Paul D

I think it was around

I got the rod from the guy who has a stall at Lymington market on Saturdays ( he does a good business from recommendations on here as well ! ). I am considering getting one from him as the next competition prize.

The bar itself

Spot the man standing near the channel going out !

Took a trip out of Lymington today with Soleman as figured we would get some shelter from the southerlies. Was nice and calm going out adn settled in near a wreck mark that Alun J gave us. Nothing showing so headed to a mark which I have always been convinced contained fish - it just looks so "fishy" with rough ground and boiling . swirling water. As we couldnt find any mackeral, used a stormie and hooked up with a 4lb 9oz bass on my new Solid-C rod - nice way to christen it and I have to say it is a superb rod to fight a bass on ( The 8 ft model ). The tide was HUGE today, we drifted at 5 knots and Neo managed a new "speed record", hitting 26.7 knots when steaming to the mark ! Nothing much else caught, so went back to see how Alun was doing and then back to Lymo. The water was at the top of the wall by the slipway - big old tides.

Wanted to see if we can embed videos ( well if I can ! ).

Heading out of Lymington tomorrow ( get some shelter from the Southerlies ).

See attached document on the front page for an Entry Form and location for booking in ( Baiter Slipway ) along with the competition rules.

Is this you in the bay Bob !? ( Photo care of Charlie Chapman ).

Terry, So envious, it has been absolutely years since I went to the Oktoberfest ( we used to have a meeting in Ottobrun each year which "coincidentally" co-incided with the festival ).

Could be up for it - work willing and my wrok colleague ( Westray ) sounds up for a trip as well.

Many thanks to all. I have got one of those longer Solid-C rods now - they look pretty good. All ready for the cod now

Well worth replying. I have just been reading the attached report from Guernsey sea fisheries and the exploitation of the Bou Blondel bass fishery is truly depressing. If anyone thinks it does not affect our bass fishing then think twice. Bass were tagged in the fishery and turned up along the UK coast. Read the report and see how the fishery was discovered in 2004 - and to the end of December 2005 ( ie. less than 2 years ) a "mere" 137 tonnes of bass have been removed from this fishery. The peak month being April 2004 when 33.9 tonnes were landed. Astounding ! Guernsey Fishing Report

Nice turbot Paul. What speed of drift did you end up with on the Shambles ? In the Solent we were drifting along at 4.5 knots at one stage on Sunday. Did you have to drag a lead ?

Too late ! - Might have come from your boss at work but I think it is in poor taste IMHO to make jokes about someone who has suffered a "significant brain injury". If you want to do something positive then post this link instead Richard Hammond Donations I will leave you to decide to delete ( or otherwise ).

Decided to fish locally having seen the forecast ( not being one for being chucked around all day, and I was taking Soleman for his first trip on a small boat ). As the forecast wind was southerly, decided that a trip out of Lymington would be good as shelter from the IOW would be good. Alun J was of a similar mind, so off to Lymo we headed. Exiting the harbour and the sea was flat as a pancake. Full chat to the sconse buoy and bagged up with mackeral on our first two drifts. Headed for the needles but seeing how rough it was out there tried in Totland Bay. Had one bass to a mackeral squid cocktail - my live joey being ignored. At slack water steamed to the smoothy mark ( 22 knots all the way - it was that flat ) and 1 hour or so there had nothing apart from a small bream to John. Tried a bit further out and caught a joey. Put this to use on Hampstead ledge where I was into a bass on first drift. No more joeys though and tried stormies but without success. Headed back to hook up with Alun and Simon before steam back to Lymington. Southerly wind is no problem whatseover in the Solent

Adam, Their website gives their secretary's number :- Simon Stroud on 01278 794573

I am going to leave it until Saturday to make decision whether to go or not go. It's a long way to go to be sat inshore in the rain.

Yes - was admiring that one yesterday. Quite similar to Enticer.

Dave, If you do get the internal antenna this will work OK as well. I have am internal antenna on my Garmin and this picks up a signal through the fiberglass cuddy. However, given a choice I would opt for the external antenna version next time.

Interesting that this spate of bad weather is down to the remnants of a hurricane. Hurricane Gordon ! I knew I shouldn't have crushed his "lucky" hat in the back of my car

Depending upon weather, Neo will be present with Soleman as crew. My plan is to decide on Saturday once I see the forecast, with the fallback plan being to fish Christchurch harbour if the weather is snotty. Apologies if it is posted elsewhere, but what time are we expected at Weymouth ?

I hope the fish bite as quickly on Sunday

Low power / High power is not necessarily the reason you can hear the coastguard replying to a vessel, yet you are unable to hear the vessel. The reason you can hear the coastguard is because they have an enormous aerial with plenty of gain and height above the sea, whereas the vessel they are communicating with has a small aerial and is at sea level and will be out of range from your small aerial at sea level. Reason for using low power ( I am not sure it is possible on CH 16 ) is to enable other users who are far enough away to be able to use the same channel. ( I think this is what you are alluding to here ?) If high power is used then it will not be possible for other users to use that channel within a larger range - all down to "capture effect".

Well, not like it is a decent team to watch anyway