richi

jeez you are a little one! but then so am I at just half a stone heavier. I have a mate your size that paddles a Trident happily but unless you take a lot of gear I would suggest maybe it would be overkill. Think you might be happier in a Prowler or Scupper Pro

The Trident is a great boat for a big bloke who wants to take plenty of gear,I'm happy with mine and have done 20 mile paddles in her but then I'm happy with my scupper pro too and I loved my P13 too so I'm no use to you there! I would advise to test paddle as many models as you can before making a decision. I will be holding a demo weekend in partnership with Crazy Water of Highcliffe with the support of Ocean Kayaks on the 26th-27th july at Mudeford Spit It will be possible to try the full range there if you wish

absolute rubbish to put it politely

Don't know if it's of any use but I'll be running a demo weekend at Mudeford in Dorset in conjunction with Crazy Water and Ocean Kayaks 26th-27th July---the full Ocean Kayaks range will be there to try with a few rigged out models to drool over my tip: try as many as you can before you buy anything

Love the way they all start paddling like hell

full of fishmongers and bic paddlers probably Us conservationists are also living in hope oops! pressed the button twice

full of fishmongers and bic paddlers probably Us conservationists are also living in hope

perhaps you need to read what YOU wrote again out of context my ---- oh! the last bit is the most important-----ha ha,of course,we're all telepathic

if I was a fishmonger I would totally agree with the above statement. Thank god I'm not or any angler entering in the British Open

haven't tried the Tarpon but took the Manta Ray 12 for a test paddle last weekend. It was comfortable and quick for a small boat and very easy to turn

Friday decided to launch at Tanners Lane and take the ebb down to the Needles Rigged up the yak ready for launch at 11am the destination seemed a daunting prospect in the distance getting closer! nearly there made it at last---------------took just over two hours paddled on to the mark where I had the ray last week and anchored up first fish was a doggie and second so it was doggies and pout followed by a double shot of pout with a very small whiting at about 4pm landed on Scratchells bay and took a break and rigged the sail for the return journey decided to troll a shrimp rig on the way back and with less than a mile travelled caught my first mackie of the year beautiful Alum Bay saw a square rigger on the approach to Hurst found Zzippys big hole Lymington-Yarmouth ferries Finally made it back to Tanners at 7pm 1 new species and 20 miles travelled-----well on the way to paddle fitness After a days rest I was ready to go again on Sunday Decided to travel west to West Bay for a change of scenery.Popped in for a look at West Bexington and at 0730 the mackie bashers were already out in force. Arrived at West Bay harbour amid a flurry of activity from the assembled dive boats preparing to launch,was still able to drive down the slipway and rig up at the water's edge.There were a few fishing boats getting ready for launch too. Launched around 0830 and made my way out of the entrance to the open sea.Had the trusty shrimp rig trolling behind with a dexter on the end and caught some mackerel on the paddle out. Found a bouy about a mile offshore in about 50ft and started fishing.Doggies were taking everything,sandeeels,rag,squid,mackie!managed my usual couple of Pout aswell Got bored after a while there so decided to head futher offshore to a feature that I had seen on the chartplotter.Got to the mark to discover another pot bouy(well handy) and a couple of dive flags----normally a good sign! Well it wasn't, just more dogs and pout! Heard on the weather broadcast that the wind was going to swing round to NE and as it started to pick up a bit I decided to head back inshore,trolling the shrimp rig as I went. Soon had to stop feathering as I'd caught enough mackies to fill my little freezer! Enough to save me a quid or two for a few Tope/Conger trips.Decided to head back to the harbour. It was a bit choppy re-entering the harbour but nothing serious. After I'd de-rigged and loaded the yak on the van ready for home I took this pic-----looks like I made the right decision,the swell had picked up Headed for home to get the 30 or so mackerel frozen for bait.By evening I was getting restless decided to take my last chance of fishing for this weekend with an 11pm launch from Mudeford The new sandbank can be a problem as it causes waves to break about 50 yds out of the entrance-took 3 over the bow straight on no problems and was on my way to the fishing grounds. Made good progress and was soon in the area that I intended to fish,unusually saw no shore fishermen in the area,.Found a pot bouy in about 25ft and made fast. Had fresh mackerel that I'd caught earlier in the day along with the usual rag and squid. Was feeling fairly tired so decided to fish only two rods.One a Pennel with a couple of squid and the other with a paternoster set up with a 1/0 on top baited with rag or squid and on the bottom hook (a 3/0)a hefty fillet of fresh mackie. The usual pout and doggies were caught-yawn Then took a hefty knock on the euroboat with the paternoster rig. What was it? Didn't feel like a Conger---------had visions of all sorts of things it might have been during the fight where it continually peeled the 15lb mono from the little ABU. Towards the end of the fight the fish started to show the characteristics of a Conger and sure enough Conger no.1 for the year!! the bugger did a death roll on the surface and it took a while to disentangle it from the trace but to see it swim away gracefully was the highlight of a brilliant weekend on the water time to start planning next weekends adventure

I've launched at Browndown quite a few times fished Sturbridge Shoal and Ryde Middle along with a few marks around the Stokes Bay area-----had a 6lb odd Cod there a couple of years ago and not too far offshore I don't tend to fish harbours much,just a bit in winter or when it is too rough to go out to sea

Usually fish Portland myself around September time Launching at Castletown public slipway on the ebb paddling out through the southern entrance past the H.M.S. Hood and into Balaclava bay or on to Grove Point for Conger at night on the neap tides

Had intended to launch at Sowley but my sat nav couldn't find it and sick of dodging Donkeys in the New Forest I decided to launch at the usual Keyhaven.By the time I'd rigged up ready for launch it was 5am,still dark but one hour later than planned. made my way to the inlet with the help of the chartplotter and by 0520 I was rounding Hurst Point and entering the Solent to be greeted with a lovely sunrise,I love this time of day the destination in the distance,was making good progress averaging almost 7mph with the tide on my side Alum Bay early morning after an hours paddle I was almost at the destination and because the tide was helping me it felt like I'd only paddled a short distance anchored up first in about 40 ft of water and as soon as I'd lowered my rigs the sea bed the fish were biting yea,you guessed it! doggies and pout! after a while of this I moved a further half mile offshore to 62ft of water and anchored up(I've seen Charters fishing near here for Cod in the winter and thought it was worth a go) by this time there were a few charters turning up but they all seemed to head further offshore(one of the gents on one of them did remark "theres a guy in a f#c£ing Kayak!") The fishing was much the same for a while with doggies and Pout and I was thinking "7 miles to get covered in doggie puke and pout sh1t!" Soon after had a big bite on the rod with a two hook flapper baited with party squid.Picked up the rod-----yes it was on! the way it was taking line off me I was sure I'd hooked either a Bass or a Smoothound. A fight ensued and I was determined not to lose my probable best fish of the day. After a few minutes that seemed like ages I got the fish to the surface and was quite surprised to see a Small Eyed Ray(explains the good fight though) after unhooking photoing and admiring the ray it was great to see it gracefully swim away fished on for half an hour more then decided to have a break at Scratchells bay for lunch. The surf has made the beach quite steep in places along here and the spot that I chose to land would need a seal launch.Had dinner, chilled out and rigged the sail ready for the return journey. Refreshed and ready I seal launched with no problems and hit 7mph on entry even with one foot in the water. hit a bit of turbulent water threading the Needles and as usual at the Trap but hardly had to paddle a stroke on the return leg,I just sat back and gave a correcting stroke every now and again. It took longer coming back,but who cares almost home 14 miles and a species that was a big surprise---well happy May pop out again tonight edit----did pop out at night------4 miles for a few pout!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<picks himself off the floor>Nice one five bellies

heard about it ages ago Elton,but with an 800yd restriction won't be participating

Your'e slipping Acko it's not even up to the standard of your usual codswallop

I personally would have a look at the carlisle enchantment carbon(Mark Crame uses one) or the Lendal range

there is a meet in Devon in a few months,you should really try and make it http://anglersafloat.proboards107.com/inde...amp;thread=1314

ram rod holders here: http://www.h2okayaks.com/unitrader/shop/ca...ishing-Gear/144

I've got the full carbon lendal kinetic wing if you've just won the lottery http://www.aswatersports.co.uk/aswater/new...inetic_wing.htm

can't remember how much I cut off but I've just measured it and it is now 36cms from butt to front of reel seat. only took about 5 minutes to do but was well worth it

After Martin Hurst suggested it,I cut down my euroboat butt and it is a lot better for use on the yak now.Also gives you more room should you need to re-enter

not at all,glad to have been of help

I made some from pool noodle for my prowler 13 I used the plastic lid of an aerosol can,slightly larger than the scupper hole.Sanded the lid till it was sharp and used it to cut the noodle to size,they work really well but I don't bother with them anymore as I now paddle a Trident