Swainiac

T, I have a commitment untill 1300hrs, but will be available after that. If you give me directions, I'll be there tout de suite. Rich

Ok Les, If we meet up for 0930, that suits better for you. see you tommorrow. Rich.

Ok Guys, saturday looms ever closer. The plan is to meet up at the High Post cross roads on the A345 salisbury to Amesbury road, at about 0900. We can park in the hotel car park so as not to clag up the garage forecourt. So far, Les L, Dom, Dan, Alun J, and Kam have put names on the list. Do we know about Sam and Dan??? Tackle......light rods will suffice, I think that match rods for livebait snatching are too long, I'll bring a fly rod, so those who want a crack at pike on the fly may, I also have a couple of light spinning rods which have served me well on the river historically. Hopefully the watre will be reasonably clear, so bring lures, we'll try livebaiting too. Small pike will be culled, larger pike shoved up above the mill weir. Any problems, give me a call, but please post so Iknow whos coming, and how long to wait at the Garage. See you down there Kam, you know the way. Rich

Adam, I was on the phone to a guy who regularly fishes the area, and he suggested never removing worm baits, simply pushing the old bait up the line, so you are left with a good foot or so of bait on the hook length. Plenty of worm and squid is what he reccomended. Rich

Paul, firstly, get registered.......it costs nothing, and you gain plenty in return!! Speaking to a couple of skippers from weymouth in the week, it seems bad weather has kept them inside, indeed, I've had my last two charters cancelled due to inclemant weather, but better safe than sorry. I'm due out on Monday, so will post on my return, Blondes are the target, and maybe a big wrasse or two. Watch this space......and register! Tight lines, Rich

Thats it......I am getting a complex now. Mark, we'll nip up there on our own and get first in the queue for the fat boy breakie. In Mikeys words, ballcocks. Rich

Would those reels be the ones whose insides are made of chocolate, and indeed can be consumed to raise the blood sugar level when lost at sea? The same reels designed not to land a decent fish?? I'm just wondering if Jack and Andy are following this thread...........do you like chocolate Jack? Rich

Are we putting in a bulk order for worms?? Shall I?? I promise to try and not get the snotty black worms covered in Sea Peat!!!! I also have cuttle in the freezer, courtesy of K, so I can bring a few of these too. Rich

Mike.......welcome to the finest forum on the net, with the finest chaps as members, who tell the finest tales of the sea, land, and in mikeys case, space, where he tends to spend an awfull lot of time. We hope you and the family enjoy the banter, I cant think of a better bunch to associate with, well, I can, but shssssssssssssssssssssssssh!! Welcome aboard, tight lines... Rich

Are this firm the same Cobra that make radios for the military?? If so, they are quite a big set up!! Rich

Charlie, I don't own a boat as yet, but in my line of work as a tree surgeon I use ropes frequently. One consideration when buying warp for your craft is rope diameter. On cold wet days/nights, the last thing you want to do is put fingers under undue pressure due to pulling on thin diameter ropes.........as you probably know, constant hauling and gripping on thin diameters will bring on a condition in the hand known as "Trigger Finger". Unfortunately, the males in my genetic line suffer from a condition we have the Viking faraternity to thank for, called Djupitrons, which claws up fingers from the middle joint, and constant use of ropes of a thin diameter enhances this nuisance condition. IMHO, I would personnally purchase the largest suitable diameter warp for the carft, space for stowage permitting, making anchor retrieval not such an onourous task!! Rich

Great site Coddy. BB showed me the nail knot to join leader to braid, a great strong knot. Using this method on this site, you get a neater knot. Nice one!! Rich

Matt, I have just picked up a box for bits and pieces in my garage, from a cheappie shop in Totton, couple of squid I think, I have historically used a smaller version of this box for swivels beads crimps etc, for the past 18 months and it has lasted two winters without breaking.........thats tempting fate!! If you want a couple, I'll pick em up for you and drop them at Charlies. Rich

Think about it guys.....are the robbers who pulled of the biggest heist in living memory about to slip up by banking six grand in a local Building society?? I think not, not even the Irish are THAT dull!!Its either a set up on behalf of the gang, a sacrificial lamb, or a complete coincidence. Rich

Are these not too heavy Duncan?? Rich

Many Happy returns Duncan.................mmmmm, boiler troubles.....I had that, but then we divorced! Rich

If that is the Shore record, I believe it's the European record too. I'm pretty sure that the European boat caught Plaice record stands at around 11lbs caught off a scandinavian country, although far far larger specimens exist in our own local waters. Back in the sixties, a Commercial Fisherman in Rye Bay, netted a plaice over 17lbs!! A carving of this fine fish is on show down in the Fishermans museum in the Old Town in Hastings, right next to a picture of my grandad knitting shrimp nets, so I've got him to thank for my interest in the sea..............or you lot have him to blame!!!! God rest your soul Grandad!! Rich

........................or open the other eye! Rich

James' mate brought the unhooking gear, but as the pike are to be culled, a bang on the head often pays dividends before unhooking said fish, mind you, we have to land them first!! There were plenty of Dace to specimen size, Chub, small, and grayling, small to specimen size, a few tiny trout, and larger greedy brownies, plus the bonus Roach. The idea of the visit is to remove some of the Pike, as the river hasn't been electrofished for over two seasons, I'm afraid the Trout are out of bounds for intentional hooking. Adams cracking Perch last year came to a curl tail stormy, fire tiger, I believe, but I've watched Perch of around a couple of pounds diving into shoals of fry, so they should take a small livebait or lure. Maggots are a must to nab the livebait, Gordon had great success with an Avon style float trotting, below a small wier. Its a Brown Trout only stretch, and isn't stocked, so there may be smaller trout to be had for livebait, although the owner won't be too chuffed at us removing trout from the pyramid! Sam and Dan will need to be collected on the way through, maybe if Billy is coming he can meet up with Charlie at Merley roundabout, just a thought. We will all meet up at the garage on the A345 Salisbury to Amesbury road, the fishery is very close to there. I'm hoping for good weather, but even if its dirty, the Pike should still feed. Heres to a good session. Rich

I'm looking at saturday 4th march for the second trip to Salterton, although I am off sunday as well, so can be flexible on the date. As Alun J, Dan and Sam C, and Dommy and Dan cant do week days, it has to be a weekend. Views/confirmations please. If anyone who made the first trip and wants a second crack wants to join, please do, as this wil be the last time before close season. Rich

Dommy, keep on with cracks like that, and you wont be coming Piking

Jack was amazed at the price increase in squid recently............the guy behind him in the queue had a small chortle to himself when Jack tolf the shop assistant that his last box cost him 3s 6d, and his prices were extortionate!! Rich

Alan, the great thing about the home made barrel Livewells is that they can be stowed in a garage when not needed, as you wont be using them all season, so no deck space wasted. Check out Adams thread on how to bang one together, they keep a good handfull of joeys lively all day, so long as you dont add bleeding or badly handled fish to the tank. The boat looks fab. Rich

Mikey...............personal problem.....see the Padre. <gg> Rich

Do any of you older members recall that programme on TV called "The fishing Race", where anglers had to catch as many different types of fish in a set period of time? I thought it was ace!!! Although Henry Gilby is a top prenter and angler. Rich