nifty

Nice one Richie It looks almost like a summers day in that first pic. As for weather forecasts, I'm sure that a force 3 nowadays actually means 5

Nice report of the day Martin I think we made the right decision after looking at the sea state on the way home. I wasn't very hopeful really of getting much out of the estuary at this time of year and was quite happy to just get a few bites and my solitary whiting considering we only had probably half an hours comfortable fishing time at slack water. With the wind behind the flood tide, although it was quite fierce, the yak was sitting comfortably but as soon as the ebb got into it's stride it was a bit lumpy sitting side onto it. Anyway you beat me again but I'm not going to spit my dummy out just yet I reckon all them damn Shy-torques scared my fish away. Setting up in the shelter of the dunes: Martin tied up to his buoy in 30ft of water out from Aberdyfi jetty, My solitary Whiting, The view out to sea over the bar, And finally Martin, the one you want to see. Your supper, 10 seconds before it dropped off and back to freedom I bet you're not going to show young Claire that one are you whilst your tucking into beans on toast? Cheers mate, it was a good day out.

Sounds like I'm gonna have to work on it. I've never attracted a Haddock in my life, just a few old DOGS

Thanks Nick, It doesn't look too promising for Borth then. Will have a look in Aber in the morning and make a decision then. Cheers Tom, Pity you can't make it this week. Weekend working? that sounds desperate

Cheers Chris Hope you have a great day with the birthday boy ( I'm sure you will). Won't be too long now till we get into some real fishing Stu BTW, have you picked up this months BFM?

Hoping to get out this weekend ( Saturday probably)for a fish in the Aber area. Moderate N/W'lies forecast so any shelter will be hard to find. Maybe Flounder, if it's not too late, up the Dyfi or go for a wet launch and surf back at most other places. Who's game? and where do you think? Stu.

I bought some bubble wrap at the beginning of the winter Pike season initially just to give the fish a bit of protection whilst unhooking and had it tucked right under my seat. If the Pike didn't appreciate it, I know for sure my a"$e did and will be using it as standard from now on.

Not "Abby Titruss" (Sp)?

Yes Paul, The dusk rise is usually more productive than the dawn one. Always found it nicer to be up at the "Crack of dawn" though. The "Dawn Chorus" and all that you understand. All those Tits singing away. Who's the ed of the lancet nowadays?

I do believe that everyone on here has stopped buying that mag and has followed DS's example and now subscribes to NUTS Much better for keeping "Abreast" of what's going on.

I agree Richi, But there are Sharks and there are SHARKS. Our Tope would qualify as Shark and would knock spots off a Blue of similar size in the fighting department, then there are the big fellas

Only problem I can see is, are there any rocks big enough to get everyone on ?

Gilbo, I think it's a brilliant idea How big are these rocks that you plan to land on? and do they have easy places to pull ashore ( flatish)? Been having similar thoughts myself about trying a similar thing up here in Wales from a large headland that can only be reached by a two mile hike over land. It has produced Porgies close to shore in the past and a local skipper who used to get them 20 yrs ago suggested doing exactly this and hanging the dubby bags from the rocks in the tidal stream on the point. It would be fantastic achievement if someone pulled it off, and it can be done: http://www.irish-trophy-fish.com/articles/kevinl.htm

Hi Dave, Once that Starvin fellow has stopped knackering up every weekend by holding a tournament and ruining the weather then I promise to come up and have a go. If "Frank Sinatra" is going to be there as well, then we can make a proper AN meet of it

Not sure yet. Going to check the van tomorrow after all this wind and have a look at how much freshwater is coming down the rivers along the way. Had an idea of going upto the Broadwater at Tywyn maybe. Never tried it in winter but very sheltered and a chance of some Flounders possibly.

Toopee? Only after my second flask of tea

Now there's a surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some great reports and pics as usual boys That sea looks nice and clear considering all the wind and rain we'd had. It looked more like strong coffee off New Quay last Saturday and it's not looking much good for this weekend either. I pinched this pic of the bay taken yesterday and it don't look too clever for tomorrow. Who's out this week? Stu.

Good report and pics Overrun, that's a nice chunky little Bass you had.

Thanks for the kind words boys, been away with work this week so couldn't reply at the time. Just need to point out to Simon that I do not have a bald patch but a second hand wig with a hole in it, OK ! and underneath is totally my own Skin

Decided to fish Llangorse today, partly because I was sure I could at least get one fish from there to count for the tourney, and secondly, I hate the drive to Bala Was on the water for 8-30am and apart from two other boats I had the lake to myself as they were both fishing the corner where all the action came from on the trip in November. The lake was at least another foot higher than when we were there last and I launched from the field behind the car park. Started off trolling a Sardine and heading very slowly down to the bottom end of the lake. I was about half way there when I had my first hit and struck into a reasonable looking fish. When it came alongside I noticed a whole load of line and wire hanging out of it's mouth besides my own so despite planning on netting it I thought better of it to avoid a pile of knotted mesh and carefully chinned it out, trying and failing to avoid all the ironmongery in it's mouth. Luckily for me, my trace was gotten out easily but the other trace with three feet of heavy braid still attached was well down and without wanting to cause the fish anymore harm I cut the wire at the back of the throat and released it. Hopefully it will be ok and the old trace didn't seem to have put the fish off still feeding on my bait. This fish measured 75cm. I carried on trolling and about half an hour later as I was approaching my intended mark I had two takes in quick succession which I failed to hit so decided to drop anchor about 20yds out from the reed beds and switched over to my other rod set up with a float leger fished bottom end only. I baited this up with half herring and dropped it five yards off the reeds. It was about 15 minutes before the float lifted and then slid away and I was into number two. Again this felt half decent and after a couple of minutes a nice looking fish was in the net. This one measured 78cm. Straight back in and almost immediately I had another run and again it felt a decent fish. This was on a Herring tail. Size? 82 cm. The biggest of the bunch estimated around 15lb. The sun was now full on the water and it seemed as though every Pike in the lake was on the move in the peaty coloured water and within a couple of minutes the whole Sardine offering had been taken but I struck too soon and missed it as I did as well on the next cast with another Sardine. I don't like missing fish but I hate seeing them deep hooked so I can live with missing a few by striking early and I felt I'd already had a decent day but when the float dipped and went away again within a couple of minutes of recasting I couldn't believe my luck and this felt a better fish. When measured it only went 80 cm but was quite fat so put her on the scales in the net and watched them drop to 15lb, so less the net a good 14lber I would think. As quickly as they had come on the feed then it seemed they had turned off just as quickly just after 1-30 and that was it for the day. All the fish were covered with Leeches and the bottom of my yak was alive with the horrid little critters when I came to wash her down tonight. So all in all a "GREAT DAY" and the weather was more like May than January. Stu

That looks horrible Simon but at least you got out and gave it a go and sooner or later this weather is going to get better and you will have earned some reward points if there is any fairness in this life.

Met up with TPW (Tom) this morning with the intention of fishing a small reef a mile north of the pier at New Quay. I was sitting in the pub having a cup of tea with some of the local boys when Tom arrived about 10o/clock and we had half an hour watching the rain pour down outside. One of the local lads there is a commercial potter and he was telling us that he had been getting a few nice Codling in his pots in the area we intended to fish, so it looked promising if the weather played ball. It didn't look too bad when we drove onto the slipway to get kitted up and by 11-30 we were heading out of the shelter of the harbour towards the reef buoy. The wind though was getting fresher by the minute and once out of the shelter of the head there was a bit of a swell which as we approached the reef we could see was building into some big breaks, so we kept a safe distance and dropped anchor. As it turned out it wasn't particularly comfortable with the yaks sitting across the tide and with the wind against us to get back I felt we would be better off going back into the lee of the head to at least fish in comfort. Tom had had one Doggy in the short time we were there and we could no doubt have probably got away with it but the sheltered second mark was just as likely to produce a few fish and indeed within a few minutes of dropping anchor again we were getting plenty of Dogs and whiting with a few of the Whiting of a reasonable size( The biggest of which I kept and weighed just shy of a pound before it hit the frying pan. ) We only fished till about three as there is only so much small stuff fishing you can do before it gets monotonous and to be honest my feet were getting a nice shade of BLUE. A drysuit would definitely save all the pain of cold feet but with my Tea intake during the day, taking a leak becomes a major issue I think we must have had 50 fish between us in the few hours we were out so not too bad. Tom in an unconvincing Power Ranger pose Sitting it out. Smile please! Thanks for the company Tom, hopefully next time we'll be able to get out and fish the reef and the better ground further out Stu

Get yourself down to New Quay, and bring your mate as well Dave, There's plenty of Dolphins there most of the year, and even if you miss them in your pic, the sunsets are well worth it!! Stu

They are very brittle but with something glued to one side it might be easier to cut them and stop them from shattering. Hardboard might make them slightly more buoyant, not a bad thing really, or a very thin metal to make them sink more quickly. Brains in overdrive now thinking of things to try and I won't get to sleep, Cheers Dave Got to get up early anyway, Stu