plaicemat

I'm just disappointed I didn't get there before it was deleted. Terry.

I'll take it, Kap'n. Some thieving b@st@rd pinched mine while I went for my trailer. Let me know how you want payment etc. Terry.

So, to put this into layman's terms, its like putting a longer handle on a hammer to give one more clout? Terry.

Good call, Mike. A friend has just crossed from the IOW on the car ferry and, apparently, it is very lumpy with car alarms going off and poor visibility. For once I'm glad to be working in the new extension laying a floor. Terry.

Mike, I don't know if it helps but, by a round about route (legal) I can supply a new Lowrance 3500C for about

Good luck if you get out, Alun. We had good numbers of mackerel last Friday both to feathers and on our bream baits. Should be enough to keep a novice occupied. Terry.

I doubt there's room for any, what with all the rays and congers. Terry.

That's it, rub it in, you swine! Terry.

Paul, the cooker wouldn't work in the windy conditions, even when it was shielded. So, no bacon rolls , no tea . but, we managed to still have a good time and made up on orange juice and sausage rolls. May not have been so sanguine if we hadn't been catching fish steadily! Terry.

A very happy birthday to you both, it's nice to see folks catching up with me! And, as a bonus, with both of you on the same day, I save a virtual stamp! Terry.

After a 4am start from home, we deserved a good day yesterday and, by cracky, we got it. Pete and I had collected worms from Alec and launched by 07.00 onto a flat Poole harbour. It was a little lumpier outside but nothing to get excited about but was without the sun we were promised earlier, in fact it was quite chilly out on the briney. An uneventful steam westwards brought us to our chosen spot (having lost all my marks when the satnav went u/s, the exact spot was a guess) and were soon joined by a Poole charter boat, which was reassuring. Couldn't see the name but it was white with a web page address on the side. After dropping some berley with my Secret Weapon Berley Bomb, we were immediately into action. Pete, of course started with a doggie. I don't know how he does it but I'm sure he could find one in his bathtub. It was then fairly steady bream action for the remainder of the ebbing tide. They were good fish, as opposed to the super sized ones which have been appearing lately; 1 - 3lb, but welcome nonetheless. Stangely, they were about 98% females so the culinary side suffered as I tend to put these back. Also putting in regular appearances were mackerel, either taken on the bream baits or a quick opportunistic chuck of the feathers. As the tide went through slack to the change, things quietened down so we thought a change to a fairly reliable ray mark might ring the changes and headed back towards Poole. With the change came bright sunshine and flat seas so things were definitely looking up.Having selected my spot (guess work again), the ray rods were deployed but remained untouched, apart from being pestered by doggies. As one of the bream rods still had some worm and squid attached, I thought I'd give it a chuck. Good call! 50 - 60 bream later, again 'good' fish, we were happy, knacked with aching backs (?) and had not even been able to stop for a brew. Throughout the day, we had experienced many double shots which helped the final tally. Again, they were nearly all females so we had about

Just spoken to my contact at Burnham and he says 08.30 book-in, 09.00 start and 18.15 back on the beach. Terry.

Yes, because the total weight does not exceed 3500kg and the weight of the trailer does not excced that of the towing vehicle. I was getting a lot of enquiries from younger drivers for training on these combinations, mostly from those wishing to tow horse boxes. The test has to be taken at a commercial vehicle test centre. Terry.

That will be Enticer with Gordon and Terry. Terry.

I think they may have come with the Bus Pass, Jack. There have to be some benefits to maturity. Terry.

Not too far away, Jack; the Ledge. Having caught a garfish, I thought there might also be mackerel about so I tried feathering. After a short while I got bored and just left the feathers dangling about

Gordon caught the cuttle, Kam, but I don't know if he ate it or saved it for bait. For me, it would have been straight in the pan but I think Gordon is a little more conservative when it comes to throwing things down his throat. It was a good size, though. Terry.

Thank God for all this; I was about to chop my Warrior in for a bl@@dy Orkney. Terry.

Yes, I know it's a bit late; I've been very busy, o/k. Saturday I went out with Gordon on Enticer and, although not a purple day, it was fun to be out in the sun on a flat sea. The reason for this post is, nobody seems to have beaten our catch for variety of species. We had: black bream, doggies (of course), wrasse, pollock, pout, garfish (3, so not a fluke one off), mackerel and a large cuttlefish. I think that's a result, species-wise! And than you, Gordon for a great day out, including bacon butties and tea. What more could man want (leave it, Mike) Terry.

Numbers for mark X please! Terry.

Very nice fish. Any chance of a master class at the next club meeting? Terry.

I think you should consider your status, Jack. You're in danger of getting a reputation as an angler of repute. Soon you'll be getting neighbours dropping hints about a regular supply of quality fish. Terry.

Sorry, don't know why the smilie is in there. I didn't insert it and can't get rid of it. Terry.

I assume you mean the US and Australia, Adam, in which case I think you're correct in your assumption. In those countries they seem to target the money at the people who are going to make an impact on the situation, i.e., the men (and women) on the ground. I'm afraid that here, for every person trying to do a good job, they would have to have at least three people to ensure that a) they have targets to meet, b] to inspect them on a regular basis, thus ensuring that more time is spent preparing for inspections and appearing to be making targets, c) that they don't get more money than is barely adequate, d) that this money is not wasted on anything other that filling out forms and attending Health and Safety meetings. This country is choked because of the Governments paranoia with not trusting organisations to spend the money they are given wisely and letting them use their expertise to make sound judgements. Terry. Smillie removed

Hear, hear! Terry.