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2011 Review

As I write this diary entry on the 27th December 2011 I am facing the fact that my fourth attempt to get afloat in December is likely to be another failure due to the continued strong winds. I mustn't complain however as this year I have been incredibly lucky with the weather and despite December being a wash out for boat fishing I had some excellent sport from the rocks on Portland Bill to keep me entertained.

The year started in typical fashion with some good Whiting in January and some fantastic Pollack from the wrecks in the English Channel as we approached the Spring.

In the Spring itself I was lucky enough to spend a couple of weeks in Mexico where I managed to catch all manner of reef species despite being completely out-fished by my 11 year old daughter! The rest of the Spring was hard going back in the UK however with the early run of Bream not showing and the water temperature staying cool. Despite this we found some nice rays and at the end of the Spring we had some excellent Cod off the wrecks.

Summer was much better and I had many different species in both Plymouth and Weymouth, with particular success when targeting Ballan Wrasse.

If Summer was better then the Autumn was superlative. With more Cod, big Wrasse, as well as tope and Bream staying until very late in the year I think this Autumn has been the best season I have had fishing for many years. I even managed to catch a few nice flatties which has been my bugbear in past years.

Despite some tough fishing conditions in the middle part of the year I have managed personal bests this year for Ballan Wrasse (shore and boat), Cod, Spotted Ray and Plaice.

The real thanks for making this all possible must go to the skippers who have shown that despite the odds being against them on some days they can still conjure up sport for us and keep the rod ends nodding - so thank-you to Dave Pitman (Atlanta, Weymouth), Lyle Stantiford (Supanova, Weymouth) and Ivan (Papa Kees, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico) for putting on such great trips.

A big thank-you should also go to the anglers I have fished with who have put up with my constant camrea clicking and who appear on this site to make a nice change from mine and Pops's faces!

I have put together my favourite photos in to a slide show accompanied by one of my favourite Dixieland jazz tracks. I hope you like it and can get a fish fix if, like me, you are also a prisoner of the weather this Christmas!

Click the link below to access the slide show;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3joemIfjNc&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Contact - steve@madpolka.co.uk

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