pescador

Hi Everyone. Firstly thank you for all the positive response regarding 7 Lakes Country Park. Rule 2 has been amended. This was from the old rules that have been re written to bring the facility up to date. I maybe ought to explain that my position at the park as Senior Ranger has come about after I spent six years down in Southern Spain as a fisherman and journalist. The intention to return to Northern Europe was to take on a tour of fishing but after visiting 7 Lakes Country Park and being offered the chance to take charge of these magnificent waters and promote new activities such as kayak fishing for clients was too much to resist. I introduced kayak fishing to my fellow Spanish anglers over in Spain and many of you will have seen references to that in the kayak forum over the last year. However the authorities down there were not keen and refusals to operate on the freshwater venues was to say the least frustrating. 7 Lakes was, to me, a blank sheet of paper and has enabled me to make a few small changes to begin with that are for the good of the facility. I do not profess to be an expert in the vast field of angling but my intention is to work with clients to make their time here enjoyable. It is refreshing to fish for 'wild fish' and the waters have never being pressured - it is certainly not a fish a chuck scenario. Some magnificent fish are present here and it is obviously my job to preserve the natural balance the waters enjoy. The fact that the waters are only available to owners who have invested in a holiday home ensures that the waters remain special. Over the coming season we have planned lots of new ideas for the anglers, both experienced and novice, to enjoy. It is a pleasure to be involved with Elton and Anglers Net, a medium that gives us the exposure we require to attract the clients who will appreciate the park.

Hi All A big thanks to Captain Cojones & Yakity- Yak for the posts on the Easy Jet feature. You may have read on the previous posts that I am embarking on a UK tour of not just kayak fishing, although this is now my passion as many of you will know. My plan is mainly to visit caravan sites with incorporated fishing lakes......any in your area I should know about? I am also covering fly, coarse and shore so any info that you may have would be welcome. For those of you who do not know me I am a professional fisherman and journalist based down in Puerto De Mazarron Murcia Spain. I have been here for six years and have competed in many Spanish fishing competitions with considerable success. As a journalist I write for the main English speaking paper in Spain and one of the best selling Spanish glossy monthly angling mags. I am looking for information on some top kayak freshwater venues in the UK but do understand if you want to keep them a secret.........no problem. I am certainly not wishing to annoy anyone so please do not think I am. Any help with any fishing information in the UK would be good as I have been away a long time and I realise things have changed. You can e-mail me at gary@garysmithfishing.com with any info or just reply to this message.

That's great news Mark. Thank you. I will contact you as soon as I get back to the UK and make some arrangements. Whether I will be all organised for the October meet is not known yet but I will do my best.

Thanks Dave am working very hard to make this tour work and as I am sure you are aware it should make good reading at least for those of you lucky .... left out here in the sun. As I have said though it is obvious that it is time for something new and I am looking forward to the challenge. I just hope there is a little bit of help along the way!

Thank you Dave and Bill for your kind words. The article in the Easy Jet magazine was actually written by a chap called Marcus Waring. He is a sports journalist based in Madrid. He contacted me as he is constantly searching for new sports to cover and enjoyed himself so much he stayed three extra days and his girlfriend drove down to sample it all also. My article in the glossy Spanish fishing magazine Trofeo Pesca also went down very well here and the interest is growing fast in kayak fishing. However I have exhausted most aspects of fishing down here, fly, coarse, shore, kayak, spinning etc and the red tape has been daunting regarding permissions, licensing and what have you. I have been successful winning two Spanish surfcasting competitions outright and finishing second in the kayak fishing tournament, does not sound a lot over five years but to me it is a success knowing the skill levels of those I have competed against! I am just in the final stages of planning a long fishing tour of the UK. So speaking from my journalist side we have come up with the idea of travelling throughout the UK in a new Nissan Navara and twin axle caravan visiting caravan sites with fishing lakes, writing, filming and photographing a diary type experience of my fishing, alone and with others for the Spanish and English press I write for here. I am in the process of contacting as many caravan sites with fishing lakes as I can find to see if they would welcome me to visit and am also trying to find a caravan that has a strong enough roof to carry a Malibu X Factor as the 4x4 roof will be full with roof box and rod tubes! We are due to come over in a couple of weeks, I will be bringing all four Malibu X Factors and a RTM Tango Pesca on the trailer which will be put in store so I can take just one with me on tour. I hopefully will be able to sample at least some freshwater fishing from the yak, pike interest me a lot, and would gratefully receive any knowledge of waters you know about. Thank you once again.

Sorry I seemed to have "designed" my own version of the system. I have not visited the anglers afloat web since e-mailing them last December regarding my Kayak Fishing Spain venture and not receiving a reply.

Obviously of no interest to anyone just the same as any other posts I have put on this forum. Maybe time to bow out gracefully! Good luck with it all from Spain.

Hi Newt The system I use is a cleat at the side of my seat. Drop anchor and tie off on the cleat then pass the rope through the caribiner on my sliding pulley system. Move the pulley rope to the rear usually and this turns and anchors the yak without the danger of being swamped by a wave and pulled under as it is near the stern. Alternativley it can be slid along to near the bow. It works very well, the elastics at each end act as a shock absorber also again allowing the yak to move a little. Just though it may be of interest.

Hi Volusian I average 4.7km per hour according to GPS. Normal paddling in normal Mediterranean conditions, force 2-3 at the most. Obviously if riding the swell a slight bow slap is felt but the advantages of stability and space for fishing equipment far outweighs any of this. If you want a kayak to travel a long way to fish then maybe a narrower vessel would be better but as far as an out and out fishing kayak goes the X Factor, in my opinion, is hard to beat.

Hi Using 4 X Factors out here in Spain. No problems even with big guys using them. I am not using the rudder because we are in the Mediterranean but maybe a good idea in your neck of the woods.

Hi Hook 1 have really given me excellent service and I can recommend them. I am in the depths of Spain where the postal service usually relies on a four legged animal so I have been pleasantly suprised. Visit the website at http://www.kayakfishinggear.com Maybe not fast enough for the adsl yuppies but good enough for me.

Hi Bill Sorry for my late reply also. I am reading on the forum and elswhere on the net that the weather is not good in the UK at the moment. It is obviously a lot better here, late 70's in the shade today and after your comments about some forum members maybe coming out I would like to offer Anglers Net Kayak Forum members a special kayak holiday deal. All inclusive - airport transfers - full board, all ensuite rooms - kayak fishing, bait equipment, transport, licences, 4 Malibu X Factors & 1 RTM Tango Pesca, I know the X Factor is a sore point on here but in my opinion it is ideal for fishing in the Mediterranean. All you have to do is get the flights to MJV San Javier (Murcia) 300 GBP for 5 days. Minimum 2 people. The best I can do to get you some sunshine!!! If this is of interest to any of the frustrated kayak anglers on the forum then let me know asap and they can be enjoying the sun soon.

Hi Bill Sorry for my late reply also. I am reading on the forum and elswhere on the net that the weather is not good in the UK at the moment. It is obviously a lot better here, late 70's in the shade today and after your comments about some forum members maybe coming out I would like to offer Anglers Net Kayak Forum members a special kayak holiday deal. All inclusive - airport transfers - full board, all ensuite rooms - kayak fishing, bait equipment, transport, licences, 4 Malibu X Factors & 1 RTM Tango Pesca, I know the X Factor is a sore point on here but in my opinion it is ideal for fishing in the Mediterranean. All you have to do is get the flights to MJV San Javier (Murcia) 300 GBP for 5 days. Minimum 2 people. The best I can do to get you some sunshine!!! If this is of interest to any of the frustrated kayak anglers on the forum then let me know asap and they can be enjoying the sun soon.

The front hatch cover is also replaceable with the gator hatch, have a look at http://malibukayaks.com/kayak_xFactor.asp and http://www.diverkayaks.com/ where you will find all the accessories. The UK dealer will be able to supply all I am sure. The centre hatch is also massive and perfect for keeping bait boxes and equipment required to hand. At a steady pace trolling I average 4 kmh according to GPS. It has to be said that I bought these for their fishing attributes not for speed or white water capabilities because to be honest if the Mediterranean is more than force four I do not go out. Safety has to come before anything in my mind. Gary

Hi Marc I know the sea conditions are different around the shores of the UK to the Mediterranean where my kayak fishing is based but the Malibu X Factor does, in my opinion, exceed all expectations. I have four at the moment and with large framed blokes, loads of equipment aboard, they are still very stable and dry. I have Crack of Dawn Tsunami paddles and they are suited well to the X Factor. Just my opinion for what it's worth. cheers Gary