alun j.

Ho, ho ho........ forecasters confused as usual! Snow or rain for us tomorrow???.......I'll go with rain. Looking at their view of Sat.........BBC gives westerly wind; Metcheck goes for easterly; Winguru goes for southerly.......but swings their direction arrows all ways over the weekend. If it turns out to be anywhere between south and east, I'll probably go from Lymington and tuck in the shelter of the Island to see if any more of those Feb. bass are about. Would anyone like to join me? Alun.

Hi Charlie, Any special plans for May 1st.? Alun.

Interested.......... .....but working!!........ .....sick !!....... ......again!....... ......another trip I can't do!! ......and us teachers are supposed to have all the hols.!! .....not so good if you can't use them. Alun.

Happy Birthday Paul, Travelling and away from home.......not the best way to spend your birthday. In my reckoning it will be several years until you day falls on a weekend again and you get half an excuse to go fishing. Enjoy the Belgian beer if you can .....and catch up soon. Cheers, Alun.

Cheers Dom, Hope you are fully recovered now. Don't put your gear away just yet.....if the water stays this temp [ above 8 C], the fish are still feeding inshore..... the bass I had Sat. had well digested fish in it's stomach. It looks like flounders are still about...... so I'll be out and about for a few weeks . Alun

Gorgeous morning, with only a gently fluttering flag on the RNLI building in Lymington when we left just before 8. The big flooding tide made the trip down the Solent a bit bumpy, the swirling waters throwing up lumps on the surface but nothing to those at the Bridge, where it was pretty hairy for a few secs., requiring some controlled surfing in my little boat [ 'I wasn't scared......really'! said Gordon, unconvincingly....... but he was loooking backwards]. Rounding the Noodles and it was straight into an Easterly blast; wind over tide; I didn't fancy another 2 miles into that, so kept in close to the cliffs and motored up almost to Freshwater, then came back out to the deeper water. It wasn't too bad; fishable with about 1 lb. of lead. Dogfish action from the 'Off', but nothing else. The wind [ I thought it was going to be a nice calm day!!] got upand turned a bit more into the East.....and when swells start hitting the side, I think it's time to move [ no disagreement from the crew]. Being close to HW, we cut through the gap between the Needles and avoided the Bridge and int near perfect calm.......... it wasn't, the wind was coming down the Solent as well, but the contrast made it seem so. Up in Totland bay , we anchored on a drop - off and were soon catching. Between the doggies, we had a couple of 2 lb. pollock, a bass just under 3 lb. and a variety of different size pout that got Gordon all-competitive, until he almost fell asleep in the sunshine! A pleasant end to a very mixed day.......and the fish in the cool box was a bit of a result; I don't think I've ever had a table-sized bass in Feb. before. I hope Gordon enjoyed the pollock, we had ours with a lemony herb crust on the fillets. Alun.

Simon, Ask Terry........he has a repaired reel to try out .......... and a cod to catch! Alun. [confined to Sat.]

Adam......I feel for you!! What has happened to honour amongst gentlemen?? I would have thought that a deposit secures against gazzumping. Could you save up a bit longer.........and go for new?? That new one I saw Christmas time in Lymington.....with a gleaming new Honda 150 on the back..... looked just your ticket. You'll get there soon!, Enjoy the weekend's fishing, Alun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Martin......hope you have a good day! I expect there'll be a few lined up for you this evening in the meeting. Few of us get as special a present as yours this year....... you'll just need to find the time to enjoy using it. Cheers........and don't work too hard today, Alun.

Who's coming with me on Sat.?, PJ or Gordon H.? Martin, are fishing Poole grounds or joining us S. of the Needles?; looks like being a nice calm day to open the throttle on AWOL! After all the rough weather days, I expect everyone might be out this w.end and could easily be 40 + boats in field of view...... but how many codfish ??? Alun.

I'm going from Lymington on Sat. and the forecast is looking increasingly sunny and calm. Anyone like to join me on Gastronaught? Gordon H. ? [ Codmeister ]....... ..........or is that only on Fugazi? Alun.

As soon as you start to firm up a few ideas............ something comes along and attenuates the plans !! So, for me , Sunday's off but Saturday is on ! Anyone wanting to join me at Lymington ??........ or a morning trip for flounder [Poole or Christchurch]?? Sat. beginning to look sunnier and less windy than a few hours ago....... aren't these forecasters fickle?? See you at Thurs.' meeting, Alun.

Sunday looks the calmer day and a slightly smaller tide. Mark, if you're looking for crew, I'll join you or buddy boat. See you Thurs? Alun.

I'm up for a trip on one day or the other [ not sure which fits better domestically yet !!]. There's quite a big tide and LW at that time means getting back into Mudeford is no prop..osal! I might be thinking of another floundering session on one of the mornings but the prospect of a nice calm day for a last cod session is also attractive. I might be guided by how easy it is to dig bait! With the meeting on Thurs., perhaps we can arrange then? Count me in for something, Alun.

You're such a tease Adam........... ........ come on....... let's have the score..... .....and the reason you missed a good day on the water yesterday! Keen and curious, Alun.

Paul , you should find two piccies of Dom's fine, first cod. One half of which was much appreciated by me and my dinner guests last night. Menu.....: Starter:- spicy tomato confit with squid on rocket salad with homemade bread. Main :- grilled cod fillet with butter seared skin served on stir fried egg noodles with sweet red chillies [ very mild] Dessert:- tarte au citron. Alun.

I don't seem to be skilled enough yet in posting piccies...... .... and my catch report has also just vanished !! .but I'll keep trying!! Well done Dom on the rewards of your perseverence; an excellent way to top your Brother and start your cod file. Thanks for the fish........ that went down a treat with guests........ some big improvement on the alternative menu!! I'll try again to post the pic. Alun

Sympathies Paul........ I , too, have been suffering; a sore throat became a sinus cold on Sun and a 'streamer' by Mon with a horrid chesty cough that kept me off work until today ............ which was a bit of a shock [ you think / feel you are better.....but the batteries run down fast !] If you do feel better, a day out in the cool , fresh sea air might help !! ......well it could take your mind off feeling unwell.........and nasal drips off the computer keyboard !! Hope you feel better soon, Alun.

Would anyone like to join me on Gastronaught on Saturday ? Or I'm available to crew ........ Lymington or Mudeford ........northerly wind should give some shelter inshore. Anyone know if there are any whiting about?? Alun.

No .......... and no chance! Anyway, I want to go fishing and not be snowed in. Geraniums still in flower in Christchurch and daffs about to open ! Alun. [ not a snow - lover!!].

Anyone interested ?? I'm up for a trip out.......... could even be poss. to get out past the Needles ?? Available to crew or be crewed.......... I still have a box of squid and some mackeral left in the freezer. Alun.

careful reg...........Gordon has a BMW !

Of course Paul ! ........ and tow , only when required [ hopefully never!]. Back to your previous Honda.......... you don't know how it was treated before coming into your careful ownership .......running in / lack of service / dirty fuel / overheating due to water intake obstruction / bumps etc. etc. As you say........we're all interested in the longer term..... so we'll see .......and you might be asking me for a tow home !! Alun.

Paul has 40 Etec horses to my Yam 30. ....... but I'm interested in how they fare over the many years of service. My previous Yam 15 perfomed faultlessly for the 4 + years I had it [ and hope it still does for Dave ] ........ and I'm well impressed so far with this one............and it's quieter than Paul's Etec ! Alun.

......... and let's see what they are like in 3, 5 or 10 years time. Alun.