Poole Harbour 17/1/9

[Spahill]

Took a trip down to Poole Harbour (regardless of the forecast) in search of some flatties.
Popped into Swanage for some worm & managed to walk out only spending £3 . Nothing to do with the quality of the shop, have spent plenty in there before, but just £3 !!! Anyone else managed to beat that recently?
Went off down to Studland and parked up a couple of hundred meters from the car ferry/toll.
Arrived around 13:30 and made the arduous 50yd walk to the water.
Wind was still westerly so tucked the beach buddy close up to the bank behind.
Setup the rods (carp) with 20lb braid through to size a 2 or 4 flapper or a 1 up 1 down with plenty of bling. Started with 1 pop up but as no sign of bait molestation from fish or 6 legged foes went to both baits on the bottom.
For 5 hours the tide seemed to yo-yo 6 inches up & down before someone pulled the plug out.
Tried rag, slip limit, frozen lug & squid strips in all combinations all to no avail.
Research on venue suggested fishing close in 5 – 30 yards, but nothing was taking.
Out of desperation, had got dark, wind picked up & promised rain starting to spit decided to launch one into the distance. Amidst the unsynchronised dancing of the tip lights in the gusty wind spotted a couple of rattles.
The result
<imag> Flat Battery</imag>
Botheration, note to self “check batteries every trip”, a schoolie of about 8-10 oz.
Water was now disappearing so put both rods at distance and connected with another bass of about half the size. I thought it looked vaguely Dace like till it stuck its spines up.
Fresh bait again (rag only) and whacked out and Kirikomi managed to snaffle another little bass.
Had to walk out a fair way to put it back across the sand/mud as tide was still going out, rain started to come on properly ,so packed up & headed home happy .
Drive home was exhilarating, the rain started sheeting down, In 20 years of driving I’ve never had to dip my headlights just to get a better view because of rain. It was worse than a Pea soup fog. At one point north of Bere Regis, just before the Blandford-Dorchester road visibility was about 5 yds & that was sideways to look at the hedges. All the way home branches/stones in the road & puddles from side to side. Thanks to all the drivers who followed me at a safe distance & to those I followed.
Commiserations to those in the pub south of Salisbury that had to evacuate in that weather because of fire. When it happened to me I was playing darts in a little village, so was able to go to the next pub, another fond memory (you had to be there).
All in all a good start to the year for the Hounds fishing.

[pingu]

well done paul , dedication paid off for you

dave

[Twiddler]

Nice one Paul...we tried for the flatties too on Saturday at magazine lane but no luck, all we got were schoolies and pouting.

Cuckoo and gang fished the Itchen bridge for flatties but again no bites all day.

I wonder where all the flatties are gone?

[Norfolkboy]

Nice one

[fishypaul]

well done paul you deserved better for that effort

[cuckoo]

Nice report paul , where are the flounder