Adam F

Gordon and I decided to have another crack at the bassing over the Island this morning. After getting home at after midnight from the fireworks, getting up to go out again at 5.30am was hard work - well worth it though....a great morning to be up and about, slightly overcast, warm and still...it looked well fishy. Christchurch harbour was alive with wildlife - Herons catching eels on the mudflats, numerous birdlife and evry fish in the river dimpling and splashing the mirror calm surface. Out on the island, mackerel we hard to find, esp. joeys. After 1/2 hour we had enough to start with, and so began the first fish of the day - showing Gordon how to do it - I snared a nice 3lber first chuck! Then another 2nd drift!! Gordon then seemed to get the hang of it and hooked into a couple, which, alas came adrfit. He then proceeded to hook into a real beast of a fish, and after playing it for 5 mins I was convinced he had this one at last - but fate interviened and the hook pulled - gutted. The fishing continued well though the morning until Dawn Raider arrived and the tide began to slacken. Total tallly for the morning was 7 bass to me, best 5lb, all bar 3 returned. (Charlie, can you put these in the book?) Really loving this style of fishing at the moment - back out again Tues eve. Adam

By law - there needs to be a 10% variation in the hull design if you are to copy it (I think thats right - Shytalk?) So the hulls will look identical, but I think their will always be a slight differance.

Nah - I dont think it is big enough - Im out hunting for a double on Sat.

Well done matey - a cracking result yesterday, glad I showed you how its done last week - youve put it into practise - interesting that you used the Flourocarbon this time??

and another against Mike Y's Warrior 195 - Blue Boy.

Bass from last Sat morning - 9lb.

BW will be there from 9pm tomorrow night anchored off the pier. Anyone who wants to join us - call me on 07957 829902 - post here - or call on VHF CH6. Cheers Adam

First I have heard - although I do know that they were aksing for the money for the materials up front when purchasing - not a goos sign, and the new Bass boat seems to have come to nothing??? I wouldnt be surprised - they always seem to have been in the shadow of the 165 IMO??

Mike, You can have the numbers for Xray if you like - but youll need the garmin as it is only a small mark. Same for Southbourne rough - we fished here on Sunday and it was like fishing an aquarium! IF you want tope - go west, but tides are a bit big this weekend. Youll need to go a little further than Durlston, head 2/3 miles off the Anvil. PM me if you want numbers. Adam

Generally, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. Search this site as we have covered this subject in depth before - use the 'Search' button at the top of the page. Personel preferance is everything - I like long tippy rods with plenty of backbone, others like a through action - some dont care! Go to a shop and buy or feel and then go online - Poingdestres in Shirley has a massive selection. I use Abu Conolons, Diawa TDX's are popluar but both quite dear. The Fladen Solid C rods have been very popluar with our members this year and dont break the bank. As Bob said the Ugly Sticks has stood the test of time. Adam

Personel prefernace would be the Garmin 182C. Has all of what you ask for. You can pick then up for about

Kam, Dover Sole - Lemons are extremely rare this far East, further down towards Cornwall they get them more regular. You will need an smooth sandy bottom for Sole - not rough ground, as they are a flatfish and invaribly bury themselves in the sand. The mark we fish is about 10-15' deep, a ssandy bottom with ridges in it caused I think by the tide. Sole feed much better at night. A spinning rod, size 8-10 hooks and ragworm or lug is what is required. We fish anchored as the sole often needs a few minutes to get the bait down his mouth. Adam

Dont think Ill be able to make it Jimbo - work commitments and all that. Plus there is a comittee meeting tonight which would have taken top priority. Have a good night. Adam

I only use it for Bassing, the rest of the time normal mono suffices as trace line, and my leaders are just cheap 2.99 clear 30lb mono. It was 17lb Berkeley Vanish which I was using - great line, fantastic knot strength and reasonable too.

A new british record then???

I took pity on you and took you tope fishing - then you decided not to catch one and left me to hook out a 35lber!

Sorry - yep, I meant two takes from bass off the Bridge.

It was James' turn to skipper today, so at 7am we slipped away from Wick on what promised to be a lovely day. Mullet were hard to find with James catching just 2 in an hour and a half and me just a Golden Grey. Out on the ledge, Bream, Mackerel, Wrasse, Pollock, Dogs, Pout, Huss and Bass all showed so a respectable 8 species each by the end at 2.30pm. We then wizzed over to the IOW for a spot of bassing. A tank full of fresh live joeys were soon feathered up and away we went. 1st drift and BANG, I hook up - a nice fish of about 3lb. A few drifts later another of about 2-3lb then a few quiet drifts. We were then getting short of joeys, so I stuck a big fella on - 'Big Bait - Big Fish' tactics I thought - and it worked! After a savage bite I thought I had hooked the deck, but when it started pulling back I knew a decent fish was hooked - a great 10 minute fight saw a huge bass lying alongside the boat. Alas once netted it proved to be a massive frames fish, capable of double figures, but very lean - weighed on a choppy sea it went between 5-6lb. James struggled on the bass, and on hindsight the only thing we could think of as to why was the fact I was using Flourocarbon hooklink. I had 2 bass last week of the Needles to James none, I had 4 bass of Portland to the crews none and 3 today - the ONLY factor different was the Vanish hooklink - food for thought?? Quite enjoying the bassing this year, heres to more to come!

James - hadnt realised that - Maybe Ill also join you for the sole then. Cheers

Probably the earliest I have ever been out fishing! Mike Y and his brother Dave wanted to know how we fish Portland race, so I offered to show them how - but other commitments meant that we all had to be back in by 9am this morning. It was 3.30am when my alarm sounded and coupled with a bad head cold the drive to Weymouth was hard work. The boys ahd put the Warrior on their mooring at Ringstead, so it was ready for when we arrived. 5.00am we cast of and headed out with the sun just breaking the Purbecks. Joey mackerel were a plenty and soon we had a couple of dozen nice small baits in the tank. We arrived at the race just as the tide was starting to run, giving us a 1.2 knot drift. Portland rigs, 6' traces and a 6/0 Varias completed the set-up. First drift I showed the way with a nice 3lber. When then went 4/5 drifts without a bite. It all then came good for me, with 3 fish in 3 drifts, the best a superb Bass weighing 8lb 15oz on dry land. The other 2 between 2-3lb. Unfortunatly the other guys struggled, but I think were happy to have been shown how the fish the race and that it is not dangerous provided common sense is taken. We hit the beach at 9am and I was back home for breakfast at 9.45am Thats the way to do it!!

Cant do Thurs, but am going out Weds night for sure, no room on BW though, need to start delivering the promises of trips to various friends and collegues! Will probably be congering though as opposed to Sole fishing.

Rich, Using fixed spools for trolling sometimes, but mainly multipliers. The reason for not hooking the bass correctly is the size of the mackerel we were fishing - all bigguns over 8oz.

woops! Only meant as a joke comment - obviously taken the wrong way... Apologies if it caused offence.

James wanted to have a crack around the back of the island yesterday as he was interguied after our trip on Sunday. We launched at 12.00 and headed out into the afternoon sun....as we readed the run a thick blanket of cold sea mist decended and stayed with us all day - a great example of why you should always carry warmer clothing, even on the best days. Fortunatly I had a fleece in the cabin. We spent 3 hours trolling the reefs off Freshwater and while it was slow we had 4 hits. James had the first, a nice bass of about 3lb. I then procceded to have 3 hits in a row, which were all lost due to poor angling practise not having the drag set correctly. We then decided to hit the Bridge for the last hour and picked up a few more fresh baits. Third drift and I though I was snagged in the rock, but then it moved! A decent bass was hooked for sure and a fantastic fight ensued - short lived though as the hook pulled out! Fish - 4 Me - 0!! Last drift of the day, right at the end of the reef and I hooked up again - phew! Like peas in a pod, another bass about 3lb. Eager to get back out their again now, learning all the time about these new marks. Adam

Mike, Glad to hear it went well. BTW what engine do you have fitted? Interested, as I have a 60hp 4 Stroke and my max speed is 25 knots, you say you backed the throttle OFF, suggesting a far higher max speed??? Adam