Adam F

Another point: If anyone wants to come, but either doesnt have a trailed boat, is moored in Poole and too far / slow to steam round or just doesnt have a boat but still want to come - then no problem! We always need crew to fill the trailered boats and will always fit you in. Adam

Thanks for the response. It promises to be a good day, weather permitting. To clarify a few things. 1.) You dont have to be a member to come along on the trail-aways, anyone is welcome and we will make you feel right at home, although joining the club is an advantage - for instance we will have your boat details and names, so talking on VHF channel 6 becomes much easier and also safer. 2.) Yes the slip is the one below the bridge in the town centre. Their is no sixe limit, infact you could easily launch a 40' not problem. Trailer park is alos provided, but car parking is a nighmare and requires a 10 minute walk. 3.) Finally, The Shambles bank is approx 7 miles offshore. It is suceptable to big tides and the wind and can very quickly turn nasty. Im not wanting to put people of - the reverse infact, but those with small open boats may be better finding a crew space on a larger vessel for safety - just a bit of advice. Adam

Well.....just to buck the trend - I use a 6' spinning rod. It is an Abu Conolon, and is the single handed baitcasting stle rod. I bought it mail order last year for

Possibly - but these never really need greasing and they are pretty much a sealed unit - but without a better description I dont know.

Hi Kaptin Kod, I presume you are talking about the trailer wheels, and I presume you have an Indespension Rollercoaster?? If so the grease points are behind the rubber bearing savers on the hub - slide this off and you should see a nipple in the middle. Adam

Finally, spring is only round the corner, and we can begin to think about the eagerly awaited spring trip down to Weymouth. Im looking at Sunday 17th April at the moment, as the begining of the month is already pretty full - and this should allow us time for the flatties to get into full swing. The arrangements will be as previosu years - but for those who dont know, we try to get as many boats as possible to join us for a day on the Shambles chasing flatties. We will meet on the slipway in Weymouth at 7.00/7.30am. Post here if you fancy it! Adam

Happy Birthday Dean, have a good one! Adam

With the weather looking so good this week, and the tides not being too big and Gordon wanting to break his conger duck, Dawn Raider and Blue Warrior opted for an ealy start this morning. Launching at 6.30am, the plan was to steam to a wreck out to the west and anchor for eels. A oily sea meant a lovely 20 knot cruise and in under an hour we were there. At first the tide was banging through, so we rigged up some Stormies on 12' tails and had a few drifts over the steel. The target was pollock, and I felt quietly confident as the sounder showed alot of fish over the wreck. Having never tried this type of fishing from BW I was keen to catch and prove I could do it. After a couple of drifts we began to get a few hits - but no hook ups. I then was in, but it spat the hook half way up. Gordon was the star of the morning though, as he hooked into a crash diving beauty, not massive about 3/4lb, but we were chuffed to have proved the method. By now the tide had dropped to 1.8 knots, so in with the anchor and down with the cuttle. Sport wasnt as hectic as last time, but after 1/2 hour, it was the man Gordon again, hooking into his virgin eel!!! It gave a really hard scrap to begin with and the grin across his face told it all! Not a beast, but around 25lb, fairly respectible. We then noticed the Lulworth Range Boat approaching only to be told that we had picked the only day of the year when they use the long range gunners and we had to move - gutted. Just as we were told this, both of my rods hooped over and another brace of eels came aboard. The action looked to be hotting up - and we had to move. We were escorted East into the clear zone. We spent an hour or so find a few wrecks, then anchored on the Spoils, but nothing here, so at 1.30pm we came on in. You may have noticed that I havent listed the catches on DR....well that was because their wasnt any!!...Paul D and James just sat and watched all morning. James had the usual excuses, but as they say the proof is in the pudding. I hope this isnt marking the start to James' year!!

Plumb Center or Parts Center have about 3 or 4 branches in Poole and Bmth. They are open on Sat till 12 oclock - if you find out the part number or description it would help - if you call me before you go in, Ill let then know and Ill get them to do it for cost...I work for them. Adam PS - PM me if you want anymore details.

...shame we dont sell beer!

...thats not relevant.... Im only pulling your leg! 45lb is a great fish, my target this year. The fish caught from Poole last year was a Thresher from around Old Harry area in a 17' open dory.

Yep, It really needs new bearings and gears, but Ive cleaned it out, re-packed the bearings, re-greased it and it now runs better than before but still feels like it has been filled with gravel. Adam

Mine reckons that I have 'a problem', that I 'need help' and can you believe....thinks Im addicted to the forum...never...

45lb - thats a baby!...get a 60lber then go for the Porgies...

Nice boat - I have seen you a few times through the summer Im sure... Look forward to you joining in this year! Adam

An ex.Poole skipper who has now moved to Wales to charter had a book of marks and numbers. In this book was a page entitled: ' Christchurch Screamers' Aparently each autumn he would fish this mark and on a fairly regular basis hook into unseen beasts that would fight like nothing he had ever experianced before. He nevr landed any, but the money went on them being Common Skate. This would be going back about 10/15 years, and yes, these marks were off the end of Xchurch ledge. I have never heard or seen a Common skate being caught along the South Coast for at least 30 years now....can anyone prove me wrong?

Nope - it was/is James' Shimano Charter Special 2000....

these pictures actually do it a favour...it was a lot worse that it looks!

more...

Was tempted to name and shame, but I wont be that cruel!! Any guesses whose reel this is? I offerded to service it after hearing how bad it sounded and felt! It is without doubt the worse reel I have ever opened!...on taking the front plate off - a large pile of metal dust fell from the reel - about a teaspoon worth. Everything was present inside the reel -makeral guts, salt, sand....everything apart from grease!!! Anyway after a bit (2.5 hours) of TLC it is alot better, but still needs new gears and bearings.

Hi John, Welcome to the club - what is your boat and boat name? Adam

Thanks Peter - I think you hit the nail on the head with that last post.

The bottom drops/rises from about 40' to 140' in about 1/4 mile - hence when you have a decent tide squashing that amount of water, you get some serious overfalls!

Sorry, duncan read the post a bit too quick and mis-interprited it. AF

Interesting points as I said before - Im quite glad it has sparked an interesting thread. I was just interested in the satfisfaction side of things, as Charlie said - the pride in making something yourself. It would not be a money issue - I can clearly see that the cost and time equation doesnt work. Interesting point Duncan made about having a more proffessional finish from the boatyard....Im not one to comment with little experiance of bigger boats, but from what I have seen and certianly heard, the finish often isnt fantastic - especially on the lower budget 23-25' boats. They often tend to have the fit out of a 16-18' boat on a bigger scale and when producing on a volume does the engineer really care how smooth he gets a wooden dash profile. Anyway - it certianly has put a few more prospectives on the idea.