Swainiac

Dave, Ive justb completed my VHF ticket, and found the course very straightforward. But I am in the minority of people who have used radios all their lives in the Armed Forces, and latterly, the Police Service. In any given situation on the radio, the basics of ABC need to be adhered to.....A - Acuracy, B - Brevity, and C - Clarity. As soon as the operator has made several calls, even passing local info to the CG, he or she is comfortable with speaking to them on a casual basis, then the Pan Pan, or Mayday calls, if and when needed, are not too far outside of comfort zones. Your idea of a laminate card is an excellent one, you may even like to leave a section blank, so when finally at the mark, u can post the LAT/LONG in the gap with a chinagraph pencil, it will save time for the initial response, and you can read this info direct to the emergency service. This should form part of the immediate action drill, and may prove to save a life. On a happier note....I believe I passed my ticket!!!! Regards, Rich

James......squeezed in a trip today with Adam, on the good ship BW. early start gave us prime spot of the Needles............in the Wake of a bloody trawler. Apart from Dog after Dog after Dog.....we decided to nip back towards a fave spot of yours and Adams......and cracked off a few whiting, ranging from 1/2lb to a better 2lb..........1lb15oz if you get Adams weighing!!!!!! <My fish see!> A few Pout, no cod bites, no cod hooked......no cod seen!!!!! I'm out again on a charter, tuesday, so I expect there will one or two nodders on the boat....will let you know. Rich

Bob, having honorably accepted the task of giving a small presentation of terminal tackle, <oooer missus>, I've a few assorted rigs that some may find usefull during your speil. did you want a few suggestions on here, beforehand?? Rich

Paul...................you're a mate! Rich

Hiya Little BB..welcome..........did the lads tell you that you can only join in if you give us all Dads numbers for his marks??? Thats the rules!!!! Tight lines nipper....oh....and keep stuffing him in the comps! Rich

Guys, Dave Mayne and I sneaked out earlier in the week, in search of Old Noddy, alas, we didnt sneak one. We did however connect with a few channels, squillions of good sized pout, Doggies, and a 16 1/2lb Blonde. The Ray took my pennel rigged Macky fillet, in full tide, and after about ten minutes of coaxing, I managed to sneak it about halfway up, although it was kiting well, making full use of the tide. Skipper Dave......not wishing to be outfished, decided as it's his boat, he was the one to catch the biggest fish!! (Skippers perogative and all that!!) He DELIBERATELY cast over my line, causing rub on the taught braid, and unfortunately, the line parted, the fish sinking back to the depths...or did it? Dave immediately retorted......"Oh...I've got a bite!!" he duely hauled in a nice looking Blonde Ray, which was expecrtly netted by my good self....and boated. On checking......mmmmmmm you've guessed it! MY pennel and leader!!! The line wrapped itself round Daves second rod, and he boated the fish!!! No, in all honesty, well done mate for sneaking the biggy!!!! Charlie, a fish in the book for Mr Mayne......diddley squat for moi!!!! Big thanks for help later in the day Charlie, handshakes all round, thank you. Rich............PS The Ray tasted excellent Dave \/ !!!!!!! Cheers for an eventfull trip out......heres to a few more!!!!

In short.................NO, not yet!!!!! Will try and bang a few out Sunday and Tuesday!!!!! Rich

Dave.............absolutely no excuses mate!!!! You have to be dangling to catch while angling!!!! Rich

Martin.....Adam has asked me to crew on sunday, and after his first cod of the season, I suggest that the weather window Sat/Sun is anexcellent chance. Sorry I cant crew, but I'm sure one of the other regs will dive at a chance. See you this evening..... Rich

Guys............how sick am I that I chose this weekend to fly the nippers over???? Weather looks as though it will be kind too. Hey ho.....if things dont change...they'll stay the same.......good luck all, no I'm not jolly jeal. at all!!!!! Rich

Alan....Dave Maine has been in touch with me..he wants to go out on Monday.....I'll see if I can persuade him to come out tuesday........Watch this space, Rich

Alan.....since posting, I beleive Adam has kinda arranged Tuesday.......be there or be square, give him a bell mate Rich

Hiya guys.........throwing my hat into the ring as available to crew anytime this coming week.............phone numbers as posted on members boards, or e-mail rich.swain@tiscali.co.uk Regards..........Rich

Billy...is your moby back on yet mate?? Ive got a demi-john of wild plum gin...will bring you some over...its ready this winter..six years old now, and a bottle of six year old sloe gin....well tasty. As for the 6th, I have left the date s open so if we can fish, I'm up for it ok???? Rich

welcome back Mikey.......<psssssssssssst..guys.....he's back in that corner, white coats on, straight jacket at the ready...I'll launch the net..u grab and sedate him!> Glad you're back safe and sound chap Rich

Alun, its interesting to note the difference in catch, possibly from the same shoal. Another point of interest is the fact that far fewer sun spots have been seen this late summer, indicating that we are in for a harder than usual winter.......appaerntly. If the fish in the channel know this, we are in for a few months of feeding frenzy before the cold snap arrives. I know from the hedgrows over this way, that there is a very good crop of berry this season, another indicator of harder weather to come???? Rich

So, in essence Charlie, anything that carries a club record counts in species competitions...anything else doesnt?? I must ad,it, in the YYS things were going from the sublime to the ridiculous with some of the mini species boated........I wasnt complaining bagging 12 species one day!! Rich

Alun...top tip.....leave the leaves till the storm force winds have blown em into next week......leaves clear, wind calm, get the boat out!!!!

Alun, if you are coming over this way next week, I have my children visiting from Ireland, and will be fishing down at Lepe on Thursday. I usually fish by the river outlet, near to the old Look out Cottage...drop by. If you want to dig, the rag are still only a spit down at Lepe, dig right on the waters edge in front of the cafe down there.....very easy digging. The deep water channel by the castle is ok....but be prepared to be shifted by the tankes etc....they run very close to that edge. Inside behind the castle is good for flatties also. I'll pillock my uncle for some more gen on the solent..he has a head full of marks.... Rich

Charlie..I'm unable to fish this comp, sunday next, I am taking the boys back to the airport. Appologies.... Rich

Alun, Calshot is fine for launching/recovery, we used to slip the dingy there, when I was a nipper. The fishing in the vicinity of the beach area is pretty empty. If you launch at Lymington, steam across the Solent, and try the water in the area of Hampstead ledge, you will find a good mixed bag there. During evenings in Sumer, that is an excellent Stinger area. Try a livebait miniature Bream!! If you launch at Calshot and steam up the Solent towards Lepe, and fish over the gravel bar on Stone Point, you can snag some good Bass, also try the entance to Beaulieu River, outside Seagull Island. The Bass here go into double figures, and this is also a good Sole mark. The private beach between Calshot and Lepe has thrown me an occasional Thornback...only up to 7lbs, plenty of flounder and occasional Plaice......lots of schoolies, stuff like that. Have you considered launching at Gypsy Lane, near Lepe?? Its right near the mouth of Beaulieu River, giving great access to the western solent, West Wight. Launching farther up southampton Water, Marchwood end, is only neccessary if you want to fish the cahnnel area. Great flatties are caught from all along that foreshore, best fish coming from the Marchwood sailing club area, and fish close in. Whiting are showing here too...only pin size though. Although not a Guru on the area, I have contacts who fish it weekly, sometimes twice a week, so I always hear how its doing.......and at present....Pants sums it up!!! Hope this helps...Rich

Bob...who are the suppliers??? Rich

Billy, glad u got em...good arent they?? Debs has just given me a pack of beads she grabbed at Fabric Land, 2mm fleuro's in yellow, green, pink, and orange....1000 were

Guys, whilst fishing with pete jnr last weekend, I was telling him about a product invented by a firm on my old patch, when still in the force. The compamy are KL-Chemie, based in Apmfielf near Romsey, the product is a paint on anti slip, dispensed from a silicone type tube with gun. You whack down masking...simply bead out the product, level to masked area, then apply heat with a paint stripping type gun. It has been picked up by railways all over the world, and also Navy's across the globe are trialling it. I visited the place to get product leaflets for pete, yesterday, and they stated that it should be good for fibreglass......however, it works best applied to base, not onto paint, or I would imagine, gelcoat. Still, at

Bill..............posted in last collection thursday..so you may get them today or tomorrow mate, I'm making up more rigs similar to the ones you gave me.......where did you source those red worm hooks with the turned out eye, and what sizes were they?? Also..I've got a few decent beads...but boy..are they pricey?? Can we source a better supply than Fladens pack of five flueros at bloody