Hake

Thanks for the info Snatcher. When I mentioned that I met a mate from Bangor I should have mentioned that I'm from Bangor also (but living in England), so the Mrs has already been to all the NI places you mentioned....and more. I will be working on her over the winter, hoping to get a week up there around May time. She does like gardens. Thing is, she also likes sun and warmth, both of which are impossible to predict in the UK !!

Hi Snatcher, I have tried it. Me and a mate from Bangor N.I. met at Stranraer in Sep 06 and drove down the Mull. Stayed three nights at the Clash. Fished Luce Bay from the Clash slipway on Thursday and caught stacks of doggies. Fished from Port Logan on Fri, round the back of the pier and had pollack, wrasse and mackerel. Also fished there on the Sat, but it was less productive. It blew a hoolie for the three days, but we got out each day, albeit our range was limited by the sea state. As you say, very easy launches. I would love to go back and spend a week there, but convincing the women in the family might be tricky - the wee lad yak fishes with me, so he'd be up for it. You said there's lots to do for the family. What is there on the Mull for the female of the species ? If there's enough to interest them, I might be able to swing a trip next May. Thanks.

Les, A dry cag will almost certainly have latex wrist and neck seals. These will prevent water entering the cag via wrists and neck. A semi-dry cag should have latex wrists and a "baggy" neck as YakDiver says, which you can close farily tight with the velcro seal. This won't be watertight in the same way as a latex seal, but is much more comfortable. A semi-dry cag is what I went for....didn't like the latex neck seal. I have yet to put it to the test properly, but I would expect that in the event of a dunking the time that your head/neck is under water will be very brief (assuming you're wearing a PFD of course), so a closed up neck seal on a semi-dry cag should allow virtually no water ingress..at least not enough to cause a issue. The one I've got is a Yak ????.....can't remember the name, but it's breathable, well made and I like it (was also a bargain at last year's Outdoors show ) Of course no cag, whether dry or semi-dry, will keep water out around your waist unless paired with matching dry trousers. Palm Cobra pants are good (stepson has some), but they won't keep the water out if you go for a swim. If you're going to fish through the winter I'd recommend that you go for a full drysuit or 2 piece dry outfit (I've got the Palm sidewinder bib and brace matched to the Yak Cag, and it works very well as a virtual 2 piece dry suit). Hope this helps.

If the holes are moulded into the kayak in a similar way to those on the Scrambler XT, then hopefully 6mm should pass through. The hole could always be enlarged slightly if necessary, without compromising the moulding.

I'm putting an anchor trolley on a Scrambler XT. As part of this I to remove the rear toggle, fit a stainless D-shackle and then re-attach the toggle to the shackle. On a Scrambler, the rope part of the toggle passes through a hole moulded into the hull....not through a pad-eye as on a Prowler. So, I need to separate the component part of the toggle handle to remove it....without knackering it so that I can re-assesmble it later. Does anyone know how to do this ? Thanks guys.

I believe you do Marty.....in the real world I'm Mike Dodds, formerly of Bangor SAC. Still lving with your folks then, on the Seacliff Road ? Didn't you take up crap (sorry, carp) fishing ? Have you joined the yak brigade yet ? If not, I can highly recommend it, except for the fact that all to soon you'll have loads more stuff and empty pockets !! Mike

I too have never heard of bass being caught anywhere in NI other than Benone and Downhill. Still, the ground off much of the Ards Peninusla looks good for them and, since there are bass all the way up the opposite coast (Scottish side), I don't see why there shouldn't be some on the Irish side. Likely it would require some dedication and lots of effort, particularly in the summer months. I'd love to be there giving it a go !! I'm from Bagor and years ago we used to use rowing boats to catch thornbacks just outside the harbour (pre Marina days) and off the back of the Long Hole. Imagine if we'd had fishing yaks back then...great craic !

Hi, I'm from NI and use a yak for fishing....but I live in England ! Since I took up the yak fishing a couple of years ago I often thought how much scope there'd be back home. You're very lucky to be there. Much of the east coast from Millisle down to the end of the Ards Peninsula looks like good bass ground....very rocky, plenty of crabs, blennies, etc. As bass are caught all the way up the UK mainland coast as far as (and beyond ?) the Mull of Galloway, I don't see any reason why there shouldn't also be bass on the Irish side. You mentioned Red Bay. I used to shore fish there many years ago. From memory there are plenty of spots to launch a yak, and some good fishing potential. Then there's Portstewart bay...launch from the harbour. What about Portrush...harbour launch and fish out the back of Ramore Head. Or launch from Portballintrae and fish the Giants Causeway area. Depending on where you live you could find somewhere to launch within a fairly short drive, regardless of wind direction. Where do you live. So many places in NI to yak fish......and I'm right in the middle of England, 2 hrs drive from the nearest piece of sea And don't forget the Erne system for pike, etc. And then there's Donegal...Culdaff, etc. Not that I'm jealous of course !! Good luck with your endaevours and keep us updated as to how you get on.....I'd like to know what I'm missing !!

As it happens, I lost my buoy at the weekend, and I have a spare dry bag ! Great idea Simon, thanks for sharing it.

Its many yars ago now, but there used to be a good run of blue sharks off Horn Head in Donegal each year, around Sep time. Last time I fished it was 1991 (before I moved to England) and we had 14 blues in two days....all within 1.5 - 2 miles of the shore. The common problem with North Donegal (well all of Donegal really) is the weather ....generally wet and WINDY. Still, with the right conditions, its got some potential...if the sharks are still there.

Thanks all for the help; much appreciated.

To those that curently use drogues......what size are you using ? Wychwood drogues (found via Google) are 5' x 5', which seems a helluva size (albeit this is opened out flat). These are designed, I believe, for troutfisher rowing boats, so maybe overkill for a yak. I'm keen to get one but mot sure of the size to go for.

Thanks for the info Robg. I didn't know about the site. I have now registered and will make some time over the weekend to read through the posts. If the weather remains as c$%p as its been these past two days in Sheffield, I'm staying in all weekend !

Thanks for all the info. I've been to Runswick Bay once before, just for a walk. I remember parking at the top of the hill and it was a steep walk down. I seem to recall a car park at the bottom of the hill, but I thought it was for boat club members only...or something like that. Guess I was wrong and its public access. It looked like a nice spot. Nicepix....I'm based in Dronfield, between Sheffield and Chesterfield. Jn 33 would be my nearest going north. I used to be in a club (Charter fishing) based in Barnsley (Barugh Green), not far from Jns 37 and 38. Mike

Thanks Keith. Its many years since I've passed through Flamborough....my recollections are vague. What are the cod being taken on ?