alun j.

Hard to believe the wearher forecast........ and the promise of a calm[er] and sunny day ! At the mo. the wind is bashing all the bushes about here and it's still damp and horrid!! I'm always keen to get out........ and glad I don't have to travel as far as some tomorrow! Alun.

Hope the swell isn't too bad for you Martin. Gastronaught will hope to get out about 8. I bet the slipway ticket man will be out with all our boats there. Alun.

Paul, Billy's post says ' under 16' I could put some feelers out at school; bound to be a few takers; but I'm not sure how they'd be able to get to Weymouth mid-week. Alun.

Mike, Simon [ britboard] is keen to bring his Raider 18 down for a trip, so he may have room. Terry.......are you coming with me on Gastronaught ?? ........ now weather is looking OK. Could be 5 or 6 boats ?...........and sunshine..........Gordon, just show us where the cod are! Alun.

Forecasters starting to agree a bit more on light[ish] winds for Sunday.......YIPEE! .......so I'm on for a trip in the Solent...... as there's bound to be a big residual swell running out past the Needles [ it could be 30 + mph Sat. eve.] How about meeting up about 8 am. at Lymington slip ? Alun.

And Simon [aka Britboard] is keen to bring his Raider 18 as well. Fingers crossed for that calmer weather..........and it should be sunny! Alun.

Lots of groundbait available then.......... I'll bring my Berley Bomb ! ........unless you've cooked it all up and re-frozen the meals! ..memo to shopping list : buy an adaptor/ socket extension for d.i.y. power tools. Will we see you Sunday, Gordon ??........ You are the Lepe Cod Man to follow !! Alun.

Sorry Paul, I meant sort out tomorrow or Sat .... for Sunday. Sunday is likely to be the only bearable day for wind/waves. Alun.

Can we put a little 'fleet' together tomorrow or Sat.? Could be 3 or 4 club boats ? Looks like the weather won't be too bad; not ideal, but good enough to try Lepe or nearer to Lymo. Neap tide, with midday low........but big leads still needed up there. Alun.

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.