codroamer

Chicken!!! Cluck! Cluck!

Back to the drawing board!

I have recently bought a car booster starter form ALDI for £24.99 It has 3 lighter sockets. To one of them I have rigged a rear end reversing light from an old Escort car via a cable. It gives brilliant light! The charge is reputed to last 52 hours. I have not tried it on the beach, but it really lights up the garden! It says it's not waterproof, but I shall protect it with a Tesco bag, with the cable running out. To think that a not too decent headlight costs more, this is cheap and instant lighting. It also has its own two bulbs. It seems ideal. Don't know why I didnt think of it before??? No more tilley lamps or Coleman lamps that are temperamental a lot of the time. Has anybody else tried this?

Hmmmm...doesn't seem to be much pushing and shoving Mike. I must be getting old. 10 years ago, I wouldn't have even given the weather a thought. Nowdays, I must admit, even I have second thoughts when it's perishingly cold like this. Good luck mate.

When is it EVER quiet whenever you are around????? Incidentally, I am free on the 22nd Jan.

I find the question of one's worm very personal!

Who woke me up??? It certainly wasn't your anticipated report about your much vaunted trip.

I have never had much luck at Sheppey, even going out in a little dingy my mate and I used to own....except for one evening just as the tide was returning, I had a rattle on the rod and I thought I hooked into a Tesco bag as I watched it coming in, in the early darkness.....but it was a 4-5Lb thornback ray. It couldn't have been in more than 3 feet of water! Incidentally, I returned it, so it must be all of 10lb by now! I caught it about 15 years ago. We were amazed, but it was the only fish caught all day. I have caught the odd flounder and eel on the island, but nothing more. Im sure others have done better.

Let us know how you get on Mike

Late Contribution from me. Havent had a chance to get onto the PC. I also enjoyed Saturday night. It was a bit of a marathon, but Mike built a huge log fire in a barbaque thingy and we didnt really feel the cold! Sport was steady, with the large whiting coming in towards the end of the session, but it was steady all through the session, sometimes with all rods going at the same time. I also had a brace of whiting twice. All in all a very good session in good company!

It could also be the line not laying on the spool properly. And old line will tighten gradually and sort of bed into itself. When you reach this spot the line doesnt come off smoothly and consequently the birds nest. Try changing your line if you had it on for some time.

Let's see how you get on when we meet next Saturday!! I ain't letting you get away with catching a 19LB Cod....If I get a 19LB cod, I'll throw it back until I get a 20 pounder!!

Now see what you made me do??? I'm so jealous, I'm making elementary spelling(fraudulent) mistakes!!

I think it's a fake! It's a b****dy camera trick! It's a fraudelant picture! You couldn't have caught a fish that big! I have watched you fish! Not in a million years could you catch a fish that big! GRRRRRRRRRRR!! I'll be down to Hythe very soon to outfish you!!! CONGRATULATONS. (begrudgingly)

We picked ours up at Bosmere Tackle, Needham Market, Ipswich. But It wasn't fresh. I'd call it fair. Next time I'll either get it Saxmundham or get the bait in London.

It really is a shame that bickering does go on, but this is why it's called a democracy. Everybody is entitled to their opinion. The 'nastiness' starts when on party objects to somebody elses opinion but cannot express themselves apart from slinging profanities. I have met several people from this newsgroup personally and nicer people you cannot hope to meet. At the risk of embarrassing Maidstonemike for instance, I have been on a couple of trips with him and visited his home and met his family. I was made very welcome and had really enjoyable trips with him. we have not always agreed on fishing , but all that followed was friendly banter and a warm handshake at the end of the trip. I look forward to visiting Mike again. Unfortunately he has said that he will not post on here again due to some of the replies he has had. I personally will not get involved or respond to any bickering, insinuations or name calling. It's a shame that it happens, but happen it does and we have to live with it. At the end of the day we have one thing in common and that is angling. Over thirty years of fishing, I have not met an angler that I have considered nasty. I like to believe that anglers have more nicer sides than nasty ones.

Let me know when you will be going. It would be nice to put a face to names seen on these pages.

Mike! Don't go!

My son and I picked the bait up and were ready to fish around 4.30Pm as the tide was ebbing. There was a southerly wind of approximately 10 miles and hour and there was some surf, with the water coloured after the gusts of the previous few days. The conditions seemed perfect. Obviously other anglers thought the same because we were all spread out at 10 to 15 yards as far as the eye could see. The beach shelves so deeply, I was amazed. I have never been here before. We both cast out apporximately 80 yards and bingo! my son had a knock within five minutes. A codling! ....all six inches of it But here was hope! He jumped up and down with glee and baited up again then....... nothing. Hour after after our rods stood like Grenadier guards.....not a bite. We waited for high tide at midinight. Everybody else waited for high tide....nothing. High tide came and went. A beautiful starry night. The wind dropped to almost nothing. No sign of the rain that was predicted. A glorious night except for the fact that we totally blanked. And so did everybody else. We couldn't understand it and nor could anybody else. I know the usual sceptics will say that the sea has been fished out and there is no fish in the sea etc. etc. I'm not convinced of that. Let them say it. Although we had an almost total blank, I am sold on the venue and will be returning to it by spring. I have never seen such deep water from the beach and its comfortable fishing with the car only yards away. I don't understand why we blanked and the locals cant all be wrong. They were amazed. I'll be back!! Let the sceptics say as they wish.

Thanks to one and all for the information, particularly WESTIE for the detailed instructions. It's nice how anglers can help each other like this. I'll post a report, probably Sunday evening.....after I have had my cod and chips! Thanks for the advice Mike about the wind and rain. You have cheered me up no end! I'll let you know how I get on. And I'm still intending to come down to Kent, I think after Chrismas now, or if I can get on the right side of 'her indoors' it might be before Xmas.

Im going to Aldeburgh on Saturday afternoon. I've organised bait, but I need directions to the "Dirty Wall" I've heard a lot about it and want to try it, but don't know the location. If possible, could you give me the name of the closest street to it. Im now the proud owner of Sat Nav and would find it easily if I got the name of a street close by I'll put a report on here about the outcome. Many thanks for any help.

Definitely on for next Saturday come rain or shine! If you fancy your chances (biggest fish £1) let me know! The gauntlet has been thrown! Unfortunately, MP I live and work in London, with one weekend a month having to work. So it's getting out when I can. It would be a whole new ball game if I was fifteen minutes from the sea.

I was planning on going either to Kent or Suffolk/Norfolk Saturday around noon, but for the first time in my life, I have chickened out! It's just too cold!! I have been out when it has been even colder, but the reports on here of negligible catches has also put me off. So I have now left it 'til next weekend. Maybe this cold snap will bring sea temperatures down by next week and hopefully bring a few codling nearer the beaches. I might even go down to Dungie, which I consider the most desolate place on earth. What I would like is some really enthusiastic reports of good catches this weekend! That would give me the courage to go out next week. Seriously, I would like to hear about trips good, or bad so I can make a judgement for next weekend. I would also like some good marks in Suffolk, because I have concentrated around the Kent area and have gone up there only a few times. Many thanks.

Old age comes to us all Mike. I suppose I'll know what it feels like sometime in the future! Only kidding, really pleased about your successful trip. I'll more than likely see you next Saturday! .

Sounds poor Mike Guess I didnt miss much. Whats happening? I must have been at Hythe at two best times when I visited.