Rob

Pics Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

So, last few days I've been in the Wye valley. Staying at Symmonds Yat, I had taken a good friend away for his 40th. A surprise, all he new a week ago was he needed Barbel gear. Suffice to say, he was certain we were heading to the Seven. Until we turned left after crossing it near Gloucester. We had a B&B on the river, it was ok, nothing special but was a pub, so could be worse! First day was arriving and sussing out the surroundings, going to the local tackle shop and booking some beats for the next 2 days. We had a fish from 21:00 till 22:00 on the first night (Thursday) but not much more than my rod being pulled from the rest and the fish evading me! With the low water we were advised the fishing was hard, but this only dulled our excitement a little, after all, we had an adventure on our hands! After a relaxed start friday we headed to the mile of river we shared with another couple of guys for the day. Packing up to go for a pub lunch (we knew evening would be best) my rod doubled over with my PB 8:15 barbel, beauty! After lunch we moved swim, (not knowing the river / how it fished / where was best) we struggled through the hot afternoon. I had a couple more barble and lost a chub. Nothing for nick who was still staying positive. I persuaded him we should move swims for the last hour, so we went back to where will had my earlier fish. I nearly instantly had a perfect Chub or 4:12 and then another within minutes. Poor old Nick. The it was his turn, he had a super take and a barbel was shortly followed by another. Great, he had deserved a flourish at the end. Day 2 (Sat), we had chosen another stretch of river. Stunning setting again, this time the gorge of Symmonds Yat. But what does Saturday mean, more yakkers, swimmers, boaters, lilo ers, SUP-ers and the odd person floating past on an inflatable slice of pizza! All this traffic was entertaining and the only way we could get info on the football score!! Roles were reversed today. Having found a good looking spot, to be honest, it all looked good. We chose a run where it was a pain to get to, I had a rope and we lowered ourselves down holding it. Prominent seats setup in the river meant the various floaters could see ups early and avoid our lines. Worked a treat! Nick fluffs his first cast, how we laughed, it went only a couple of meters, bang, fish on! And it started like that, he caught 5 barble and I couldn't buy a bite. He had a few eels in there too (haha!). So, I went off and got dinner (steaks, disposal BBQ and some ice-cream beers, coffee, and other essentials), apparently I missed nothing, result. My time had come, I got back once the sun was off the water with 4 barble in quick succession! The it was his turn to struggle, yes I was loving it! We ended the 2 days with 9 barbel each, he did get the biggest at 9:8 but I was the chub king. Average stamp was 6/7lb seriously great fishing, can't imagine what it would be like in 'good' conditions! Might not be boating, so apologies! Tight lines Rob Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yeah, chuck em in a hedge Jim, don't be throwing cake money away! R

The club gives reassurance on this front, and so does buddy boating, but if you go out alone when others might not be about it can make sense. I have helped/been aboard other's craft and towed a few club boats! R

JV has gone down from 10 to 7.5kg, she is a big 9.5mtrs. R

Indeed Martin, but length needs to consider thickness, thus weight. 30ft of 8mm is very different to 30ft of 12mm. R

I dissagree on the length of chain thing Tony, i feel it is more about the weight of the chain. 20ft of 8mm weighs c.8.4kg and 20ft of 12mm is c.20.4kg. So i think balance the weight of chain to anchor is needed, so 5kg anchor with 7.5kg chain is spot on for lifting with alderney ring. R

Superb sport mate. They might not be as prestigious as a porgie, but they don't half go on 20lb class gear and 30lb braid! I did break out the porgie rod with just livvy onboard, as I wanted the upper-hand from the off. R

Retreived and full wash down ready for return home tomorrow. Shame to go, but sure I'll be back later this year when the blues are back in good numbers. R

Quiet day today, wind picked up so crabbing with with kids. Be rude not.to choose a buoy that offered the opportunity to flick lures for bass!! So 3 species on my list now, flying up the species comp leaderboard!! Thornback Blue Bass Rob

Yes, the shots are from her videoing! She was just as chuffed having a few run-ins with dolphins! We also found this floating on our wayout. prob gone 30lb+ as the head must have been 15/20! Enormous mouth Seemed the stomach had enough air in it to keep it afloat. R

Today Charlie. Prob 70lb to be conservative, they are easy to over estimate as are so lean. Wasn’t brining it onboard as usual for a measure with only Livvy to assist. We had seen a small one prob 30lb, which we waited for but this one just hung around the stern and the smaller of the two vanished. So I took the honours, Livvy could hardly hold the rod up! I even hand fed it the trace, it was 3 ft off the rubby sack, I lowered the bait, we both saw it eat it. I pulled the trace and set the hook just on the edge of the jaws, perfect. After a few runs, I got her head the side of the boat to release. No more seen so we came in at 5:30, having only gone out at 1:00. Shame for her but better we had one than none. R

Andy had said that mackerel and blues were few and far between. Blues were seen well offshore (more than the 10/12 I like to take 15ft JoJo. But hey, you have to be in it to win it!

So popped out for a couple of hours with the kids as company. Quick call to Charlie Chapman's charter skipper friend and he put is on to a location. "You will be plagued with rays, dogfish and bullhuss" perfect I thought,just what the kids want. 5 mins in and thornie, 5 mins another happy days. As I am typing this we have missed another. Just what they needed to keep interest! Thanks Charlie. Rob

No chance!

Taken JoJo away on our early summer family holiday as usual. Change if scenery this year (9 yrs in Dartmouth), we have tried Mylor near Falmouth. This is the spot I have launched for autumn sharking several times, what better place to stay than in the marina! Not my idea, Jo's! Didn't hear me arguing! Nice to see the JoJo from the property! She has not been out since October and that was down here. Yesterday the 4 of us headed out late evening to St Anthony Light house on the entrance to Falmouth and St Mawes for a cruise. Charlotte then piloted us back in, all the way until the final docking. Hopefully some catch reports will be forth coming! R

Take the 2 online surveys here. After careful consideration I went for 5km exclusion for all zones. 5m for minimum depth of net from surface. And mage all options for netting. Make your own decisions: http://www.sussex-ifca.gov.uk/live-consultations R

Enjoy Trev!

Enjoy!

I thought the same tbh when I saw the pic. Big silver that!! R

13lb, by Adam, tiny really having seen 50lb + monsters caught this year along Sussex way. R

I have tried to call you at home and mobile but mobile is an old number. I have the gap tester I will pm you my number. R

Can you not get your hands on this engine if a runner? I have a spark jump tester if it runs at all - you can open the gap to see if the spark will jump across when running - a healthy spark should clear 10mm - you can then check they are are the same. Borrow if you wish and i can find it (sure i will be able). My Yam has a wax stat choke \ prime start - on carbs 1 and 3 - (4 it total) - but lasts for longer that 20 seconds - more like a few minutes. R

Are the plugs firing in the correct order? Have you got 2 back to front? R

Good luck Hooky! Do you think that 4hp is going to be enough? My thought would be you would be lucky to push against a reasonable tide with 4hp on a 20 ft boat. Does anyone have any stats on what speed they get off their auxiliary? Rob