phooey

Shimano TLD 20 - lever drag, 300+ yds of 40lb capacity, ball bearing thingys and all for £90.00 delivered - so long as the posties don't go on strike

Don't think I'll use anything much above a 30lb class but not sure how much abuse the euroboats will take ( Richi has busted 2 that I know of ). Its really down to how much you can pressure a running fish from the yak. I would opt for the tow with a drogue - they really work - just try paddling with a bait bag hanging off the side of your yak ! No point in a really heavy rod - my arms would prolly come off. I got some traces from ROK MAX and they are 480lb 3' shackled to a 15' 480lb leader ( both out of multi strand wire). OK so thats for charter fishing but it makes you think a bit. Ordered a nice new reel as well

The current thinking is if a 'tiddler' takes the bait we'll hang on for dear life and try and 'boat' it. Anything that looks like we've just thoroughly annoyed it its a 'cut the line and every man for himself....'

Well that's the $64,000 question is it not ? I've never hooked a 'proper' shark so don't know what to expect - my first trip out for one is on the 30th courtesy of Esox Tim - in a charter. When and IF I get to see what they behave like I will consider having a go from the yak. I reckon even a bad tempered one would have to 'go some' to upset 3-4 yaks rafted up for stability ( safety in numbers ). Of course it would only REALLY count if you dragged it into your lap for the mugshot

I have a LOWERANCE unit and although the screen has always been fine the 5 pin connector on the head has corroded twice. Its almost unusable now and will be going back a 2nd time I sent Hummingbird an E-mail suggesting with the emergence of the yak as a highly popular fishing platform, they should make one that can stand a dunking and which has NO connections between the head and transducer / power supply. That was over a week ago... Haven't heard anything back....

He's got my VHF as well Lessons so far... If you want to keep it - tie it to the boat. Take rods out of holders and stow flat before returning through the surf.

Great read Simon Would be great to do something similar over maybe a week - self propelled, self sufficient ( no popping into the CO-OP on the way back to the campsite ). Really whet my appetite

The minimum I need to get the bait down to the bottom and keep it there ! Generally the heaviest I use is about 3oz.

Are you bored yet? Stu Bored of reading about Tope fishing off kayaks - NEVER ! Very informative and well put together post Stu. 2 ? seasons fishing for these wonderful beasts and already a LOT of knowledge is building up. That Charlie 'B' must half know some stuff !

Nifty doesn't like the look of it at all.... BIG surf and swell BAH !

Hmmm, I plan to go fish from thursday on - metcheck seems to think its fishable ? think I'll ring Nifty....

I can see where they are comming from - pike are delicate fish and unhooking a frisky 20 you have chinned might prove awkward on a yak That said little uns are easy enough.

Anyone here fished for cats on the ebro can advise of park and fish locations ? I plan to drive down in the van which I'll be using as a camper and fish off the kayak. Any other advice would be welcome too. Cheers.

HaHa! no lack of advice on this one Here's my tuppenceworth... Hook a mustad 8/0 barbless tope / ray. Attached by a swivel to a 18" biting trace of 200lb mono ( apparently this is kinder to the fish as wire can cut ). This is attached to a rubbing trace 5'6" using 75lb mono with a swivel to attach to the mainline ( this is so a new trace can be attached in seconds should the need arise eg. the pack are in and your trace took a bit of a hammering from the last fish ). Mainline is Berkley 'big game' 15lb mono which I was going to up to 25 but I tested it last week and it held tied to a swivel with 22lb hanging off it !! The thinner the line the less resistance to the tide and less weight needed to get the bait down. I use a slider same as Richi, attached just above the mainline swivel. Lead is less than 1oz. Richi has been lucky with his 'short traces' IMHO, I lost a 35lber last year when using one, fish brushed the mainline ( 12lbs ) and cut it like a knife. I know this because 15 mins later I hooked it again and it still had the macky, hook, trace and mainline stuck in its throat. The fish was safely returned minus the tackle My rods have been upgraded to 7'9" from 6'6" to cope with the trace length.

Very enjoyable read - I'm office bound at the mo but storing up the days for fishing hols. Hope to see you in Tywyn soon

Hi Danny, Never fished for carp - my next door neighbour does nothing but. I started yakking on the thames trolling a lure for pike. Great exercise as well as fun. Was not long before I met the guy's on here Darnsarf, Starvin, Richi, Speciman... and got carted out in the big puddle ! Haven't looked back. I doubt you will either Enjoy!

In the middle of the hull ( from the sides ) horizontal to the water and pointing forwards. It also needs to be level, and the minimum distance between transducer body and the hull. ( Mine is probably touching and is set in marine adhesive ). Set it in an area where it has a smooth flow of water as bubbles will distort readings. Can't say I find it useful for anything besides depth / seabed type / navigating / water temp / speed and compass and setting waypoints when I hook into something

Was too rough to fish at the ledge so I upped gear and played in the surf. Had I taken my rod out of the holder first none of this would have happened but I got rolled and the leverege you can get from one of those skinny little solid carbon fladen's is really quite something Busted the rod holder and took some of the bodywork around the hole with it. I am packing my gear as I type - I am hoping to buy a really cheap car to tide me over until I get a van but not found anything yet so I don't know if I'll make it Tell you on Friday ? If I don't its all the more for you guys

The DORADO is certainley an easier paddle than the P13 although I bought it for the 'bling' factor....joking ! I tried it for 6 hrs in moderate conditions and found it easier and more comfortable than my prowler sitting to the tide. I paricularly like the ease of use of the fishbox instead of havint to twist round every time you need a new rig. Be warned - repairs can be expensive if you break the bodywork - although Simon Everett came up trumps with a free rod holder to ease the pain a little TBH the P13 is an excellent robust boat, the Dorado will handle rougher conditions better - at a price. Pay your money and take your choice. I like both. Try the anglers afloat site - SM has tested most stuff and gives an impartial view.

Welcome to Kayak fishing, Try search facility as there is LOADS of good advice on here to the questions you asked. ( Yep, same stuff I asked when I started ). Ocean Kayaks range is pretty comprehensive and the Prowler 13 is a good boat for most of the conditions we fish in. Different models have different attributes and I'd try a few to see which feels just right. They MUST have a retailer somewhere near you - Try googling Johnson Outdoors. Good luck.

There's a brook at the bottom of my garden that runs through woodland where I walk the dog. I have seen small 'river fish' up to maybe 6" on occaision - although none at all for the last 6 months. The water is usually very shallow - only about 24" in the deepest bits although there has been a deluge of water running through it over the last 2 months because of VERY excessive rainfall ( worst in 20 yrs ). Yesterday I looked under the footbridge I was standing on - as you do - and saw a big old tailfin waving gently from side to side in about 10" of water. On closer inspection it belonged to a beautifully conditioned pike that was as big as any I have caught ( okay so thats only a 13lber ) but I was amazed to see something this big in what really is a tiny shallow stream. God knows what she is eating as I havent seen anything else in there for ages, but he was clearly well fed. Does she live in there or has she got completely lost ?

No sweat with putting it on a fiesta, I put a 15' yak on a peugeot 106. You might struggle a bit getting all the fishing tackle inside it though.... and welcome to the club.

If you are fishing in fast tides the P13 will be MUCH harder to paddle than a Dorado. 3 miles is no mean feat against a tide either ..... If you have the means the Dorado is a great boat

Yep, if its too rough to fish it is rough enough for a play !

Looks good ! Simple rule..... ' NOTHNG I am not prepared to lose goes on my kayak UNLESS it is secured to IT or to ME '. for the record I lost a brand new I-COM VHF