alun j.

Kam, It's the trailer for the lifeboat rib. ......Burnham style...... they use a tractor. Alun.

Hi Paul, I also ventured to Mudeford for stroll about 2.30.......... not even LW but no water out in the bay , just little breaking waves all over the shallow water !! No channel and two of the three yellow bouys were high and dry, the furthest one rolling in the waves. Interesting to see the patches of gravel , where all the sand has been washed away, and shallow lines of banks , where sand has accumulated. The big tides later this week will reveal more at LW ......... I'll pop down after work for a look. The wind chill today would have been very uncomfortable ; bearable when there are prospects of fish....... but at the moment hardly worth the effort. Hope we get the re-schedule for Burnham soon to end the fish-fast! Alun. PS. Have fun with bends and splices using your new rope .

........complete with lugworms.....?? Poole or Christchurch.........anyone really going out... and wants to convert lug into flatties ?? Give me a call [ not too late ] on 481556. Cheers, Alun.

Paul...... I could join you if you can think where we could use some lug to tempt a plaice . Alun.

Hi Adam, Message received ! Thank You......... for organising....... not just all the prep., the contacts, enthusiasm and urging others to join in......... but also for the difficult bit.... the decision - making [ you have an 'old head ' on those young shoulders of yours ]. Very difficult..........I've just seen the local news...... saying light easterly winds; websites give 11 - 15 mph south - easterly........ which, being offshore in Burnham would have led a non-local like me to think a good day could be had ??? I suppose it depends how far out you go ........ does it make much difference; is inshore 'rubbish' there ?? Was it the Burnham guys that postponed?? NOW>>>>>>>> What do I do with the bucketful of nice big lug I dug this afternoon [ missing the rugby !!] ??? No Mike......... I'm not going to cook them up! Simon ............ are you serious ?? Do you want to drown some lugworms ?? Alun. [ just a little disappointed].

Happy Birthday Dean........I'm sure you'll celebrate in style. Hope you recover to enjoy Sunday's trip to Burnham! See you there.......to christen your new reel. Cheers, Alun.

I have a new Abu 7000 [

Brand new ....

All confused temp. - wise ............. but seem to concur on Southerly wind; that should be more comfy ?? ; offshore ?? Hope it doesn't all change over next few days. Alun.

Trev, You're right......... not put a fly over pond trout for many years; but have caught a few in the Test which have varied up ones that scrap as good as browns. Must try some of yours sometime. ?? Alun.

Many thanks to Rich for the invite onto a beautiful stretch of water. It was great to get out in the sunshine and catch a few fish to break the February 'drought'. I was surprised how many we caught in the freezing cold water ........ but it was mostly the Arctic species of trout and grayling. Shame I couldn't track down a perch ......... but hooked into lots of wild trout in trying..... none of those flabby , round-finned , farm rainbows here ... just spotted browns of all sizes ............ I had two that were bigger than the pike James pulled out........ and Rich had an even bigger one. Grayling were fun, fishing float with a 4 - weight fly rod ....... with a few bigger ones amongst the livebait catch. Les ......... you didn't take the pike............ so now I'll have to try one or two of those French recipes for ' brochet ' [ quenelles est possible !]. ; grayling are just like trout. Bon appetit ........ cheers Rich, Alun.

Rich, I'll be there; I found the High Post crossroads on the OS map. Point me to the perch pool. Alun.

Kam, I have a folding dodger on my 4 40..... this is like a collapsable cuddy. Most of the time I have it folded down, then I have an open boat with access all around , for lines out in more directions !!... and easy access to anchor and warp. If the wind gets up or if it's cold [ and you still want to stay out ] , then up comes the dodger for cuddy-like protection [ but it is small..... as are cuddies on 4 40 s]. Anyway, you'll see when you come and have a go. I like the arrangement and will probably opt for same on new, bigger boat. Alun.

Or venture a bit further.......... ' Ship in Distress ' ....... Stanpit [ Chhristchurch ] Super pub / restaurant.......... small, busy, quality. Alun.

Will Burnham have enough 'buddies' ? PBSBAC has grown ! Alun.

Kam, Whenever you like !! Decide how you want to use the trip......... ..... if you want to come out and have a fish....... then wait till things warm up a bit; ..... if you want to have a whizz about and see how she goes single-handed and two up; launch / retrieve etc. ........ then anytime it's not too rough or cold Have a think and I'll probably catch up with you Sat. [ on the river ] ?? Alun.

Kam, How about sometime over Easter [ first two weeks of April , I'm on hols. ] ? Or later if you want to catch a few fish { bream ?}. Alun.

Terry, Boast !!....... moi !! Just enjoy my food......... esp. when most ingredients are caught and / or grown locally. And we are so lucky 'cause there are so many beautiful & tasty fish out there for 10 months of the year Alun.

Welcome Mike, Don't believe Tom and / or Jack ............ there's loads of fish to catch out there, except for Feb .. early March. My freezer and guests dinner plates testify to lots of edible lovelies !! Alun.

Hi Kam, If interested, I can show you all the pros. / cons. of an Orkney 4 40. I've had one from new for the last 4 years...... and she's a joy for single - handed fishing [ all the points you mentioned ]. I'm doing more fishing with others [ this is cramped and slow ] , so I'm going the opposite way to you.......... and looking to go bigger , later this year. Come for a spin out of Mudeford when it warms up a bit and see if it suits. Cheers, Alun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ........ Duncan Enjoy the rest of the day and take the opportunity to extend celebs. through the weekend. Well done on boiler repair ....... don't they always go wrong in the coldest weather? Shame your day is during the worst time of the year [ fish-wise ] ...... unless you can get away ?? Tight lines [ soon ??] Alun.

So desperate for a fish ....... I'd do Sat. & Sun. !! Count me in for whenever we can go. See you Thurs. Alun.

I've not seen any of these !............ ....... too busy fishing, cooking, or reading posts on this site.... ......[ or sometimes working !] .... ....+ ... I don't have the [ Sky ??] channels. Alun.

Hi Paul, Keep an eye on the anodes; I trail mine and am surprised at how fast they get pitted. Perhaps I'm in and out of the water more than yours........... but mine get changed with each year's service [whether I ak or not !]. Alun.

Bob, When Martin does this sort of thing........ .... he manages to correct / unscramble posts ............ .......as soon as they 'bounce back' !! Alun.