Adam F

Well said Rupe.

No, not missing the point - the float is used to hold the bait at a set depth, or slightly over depth, you then trot the bait over the mark feeling the bottom with your rod and hand - I stand to very very much corrected and will happilly eat humble pie when Al teaches me. However, until then a small light lead that isnt quite enough to hold bottom on a portland rig does it for me, I can still trot the bait, but just LOVE it when the bass hit, and IMO the fight is better as you are unhindered with floats etc on the line. If float fishing for bass is akin to stret pegging on a river, then fishing the lead is like rolling a bunch of swan shot for barbel.....

I wouldnt want to be out - 4/5 gusting 6, NNE tis the forecast, off the land but will still be bumpy.

Mike F is right - 4/5 NNE occasionally 6 on exposed headlands tis the metoffice f/cast. If you do get out - yes Mike, as close to the bottom as you dare, hence the rotton bottom. Good luck!

Mike, Macky are plentiful at the mo - usual spots. Would say that the whitehouse grounds may fish better than the dolphin banks from previous experiance - but why not keep some of the macky alive and drift peveril ledge for a big spikey??!!

....True, point taken ...thats why I stick to the good ol' fashioned lead set up!

Is it really worth the faffing around to save 2/3 quid? I thought the beauty of the float was that you rarely loose any gear, and anyway even if you do the float stays floating - just motor over and pick it up?.... Dont be so tight!

A change of crew for me this time - Sam was to replace the resident onboard chef and anchor monkey, Gordon. With me taking a 1/2 day, the plan was to get out earlyish and fish a bit of the ebb, but being in London all morning it seemed to take an age to get out to sea - pick sam up, come back for the boat, fuel and food, traffic, lanching, parking etc..... We finally exited the Run at 4pm. A stiff NE was blowing, but our fears of a lumpy sea were put at rest as the land provided good protection and we buzzed out to the mark at 20 knots nice and smooth. We had live eels today, so no need to bother catching joeys - we began our first drift immediatly - the only problem being the massive spring tide and the wind in the same direction - we maxed out at 5.5 knots on the drift!!!! After a few failed attempts, we scuttled off to another more sheltered mark for bacon rolls to wait for the flood tide. We had trolled a good mile, without a hint of a take, and I had just remarked the same thing to Sam when off goes my rod - a reasonable fish, but some 100 yards downtide - I play him all the way to the boat before he spits the hook!! Back on the first mark, the flood is just starting and we have a few macky as well now. The first few drifts are a little slow, sub 1 knot - but as it builds the spikeys come on the feed! They all seemed a better stamp of fish tonight compared to recent weeks, with the average about 5lb. My first went 6.5lb, the others all circa 5lb. Sam hooked a couple of good-uns, he was now getting to grip with the method, but they both threw the hooks. I then hooked into a much better fish that hugged the bottom hard and fought well - when it surfaced I was pretty confident I had my 1st double of the season - a HUGE head and a belly to match complimented a big frame - on the scales in the waves it bounced between 9lb and 10.5lb, so we settled on the most steady weight at 9lb 8oz - still a result! Sam waited until the last drift before braking his duck - but he seemed to have got the knack, we will try again next week. Finally, these fish all came on the lead - once again proving my theroy that it outfishes the float when done correctly - the guys in the boat next to us fished floats all eve without a fish - when they finally changed to the lead, they started to catch. Thats it - I've laid down the gauntlett to be proven wrong by Al and Rupe...and Im intreguied! All the fish bar one 5lber, went back to fight another day

Their has!!! Trouble is most of the ones I have heard are far too obscene to put on the forum!!

Or better still - Tbar them off at the edge - boats stays clean and the fish stays safe.

Well done chaps - its a great experiance, and some cracking fishing can be had at night. I find a large net alot easier for the eels, esp at night. Gaffs damage the fish, are hard and fairly dangerous to use compared to a net, you will be surprised how big a fish will curl into a boat net when netted tail first. Maybe see you out there later this year.

Duncan will be your man with re. Rockley - as far as I know, the slipway is pretty slow gradient, but the costs are not too bad - it also leaves you with a long steam to the sea. Baiter is the public option, but again fairly shallow, so hard to launch a big (18'+) boat and cost

Mid Channel wrecking in 28 mins, or Alderney in under 1 hour - about once a year when its flat enough - an awesome machine - great in the Keys i imagine, but off the Needles on a sub zero, raining day waiting for a cod bite - I would rather be in our 'english' boats with the kettle on and shetering from the rain

All depends on what your after Paul. I would recommend strongly going for a brand spanker this time with warrenties etc - it gives you a huge piece of mind I must say. I would think that at 75hp would be a big ask for your budget - you may just find one if you look at the real basic 2 stokes, or go for one of the less popular brands - ie. Tohatsu. My money would be on a 4 stroke - 50/60hp. I think you will find that this will be plenty for you boat. The 60hp on BW performs nicely, and being as yours is a hell of a lot lighter this should be fine. Found these few after a quick search: http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/BHM497/ http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/DEA139/ (not new, but cheap) http://www.billhigham.co.uk/billhighammarine.htm (pretty good mail order - good prices on Tohatsu's and mariner's) Also it is worth calling around and matching the prices online to those from Select Marine, Holes Bay Marine etc - you may need to factor into the equation fitting and commisioning (which is required to keep the warrenty) Adam

Crazy Fred will tell you exactly what it is - it moors alongside Cyclone. Its an awesome boat, but hard to see exactly what is is used for in UK waters. Fred tells me he can get to the IOW from the chain ferry in 14 mins!!!

Sorry to hear that Paul - its gutting, I know I was there 2 years ago when BW's gave up one night on the way home - big end went. Their are some cracking deals around at the moment, just have a look through boats and outboards - I paid over the odds really as I panicked and impulse bought. Also - make sure you keep the old one and flog it for spares - I belive they sell easily. You are welcome to come out on BW anytime - in fact Ill call you now! Adam

Ill try and get a crew, failing that we will go with the 3 on Maverick. Ill let you know by tommorow eve. Adam

Nope.....beer battered cod and chips last night - the best Ive ever tasted, even if I do say so myself and thick loin of cod tonight (off the 20lber) sat on buttered mash with homemade warm tomato and red pepper relish MMMmmmmm!! - oh, and we had pan fried red gurnard fillets to start!

Thinking of possibly Friday evening this week - will keep you posted. I could pick you up on my way home in the afternoon and drop you back later to save you getting a lift....

Plan - Launch about 6am from Christchurch - and head round to the south of the island on the ebb - fish the ebb until lunctime (ish) and then head back inshore for the flood, with the aim to be back home by 4/5pm. I have PM'd Dan - so will confirm later if all OK. Weather looks good Adam

Sam, I will be out next week, weather, work and tides depending. Ill put you on the list - failing that, we could do an evening session? Adam

That sounds like a plan. I dont mind taking either. Ill PM Dan.

Paul, We came back striaght over xray, and the round the head looking for you to boast with our catch but we didnt see you - mind you, twas busy out there!! Adam

Thats where the tabs come into their own Kam - OK, so we had decent conditions on Sunday, but with the boat loaded so heavy - the tabs work to keep you on the plane even at low speeds (BW now planes on a calm day at 8-10 knots and 10-12 when a little choppy) meaning that even if it was lumpy, we could back off to 12 knots and still be on the plane riding efficiantly. They also improve the ride further on the 165 by lowering the nose, and presenting the sharp part of the bow to any oncoming waves - we bashed through several sets of wake on the way back at full bore without too much issue.

Interesting to note that last year on the mid channel trip we did much the same miles, but I used 75 ltrs of fuel, give or take a few. On Sunday we used 2.25 tanks - 56 ltrs - a massive difference. That was with a fat bloke ( ) onboard, 60 ltrs of water (livewell) and 2 big lead buckets plus 80 ltrs of fuel. They also ensured a smoother ride - even enough to allow the cleaning down and fish gutting on the way home! They just keep proving their worth. Adam