plaicemat

As newboys to this competition thing, can I ask: 1)no need to book in, just go and do your thing and record it 2)07.30 is the START FISHING time not leaving the slip. Myself and solent hushpuppy are looking forward to this new experience, although I don't think anyone need panic about us threatening their chances!

I will be giving Fredor an airing with Pete (solent hushpuppy) doing the honours as crew. Also possibly my son, Guy.

Thanks for the advise. Also good news as it appears they may be repairing the damage below the water line.

Can I just add to all this good advice. When you are practising without a fly, tie a piece of wool onto the leader to save fraying and to make the roll over more realistic.

Having worked in outdoor education for years, I cannot understand how these people get away with it or how they get their licence. If we had carried on like that, working with young people, we would have been hung out to dry. And they were paying for the privelege. I wonder what their team sprit is like now?

O/k Paul, I'll make a note to bring one or two down with me on the Sunday.

Thanks for all that, chaps. The disc sounds a good idea, I've got 2 or 3 laying about the workshop. Paul, if you want a weight that size, let me know and I'll bring one down.

Looking forward to the Weymouth trip to the Shambles, I would value some advice. I have seen posts regarding weights for slowing the drift and, having never fished this area, or indeed this style of fishing, I would like to know the sort of weight required. I have an old scales weight, with useful handle incorporated, which weighs 26lb (11.8kg). Would this be sufficient if attached directly to a 10mm warp? This would be on a 16ft boat.

Is it a flying fish or a fish hawk?

Try ropeseller on ebay. I recently bought 600ft 10mm for, I believe,

When we were fishing xray, we were catching whiting off the bottom, with our g'bait in their mouths. Enough must have got down to hold the fish, surely. It may be that my inexperience has caused over enthusiasm, but I'm willing to give it a try. Being an optimist, I have trouble seeing the negative side of things before trying them.

Well, I don't know, Martin, and I'm hoping not. When I fished xray, I was hand feeding groundbait and I know it worked as the fish had it in their mouths. I therefore assume it would work similarly for bream, but I could be wrong. This is similar, I believe, to the method they use in Australia and New Zealand. Obviously, a method that put the bait about 10-12 feet off the bottom would probably be ideal, but I think this could work. Watch this space!

I've tried Alec and made arrangements with him. However, he mentioned somebody with a shop in xchurch called Tony but did'nt have any details. Any ideas?

To further elucidate, the sausage is pushed out of the clear plastic tube straight into the other tube on the stern. It is only used to freeze the magnet into a useable shape.

Not quite, Adam. The tube on the stern, say 3in white drainpipe (looks better than grey) has a couple of metal or plastic rods across the bottom to stop the long sausage of magnet from falling through. This allows it to slowly break up with the action of the waves and disperse slowly. When the sausage is used, replace with another.

Thanks for all that, chaps, I think I may give alec a try first.

Now that I have converted to launching mostly from Christchurch, can anybody help me with an early morning supplier of worms. I have tried Pro Angler but the worms they supplied were some poor wee things. I'm looking for worms that fight back! Any suggestion much appreciated.

I have managed to source some clear plastic tubes, approx 2ins x 25ins with a plastic cap at each end. I am going to ask Wedger to fill them from his sausage machine and freeze them. I will then decant the 2ins x 25ins sausage into the pipe on the stern of the boat and, hopefully, hey presto. I will let you know how it works out and, if anybody else wants to try, let me know and I'll bring some down.

Yes, that's always been my problem; too damn honest!

cool game. PB so far 135!

I think it may have been mentioned before, but, ropeseller on ebay is a good bet for rope. I have recently acquired 600ft (185m) of 10mm nylon anchor rope for

Having fitted out my Microplus, I have the following items which are surplus to requirements. They were replaced for the reasons given. Honda 10hp 4stroke, electric start, non tiller control. This was on my boat when it was used on the Norfolk Broads and I changed to a 50hp. I have only tried it once to test the boat and it performed perfectly.

As I've never done this trip before, or fished from Weymouth, can you inform which slipway and where please.

Adam, you can put me down for my boat and 2 anglers. Can't get enough of those plaice.

I have two Michael Edwards videos (basic and advanced) which I can lend you which will definitely give you a good start. They are easy to follow and give sound advice. I can probably also loan you a rod and reel to practise with. How much of a rush? I'm coming down the weekend of the training day, is that soon enough?