Swainiac

What would you recommend changing to, bearing in mind hook strength?

Kam I recently did a job for a guy who is a mobile windscreen fitter. He said he does loads of boats, I have his mobile number in the truck, will ring you later today. Rich

Will, I have just orederred two copies tthe Glasgow Angling Centre fly fishing catalougue, it has the most comprehensive assortment of fly tying gear I have ever seen. The prices look reasonable too. I had Paul J in mind for the second copy, but when it comes, you are more than welcome to peruse, and if you fancy going halves on some gear, I'd be happy to share. A good friend of mine, Ron Wilton, is giving me tying instruction on Bass flies, so hopefully I will be flicking my own lures at fish shortly, trying some out this friday out of weymouth. Rich...... PS Just orderred an 8 weight travel rod.....cant wait to try it out !!

What should I be using peter? Rich

Nice size Ling Kam, shame no plaice drifting the beds?? We had a few flatties last comp on Flamer. Im out with him again this friday, and there is a spare place if any takers?? Rich

Charlie, I was using 15lb class gear, with a biting leader like you showed me, a 6/0 stainless hook, 100lb rolling trace, 50lb rubbing leader to 15lb braid. The runs were quite incredible, even the small pack tope that we landed, which were no more than ten pounds, but very fat! gave searing initial first runs. Bigger more powerfull runs came from bites which seemed more positive, but without seeing the fish, I cant estimate weights. Baits were medium sized mackeral, either fillet, or head section or tail section, again, like you showed me. I cant seem to fathom out how I was missing bites repeatedly. I'd love a chance to give that mark another crack before they go, but judging by the species that are coming from it, I have an inkling that it may produce cod this winter, and be an all round good fish holding mark. If you do have a space on GW for an evening tope run, I'd be happy for some more tuition!! See you thursday. Rich

Bob, good to see another species from the mark, I was chatting to a friend today, and he assures me that the tope stop after the first searing run, like a pike, to turn the bait in its mouth, then start again. At this point, the strike is apparently made to set the hook. Not being a guru on Tope, I cannot comment on this, although food for thought.......I'm still to bag a tope over twenty!!!! Rich. PS. Glad to see youre still married <ggggg>

Will, do u tie ure own bass flies?? Rich

James, with a new moon this coming friday, and biggish tides in the solent, tuesday (lw 1636, hw 2308), or wednesday (lw 1712, hw 2343), look ok for an evening off the boom at sowley. We have high pressure this week, so possibly a good time for stingers? How are you fixed? Rich

Nice one lads. Good to see marks producing assorted fish. Rich

Adam, as requested, please whack me down to crew for James........I need some tuition on these Bass! I'll ask about eels this Friday, how many anglers thus far Adam?? Rich

Well, we took a chance and it did pay off <g>. Met up with Bob F early o clock, at Baiter, had the truck parked, Splash out launched, and Bob's wagon secured by the time Gordon and Adam arrived with the good ship BW. As ever, BW was slipped into the water like a greased weasel, and we motored out of the Bay, heading west. Stopping for mackeral, Bob and I seemed to hit them immediately, although Adam and Gordon seemed to struggle a little, anyhow, we soon took enough bait for the two boats for a days fishing. With 50 ragworm, one of Kams huge cuttle, and a small box of squid, we were prepared for the day. Shame that the weather didnt want to play, as grey clouds loomed amd the wind stiffened, so our intended mark had to be abandonned. A quick re think on plans, Adam and Bob decided on the 20 20 banks, so we settled in for a little action there. Slow on Splash out at first, but a few big hits, both of us getting bitten off........tope.....conger? Adam then came on and stated he had boated a good eel, so perhaps that's what was at work beneath us. A couple of doggies later, I changed tactics after Bob boated a Red Gurnard, so on went worm and squid on the dropper, leaving the 100lb trace and 4/0 circle streamer loaded with rag worm. Seemed to pay off, I had a snatching bite, a little a slow bream, left it then bang, another rattle, so my call on this was another gurnard. Fish on, semi spitirted fight to the surface, and I'd squeaked out a bonus Plaice, just over 3lb! With no tope showing, we decided to nip back inshore, to one of Bob's Ray/Bream marks, although the Ray have historically fed on the ebb, which wasnt for a few hours yet. Bream soon began to come to the boat, nothing huge, but fish all the same. Adam decided that without worm or squid, he and Gordon would try a little lure work, we lobbed them another carrier of mackeral, and they dissapeared for a short while, Bob and I taking bream steadilly. Adam re appeared, saying he and Gordon were calling it a day, Bob deciding on a mark he had in his little black book, courtesy of a training session last club meeting. Not far from our original mark, we could have been in a totally different sea! Manic action to say the least, with Tope on three rods at one stage. Nothing huge, all under 10lbs the ones hooked, but the larger takes, leading to huge runs all resulted in dropped baits. I did mange to hook one beast, but the braid went, possibly on a rock under the boat. My braid caught Bob's line, and he had a massive run on too, resulting in another lost fish, and a small pack tope on his gear. Any suggestions here why the larger fish were finicky? Four more Gurnard for me, three reds and a tub, a weaver, brought my final tally to mackeral, doggies, plaice, bream, red gurnard, tub gurnard, tope and a weever, which I was well chuffed with seeing as fishing was fairly hard going at the start of the session. Plaice of 3lb for the book please Charlie, red G of 1lb 30z. Thanks to Bob for a memorable trip out, even on his wedding anniversary!!! OOOOPS! Thouroughly enjoyable. Tight lines this week lads, Rich

Paul, Poindesters in southampton, Bells Tackle store in Hythe, and Tight Lines In Totton all have posters displayed. I will approach all three for sponsorship, possibly in the form of tackle vouchers, that way they get the sale back. Rich

Are they stopping the stocking of Triploids Trev?

Paul, I have just finished copying some of the mustad type flying collar booms that retail at

Any chance of crewing guys?? Rich

Adam, whack me down as crew. Last comp we fished on the that area, we boated Dab, Plaice, Bass, Pollack, Bream, Weevers!!, Pout, Doggies, Bullies, Gurnard, Ballans, Cuckoos, Rock Cook, Baillions, and Corkwing Wrasse, so all in all it was a good day. I think we had either 18 or 19 species on board. Mackeral were V small joeys, caught just around the bill, off our patch, everyone bagged their ten in minutes, they would have been first class for bassing. I'm sure BB can arrange for Sandeels if I ask him. Rich

Mikey, common practice in 4x4 circles, the front tow hitch aspect. As far as the Range Rover goes, thirsty, expensive on parts, engine unreliable, gearbox unreliable in older models, British.......but apart from that, I love em!! Unfortunately, the japanese and german 4x4s are far better than our everyday wagons. Try and find an MOT failed Jap 4x4, if it doesnt need to go on the road, no probs. Rich

Martin, I've noticed that since coming on to this forum, I have been bombarded with spam mails...maybe just other users that have no security on their comps? Rich

I shall offer my services as crew, if required. Rich

With the boys now safely back home in Ballymena, I am available to crew sunday 24th July. Any offers? Rich

Cracking day James, well done.

Two good fish James, well done m8

Proabably???? Definately!!!! Welcome aboard skyliner......and welcome back to sea angling Rich

Skyliner, the shakespear ugly stick range carries the boast of being the worlds strongest blank. I would echo Bob F's words, as I use three of them, I have a 6-12lb class downtider, a 15lb class braid downtider and a 50lb class roller downtider. All three of these are superb. I dont do much uptiding, but my shimano was very cheap, and is ok for what i needed. Coupled with a couple of half decent multipliers, possibly from Alun J on this forum, he seems to get the cheapies in from planet cheapsville, you will be covering all the fishing ure after. Tight lines......and welcome back !! Rich