alun j.

Looks like quite a fleet steaming out..... in search of the plaice....... is the fishing there good / reliable ?? or does it have the 'Chesil' factor, where experience seldom matches expectation !! How do you reckon it compares to Poole ?? Could you tell me how far out of Weymouth the Shambles area is ? Is it very exposed ; or in other words could it be a consideration to be able to fish it , out in my little Orkney 4 40 ?? Given a suitable calm spell, I've been out off the Needles and regularly go out to the end of the Ledge ....... but quickly scuttle off if / when it blows up to 4 or 5 , when discomfort outweighs fishing pleasure.!. Roll on Spring, Alun.

Sounds like a true...... sea fisherman at heart ...... salty dog ?? Also prefer shorts, bare feet and the warm sun on my skin !! But DO NOT want to move to Spain / France like the missus seems to !! Blue water = poor fishing ....... I'll stick to our green stuff! Alun.

Hi Adam , Did you stick a thermometer in the river?? Bet it was cold as well as being much clearer than of late . The river water tumbling out of Christchurch harbour was only just above freezing this am., plus remains of snow / ice on margins. You did well to catch anything !! Did the afternoon sun thaw you out; what aspect was your swim facing ?? Could have been pleasant/ sun trap ??.......unlike at sea! Alun.

I've been stocking up with a selection of line [ braid and mono. ] bought through ebay. Be careful..... know a sensible price [incl. p&p.] and you can get what you want at around 1/2 price ! eg. 300 yds. whiplash / fireline...... around

Not at all Spring - like yet !! ..... possibly the coldest day I've been out this winter, due to that windchill..... force 4 N...... 3-4 C feels like -4 C ! Water temp. at its lowest....... 1.4 C at Mudeford 9am.,,,,,,,, out in the bay , just above or below 5 C.... [ this is the 'surface water' ..... about 1/2 m. down where the sensor is] ....... coldest I've recorded all winter Out all day.......escaping the chores ..... tried 4 marks...... with similar lack of success: * Ledge - doggies.....slow but steady........dogged action.....soon bored !! * Barton ...... wind - assisted drifts....... baited spoons/ beads..... 0 ! * Lookout ...... " "" "" "" "" 0 also ! * dropoff .... last hour.... scorpion fish.... interesting tiddlers !! but the sun came out , the wind dropped a bit and everything looked wonderful ; feeling the increasing warmth in that sun ......... washing the boat down at 6 it was still light; spring can't be far away and this cold snap will soon be gone !! Wonder why I didn't see not a single other boat fishing !!! Next week..... must stick to gardening... [ that's why I went out...... ground was frozen !!]. Supplies of frozen whiting fillets rapidly depleting..... will I have to buy fish soon? Alun.