TomBettle

Simon Thebest part about the filletting table is that it will even hold your beer can (not advocating drinking at sea) whilst cutting nice J fillets off your Bass and Cod. Oh, it's removable too! Tom

Charlie I use mine for the odd VHF call and hopefully the little red button will work in case of emergency. When searching for a new radio, get one that you feel comfortable with and that has a decent viewable screen. Don't worry about features and gimmicks it is really only there to save your life and the rest of the bits are just toys.

Pssst It's here, errr well actually two of them are and we can get as many more as we need. They are at our Southampton office waiting to have engines bolted to the back. Those of you that have seen the cruising version and liked the hull, but not the layout, this little girl will knock your socks off. Absolute heaven for two anglers, but room for 4 if you need it. Hugely wide starboard sidedeck that is only a small step up from flush. Proper (I mean proper) locking cabin with acres of cubby holes and storage) Self draining decks Big built in fuel tank Optional cushions for cruising seats Reversable helm seat Superb visibility Pop up co-pilot seat Big rope locker with Sampson Post As good as anything in her class on the water and easily trailered by larger family cars 20 knots with a 50 25 knots with a 70 30 knots with a 90 (all figures approx and dependent on load ) Space akin to somewhere between a Warrior 175 and Warrior 195, but with creature comforts and finish of Jeanneau. Things to add? Live well, electronics, anchoring gear and a trailer if you want it (Free of charge if you are quick) I have a selection of pics I took this morning after removing the shrink wrap and I have to say, I think she is an absolute corker. Anyone who showed previous interest, please send me your address and I'll send over a CD of the pics (only snaps by me, but you'll get the picture). Anyone else interested please PM your address and I'll do likewise. Four words come to mind: She's the Mutz Nutz... and less than a 175 package (but a bigger boat) Tom

Happy Birthday mate. Have a good one. Tom PS: With legs as long as yours, you'll need a bigger boat than the titchy one I was using.

Tom you

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

Lovely fish. We do have some clonking Undulates along our stretch of coast line. I am pretty sure the record will fall very soon from somewhere between the IoW and Portland. Tom

Hi Terry Glad you made it over here. It is a really decent bunch of guys from a very diverse background, but we all have one thing in common. I thoroughly recommend joining the club and becoming an active member, joining in and offering bits and tips. I promise you will get so much out of it if you join in. Good luck looking for a boat to crew, whilst I can't guarantee you'll get a space this time, it will be worth staying with us as a member. All the best Tom

Hi Kam They look great. Are they the ones that you fish more as a spinner or plug than as an actual jig? I know there are two key types, the jigs that are rlatively heavily weighted and you can daisy chain together and also the casting style ones that are, perhaps, half an ounce or so. Tom

Sorry Terry I don't know what came over me. I was a very naughty boy. Tom

Dan I am shocked! It said adults only and you still opened it! Martin, my wrists are slapped and I now hang my head in shame. Tom Ps: Good though wasn't it!

If Carlsberg ran fishing trips they would probably be the best in the world... image deleted unsuitable for a family show

Hi Patrick, Hi Clare Welcome to Poole Bay Small Boat Angling Club. With these guys you WILL catch fish, join in and get to know a few of the chaps and they will happily help you learn to catch a whopper. We have discussed getting a photo shoot done on many an occasion so hopefully you can help us pull it together. Keep the prices fare and sensible and I feel sure that some of the guys would love professional pictures taken. All the best Tom

Sold to the nice policeman from Cornwall

Probably Messr Gilbey? He enjoys that side of things.

You'll have fun doing it. They are a fairly good bunch. Who will you be doing it with?

Mike I am by no means suggesting you need to spend

Adam I'd be really keen to here your comments after a few trips. I am looking for "add ons" to recommend to customers, but don't want to recommend a lemon so any comments over accuracy, glitches etc would be very much appreciated. Tom

He is you know!

Jason Before you go ahead and start bouying the anchor out you will want to consider changing your bow roller. It is designed for use with your electric windlass and offers loads of vertical strength, but not much lateral strength. If you attempt to drive the anchor out with your current bow roller you may well "splay" it out sideways and that won't be covered under warranty! You can do it by tieing the anchor warp off to one of the bow cleats and that will work fine. If you wanted to consider changing your bow roller then another guy to have words with would be Pete Russel jnr (Shytalk) or as the other guys have mentioned, Stainless Steve Engineering in Lymington will do a top job. Give him the complete old roller and he will knock up one that has all the lateral strength to drive out the anchor on a cruise ship and you will be able to easily fix it back down using the existing fixings. Tom

I spotted that! Was just as surprised as you were Peter....

Thanks Paul You are right, the files were too big.

Hi Anyone else having problems with uploading to the gallery? I upload a picture from my PC in the normal way. It says "Continue" so I press the button and it takes me to a blank white screen with "Done" written down at the bottom of the page.... Where have my pictures gone? Tom

Alun Any built in 2006 to a 2007 model style will end 607. There are probably several dozen out there.

Hi Charlie I had heard you were out and about Glad you had a good day. Some interesting species known to visit the bay from time to time include trigger fish. In addition, Thresher Sharks pass through in not insignificant numbers along with the more common Porbeagle and further offshore Mako shark are VERY occasionally encountered. Although still to be hooked on rod and line, it is fairly well documented that we also get the off Tuna of several species (mainly Bonito or Albacore) coming through the bay, probably chasing mackerel shoals. Who knows what else is lurking down there.....? Tom