Swainiac

Duncan, the Weymouth boats are still taking bass, in huge numbers, most fish in the 3lb range, largest going almost ten pounds. Last year, the Bass season went right through to feb!!! I'm due out again, next tuseday, and then the flattie comp, of course, and then my final weymouth comp of the year the following monday, so I hope I can post a few catches!!! Rich

Guys, I've been out of fishing comps for a few months with this broken wrist, and as such, havent really been paying attention to whats working, and whats not. Any guidance as to to rigs for the flattie comp?? My 2lb 1oz flounder in the club open was caught on a slow retrieve on a single hook rig, cast into shallow retrieved into deeper water, the rig consisted of a fluero red spoon, in the middle of a bunch of red and yellow fluero beads. Three maddies was the hook bait........................however, I am tempted to use my TS shore rig for flatties, it hasnt fauiled me thus far, and has outfished my normal rigs ten to one!!! Rich

Martin.....size wise, does the 175 sit the same as the 195 on the water? I dont see fishing on Maverick too different to fishing on Blue warrior, except the deck space, and of course the height she sits on the trailer. Integral fuel tanks is a huge bonus, especially with fishing farther afield, what sort of all up weight does one expect from this size boat and trailer......perhaps Tom can advise me on this. With looking for a new house with driveway, it sees im a tad closer to owning my own boat, and would certainly look at a 175. Rich

Excellent thread Martin, following on from the discussion at the last meeting, letters to Ben Bradshaw and Sandra Gidley, (my local MP) penned. Rich

Guys, Ive taken trouble to post a pic of the hamper put together by my goodself, as the sole prize for the forthcoming flounder competition. The Hamper includes three bottles of plonk, namely a white, a gluewien, and an advocaat, chriggy pudd, biscuits for cheese, shortbread, peanuts and fruit, luxury mince pies,cheese savory twists,truffles,olives,tomato and apple chutney, premium tinned ham,a stollen cake, a dundee cake, and milk chocolate brazils, amongst other bits and bobs. Hopefully there is something there that the winner will have a penchant for!!

Bob, a 128 card only gives a few hours record time? can to chop and change record on/off easily........sorry teacher, I wasnt paying attention!!! Rich

Coddy, spot on, I think its free parking oct to march, but always best to check on the board, if its not free parking, I always drive around past the pub, and park up alongside the houses where its free parking all day, and if you are chartering or launching early, then places are abundant. Dommy, I would try to steam around to the mouth of Beaulieu River, and have a bash just off Seagull Island, it is marked on your chart, excellent for late bass, its also a good mark for sole, a fish two ounces under the brittish boat record was taken here this year.....not by me alas!! If that is quiet, steam up along to stone point, just off Lepe Beach, where there is a marker at the end of the gravel bank, and either drift over that, or bounce a small ball weight loaded with a bunch of raggies over the low bank, for bass and flatties. Plaice have been taken on the sandy area just calshot side of that gravel area, so bung the hook down and give that a bash too. Tight Lines Rich

Dommy, welcome to the forum m8, which side of Hurst are they fishing for ther bass?? Is it any good in the deep section off the end?? Rich

So it's not just our web footed friends from across the Channel flaunting the rules!!!

I'd echo Pauls input on UK Hooks.........I've been buying from Mike for over a year now, his prices are excellent, knock spots off veals, and his hook catalogue is superb. Try his redvanadium worm hooks in smaller sizes, they work on a simialr principle to circles, aslo try his semi circle streamers......excellent livebait hooks, great for bass. Rich. I think its www.uk hooks .co.uk

Nice one T.....if you're at the meeting tonight, and well, natter beforehand over an ale, then maybe bring it up iny AOB, at the end, if there's time after the feedback from the open comp. Rich

Terry...is this another product from the makers of Rain-X?? Rich

Fantastic news.........all down to the stalwort efforts of our club committtee, well done troops. Rich

Now that made me chuckle....nice one Martin. <ggg>

Rob, I'd echo Toms advice, but also try and sneak around the back of the Island, in the area of freshwater ridges, plenty of attractive areas to try, just keep an eye on the finder. Dont forget to bung in a few cuttles, a whole cuttle of say, a foot in length will endure the persistent attraction of LSD's and pout, and being large, offer up a good scent trail which is what you want running to get those Cod sniffing around. A string of either baited macky feathers, or medium sized baited Hokkais will also do the trick for whiting, and will also take a cod. The largerst fish I saw boated last winter was one of 30lb, taken on the bottom hook of a string of feathers baited with minute slips of macky, intended for Channel Whiting. It was landed on a carp rod, fixed spool reel, and 12lb mainline. A tip for Hokkais that works for me, is to shine a bright torch on them before you drop them down, as this charges the luminescence, and adds attraction, it also makes the glow last twice as long as sunlight charged lures. Also, dont be afraid to lob out an uptider, a few good Rays are still lurking about, give it a bash. Tight lines.......Rich

Tom, I voted no on this one, purely becuase the committe spent so much time and effort getting sponsors, that to roll "lesser" prizes over to another comp, I feel, would not send the right messages to our generous sponsors. Im sure that if they wanted to sponser a flattie comp, they would. The club open gets a fairly good press coverage, and its this that sways their respective decisions to donate. Also, if a higher standard is set, then some of of own club anglers, who dont get the oppertunity to fish as often as others, may lose out, and I feel that the once a year comp allowing any sizeable fish to be returned to scales, is acceptable. Our general concensus on returning fish is more than acceptable to conservationists, and you only have to look through the club fish recorders book to see what has been landed and returned alive., to see this.Charlie wil be able to give the best and most accurate view on this aspect, as he sees all!! Overall, I was very happy with the amount of fish brought to scales, it showed that all anglers took personal responsibilty for what was actually killed, and this reflects very well, not only on the club, but to non memebers who weighed in. Rich

Shallow water for a half decent Huss PJ......is it the less intense light??

Early start for me....up at five to get tackle loaded into percival, then the drive down to Baiter....early doors saw me in autopilot, and promtly drove to Charlies workplace, and not baiter!!!! A quick turn round , and down to the slip, booked Bob F and I in. To see Veronica and Sally at the helm of the breakkie table was a heartwarming sight, thank you for that, started my day well. Bob and I finally launcehed and headed for a mark not a squillion miles from Swanage, target speicies being Spotteds. A few doggies, pout, then a Spotted for me, although when she curled around the hooklength..my hand was broader!! A change of mark was called for, so we tripped off towards the Betsy, anchored up and tried for a snake or two. We actually found doggies.....theres a surprise! pout, not huge but weighers, and Bob sqeaked out a nice winter Pollack, caught hard on the bottom. We tried a few drifts, Bob giving me some instruction at the helm, thank you for that, and then we decided on a few minutes flattie bashing before weigh in. I took splash out back to Harbour, Bob giving me more instruction on the finer art of trimming the vessel, and we popped the hook down into six feet of water, just off the slip. Fifteen minutes later, we decided to pack up, and I had a final chuck of my gear. A slow retrieve and neptune answered my prayer for the day, a small flattie, which took the ragworm bunch just as I lifted the gear off the bottom. Into the bucket, and back to the slip to recover the craft. Bob Weighed the fish in, and much to my surprise, it nudged the scales a little over two pounds, but with bigger fish reported, I wasnt at all hopefull. So how surprised was I to take second place, and with the cash prize still on the table, thank you very much!!! A great day out, my first day fishing since breaking the wrist, just glad I didnt blank!! Thanks to the committee for the oraganisation, of what appeared a fantastically executed operation. Great to see sponsers at the prize giving, I hope that they get good coverage, for next years prizes <ggg> Well done all. Rich

am, I'd steer clear of a front drag setting.......clumsy to adjust when a big fish is on, stick with either a rear drag, or the new style lever type. Grauvell have a few nice reels on the market now, ask BB about his that he uses with his multi tip rod...its pretty good. I have a cheap Shimano catana I think, 3000 series, its lasted 4 yrs in salt water, I also have a Shimano Baitrunner, which is pretty good....both have a relatively fast retrieve, and didnt break the bank. Rich

This being my first trip out since breaking the wrist, I think I'll worry about catching a "weigher" before I worry about trolling over to the weigh in!!!!! Rich

Dan, Ive a sundridge floatation suit, two piece, in good nick, detachable hood, red and blue,

<GROAAAAAAAAN>

Nice report lads, shame the bully wasnt snagged on sunday......120% specimen Gordon, nice fish. Also good to see a spur coming up, great fun. Do you need crew for sunday Tom......as yet I'm going to be a landlubber for the open!! Rich

I never get nits, but then.......I am as bald as a coot!! Rich

Alun, I had the truck vandalised Friday evening,so had to fix that on sunday....little b*s**ds, but spent the rest of the day wisely, making leads, and colouring ball weights for BB, so all wasnt lost!! Rich