windows

1266.4 simple mind

Does this sound any good ?

I wonder how old it was? During the summer I took scale readings from a group of bass in the 5-7.5lb range (all from the same mark and tide). All fell in the 11 & 12 year bracket. Does anyone else in the club look at this sort of stuff? Wedger

Let me know what spec net you need. There's bound to be something in the fish farming world!