overrun

Hi Jessica There's much good info contained in this forum if you use the search function. A useful book, I'd recommend Andy Benham's Discover Kayak Fishing ISBN 1906095221 Assuming you are based in the UK then have a look here: www.anglersafloat.co.uk Several 'how to rig your Kayak' pages, SOT Kayak training courses backed by the AT and an excellent forum.

touchy KD !

Bream tactics will work: Triggers

First, I'm no expert Dave and not fished the Salcombe estuary. Drifting is OK for covering a wide area if no real idea where the fish may be. Once you've localised them I'd consider anchoring and using a float to keep the bait moving in the general area. Most flatfish are lazy and will go with the tide, if the wind is making the Yak drift against the tide then you probably won't catch. Something like a drogue could help in that circumstance or anchor and float. The hook end will benefit from attractors and maybe a spoon.

Won't be at the launch but looking forward to the publishers email when available Mark.

Hi John Transducer can be epoxied or stuck in place with 'Marine Goop' inside the hull. Make sure you roughen up the hull surface with a coarse grade of sand paper where the transducer will be fixed, epoxy will not stick well otherwise. It's all covered in the manual.

Ian Essentially you are correct, best not fully discharge lead acid batteries, 4 hours would be safe assuming a new battery, older batteries may have lost capacity. Avoid discharge below 10.5V, you will probably find that the fishfinder will complain or switch off at around 10.5V anyway. SLA refers to Sealed Lead Acid and are rechargeable. Most chargers sold for lead acid batteries rely on a final terminal voltage to limit the charge, so may be left on almost indefinitely. The exception being some conventional car battery chargers which may provide too much standby current for an SLA battery when charged. You can use a car battery charger, but limit the charge time, if it's got a charge current meter then end the charge when this shows a low charge current. SLA's will also get warm once fully charged and may vent if excessively overcharged. 3 Yes, turn the fish symbols off as the sounder will lie! bits of weed, temperature gradients even your own line all open to misintpretation.. Cheers James

Mines a year old and been through 50 plus trips, gives a great sense of security when on the water. Extrordinary things really, just go for a swim in the surf when you get it, very odd feeling not getting wet. Only gripe is the colour, Power Ranger red.

Drysuit, year round, search this forum on the subject and there's several threads.

Probably give the night sessions a rest when the water temp goes below 10C, by that time there'll nothing much to catch down here anyway.

Me too

Ive seen bigger ones about, but the other approach might be to reduce the line thickness. The reel above holds 80m of the 3mm nylon, heavy mono would do the trick. If you need that length of line then a smaller diameter would have less drag in a tide and help with keeping the anchor set. I've used mine in 60ft of water and it's hard work winding a 0.75kg anchor and chain straight up. Used to jam on the body, stripped the line and wound on backwards by holding in right hand and wind with left, can't see the line lay well but at least it dosen't jam on the retrieve.

I've kept away from this discussion for obvious reasons, only paddled the Trident breifly and ideally would like to do some rough stuff to see how the calm water feeling of stability works out in poor conditions. For me the most impressive Yak that I've paddled was the Scupper Pro which I'd put in the same class as the Dorado. As an Angling Kayak it falls slightly short of our expectations these days, but most will heavily customise to suit their own requirements anyway. I would be interested to know the market that the Trident was designed for. Logically, it was designed for the biggest Angling market in the world, which I would assume is the US.

Mines all over the place, had a small bump just ahead of one of the front scupper holes but smoothed it out with the application of hot water and and gentle pressure. WhenI first started paddling thought I'd bought a banana, now just get in and go without a thought. If you want something that looks straight then it's a composite job, Dorado etc.

Met Richi at Mudeford Quay, 18:00, sun setting in the west and the sea calmer than expected. Marcm was on the phone, would join us later. First up was a pic of Richi’s new mount, with my trusty Prowler in the foreground. We set off, out of the harbour and down the Run then south along the Spit. Richi would occasionally slip into high gear and the Trident zoom off. For the most part I kept pace, until we hit the slightly choppier water and SW breeze near the Groyne. Made it to the ‘Conger buoy’ or possibly another very close. There were two buoys approx. 50 yards apart, we tied off and settled down to fish. Tide was right at the top with zero current, down went a Mackerel flapper into the 40ft of water. The second rod was Squid and Sandeel, bites on this as soon as it hit bottom, couple of minutes later and the first of many Pout on the night was boated. A couple more Pout and the Conger rod line out alarm was giving the occasional burst of life as the bigger swells went through, so put the reel in gear. Then it bent right over, time to investigate. Well, felt like something on, very heavy and moving slowly. After a bit of winching, fiddling with the drag, line being gained then lost, it all came to a dead stop. Shouted to Richi that I had a Conger on, before he could come over, the main line parted a few yards below the surface but well up from the bottom. A quick inspection revealed chaffing from another session was to blame. Cut out the chaffed section, tied on another trace and baited up with double Squid. More Pout on rod No.2 and one retained for live bait later. Richi shouted over that he could see Marc and a headlight appeared out of the darkness. Marc tied off to my bow, and meanwhile Richi headed off in search of another buoy. While talking to Marc and my attention diverted by the continual Pout bites, became aware of something going on via my foot resting on the Scottie rod mount. Glanced over to see the Conger rod top banging away furiously. Leant over to grab it, the top part of the Scottie must have been loose because it ratcheted down before my eyes, the rod launching like a torpedo and gone in an instant! Bugger. Fortunately, the rod was a shortened Euroboat (de-tipped in the surf a while back) and a knackered old Daiwa 6HM, so won’t be missed. The best bit was the leash, stowed safely behind me! The Pout live bait had a lucky night too, being returned no worse for it's swim in the footwells. Switched No.2 rod to Conger fishing, Marc said he was bored already with Pout bashing just watching me. We then hooked the bottom a couple of times, lost my last Conger trace and managed to tangle Marc’s braid into quite a mess. Time 22:15, the sea was getting choppier, the breeze holding and one or two waves were swamping the Yaks. Marc was getting wet, no dry suit and conditions slowly deteriorating, so when Marc said he was going back I joined him. Phoned Richi, anchored about 600 yards away to the west, loads of Pout but that was it, let him know we were heading in. Couldn’t see the Groyne until we were virtually on it, fortunately had cleared the worst of the choppy stuff. Certainly a sphincter clenching ride, where the depth rises up from 40ft to approx. 10ft at the edge of the Beerpans, just before the Groyne. Don’t like that feeling of the waves coming up the rear of the Prowler, especially in the dark . We partially surfed that section. Marc enjoyed it too! Should follow my own advice, and given the area a wider berth. Remainder of the journey back relatively uneventful, did see a blue flashing light on Highcliffe beach and a Helicopter shining a spotlight on the sea. We split up at the entrance to the Run as Marc launched from Avon Beach. The Run was ebbing slowly, a straightforward paddle close to the Spit then across and back to the Quay slipway. So, another eventful evening, thanks to Mark and Richi for the company. Oh, picked up Kayakarma’s ‘T’ shirt, and mine, cheers mate. The Conger quest continues.

I've done without so far probably because big buoys (oh-err) or weak tide

I like that, occurs to me that no carbineers are needed, just a ring to hook on the trolley and the other end of the rope round the buoy back through the trolley and tied off as you suggest or through a clam cleat. Got one of those B&Q plastic rope tidies which could double as the ring and rope storage, jobs a good-un.

It's probably one of these Mike: http://www.bicsportboats.com/boats/sportyak.php?lang=us

I like your system Simon but have yet to implement it. Agree with Martin on the two carabineers, just throw a loop around the buoy and in my case clip off both ends to the trolley. To leave the buoy normally entails swapping ends as necessary with the trolley and paddling uptide to take the tension off, only one carabineer need be released. For a slightly quicker release, just pull the trolley to within grabbing distance of one of the two carabineers and unclip before slewing across the tide. It's not as safe as the cleat idea but an improvement over just a single line to the buoy clipped to the trolley. Can spend a lot of time trying to unhitch a single carabineer at the buoy end if noosed or just clipped onto the line.

I'm sorry, Richie put me up to it..... ...seriously though, the Bic Sport Scapa looks like a fine Kayak with a great finish and I'd like to try one.

Apparently they can bite through fine wire hooks, which I can easily believe, teeth are like Wrasse but they snap their jaws shut like a trap. Bear in mind they bite straight through limpets and barnacles when feeding. A quick nip is to be avoided as flesh will be removed. and since you've mentioned it here's a pick: Great sport on light tackle as theyare usually at least 1.5lb and go mental when hooked, harder fight then a Bream of the same size which says a lot.

Been there mate, took one home and the first problem was gutting it. The skin is like Kevlar, a sharp knife won't touch it, solution, bread knife and saw the head off. After that figured it would be easier to handle once cooked to baked in the oven along with a similar sized Bream. Bream was lovely, the Trigger was just starting to flake at the exposed flesh end but I couldn't get through the skin. Resorted to cooking scissors and managed to peel it. Remaining flesh was, well, extremely firm and needed a very sharp knife. Eat the odd flakes off the head end and was pleasant enough but the remainder not cooked or inedible. Have since been told that they can be eaten and taste like Monkfish, haven't found a recipe. Best of luck

Boiling water (carefully! no scalds please) from a kettle will soften a small area which can then be worked on from inside or out depending where you want to go, access etc.

Don't think the weight is that important, just a long length of line to let the shaft(?) of the anchor lie flat. Chain helps as the extra weight and leverage will give the same effect with a less shallow angle on the line.

If you are careful then a conventional camera in lunch box with plenty of dessicant will work. My original set-up was a cheap Vivitar, taken out of the box for photo's, eventually got water in (at night) and let me down. There's always an Aquapac solution but you may have issues shooting through the pac. The Vivitar above looks good value, some real pics would show it's capability.