Paul D

Too bloody clever, is that why the blonde on a diet keeps on coming up Not on any of my posts - I will need to catch a "Large Blonde" ...

Welcome to the club Steve and I had the pleasure of following Charlie through the Swinge on Tomo's Pirate 21 last year - almost recovered now

Thought I saw JV followed by another boat steaming over from the South. From the pic of the Bass I assume it was you two.

Bet you are glad you entered the Poole Sea Angling Comp

Hope you all had a good day? Please post your catches up here: 1) Ian Jones - Cod 10lb 2) Paul Dore - Cod 8lb 8oz

Pete, You would have been more than welcome on Neo, unfortunately I already have crew this time around. Hopefully someone will be looking for crew. regards Paul

Interesting meeting by the looks of it. Sorry I was unable to make it as we up in Aberdeen working.

I will be out on Neo with a work colleague BUT am on call so hoping the Postal Systems are running OK as will need to return otherwise. ( Somehow, I am not expecting the same success as on previous 2 trips, but you never know )

Heard the news on Sunday and was a real shock. Many in the club will know Shaun. My thoughts go to his family.

I was having similar thoughts re: winterising ( on the E-Tec there is an automatic way of doing this ) - have never done it though as I intend to keep using it. Intend being the word - with this weather not as frequent as I hoped.

Had a go at that once when I was in the States. It basically involved taking a big holecutter and a tent, cutting hole through the ice and sitting in the tent all afternoon fishing. Also had plenty of beer I recall

Thanks for the info Andy. I can't even think about getting my boat out yet as wouldnt make it to the end of the road !

Try deep sea in the winter Paul. Derek. Maybe so but still doesn't get away from the fact that cod stocks have been decimated in Newfoundland to the extent they were/are almost brought to extinction and cod stocks in the North Sea are/were going the same way. If that can be done to as fast growing fish like cod then Bass stand no chance. In Newfoundland once the commercials had caught all the cod they switched to dogfish and made them endangoured - now that must take some doing !!

Only if you tie it on properly eh ?

Sensible decision IMHO. Forecast is none too pleasant and there is more snow forecast I think. Almost got stuck with the car in the last lot, so wouldn't want to be trailing a boat in similar conditions !!

I very much doubt that Charlie has either ! - he is probably praying that Wendy does not have internet access

Just drove to work this morning and almost got stuck in the car park. That bad I decided to turn around ( in the works car park ) and come home ( even then needed to get 2 people to help me get unstuck )/ At the A27 / A3 junction at Bedhampton there are cars abandoned everywhere. The road towards Leigh Park had 4 cars sideways on just left in the middle of it.

Best wishes to Gordon - Have a good birthday and fish a plenty

We were allowed to leave early yesterday as the forecast was bad. Good job as there was a 24 ! mile queue of traffic later in the evening. Working from home today as Havant is pretty much snowed in. My work car park last night !

Very interesting discussion. I have a 5Kg Bruce and around 5 to 7 metres of chain. I have never had the anchor slip until the last 2 trips to the island. Found the advice here was the answer. I was dropping the anchor to the bottom and then letting the boat run back whilst letting the anchor rope run out as boat moved with the tide. The boat then swung around as the anchor "bit in" but then started dragging. ( 200 metres of rope out by now, so that was not the issue ! ) What I found is if I pay out some rope as the boat moves in the tide and hold the rope I can then feel the anchor dig in and then let more rope out as the boat moves back ( this is easily done side anchoring ). Even so, last time on the spoils I was anchored for 2 to 3 hours and then the damn thing started slipping. heavier chain is probably the answer.

Long range forecast not looking too clever for the 10th Jan either at the moment. Still there are a few days yet, so hopefully will change for the better.

Got sent this email regarding a competition for a free fishing trip to Alaska. Well worth an entry I think. Alaska Fishing Trip

Rob, I have a rotary electric one. Shreds hedge cuttings OK and stuff up to something like 1 inch dia. If you dont get something bigger then feel free to borrow it.

Probably launching around 8:00 AM ish

Just checked Satuyrday's forecast and looking very good.