Adam F

Get yourself a pair of those H/duty kitchen shears/scissors - the type that can cut through chicken bones - they are pretty cheap, my last set cost less than a fiver. The make short work of even a big fish. For flatties, you are correct, a slash on the tail root does the same trick. Timing - I just bang em' in the fish box, then wash the blood out at the end of the day.

Superb!!

A good tip is to snip the gills of the fish once landed. This drains the blood from them quickly and avoids tainting the flesh red - esp. cruicial with Bass and Cod I find.

WH Smith - always have a copy unless you are late in the month. Failing that, just ask your newsagent, they will get one in for you no problem!

Same as bob - that was fun! Needs to be harder though this time (a little) as now we know the format it might be easier...

I use 40lb+ braid for a very simple reason - abrasion resistance and kindness to my hands (ok 2 reasons! ) I have tried 15lb braid for bassing, and whilst on a stright pull it is more than strong enough it breaks like cotton when it touches the reef. Knotting 15lb braid all day takes it toll on your wet hands and I constantly found I have a braid cut on the outside of my right index finger.. I now use a 40lb bulk braid from tackle bargins which is cheap as chips - this is use for 95% of my fishing.

...Gotta change the piccy though?? You just need a decent mid flight shot..? As an aside (and completely off topic!) maybe we should look at organising another 'teach in'?? Its that quiet time of year again....

Gord and I chanced our hand yesterday morning having seen the weather window... Launched at 8am - xchurch bay looked OK, and the wind was barely a F3 if a little grey... Decided on Xray to tuck in as much as possible from the SW-erly. Fishing started with dogs in the between the rain, but sitting comfortably under the canopy, hand made rolls and bacon with hot tea made things seem alot better. Anyway, by the time we had the 2nd round of sarnies, we stuck ou head out and in less than 20 mins the F3 was a good F6 and white horses everywhere - the swell even picked up... We made the call to head back before it got too worse, and a slow 8 knot run home with a big tailing sea before a bumpy Run and fun getting the boat on the trailer in the driving rain and near gale wind. Anyway back home by 11am - about a dozen dogs the only result.

....Aquafish, not Aquastar.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! You kept that quiet you old dog!! Have a good day. Adam

My sea test is next weekend, fingers crossed. I havent called the marina yet - I spoke to Wedger and he is paying

Jas, Re. the electric anchor windlass - this shouldnt be a pre-requisite of your selection, these can be fitted to practically any boat for a few hundred squids. As for looking for boats - http://www.boatsandoutboards.com/category/...s/Fishing+Boats Is probably the best place on the net for looking in one place, but once you have decided a short list google is good for tracking down boats for sale and reviews and piccies. From our brief chat the other day, the Arvor seems to sit your requirements nicely. The Merry Fishers would be good, but you'll loose a bit of deck space to the cabin. Arvors - http://www.essexboatyards.com/stocklist/category.php/FISH Once you have a short list post on here and we'll try and find clubs boats for a sea trial - failing that the dealers will be more than accomodating - if you need a hand / advice, again just ask here most of us would be willing to come along to help and give our opionions. Happay hunting!

.......would answer a few questions!!

Rich, My lead melting pot (a milk pot) holds over 4lb of lead without being too full and my lead making sessions last well over 2 hours - we roughly smealt about 40/50lb of lead on a big session doing 1-2lb dowtide leads. The stove does get hot, but the base doesnt and when it runs low after an hour or so, we simply leave it 10 mins, have a brew, re-fill her and off we go again. I would suggest that a Coleman is all anyone needs, unless you are going to make them commercially - the other factor is that regardless of how fast / efficiant the stove is, I still cant pour the lead, release the moulds, re load wires and stack before the lead is melted!!

You wont go near the conjestion zone, at least you shouldnt!! I'll be heading up once all of the rush hour trafic has died and leaving before it build's.....

Greys Longboat Pirker http://www.greysfishing.com/index.php?if=view&pid=122 The dogs - not an uptider to be used for pirking, a rod made for pirking. A little cheaper would be a Penn Giller Thriller, but the butt needs modifying.

Gas is a PITA for melting lead, esp this time of year. Try a Coleman Sportster Stove, I dont think you can beat these - they run on unleaded, and take about 10p to fill them full - this will burn at full chat for well over an hour, and melts lead faster than I can mould it.

Ok, Gordon and I are going up on Monday 8th, leaving Bmth about 8.30am. I have 2 spaces free if anyone fancies a free ride. Cheers Adam

OOOOH!! .......Shiney's!! Looks very nice boys.... looking forward to the launch date.

Mike, Have you looked at the Quicksilver 630SD?? It is basically the same boat as the 640 but comes with a 1.7DTI Mercrusier Stern Drive diesel - performance is still rapid and as you are on a mooring it makes little differance (IMO) plus you get the better economy and cheaper fuel - well for the moment anyway.... Resale value also likey to be reasonable too...

I appreciate that... it wasnt meant as it probably read - I dont want po pooing anyone who has a 2, my comment was aimed at Mike who is looking at a new package and has a pretty free rein on what he chooses.

As far as I know, 2 strokes as we know then in the'old' guise cant be made anymore - emisions thingy.... Non generation 2 stokes - Etec etc can be as can the Optimax etc... If you can find any old gen 2's in stoke still they will be like chips - cheap. Personally I dont know why anyone would want an old 2 though...the new gen 2's yes - and the 4's - yes.

Gordon, Go for the proper Fuji jobbies, dear but they last better than cheap imitations. Make sure they are Fuji's though - many shops will tell you that they are Fuji's, but look closely at the legs, they will have Fuji stamped on them. The best EVER were the fuji's with the luminous inserts, but I think they have stopped making them. Adam

OH....and that!!! Lunch today - fresh baked baguette with caramalised onions and sliced ham with mustard!! Mmmmmmm Dinner tonight....red thai turkey curry....!!

I'm not too sure - I am fairly free any date apart from the first w/e as down in Devon looking at the new boat. Cheap tickets would be good - I'm not too fussed about driving to London and having to pay full whack to get in....