Adam F

Paul - Ill probably stick to Poole or Xchurch. I want to go after the Cod and I know the waters better this way. I meant to get you to do a safety check on BW on Sun - she is all kitted and waiting now. Do you fancy crewing on Sat/Sun and doing the check at the same time? Adam

Thanks for that - I also couldnt find much on the net when I was looking, even Penn's website didnt help! I have matched it to my TG15 Okuma LD, which I bought abotu 6 months ago. They are a good match. Only problem now is that I need another reel for the 50lb Abu...might go TLD20, but after Xmas. Pretty pleased with the TG15, lovely and smooth, and loads of winching power - it got its best test in the summer off the Anvil for the Tope, 2lbs of lead, 5 knots of tide and big tope - she just winched them on in! On the downside, the decals have rubbed of, and a couple of the plastic covers have rubbed away. Would I get one again?...probably not. Not a bad reel by any means but for

Hi Sean, Welcome! Sounds though your new boat will be a real cracker!...when is she ready? The forum is a great place to gleam plenty of tips - joining the club opens up even more possibilities as most of us have found out over the past years. Where are you based? Adam

Nice - Ill be out weather and fishing pass dependant!!! May go for Saturday - Ill need crew anyone up for it?

Auction....he was also selling a big International, and the matching Formula reel, but at

Made a bit of an impluse buy on ebay last week...

Splash-Out with Paul J and BW with Rich JAW headed out for a Cod session on Sunday before the crack of dawn. The 1st 2 boats in the CP, we were launched and heading out at 6.30am!! The channel bouys have now been moved from the harbour BTW - fine on the way out, but coming in we had to take care - the plotter really showed its worth! It was like a mill pool in Xchurch bay, so we skipped over to the Island in less than 20 mins! Anchored in the productive mark on Weds, we sat back to await the action! Dogs, dogs, dogs, dogs...oh....and more dogs!! After 2 hours we decided that we should give the gully a go, so we nipped over there. No tide at all, and when it did start to run it was a miserable piddle of a flow! As Martin said - no more than 6-8oz all day even off the needles! Dogs a plenty again - I really cannot remember catching so many dogs, I rekon over 40 to my rods during the day! We had a brief spell of whiting with Rich taking the best at 1lb 15oz...(sorry rich, even bouncing the scales didnt add another ounce!) At 2.30 we called it a day and headed home. Back on the slip we met with a few regulars who all recalled a similar day. Oh well, always next time!

Hi Coddy, At West Moors, youll be less than 5 mins drive from where I live! I would love to say that Ill have it on my drive, but I dont think she would like that! 1 Warrior is bad enough, but 2 would be pushing it..... I am sure you could find some where reasonably closeby....just trying to think?? There are plenty of Caravan type parks and sites around this area maybe they would be worth a try? Ill have a think and a look around over the next few days and let you know if I come up with any ideas. I presume the rental house has no room for a boat? The last option is to look for some cheap winter storage in Christchurch?....10 min drive from West Moors and 3 slips to choose from? Adam

Ill bring my famous Isle of White Plaice rig!....

I use the Std circles from Mike at UK Hooks, I got a 100 mixed starter pack. Although as you said I do find them fairly heavy in the wire and quite dear too. I do use a grinner, although have just started to crimp them and leave a loop. In my carp fishing days we used a ring called a 'hinge rig' it used a bent hook (similar to a circle) and the loop which held the hook and allowed it to move feely and exagerated the 'self hooking' principle of the circle hook. Was in my local tackle shop today and he has just got some Mustard fine wire circles in stock - cheap as chips at

Bob may need crew on Sunday Paul - just amke him promise to keep away from Atlantic storm swells this time! Check with him 2nite. Alan - just seen your post - cant you bring her down on Sunday?

Been into the shop today and ordered it - as a way of a small plug it came from Bournemouth Fishing Lodge. I used it all day yesterday with a 6/0 circle. Incidently I hooked loads more fish on this rod - and not too many doggies. Unless the fish really takes the bait proper and therefore gets the hook inside him, he dont get hooked - therefore nusiance fish that play around with the bait dotn get hooked. One thing though - you MUST use a grinner with it, doesnt go well with a blood not. Should be here next few days. Adam

Yep!!!...Me and Jimbob caught one each today!

Ok Ill wait a few days and get a few orders together then Ill go get it. Ill pm you when I have it for your addresses. any other takers? Adam

Bob - I think the dull morning and the very murky water caused by high winds and flood water from the river meant that at 100' it was probably still night for the eels.

I am sure the answer is a new pike wire to the market. This stuff is made from the same technology used to make braid, but instead of using braid fibres, ultra fine s/s wire is used - the result? I mega flexable, easily knotted s/s wire/braid combo. I was given 5mtrs as a sample a few months ago, and am just coming to the end of the spool. It really is amazing stuff. A simple blood knot is all that is needed, and the presentation is as good as 30lb nylon. It is not so thin that it acts like cheesewire on the fishes mouth, but fine enough to offer good presentation. On sunday I kept hooking eels on my whiting rod, so I changed to the wire and kept the small hooks, kept catching whiting, but didnt get biten off by the eels. Anyone wants any let me know. Adam

Bloody hell! I think it was one of the other slipways - possibly a little further up - makes you wonder how it happened?

Just as you get to the bit which requires two hands, and you need 1 last tool - it is ALWAYS 4" too far for you to reach!

Alan - Gunna need to be home by 4pm as I have to pick Rach up from work. This will mean leaving the fishing grounds about 2.30....but if we have an early start should be no problem. It will also allow you to miss the traffic. Do you have crew? I suggest that Rich and Dave Mayne crew for Domino and BW??

Paul - The netrance isnt over by the cafe - the flood waters have just moved the bouys thats all. This time of year when the water is coloured and fishing big baits for cod - you dont know what will turn up - so I always fish 150lb trace to be on the safe side. Billy - Thanks for the advice on the circles. What size do you use, and do you fish them pennel?

Catch report from Blue Warrior: (Charlie, Ill email you the score sheets later) After a nice lay in after the clocks went back, we launched at 8.00am from Wick headed for the Needles cod grounds. A flat calm sea and blanket sea mist meant the plotter was invaluable. 22 knots all the way and 20 mins later we are sat anchored 3 miles south of the lighthouse. As the mist rose, other boats joined the cod hunt, and at 11am we counted over 40 boats within eyeshot!!!! We started well, with run after run from conger - unfortunatly we couldnt connect and after 7 runs on my rods and 4 to james, we finally hooked one - a small strap of about 15lb. I then connected with a decent fish, which put up a decent scrap and gave a very dogged and nodded fight - sureley the 1st cod of the year?...no, my 1st ever Spurdog though! - Not a monster but at 7lb I was well chuffed, never even seen one before. Pout, doggies and whiting were no problem to the smaller rods, but the beast elluded us today - even with the National Boat Champion aboard! Had a lovely run home in a flat sea the run in engine purring away and the sun setting over bmth

Sounds like you had a cracking day in the sub tropical waters of Weymouth!...strange init, we spent the day in our floatation suits fishing 2lb of lead loaded with 8 squid on 8/0 pennels!, not a wrasse or mackerel in sight! Well done mate, good result, I suspect not many of the boats will have bagged that many species today.

Brilliant!!!! My feedback rating is 99% dont you know, and most of my gear comes from their!!!! Oopps, may have said too much!

The weather and tides are good for Tues at the moment.... Plan will be to launch from Wick (christchurch) at around 7ish (to miss the rush hour traffic) and then head out just south of the needles to anchor for cod and conger. We were out there today and a few cod were caught, along with a stack of eels. We will then come in fairly early as nights are now drawing in, and it will give Alan a chance to get back home and me to wash BW down. How does that sound?

STOP PRESS**.....early reports suggest that James Parker has won the 2004 National BFM Boat League.....Reports say fishing was very hard....only several small bass caught....More news later from the man himself!!