Always used the kitchen gas hob for making my fishing weights, that is until I eventually burnt through the bottom of the old pan I used, pouring molten lead all over the cooker in the process. My mum was not best pleased! :rcard
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Guernsey 2006
- Thread starter portinfer
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 90 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
I think OMD probably has slightly better arrangements from a Health& Safety aspect!
Can anyone suggest a good spot to go around high tide this evening ( without giving away any secrets) just want to try out my weight belt & new float, but may as well see if there's anything around while I'm in!
Can anyone suggest a good spot to go around high tide this evening ( without giving away any secrets) just want to try out my weight belt & new float, but may as well see if there's anything around while I'm in!
Magpie ( and others) excuse my ignorance, but what are the advantages of a wooden gun like the one youre making?
Sarnian
I've had sucess in the past at the Fort Richmond Headland. From the car park at the end there is a nice sheltered bay in the Perelle direction, if thats any help?
Might even be tempted myself. PM me if you want to meet up.
On the other hand I hear its very safe at Fermain, if anything happens to you you get saved by Dolphins!
Andy
I've had sucess in the past at the Fort Richmond Headland. From the car park at the end there is a nice sheltered bay in the Perelle direction, if thats any help?
Might even be tempted myself. PM me if you want to meet up.
On the other hand I hear its very safe at Fermain, if anything happens to you you get saved by Dolphins!
Andy
I'm no expert on the subject but for guns like mine there's very little advantage other than it looks nice and was free. I was going to use a bit of old rod butt, but didn't have any the right diameter.
In bigger guns the greater mass of the wood means the gun has less recoil during firing, making it more accurate and nicer to use. Ed is the wood gun man around here so he'll probably have some input.
In bigger guns the greater mass of the wood means the gun has less recoil during firing, making it more accurate and nicer to use. Ed is the wood gun man around here so he'll probably have some input.
Hi Andy and thanks for the offer - I'll bear it in mind for another time. In the end, I had other things I had to do at home ( boring stuff like feeding children) so wasn't able to go. Went past Ammarreurs on the way home and it looked very inviting!
Will spend the time at home instead lookiing for the roll of lead left over from the roof a) to give OMD as he's kindly making me a weight and b) to make ankle weights as he suggested.
So never mind Foxfish - you're not the only one not going in! Hope your yers are better.
The latest on Matt Harvey on the Radio Gsy news tonight was that he was hit by a boat - wonder if he was using a float? Still sounds a bit of an odd story - or is it just me??
Will spend the time at home instead lookiing for the roll of lead left over from the roof a) to give OMD as he's kindly making me a weight and b) to make ankle weights as he suggested.
So never mind Foxfish - you're not the only one not going in! Hope your yers are better.
The latest on Matt Harvey on the Radio Gsy news tonight was that he was hit by a boat - wonder if he was using a float? Still sounds a bit of an odd story - or is it just me??
For all of you who wonder why Pete never posts... it's because he has been busy becoming an artist of international fame (nearly 
) :
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/yourgallery/artists/0,,1863091,00.html
Half way down the page is his work - he has been shortlisted in the 30 people who may get to have a show of their work at the Saatchi gallery.
For those of you who know nothing about art ... this is a BIG thing... so if you feel like voting for him then I'm sure we can get a Guern on the podium so to speak
Best of luck Pete and remember not to forget your diving buddies when you do become famous.
Ed
) :http://arts.guardian.co.uk/yourgallery/artists/0,,1863091,00.html
Half way down the page is his work - he has been shortlisted in the 30 people who may get to have a show of their work at the Saatchi gallery.
For those of you who know nothing about art ... this is a BIG thing... so if you feel like voting for him then I'm sure we can get a Guern on the podium so to speak
Best of luck Pete and remember not to forget your diving buddies when you do become famous.
Ed
Hi Guys
Have been lurking this site for a while - in fact it was one of the factors that made me decide to take up spearfishing again after many years absence. Haven't posted yet as still waiting for my gear to arrive but . . .
Whilst not necessarily inviting comment on the recent diver story, what is the feeling on the currents around Guernsey? I'm aware we have a large tidal range and should be careful but does being "swept out to sea" seem a bit unlikely for a reasonably strong swimmer? Are there places / states of tide to be avoided by spearos?
What do you guys think?
Have been lurking this site for a while - in fact it was one of the factors that made me decide to take up spearfishing again after many years absence. Haven't posted yet as still waiting for my gear to arrive but . . .
Whilst not necessarily inviting comment on the recent diver story, what is the feeling on the currents around Guernsey? I'm aware we have a large tidal range and should be careful but does being "swept out to sea" seem a bit unlikely for a reasonably strong swimmer? Are there places / states of tide to be avoided by spearos?
What do you guys think?
lol
That's kinda what I had gathered from reading here! Have you ever had a close call though? As I said it's been many years since I've been out snorkelling but I never used to particularly find a problem with currents that I couldn't swim out of - or was I just lucky and MH was unlucky??
That's kinda what I had gathered from reading here! Have you ever had a close call though? As I said it's been many years since I've been out snorkelling but I never used to particularly find a problem with currents that I couldn't swim out of - or was I just lucky and MH was unlucky??
Well MH is beyond me until I here his own story? Yes I have had a few moments but I am still here! A few cramps early in the season & a few out of breath (from surface swimming) situations. As a general ansaw, I very rarely find a tide I cant get away from. I think things like fog are more of a threat? (or diving at night)
Trip - not sure how much you know so ignore if you know this - generally there is less of a current with neap tides as opposed to spring tides.
Generally low water is less currenty close in. The reefs break the current but watch out as soon as the reefs go under as the current will move inshore rapidly.
I always forget but the current goes one way on the rise and the other way on the fall. Each bay tends to behave differently depending onthe tide state (rising / falling) and tide type (spring / neap).
For example fishing in the big bays is generally 'safe' in terms of current... fishing points is generally 'unsafe' in terms of current when the tide is raging.
Last year on Dave's favourite dive (think rock climbing) we all had a really big swim back.... Marco, Matt, Dave and myself were pretty tired ... current came on strong and we were in a place that wasn't known to us. So if in doubt tread carefully...
You can fish in alot of places if you hover on the edge of the tide - I don't advocate this until you really know the state of tide and when you should return - I tend to look at certain rocks and when they are covered head back.....
There are some VERY confusing currents on the east coast so go slow there.... maybe big bays and inshore at low water on the the west coast ? Up to you mate - plenty of folk here to hook up with and get your confidence back. All the best getting back in the water.
Ed
Generally low water is less currenty close in. The reefs break the current but watch out as soon as the reefs go under as the current will move inshore rapidly.
I always forget but the current goes one way on the rise and the other way on the fall. Each bay tends to behave differently depending onthe tide state (rising / falling) and tide type (spring / neap).
For example fishing in the big bays is generally 'safe' in terms of current... fishing points is generally 'unsafe' in terms of current when the tide is raging.
Last year on Dave's favourite dive (think rock climbing
) we all had a really big swim back.... Marco, Matt, Dave and myself were pretty tired ... current came on strong and we were in a place that wasn't known to us. So if in doubt tread carefully...You can fish in alot of places if you hover on the edge of the tide - I don't advocate this until you really know the state of tide and when you should return - I tend to look at certain rocks and when they are covered head back.....
There are some VERY confusing currents on the east coast so go slow there.... maybe big bays and inshore at low water on the the west coast ? Up to you mate - plenty of folk here to hook up with and get your confidence back. All the best getting back in the water.
Ed
Welcome Trip
I think that it is important to have an understanding of tidal flow around here if you are going diving. Most areas have strong tides at certain times. Spring tides produce more flow than neap tides but all tides are stronger than the strongest diver in a direct contest.
Most of us fish the edge of tides or swim short distances cross tide or across and down tide. The main dangers are if you were fishing a corner of the island when the tide was going effectively offshore. An example would be at low tide fishing St martins point area or the Hanois lightthouse area. At this time the tide is going south strongly and you could be swept away from land. Same applies with Fort Doyle/Bordeaux at high tide where the tide is strongly heading north.
One thing to remember is that the tide slows gradually and then changes direction 180 degrees every 6 hours. If you were swept away from land then within a few hours the tide would change and take you back. In a worse case senario never ever swim against the tide, swim cross tide to rocks or pot bobbers or conserve your energy. When the tide changes use it to swim back to land.
Many people have had near misses and its amazing how strongly a frightened man can swim. However although several boat scubies have been swept away i don't know of anything like the recent case. Not in my memory of the last 40 years anyway.
To sum up I think if in doubt play safe and one of the best things about sites like DB is meet up and learn from people who have more experience.
Yeh! Nice one Pete. Best of luck.
AB, Magpie has summed it up about wood guns. Easiest material for DIY and in larger sizes offers more mass to counteract recoil. Some people also prefer the look of wood. Experimenting with the idea myself. [ame="http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=66796"]Euro-Hybrid R&D Project[/ame]
Dave
I think that it is important to have an understanding of tidal flow around here if you are going diving. Most areas have strong tides at certain times. Spring tides produce more flow than neap tides but all tides are stronger than the strongest diver in a direct contest.
Most of us fish the edge of tides or swim short distances cross tide or across and down tide. The main dangers are if you were fishing a corner of the island when the tide was going effectively offshore. An example would be at low tide fishing St martins point area or the Hanois lightthouse area. At this time the tide is going south strongly and you could be swept away from land. Same applies with Fort Doyle/Bordeaux at high tide where the tide is strongly heading north.
One thing to remember is that the tide slows gradually and then changes direction 180 degrees every 6 hours. If you were swept away from land then within a few hours the tide would change and take you back. In a worse case senario never ever swim against the tide, swim cross tide to rocks or pot bobbers or conserve your energy. When the tide changes use it to swim back to land.
Many people have had near misses and its amazing how strongly a frightened man can swim. However although several boat scubies have been swept away i don't know of anything like the recent case. Not in my memory of the last 40 years anyway.
To sum up I think if in doubt play safe and one of the best things about sites like DB is meet up and learn from people who have more experience.
Yeh! Nice one Pete. Best of luck.
AB, Magpie has summed it up about wood guns. Easiest material for DIY and in larger sizes offers more mass to counteract recoil. Some people also prefer the look of wood. Experimenting with the idea myself. [ame="http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=66796"]Euro-Hybrid R&D Project[/ame]
Dave
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Wow! Thanks very much Portinfer and OMD - that seems very good advice. I have been looking forward to fishing the marks some of you guys have been hinting at (sometimes, thankfully, not too obscurely)!
I just saw the BBC "local" news ans MH has released a statement saying he spent most of the period he was missing on rocks on the south coast somewhere and went back into the water on Monday to try and reach a bay to get out. Was hit by a boat early on in his dive which knocked off his reg and mask.
No doubt there'll be more in the press tomorrow.
I just saw the BBC "local" news ans MH has released a statement saying he spent most of the period he was missing on rocks on the south coast somewhere and went back into the water on Monday to try and reach a bay to get out. Was hit by a boat early on in his dive which knocked off his reg and mask.
No doubt there'll be more in the press tomorrow.
Went in this evening @ Richmond. Tide was higher than I expected though and the viz in the shallows was only a couple of feet. Couple of schoolies in the ascopyllum in the centre of the bay, left them to grow.
Only had half an hour to spare so didn't expect to catch, good to get in the water though.
Only had half an hour to spare so didn't expect to catch, good to get in the water though.
I can see the attraction of a wooden gun, especially if you have made it yourself. Must be satisfying whenit all come together.
Whats all this baloney about dolphins pushing the missing diver back to shore!
Whats all this baloney about dolphins pushing the missing diver back to shore!
Hello Trippy,
The one thing I'll say about the tides is a good pair of long fins helps a lot. I like playing in the tides round bordeaux but only because i know the fins will get me across any rips, well, most anyway.
As the others have said, if you do find yourself getting taken away just swim across the tide to the nearest rocks, you may have to get out and walk a couple of hundred metres back to where you started, but its better than trying to swim against it and ending up in Jersey! Not much worse than ending up in Jersey. Key thing is to know which way the tide is running before you get into it, that way you can eitehr use it to your advantage, or avoid it all together.
Sometimes when you are intent on finding the fish you don't notice you're in one straight away. What I do is make sure I'm taking note of the weed on the bottom, when you see it flattened and waving hard you know the tides moving.
ABM, well mines all together now and we'll see how satisfying it is tonight! (The dolphins didn't push him back to shore, their only involvment was that was what the people in the yacht were looking for/at when they found him)
PS. Pete's got my vote, not that I know jack about that sort of thing!
The one thing I'll say about the tides is a good pair of long fins helps a lot. I like playing in the tides round bordeaux but only because i know the fins will get me across any rips, well, most anyway.
As the others have said, if you do find yourself getting taken away just swim across the tide to the nearest rocks, you may have to get out and walk a couple of hundred metres back to where you started, but its better than trying to swim against it and ending up in Jersey! Not much worse than ending up in Jersey. Key thing is to know which way the tide is running before you get into it, that way you can eitehr use it to your advantage, or avoid it all together.
Sometimes when you are intent on finding the fish you don't notice you're in one straight away. What I do is make sure I'm taking note of the weed on the bottom, when you see it flattened and waving hard you know the tides moving.
ABM, well mines all together now and we'll see how satisfying it is tonight! (The dolphins didn't push him back to shore, their only involvment was that was what the people in the yacht were looking for/at when they found him)
PS. Pete's got my vote, not that I know jack about that sort of thing!
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