alun j.

I've finished my school reports, so I'm back looking at weather websites........ ..........and the 'Sunday window' seems to be wobbling! Guru are still sticking to light[ish] winds but more in the West. Metcheck keep changing their mind but going for stronger SW. BBC somewhere in between. Looks like Lymo is the only sensible place to try and up the Solent. We could have a little fleet of club boats keen to get out and thaw a few squid Alun.

I use an old chair leg ! Easy to hold, not to lose, gel coat friendly......and it floats! Alun.

Whiplash Pro....... ......one of the better ones ..........I think; nice and thin..... and not too soft. Alun.

Sunday??? That 'weather window' is tantalizingly opened and closed, moved on to Mon. and brought back to Sun. This morning [early] .....gone!; now.........looking good again!! I'm up for Sunday......... willing to crew for someone else keen to get out [small tides] or to take someone with me or go on my own. Most likely.........trip out of Lymington......or Mudeford if the swells are not too bad. Alun

This model also shows a 'weather window' possible for Sunday........ ...............fingers crossed for getting out!! But will it change by Fri.? Alun.

Hey Ho !!! Metcheck and Windguru are back on for a 'calm' Sunday ! Why am I getting excited again ?? I must stop this and wait till Fri. [ ..... and get my school reports finished first!]. Alun.

Ho Ho !!!! It's changed already !!! At this rate, it could change to forecast gale by the w.end! I'll leave it to Fri. to plan where / when..........IF ?? Alun.

Weather window ??? Anyone else looking at Guru or Metcheck........ will see a possible lull in the wind . After the blow continues all week, the strong wind on Sat. might fall and turn to the NW. [light] !! for Sun. Could this make a proper trip possible or will the swell still be big?? Small tide should reduce worries in the Run. BUT.....it's only Mon.; I expect by Weds. or Thurs. the forecast will look quite different. No firm plans yet. Alun.

Well done Adam.......for trying! I was looking longingly / enviously at early o' clock ...... thinking Sat. was 'The Day' of the weekend, with v. light winds forecast, and I was confined to barracks with family event and all relatives present. When it's calm, the rain's not so bad........... lots of rain but it seemed calm, even when we went out to lunch....... obviously not [at sea!!]. Looks like I had the best of the weekend; despite the wind today, we stayed dry and saw a few glimpses of sunshine. Looks pretty terrible for the rest of Jan.; I'd better put my flatties in Charlie's book or there'll be even less for Jan. reports! Fancy a flattie bash?? Alun.

Despite the awful forecast, I needed to get out today [for peace and quiet ] after being 'blasted' by sound at my daughter's 18th. birthday party bash last night [and into the early hours!] Fellow member Rich was keen to join me and started by describing the rough conditions over where he lives in Hamworthy......... so where to go with force 6 due to increase to 7 + ?? It seemed a long way for me to trail around to Wareham and come down to the top of the harbour, so decided to give Christchurch Harbour a go; no expectations from me [ esp. with all the brown river water coming down] and I'd never had much joy there with all the traffic, weed in the water and pesky crabs; but we were both up for the fresh air [and at least it wasn't cold!] A short chug around to do a depth sounding found us a fair spot near the bottom of the harbour just off the channel. First problem was the violent swinging with the strong wind and flooding tide........ soon sorted by anchoring the stern as well as up front. Dodger up now we were comfy. Next problem , crabs; floatfished baits slowed their ravagings but no fish so we watched the dinghy sailors getting wet or creaming along. Then, at the top of the tide..... a spell of action; both on float and on the bottom. Three fat flounders to me using my huge , fat, spawny Poole ragworms but none to Rich using tackle shop farmed things!! Big black clouds gathering, wind freshening further , so we called it a day at 2 and got back before the rain [ we even saw some watery sunshine!] . Back home, best flounder was exactly 2 lb. with the other two just a bit less........ I call that a result on a rough old day !!...... and a few good meals this week!! Thanks Rich for the company and steadying hand. Alun.

Gordon......... ........HAPPY BIRTHDAY........!!! Hope you're having a good day [ fishing ???..... how was yesterday? (no report?)]. I've just come in after being out in the wind and waves. Lots of cheers, Alun.

Hi Gordon, Would love to come along......but it's my daughter's 18th, with big party and extended family get-together. By Sunday, I'll need some 'fresh air'. so am planning a trip out then. My antennae are pointing to continued windy conditions...... so Solent may be the best cod venue. I've just dug some 'snakes', so might put them to use in pursuit of roe-fat flats, tbc on thurs , at the meeting. Good luck in the Solent on Sat. Alun.

.........but it would make trips to the Ripps a possibilty...... now that you have a taste and skill for catching COD !! Lots to think on Paul !! ........ and, as we see here, it launches from Wick. Alun.

....and would you be able to get out as easily/often as you can now? A.

Pesky rodents....... I once lost most of a prize-winning bag of coarse fish whilst fishing a C.A.C. Christmas Match on the Stour because some mice had nibbled through my keepnet. At least they didn't get home........ they jumped out of my box when I opened it on the river bank; they'd moved on to the groundbait in the box. I hope they made a fat Christmas dinner for a riverside predator! Watch out if you keep stored winter veg. in outside stores....... rats have a taste for raw potatoes and they act as an antidote to rat poison. Alun.

Or I have a little Handheld Magellen GPS [ gives m.p.h. rather than kts. ] The second part answers my query in the PM. !! Good Luck Adam. Alun.

Paul, It was 'lumpy' in that area.........but did change a lot at different times through the day. It was worst Mid-morning, when the SW wind had freshend and blew straight up the Solent. When it went around a bit to the S, it smoothed off a bit. As we didn't have much incentive to rush back, we stayed on till 4 and had a much softer ride back at about 13 kts. rather than the 5 or 6 I was expecting to have to cut down to. A few other [non-comp] boats returning at same time; one did OK at Alum bay, a 20 lb. + cod and a reasonable bass. Alun.

Gastronaught and crew knew what to do in the conditions and turned left out of Lymington at the outset. Unfortunately we couldn't contact the , widely spaced fish despite a selection of cod-proven baits. All I could tempt were pout ofd various size ......... and had to laugh seeing a 6" fish hooked fairly on a 6/0 hook, where even the remains of squid was bigger! Gordon managed 1 doggie [almost ..... saved unhooking!] and quite a bit of shouting as the two fish caught were from boats in 'spitting distance' from us. Again, again......I am impressed with Gordon's crewwing skills. Given the slightest problem, this man has it sorted!! Useful suggestions, practical solutions, fearless at hanging over the backend to sort tangles! I must get him a new wooly hat! but am wary of some superstition with hats?? Despite lack of success, I enjoyed my day out [ and the good company] and looks unlikely to get another before back to work, looking at the forecasts. I'll console myself by saying 'I've got plenty of tackle', some will say 'too much'! Happy New Year to all members, Alun.

Sorted.......... Gordon Moore is out with me on Gastronaught. We're going to try a different tack! Alun.

Last minute call............ crew needed, or willing to crew. My partner has had to pull out sick for tomorrow...... must have been that cold , bumpy ride I gave him today. In the absence of any offer this evening, I'll fish on my own tomorrow from Lymington and duck out of the comp. My home number is 481556. Alun.

Happy Birthday Paul, Hope you had an enjoyable , and more productive day, than we did. Good luck for tomorrow...... hoping to repeat last year's success?? Cheers, Alun.

I was expecting a good day today...... with calm sea and flooding morning tide. No sign of whiting when we arrived just before LW........ an eerie calm of grey cloud, grey water and no movement......... at least that suited my dodgy tummy, recovering from some excesses.....baits out and 20 winks! AS soon as the tide started, so did the invasion of Doggies. Now Simon likes the odd huss or two, but he soon started to tire of the bait-robbing 'wet sacks'. I switched one rod over to mackeral chunks rolled around in the tide and upped the size of squid baits on the other ........... but only with limited success; a few small whiting in between the dogs and one decent take on the big squid;this felt like one of those big eels over there rather than the hoped-for cod......but I never saw it as it slipped the hook half way in. The whiting became a bit more abundent but mostly small ones; only two 'keepers', the better one going 2 lbs. 8. Having been acclimatised to the tropical warmth of Florida for a couple of weeks, Simon was starting to look a bit blue as the wind freshened [ also not used to open boat].........so we pulled in early , as the tide eased......but not the succession of dogs. Hoping for a better show tomorrow...... good luck to others going out, we might see a few of you at Lymington. Cheers, Alun.

Rob, It could be about the best time for flounders in the harbour; you'll need lots of worms. Float fishing can help avoid the worst of the crabs. Best of luck , Alun.

Well done Dan !! Few others get a double bag on their first trip. Hoping to emulate your success on my trip tomorrow and/or Thurs. Merry Christmas, Alun.

Hi Gordon, I'm hoping to get out of Lymington soon after 7.30 I think the early bit of the day could be the best part..... and the calmest! See you there, Alun.