TomBettle

Hi Charlie Don't fit it just below the waterline, it needs to be under the water about .5cm beneath the transom itself. Add at least a foot to the widest swing of the outboard propeller and that will avoid aeration from that. When on the plane, the transducer needs to be underwater still and in "freewater" (ie not full of bubbles from the prop or tucked up behind the transom). Tom

Echo Martin And happy to pop over if it will help. Typically, looking at the transom from behind the boat the transducer will be fitted a foot to 2 feet away from the centre line (well clear of the swing of the prop) and as Martin say's, clear of anything that may cause an obstruction in water flow such as a chine, skin fitting etc. The transducer is fitted marginally lower (just the flat bottom of the transducer) than the hull and normally faces forward by about 5 degrees. This should all be in the installation guide for the transducer. Happy to help by taking a peak if it will be handy. Tom

Have now heard back from John and will hopefully be able to help him out.

Hi Paul I have left a message on John's voicemail offering my services from here on one of our stock boats. We have several inboard Merry Fisher's in the water and also a Prestige 36 so depending on what John's father was into we should be able to go out on a suitable boat. Any day is fine with me and within reason, anytime. Tom

I will allow the use of 20lb class ( ) if the angler is experienced enough not to burn his thumbs! My own gear (depending on crew numbers) is going to be: 1 x 20lb class & Torium 30 1 x 30lb class & Boss Accurate 2 x 20 / 50 & Penn Formula 10Kg's 1 x 30/80 & Penn Formula 15Kg If one crew man comes (Looks like Lap Dance Tommy has taken a space) then it will be the 3 heavier rods If two come then I will just take the 20/50's. Tom Ps: It's 20lb class for Conger

....Whatever next! Tic Tock Tic Tock Tic Tock And a bl@@dy great crockdile jumps out of the water and grabs the one eyed one legged parrott with a hook for a hand! Oh look, Perter Pan has just flown by! Jason You are welcome on Quest II for a wrecking session one day soon! If you can drive a boat and have a couple of beefy rods, you are more than welcome Sharking on Friday....? Tom

No Takers?

Hi Guys Have permission from the FPO and another day off booked for 21st. Loads of Wedger's secret formula "Sea Magnet" Terminal gear 6 fully made up traces of 4 foot of 450lb cable to 11/0 Seamaster hooks with 15 foot 200lb mono leaders. Kidney Harness (Braid Pro Manta) and pad will be supplied. Please bring your own reasonable quality rods and reels (30/50lb class) All I need is one, maybe two crewmen to join me. Costs to be split: Fuel - Who knows, depends on miles steemed Sea Magnet -

Already had the bottle of water argument on another forum, doesn't work as the mackerel spend their time on the surface.

.....me thinks everyone is still missing the point of this float fishing for Bass malarky. It isn't like traditional float fishing. The float is not used so much as a bite indicator, in fact it is approaching the lines of the carp fishermans bait boat or bait dropper. Invariably it is the hook that gets snagged so if set up correctly you should only lose a hook. Floats do occasionally get lost, but more often than not when you use a cigar float that the macky can take down to and get some terminal gear caught up on the bottom. Tom

Paul Anything that floats will work to a fashion, however, if you see Alan's comments, half the battle is confidence in the equipment, knowing that wat you are using has just the right bouyancy, is set up for the job and in this instance made for the job. Again the float is used only 20% for the traditional visual "wait till it goes under" technique. The main purpose is to hold it away from the boat with the bait suspended inches off bottom vertically to minimise snags. It is highly visual so that you can see how far off your bait is and judge whether you need to hold it back slightly to lift your bait over the top of a ridge or let more line out to leave it in the strike zone. Most of the "feel" still comes through the rod, with the float being bouyant enough not to keep dissapearing with the bait alone, but still sensitive enough to not spook the Bass when it takes. I will be experimenting with different sizes so that I know exactly what pressure is required to cock the float and what is required to sink the float. The float I stole off Rupert cocks at 94g (a 3oz lead, swivels, hooks etc) and remember your bait doesn't add to this weight as it is neutrally bouyant (until it dives). Much bigger than 94g for live mackerel, this trace set-up and Bass as the target would be overkill, much smaller and the float doesn't have the oomph to keep the bait up. Tom

Al I may not have the ctaching sussed yet, but think I have sussed the float side now. Several sizes will be available from small ones the size of a normal egg for fishing live eel in shallow water and half an ounce to monsters for sharking that will take 8 oz if need be. Price will certainly be competitive with standard off the shelf floats and much cheaper than the posh Catfish ones on the net (but just as good). Price is likely to be about the same as you are paying fo yours "trade" and that will be retail. Ultimately it will be down to the cost of the raw materials and how long it takes to knock 'em up. Tom PS: Stole one of Rupert earlier for some ideas. Of course you will be receiving samples so long as I have good constructive criticism on how to improve the design... Finally, give Rupert a call about a little trip I have planned hopefully before the end of the month...

Martin It's just arrived in Southampton. Hoping to film a review with Sea Dangler by the end of the month. Guess I will be taking Dave Lewis to do if we can get the tides right (hence the floats). I looked over it yesterday and it is the doggies danglies. TONNES of space (at a guess about the same as an Avor 25). Loads of storage. Fantastic wheelhouse with loads of nooks and crannies, even proper rod storage. Sliding door at the back of the wheelhouse, another at the helm. Full walk around low level side decks. Cavernous rope locker. If any PBSBAC member wants to take a look please let me know first so I can register you as going, but you are all more than welcome. Ashore until early next week then afloat at Universal Marina on the Hamble. Tom

Our resident Bass gods have apparently used them in pretty deep water (over 22m). Our patch of Bass ground (apart from along the cliffs back past Lulworth) is on the races etc and the water is deep at around 25 to 35m. Maybe if Rup or Al see this they can advise. Certainly work somewhere like the shambles and I'd love to give it a go over Alderney side. Tom I am determined to crack this floatfishing malarky.

Hi Guys Just testing the water here. After the discussion recently over float fishing BIG live baits for Bass I have been doing some thinking. I have been using 8" cigar floats which are about as large as you can commonly buy and cost in the region of

If it tuly got airborne a couple of times then it wasn't a basker, but may have been a Mako or Thesher. We do have a number of Mako's cruising around here, not many, but a few.

Nice Bloke NICE Boat. Only met him a couple of times, but both times, well impressed with his knowledge, understanding and certainly sense of humour (which is possibly why, Al and Rup are such good mates of his!. Nice one Rob, get the diary filled quick and if you ever need a crewman.... ....My hand was up first (other one stashed in pocket with mobile phone whilst staring intently at the GPS) Good luck mate Tom

Stunning Mate Well done, I wanna catch one

Welcome onboard, enjoy the site and the fishing!

I think that "The Watchful Eye" has a pic stored on his gallery somewhere. ...the one with Mr Mazey playing the Conger on that little yellow rod Chris? If you happen to see this post, maybe you would upload the piccy or email it over to me... please? Tom

I never said a thing, it was a hacker that infiltrated my post and used my alias.....

Actually that would work! I keep meaning to get a "Priest" onboard the boat for despatching the "tasties" I take home. ...No need for a priest.... a wife or girlfriend will do just fine! nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag nag Enough to make anything roll over and die.

Well done Mark Great stuff on the fishing and great news that the snags seem done and dusted!!! A tip with conger bites: Give it plenty of time. Small ones sub 35lb tend to be fairly hard biting, big ones can be little pussy cats. Either way, let them chomp the bait for a while, even give them a titchy bit of free line. Wait until you can feel a slow and progressive pull on the rod as the swim backs off with the bait. Don't strike, simply tighten up, lift and wind. You'll hardly drop another. (The above tip was learned from expert tuition from "The Watchful Eye") Don't discount the light gear either. I decide which rod to use based on how much lead I need to get down. Typically 20lb class for Conger, but we (the Quest II crew) have had a few amusing sessions with eels to 45lb on mid channel wrecks using nothing more than a 3 foot "kids" rod from Weymouth Angling Centre. I'll see if I can find the picture as it really is a p1ss take. (In this instance, "The Watchful Eye tends to get a bit funny with those of us that fish ridiculously light, I remember a b@llocking from him for using a canal bomb rod on a very active Ling session - but it is good fun and with proper technique and light sharp hooks it is very achievable) Tom

Would recommend going new if you can, purely for the peace of mind and warranty. A tohtasu wll be worth diddley squat second hand, but f you are keeping the boat for the foreseable future then this would be a really good bet and nice and new will fit in your budget.

At the moment I am waiting to see what the FPO says as she is not sure if she can get the time off. My real concern is that in the unlikely event of actually hooking one I could have done with competent crew onboard to help with the boat and also traceing the fish alongside. The FPO wants this trip to be "just the two of us and a picnic" so I guess this will be truly single handed if it goes ahead. Can't see any problem with other boats following / joining the drift though, but would suggest plenty of rubby dubby between us to keep the trail going. Tom