Tony U

Brilliant!!

Errrm Well if you do go perhaps we can have a few sessions together, I will be taking a load of kit, as ususal. Tony

Errrm When and where are you going over I will be there from 9 November, staying at the Daiquiri. Tony

Errm Sorry I have been away or I would have replied to this earlier; you will need a heavier approach than you would use in the UK the tackle you describe is fine....... for catching bait. I normally use a 9 foot 50-100g spinning rod and an 8weight fly outfit for the bonefish and a 30-50lb class boat outfit with a 4/0 class lever drag reel for trolling. I also use the spinning rod for live baiting etc. for line I use either 30lb braid on a 60 class spinning reel (I use an Okuma Cedros), and a have a spare spool of 35lb mono as it has more abrasion resistance if fishing over coral reefs. You will need to use a trace I use 60lb wire but use 150lb when trolling fro the likes of Wahoo King Mackerel etc. I use 100-20lb mono for Sailfish, Dorado etc. and I would use a rubbing trace of 100lb mono if you go for the big Tarpon. There is no tackle to be had on the Cayos so you must take your own so take a good selection of poppers, lures, hooks (I like using octopus patterns in sizes from 1- 10/0 but small patters (sizes 8-2), are useful for baitfish and sets of sabikis and hokkais work for this as well. as for the fishing the beaches on Cayo Guillermo are extensive coral flats and are very shallow and completely exposed at low water they are good for bones and odd needle fish and Ballyhoo but little else the Causeway bridge on to the Island is good but always full of locals, the rocks at Playa Pilar are also good in the evening but the big Tarpon that used to be there between May and September are few and far between. The lagoons around the hotels have baby poons in them and are fun on spinning gear but are under a lot of angling pressure. Charter boats are available at around 450 CuC's a day (cheaper for half days and standby’s). You can negotiate a half day mangrove or inner reef trio for around 150CuC's per day and guides are 180CuC's a day but they will take you off island to the excellent marks around Cayo Paradon Grande. Tony

Well done to all who caught fish; Sue and I were there yesterday for the BBQ and would also comment that the conditions were less than ideal but it is nice to see that some nice Tench coming out. However the conditions were ideal for our trout fishing trip after we left I had Five trout out to 3lbs on buzzers and Hares ear nymphs and Sue had a nice fish of around 2.5lbs on a damsel nymph. Maybe we will be back to the coarse fishing mullarkey quicker that anticipated, consensus was that we could do with another AN fish in at Timsbury, I am looking into it and will advise further. Tony

Ah the Ocellated Lizard I used to see loads of them in the gardens near my late father's Villa in Nerja I have not seen one in ages though. They eat them in Extremadura by the way "The ocellated lizard is part of the cuisine of Extremadura, Spain. In this region there is a speciality known as lagarto con tomate. This dish is made by frying slices of lizard in olive oil, after which they are stewed with tomatoes and onions on a slow fire in an earthenware pot."

I was in Rota a couple of weeks ago looking for these:

Got to say I was very impressed with the assistance we had from the Guardia, when all our gear was nicked from our hire car near Ronda last year.

Well I'm getting excited at the prospect of visiting Wingham again and I am only going to the BBQ

Dave Happy Birthday here's to many more Tony

Good news start them off with proper fishing!!!

Richard No problem I will PM you we are not short of Fly gear. Tony

Richard I think I still have a few that Den gave me, I will bring them along for anyone to use; if I can find my coarse gear!

Barry Spot on, we should try it around Medway!

They look very similar to the ones Den Darkin used with great success at Wingham a couple of years ago.

My tactics on Sunday will be turn up havve a good scoff at the BBQ, a few drinks, wander round and say hello to old friends and then go off Trout fishing at Chequertree. Oh yes I will bring along a case of beer so people can help themselves. Tony

Does anyone know if the film is any good? The book by the way is excellent.

A bit like young Matt

It's just the same as raking the swim for Tench.

Sue and I will be the BBQ on Sunday, we are still on our break from coarse fishing (dare I say it may be permanent), but we are looking forward to meeting up with everyone. Tony

Barry I will have a look but I think I only have ver 8.0. Have you thought about using Open Office? it is freeware and nearly as good as Office and better than Works. Tony

Dave Yes I have had the b****y thing, a few years ago I had a series of recurrent attacks, don’t believe the old wives tales about port and cheese it is entirely metabolic, non drinkers can suffer as much as the rest of us. In the end I was prescribed Alluprinol and have not had a major attack since, the only problem with the drug is that when you first start taking it can and did bring on an attack. That said I have not had a major attack in eight years. Tony

The Common Buzzard is now the commonost bird of prey in the UK, it now thrives in areas where there were once only a few, such as Cheshire, Northamptonshire and the Lothians

I have already got a copy Leon, no mention of the River Len though.

A bit of animal fur, a length of turkey breast under feather and a jewellery makers brass bead perform wonders for me