review of 2008

[pingu]

well as i was bored and in tonight heres my thoughts on 2008
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As seems to be the time for reviews on telly, along with far too much reality rubbish
Thought I’d do a review on what has overall been a good year for me

Although it could not have started much worse than the netting at Rodney bay
link to thread

worst start to year ever , BL**DY GILL NETS

which did take a few weeks to get over

but luckily by the end of the month I did manage a pb flounder from the exe so things did improve

the spring was slow but met up with several members both shore and course , and is always nice to meet everyone, sessions includeing non zander fishing, non salcombe ray fishing and plenty of non pike fishing in the spring
but a few good trips with club includeing a great rock session with a pb huss


luckily summer came around and so did the smuts( although unfortunately not at the great smut meet, another good forum meet up fully enjoyed)

rich and myself had several good sessions locally after some trials, finding a good consistant beach , and seeing others catch their first as well was great
infact rich became the smutt magnet and never seemed to fail


I didn’t get as much course fishing as I’d like in during the year but remember a few pleasant evenings at a local pond with family picnics

and eventually breaking the boilie virginity at shillingford with Tj

August saw me bream fishing for a week with the wife ( who is starting to enjoy the fishing)

September eventually came around and its hard point out any specifics from a great week in france, good friends, environment and when we found them good fish( funny I found my note pad other day and shopping list always seemed to start with 4 cases of beer ( cheers paul)
Every fish I caught was a pb culminateing in this beast,


don’t think I’ll ever forget the banter on the swim as I was faffing about with it

autumn = mulleting with dave and getting my first clap

soon after the return was probably my best ever sea trip, after several failed trips on north coast I did some serious research resulting in a trip back to burnham in this cracking first thornie and conger( prob first ever double figue but un weighed



even managed in the october half term to go sea fishing with paul, something i never thought would happed

october and I did eventually find a pike after very nearly a year drought but still to find the big ones again

since then it seems to have been hard work , as 1 I seemed to be fishing like a twat , 2 new job clap stopping daytime fishing,but there was a cracking sole for rich in lyme recently though and a good social with the club


but baggie and myself still keep hunting
and have managed fish between us and blanks are more or less noticeable by their absence .

overall the fishing has been ok if not patchy , the ray on the south coast have been very noticeable by their absence, and i have done my bit for bass conservation by failing to catch any keeper sized fish all year



but now with 2 weeks fishing left will we find a cod or a big pike, who knows

so thanks to all who I have met, fished with 9 far too many to write here, or have helped in any way, and who read my ramblings overall its been a good year. And of cause the club mates from mighty ESAA meets and their socials ( yes the hangover has at last gone from last weekend )

and most especially this guy who puts up with all my mad ideas( especially muddy ones )

looking forward I have booked non zander trip to gloucester, pikeing in march with paul, carp comp in july and a weekend in the IOW in sept with club
so heres to 2009

dave

[Spahill]

great review Dave, you certainly had plenty of high spots.
Sorry to hear about the clap in autumn though, you don't want those sort of spots (stay out of dodgy nightclubs).
Have a great xmas & new year.

[Norfolkboy]

Great read Dave, been a pleasure reading your reports.

Here's to 2009

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Must admit Have found your write ups fab - well done for the read

[Twiddler]

Fab review Ping and some cracking fish caught during 2008......let's hope 2009 will bring as much joy and of course

[fishypaul]

plenty of pb's for 08 hope you bag as many if not more in 09 mate

[cuckoo]

Great account of your year dave , always a pleasure reading yours and the baggie ones reports , the pair of you have had a blinding year well done , tight lines for 2009 ,

lee.

[Catfish Virgin (Still!)]

What a cracking read! This fishing lark is a bit good (even when we blank!)

[hachingpooh]

For me the highlight was a trip to the Domenican Republic where I could take part on two exits for Marlin fishing. I could catch two white marlin and had a very good time.
Nice fish and nice year!

[tjnorton]

Great review dave and some nice fish. I will remember theanis session I'm seaton with the smoothies

tj