Neal

Adam, If you can find me someone to service my Arvor for

I saw one 50metres off the end of Bournemouth Pier last August - Whilst considering how to catch it for the species list - it suddenly swam off. Neal

Speak to Pirky - (Dave Halfon-Hobbs) he is sort of looking. May be just the one he is after! Neal

Hi Arthur, Durlston Head and particularly St Albans Ledge has fierce Tide races - beware! Try anchoring the offshore banks and the spoil grounds for Rays The wrecks nearby often have Divers visiting! The Training Bank helps the flow of water out of the Harbour to slow down erosion. Flatties in the harbour along the edges of the Channels. Hope this helps! Neal

Did you mean July?

Update on my missing boat........ Mardon Marine refusing to pay anything (actually it is AXA the underwriters) Towergate who switched my policy to their own division have subsequently just lost a further

You are welcome on-board my Arvor. However, having sold some you should by now be aware of all the problems associated with them as well as all the benefits of ownership! Neal

Happy 21st Sam Have a memorable one! Neal

Happy Hooker is also the name of a Charter Boat that I have regularly used in Teneriffe. Worth a go if ever you are out that way. Neal

"I am sure part of my problem with my fishing is that I do not hold the bottom and my line is often way off to the back of the boat being pulled by the tide. I am assuming this will help to get nearer to the bottom and potentially reduce the tangles with other crew?" Fishing with other anglers is a totally different issue...... The thinnest Braid allows you to fish with the lightest possible weight to hold bottom. On a charter boat the accepted etiquette is the people to use progressively heavier leads towards the front of the boat - so as not to tangle the person next to you. This always assumes the people in front or behind you are using gear that is capable of doing the same. Or alternatively, use a much longer rod and fish outside them - which is much more difficult and often requires specialist gear. The only reason for all of this is to get your baits away from the potential "scare zone" which is created by the noise of the boat. Not always convinced with the relevance of this except in shallow waters where uptiding is used to great effect. Neal

I load all my reels regardless of size with 20lb or 30lb mono as backing and then top up with the full 300m of braid finishing off with about 15ft - 20ft of mono leader. If any of the braid gets damaged - loosing a few meters will not be such a problem if you start with the full 300m Use the lowest diameter braid you can find. Braid doesn't deteriorate like mono and therefore won't need replacing for several years - so just remove a couple of feet from the end every few months and it will last for years. I also rinse the reel in fresh water to remove salt after each use, which may also aid longevity. Others however, may do it differently! Neal

I will be out - don't know where yet.....no cunning plan. East / West / South ??? Will call / listen to see how you are getting on. Neal

Craig, Don't speak too soon - first you will (should) need one to get out of Bristol and then you will need a visa to get your boat out of Cobbs and under the new bridge. Neal

I am looking to see if anyone wants to join me for the Poole Bream Comp tomorrow. I have a couple of spare places if anyone interested. Neal

Just not the one wearing shorts!!!

Hi Tom, Is the top shelf removable? I am thinking, following my recent break-in that I need something to lock away my rods - this may or may not be suitable. What is the clearance inside? Neal PS Bastards still refusing to pay anything whatsoever for the Boat loss. Won't be using Marden Marine again.

Happy Birthday to you both - have a great day even if you can't get out fishing. Neal

I have been with them since 1995 - or at least the Company they bought. The reason for not paying anything was that the trailer did not have a wheel clamp. It did not have a wheel clamp because the owner of the yard where it was stored needed to move it regularly to bring other things in for storage. It was in an area accessed by a number of different people who may have had to move the boat. The Boat had been stored there over the last 15 winters OK - It was out of site of the road - behind a building and surrounded by hedges. You had to get through 2 gates - one of which had a combination padlock - and the adjacent field and road leading to the buildings was covered by cctv. If I had put a wheel clamp on the trailer - I think it would have been a fairly simple task to cut it off unnoticed and with plenty of time to do it anyway. I think they are being unreasonable in refusing to pay anything at all - I have suggested they make a reasonable offer at the very least - as I am aware that whilst reasonable security precautions were taken (by me) the Policy does state that a wheel clamp is required. Neal

My Insurance was with mardon Marine / Towergate Marden - up until now they have always been competitive .................... However, they are refusing to pay anything for the loss of my boat and the excess is greater than the replacement cost of the outboard. I am attempting to negotiate - but not hopefull! So if anyone is going to renew with these B*****ds - don't! Neal

I'm going to Beaulieu Boat Jumble Sunday to see if any theiving gits are flogging a load of cheap reels! Boat finally back in the water Monday, so hopefully ready for the Easter week end and beyond. Neal

Happy Birthday Jim, Hope you requested lots of fishing time this year! Neal

Thanks for reminding me Nigel Bloody Insurance Company wants proof of purchase for so many reels........... So I sent them a photo of a load of empty boxes! So all you guys - remember to take photos of all your rods and reels so you have proof of ownership just in case some bastard runs off with them! Once sorted I am really looking forward to getting some spanking new gear and loads of it! Neal

My subscription for BFM lapsed recently and they were offering a new rod for renewing. I have not had mine yet and saw a thread on WSF that indicates rather a lot of other people haven't either. "Dear Subscriber This is a customer service email from Boat Fishing Monthly to apologise for the delay in receiving your boat rod subscription gift. We are currently experiencing stock issues due to the overwhelming response to this campaign. Rest assured you will get your rod, just bear with us. We appreciate your patience in this matter. We will keep you updated on any progress. If you have any questions please email our Marketing Manager, Lisa" I noticed a few from our club were waiting..........watch this space Neal

Hi Colin, Just finished mine and I have a part can left over. Neal

I would suspect that their are restrictions in place locally as well. If you were to set up a beachcaster or 2 along the Bournemouth / Sandbanks Sea front in the middle of a hot weekend in mid-summer and start swinging leads about - I am sure you would be requested to move on very quickly. If a bye-law doesn't exist to cover this, I am sure one should - just in case common sense doesn't prevail. I suspect it's just the "Elf n Safety" brigade covering their backsides. Neal