Ian Burrett

I went down to launch my boat this morning and found 10's of thousands of dead sandeels being washed in as the tide advanced. There were thousands of live ones on the water head up gasping for air. My first thought was pollution but there is no fresh water running in nearby. We are are in the middle of one of the worst algeal blooms i have seen. The water is snooker cloth colored. I have informed Sepa but don't know if they have done anything about it. I suspect that it is something to do with toxins in the algea after it has died off. Have any of you got any ideas or witnessed similar events. I did manage to save a couple of bucket loads for bait, athough they are a bit small for our purpose.

The kids call me an old wrinkly and I am only 28. Just had a big paper round as a kid.

Aaah sussed it I feel like I am sending posts to myself

Why am i getting writing not gremlins?

We will split the difference. How does 4.45 sound? :confused:

I can't see any advantage on a open trailered boat of a bilge switch and electric pump. It's different for one on a mooring, that is left alone for days on end. K.I.S.S.

Hi snatcher Speaking of being locked in I went to the ship Thursday night to be sociable with my anglers, they went to bed at 10 O'clock and I didn't manage to get home till half past four. Still up for the fishing but it made it a long day. I had our first attempt this season at the Bass today. Had 1 at 3.5 pounds and lost another. but the water is awfully stirred uo with all the high winds and is not fishing well at all. What does Narly mean?? See you on Friday night

Uptider? Uptider? What's that for? I have central heating therefore no fire to Poke. Please ring Thurs night for forecast

quote: Originally posted by Norrie: [QBLooking forward to Friday, and hopefully we will have another great day. who buys the first pint.... Norrie [/QB] Hi Norrie Lets hope the weather changes. It's been awful with just one day in the last fortnight below a force 6. Its blxxdy frustrating as we have been to our best Tope grounds just three times in the whole of June. It might be an idea if you bring a Carp rod or light spinning rod for the Pollack if we can't get out to the Tope, as there are only a few inshore at the moment. I have plenty of spares rods and reels let me know if you require any. I am looking forward to meeting you all. Are you up Thurday night? cos mines a Guiness

Hi all The article in BFM makes no mention of me being Skate expert and i certainly wouldn't consider myself one. It clearly states we are visitors to the area as a change of fishing for my regulars. It is by invitation only The article was written by proffessional journalist Phil williams and i had no say in the wording. Regards the 8 ft trace. We used to fish 70 braid with a 12 ft leader and found the leader knots caused nothing but tangles and the leader was unnecessary. The 8 ft trace is so the tail of the fish is well away from the main line. I had 64 fish on my boat in awlful weather conditions with wind and rain most days. 63 of them were hooked in the scissors. and one was deep but i managed to retrieve it. The reason for this is because we fish Tippy rods with good bite detection and i encourage the anglers to hit the fish early. It obviously works as I averaged three fish a day in some horrendous weather, when the conditions dictated where we could fish, not were we wanted to. With all bottom fishing the longer traces encourasge more bites as it creates more movement when there is tide flow which is a turn on for any preditory fish. In some area they fish 20 ft traces for Tope and Pollack I love visiting the Loch Aline area, because it is special and like to feel we leave the fish in the same condition that we find them. We lost the 5 traces in all, one to a fish and four from snagging bottom. Regards hooks in fish one of my anglers once gutted a 30 pound conger and there was 6 hooks in its gut of varying degrees of decay. It obviously causes them no harm Regards how many fish i personally caught,I probably hooked about 20 of the fish but didn't wind any in. Do you think I am a masochist? Details of the trip, with day to day stats can be found on my website.

The idea of the hole in the false floor is to keep the decks dry. Fit the hose inlet of a pump through the hole into the false floor. Regards a Bilge pump, you would be better with something like a manual whale Gusher Urchin or similar. I have tried numerous electric ones and they all blocked up with sand, Mackerel blood and guts etc. The Urchin will last for years and are only £25-30

thanks very much

Its one of two gas cannisters that were washed overboard from a cargo ship 5 years ago. They weigh 52 Tons and will stay there till they rot. The bit marked with a buoy is a lobster pot

Rockling Was this wreckage you described a Cigar shaped cylinder?

Davy I seem to remember a sea angler report about three Skate caught from your local pier in one night perhaps 10-12 years ago. Has there been any success since then? Ardtornish point always seems a likely spot for them as it shelves away very quickly. John Montgomery who works for Ardtornish estates told me he has had, whilst scalloping, Skate swimming over his head in 40-50 ft of water Did you hear about the recent Irish docomentary on Skate fishing from Baly Castle, Apparently they are catching 2-3 a day in an area considered barren a few years ago. Who knows? We might be catching them down here again if they continue to flourish.

A local farmer got prosecued in his tractor just a month ago for using red diesel on the road, He was hauling stone for a builder and not agricultural work, so the laws are out there. Tax exempt doesn't necessarily mean you don't initially pay taxe, My boats are classed as tax exemt. I buy petrol at the local filling station and claim the taxes back at the end of my fishing season. Usually time for heep big party

Hi winter I am probably the wrong man to ask as i have only ever boat fished, but many shore anglers like it for its abrasive resistance and it certainly casts well

My pal had one, the high front picked up a lot of wind and he ended fishing off the stern even on the drift. Ok for a couple of anglers but no good with many more. Check on the HP as many were underpowered and struggled to get on the plane.

With the braids you need a rod that bends right through, A breed of rods came out a few years ago that were snooker cues with a whippy tip and were awful for braid. A through action will absorb the dives of the fish, not only do you get improved bite detection but also enjoy the fight as you can feel every kick and turn. Loosing fish is not a problem. We fish barbless for Tope and Pollack and rarely drop one The biggest problem i see with braid is when anglers haven't had enough tension on when loading up the reel. Because braid is so thin it will dig in itself if the tension isn't right. Easiest way to avoid this is to wind the braid on a spare reel then wind it on to your chosen reel using the cluth on your spare reel to give you the desired tension. Once you have got used to braid you will never go back, It has been the biggest break through for years for boat angling as it means lighter leads and therefore lighter rods and more feel and enjoyment. With a balanced outfit you can tell the difference between a male and female doggie 100 ft down

The last three postings are missing the point. There will be no red diesel for anyone. Everyone including farmers will buy standard white diesel, the same stuff thsat comes out the local garage and legitimate users will claim the duty back. So it won't effect the cost of any produce. The government claim over 100,000 car owners are using red diesel at any one time. Its these motorists the government are trying to get at.

Hi Geordie Nick If you get an OS map for the area I will pinpoint marks for you next time you are up. It is easier than trying to describe marks.

The main reason for the governments move is to clamp down on motorists putting red diesel in their cars, Commercial and Charter boats will claim the duty back as I have done with the petrol for years. Private boat owners should be allowed to do the same

Hi Allan Never heard of one being caught in South West Scotland but I am organising a trip to Norway in November. where one or two Halibut per angler per trip is possible, and Cod to 90 pounds. If anyone is interested, I have three spaces available

What a waste of water Wouldn't the landlord give a keg of Guiness to go with it

Hi sandtiger It definatley wasn't another Tope. I would have recognised the neat incisions that Tope leave in the Mackerel baits. This Shark left holes you could put your finger in. I will post the snaps when they arrive and hopefully someone will recognise the bite marks or better still, I will try to stick a hook in it, when the stinking weather allows.