Bob F

If the restore to an earlier version doesn't work as Coddy suggests [goto Start - Help and Support - Pick a Task - Undo changes with System Restore], drop us another post and I will dig out the key sequence for a factory reset. This reolads Windows XP from your disk, along with the drivers. It's only available on some computer makes, though, like Dell. BF

Keep at it Coddy, cus when you catch that bass we're gunna rename you Shirley...Shirley Bassey. BF

No wonder Adam and Gordon were about to throw the towel in. Must have been very frustrating watching from 100yds. Well done Trev and Aquafresh. BF

Another great report, Fred, and a fantastic result. I bet that's got Tom's appetite whetted. Well done those men!! BF

I was in mixed minds about taking mine home, but we had bass steaks on the BBQ this evening and the whole family were stunned by the quality of the fish. Cooked simply with a dash of good olive oil, it was gorgeous. One fish fed 5 people with some to spare. Top draw!! BF

Went out from Wick with Legless (Jason) yesterday afternoon. The tide was up, so managed to launch quite easily with Jas in the boat. Shot out to the bass mark and had no trouble picking up mackerel. The shoals were showing up well on the fish finder. Saw plenty on the surface too. Met Paul and Mark on Neo at the bass mark and started our first drifts. It was my first time with the float rig, so a bit apprehensive about getting the set up right and fishing it correctly. Jas started with a weighted portland rig but soon lost the whole lot in the bottom and so switched over to a float. The fishing was very slow, but there was plenty of fish showing on the sounder. After 90 mins, Mark was the only one to have caught a bass around the 3-4 pound mark. I had just let the float out on a new drift and decided to put the rod down and put my feet up. I turned to Jas and said "of course a good skipper would put you on a bass, but you'll have to put up with me today." Then, wham! The large float shoots under and the rod's bent over in the holder! A fantastic fight ensued, I'd never had so many strong runs from a fish before. This was marvellous stuff. The rod and reel handled the situation beautifully, to the extent that I never thought I was gunna loose this one. Jas did a great job with the net, and my PB bass was in the boat. RESULT!!! I was so excited I forgot to give Jas a kiss!! In the boat the fish weighted ~9lb, but back at home it weighted 8.75lb (yes, unfortunately, this one did get taken home ) Mark, Paul and I all caught another bass, but that was all for the day. Jason didn't want to peak too early in his new small-boat-fishing adventures, so he's waiting for next time for his first bass. Then shot back to the Ledge to meet Gordon and Dom on Enticer with the idea of anchoring up for a few hours conger fishing. Was gutted to come along side Enticer only to be shown a big bass which Gordon had just pick up on his Conger bait!! Jammy Sod! Anyway, stuck the pick in, and as night fell the first conger bites started. I was soon into a beast and Jas hit into one at the same time. A double header on the first drop! We ended up with 4 conger in the two hours before slack water, sizes were 30lb and 20lb to me, and 25lb and 10lb to Jason. A pretty good session all in all. It's great when a plan comes together and you catch the target species. By the way, Legless was a great crew. Eager to learn, but quite capable at the same time. He's not the complete beginner he makes out to be. My only regret was forgetting to ensure we both put life jackets on, especially when fishing at night. I gotta get into the habit of this. cheers BF

Dan. You've got a PM. BF

Jas We'll go and do some bassing with Paul and the gang first, so lightish rods with float rigs or Portland rigs, which ever you prefer. Then, when it gets dark we can move inshore and have a go for the sole. I'll pick up some ragworm tomorrow. See you tomorrow night. BF

Hmmm...a bit of bass and sole fishing sounds good. Might change my plans and fish Friday afternoon/evening, then. Jason, can you make Friday afternoon, too??? BF

Anyone intending to go out from Wick this weekend? I'm making plans to take Legless out, but would need a hand with launching a retreiving, so it would be good to co-ordinate the launches, etc. I haven't looked at tides, etc, yet. cheers BF

Hi JB I'm intrigued...what are you intending to fish for? cheers BF

Brilliant!!!!

Hi JB I don't know the rod myself, but what other info are you looking for?? cheers BF

I heard that when you were born the nurse smacked your mum instead of you...for delivering something so ugly.

I favour the Ugly Sticks, like Rich. (Did I word that right ? ). BF

T'was not me, sir. Still got THE original Splash-Out, nicely fitted with new seats. Took the family out to tow the doughnut. A much nicer ride for the passengers, and more deck space now that the seat boxes have been removed. Very pleased. BF

Good grief!! All night sat in kayak. I can't handle more that a couple hours without my legs going numb. I don't think I could handle an all night session in a Kayak. My hats off to you fellas. And you caught fish, too!! ps - how did you keep yourselves visible at night?

Carl Interesting question about the lighning. I don't know what the standard practice is in this situation on a boat. Lighning will always try to take the path of least resistance to earth. GRP is not a good conductor and so it will not offer a good discharge path. However, your aerial will be very attractive. During the approach of the storm little tendrils of electrity will actuall start extending upwards from your aerial (or any other tall conductive point) as if reaching out to touch the approaching lightning. If the lighning obliges, it will make the connect and a lightning strike will occur. Not sure if this will be the same for the white, plastic covered aerials?????? If lighning is approaching I would lower the aerial and disconnect it from the back of the radio. And I'd turn off and disconnect the GPS too if I did not need it for navigation. Interesting question...what do other suggest? BF

Or find 4 suitably sized rubber gromits/bungs.

A guy in Templecombe supplies rolls of the clear plastic. He advertises in the Blackmore Vale. Unfortunately, I can't find his ad in this weeks paper. Karen uses rolls of it to cover her aviaries in the winter. It's quite stiff but flexible enough to roll up. Is that the type of stuff you are looking for? BF

Its a nice change Paul, with some good piccies. Looks good. BF

Wot the heck!!! That came out of left field. Great to hear you are back to being a Skipper, Gordon, and especiailly skipper of Enticer. She's a great boat. Is Mark intending to get another boat? BF

Thanks for the offer of help, Martin. Change of plans unfortunately. My car broke down on the way back from Manchester yesterday. Nothing too serious, I hope, but the garage need to keep the car till Sat afternoon. I called Jason to rearrange for Sunday, but he's already booked up on Sunday to go out from Baiter will another mate. So, probably no fishing for me again this weekend, but I have to get the caravan ready to go on holiday on Monday anyway, so probably better that I don't go out (at least that's what the misses say! ) cheers BF

Oh god, you know what he's gunna be like out in the boat..."are we there yet"..."are we there yet"..."I'm bored, can we go home now!" This weekend will be our only chase for a while, Jason. I will be on holiday on Monday. Let's try for Saturday, weather permitting. We will need to team up with another boat to help me launch and retrieve. BF

I was in Christchurch harbour on Sunday with a bunch of other Kayakers rounding up the swans (for the bi-anual count). We paddled through huge shoals of bass in the shallows, some of which looked to be 4-5lbs. Mullet were there also. and yes, mullet do jump. Last year we rounded up the swans at Abbotsbury and the mullet were literally jumping into the boats as we pushed them into the shallows. BF