A cracking, Yakking day on the broad!

[Mark Crame]

After two very late nights (actually early mornings) in a row and one short paddle in six weeks I figured that this morning would be a fine time for a bit of piking on the Broad. There’s still strong wind and lumpy seas out here so codding is out (although current predictions for Sunday look interesting) and so my plan was to load up and head out straight after the school run.

 

What a glorious morning! Coming back from the little ‘uns school I noticed that it was sunny with a clear blue sky – no clouds and the wind, though keen, was quite manageable. Not only did this indicate that it would be a perfect day for trolling lures but also that I’d be able to test out the new, bigger Pacific Action sail that has been sitting in my office unused. Actually, it was kind of a day of firsts as I was to ‘blood’ both my new reels, my larger battery, my new lure and the rudder as well as the sail. Oh, and the first time I got ‘raker rash’ as well as it happens. You know those days, the ones where everything slots into place and is perfect…

 

…well, kind of. I was somewhat disorganised getting loaded, unloaded and set up this morning. The water was way down too (like 5ft down on the last time I’d been here) and so launching and loading the yak was a bit more of a trial than usual. It was actually the lowest I’ve seen the broad and I took it as a good omen as it usually fishes better when low and the water going out (tidal pressure) which was the case all the time I was on the water today.

 

I was kitted out nicely. I was LIDL-Angorad from toes to throat, Extrasported on top of that, wife-knitted merino-footed and some LIDL reflective inner soles inside the Chota Mukluks. PFD on top of the cag finished me off nicely and although it was a cold day I was actually warm throughout. I’d got my two trusty 10ft heavy rods (they seem better for trolling than my spinning rods for some reason, perhaps the stiffness doesn’t interfere with the action of the lures?) and these were fitted with my new reels – Shimano Charter Specials, a 1000LD and a 2000LD. I bought these recently as I was fed up with fiddling with star drags and wanted to go back to using lever drags for trolling as I had done ‘back in the day’. For those not aware of the lever drag idea it’s ideally suited for trolling – you can freeline or set the drag to pull from the ‘strike’ position on the lever or adjust it heavier by pushing the lever more. The idea is also to set the ‘correct’ drag up the top ‘stop’, which can be overridden by taking the lever even further up, all the while giving you an infinite, immediate option to lighten or tighten the resistance of the pull. The two reels are the same for all intents and purposes with the only difference being in width – the 2000LD taking more line and so just having a wider spool. Both hold way more line (Powerpro 50lb braid) than I really need for piking but are intended to be used for other fish in the summer, fish that take more line and will be in deeper water. On the ends of these were Rapala Super Shad Raps – I nice, big lure that has a very sexy action (if you like that sort of thing) and which doesn’t run too deep. One was a Redhead and the other my new Blue Shiner.

 

I digress. I fitted the sail to the yak and lowered it over the side, clambered in and fitted battery and lure box in place, popped the rods into the flushmounts and started to paddle out. The wind was coming from my right rear quarter and I wanted to unfurl the sail straight away but decided to get a fish first. Conditions really were spot on.

 

I paddled up past where we were launching from at the meet and headed for a known mark that usually produces. I didn’t get halfway before the port (ooh, aren’t I nautical) rod started to bang away.

 

 

No line was being pulled so it was feeling it hit that alerted me. That’s one of the great attractions of trolling from a yak for me I think, that connection to the fish itself. It felt a solid fish, but wasn’t really doing anything exciting.

 

 

Of course, the water temperature is way down and the pike are full of roe ready to spawn in the spring so they aren’t doing the acrobatics of the summer and are tending to lie doggo on the bottom waiting for passing food rather than expending energy chasing it (evidenced by the leeches etc on their flanks at this time of year).

 

I wound it in and apart from one or two short dashes only had steady pulls. It had taken my new Blue Shiner and so christened that and the reel.

 

 

It was a decent fish, around 6lb or so and in good condition. A good start.

 

 

I paddled further up, noting the extreme drop in depth to what I’m used too, and had to stay out of the margins as the lures were just grounding out. I then noticed just how clear the water had become – without the powerboat racing, yachties and tourists ploughing around a lot of the suspended silt no longer was and I could actually see the bottom quite regularly. I paddled up onto the dyke to see if I could get a fish here as the water is a bit deeper and there are a few choke points. I passed another angler and enquired of his luck. Nothing. 200 metres past him and

 

Bang bang bang. Fish on.

 

 

It was my redhead this time, and a better fish by the feel of things. I drifted into the side (and some trees) and brought in a beautiful, solid eight pounder.

 

 

 

Again no line pulled off on the strike and I checked the drag setting but it was fine. The new reels were performing beautifully though; it was almost like I didn’t need to think about anything except playing the fish.

 

I was also using the rudder by now, having remembered to take the tie-down off before launching this time. Now, I’d experimented briefly with it when first fitted and given up because it wasn’t needed for correction and it wasn’t useful for anything else specifically. However, today with the wind as it was and the need for me to go in all directions relative to it (paddling and sailing) it was the ideal time to get practicing with it. And I must say it was bloody good. I could correct drift without any difficulty, could tighten my turns considerably but most of all could better follow my intended route more precisely and nip around obstructions and contours. I could also head through tighter gaps and jink the lures around stuff. I made my mind up today on the rudder question and I’m definitely in favour on the Trident (even more with the sail up).

Edited December 19, 2007 by Mark Crame

[Mark Crame]

I paddled down the other side of the dyke and broad and headed for the lock gates. On the way I passed a dead’un washed up that I would say was close to twenty.

 

 

The tooth in the bottom jaw rivalling that of my cat.

 

 

Always sad to see but it could have been worse – the tidal surge that breached the lock a few weeks back by rights should have left these everywhere, we were very, very lucky.

 

Down to the bottom with no further runs and I changed my lures over. I’d decided to sail right up the broad and put on my trusty Shakespeare big S lures – I wanted to troll but I didn’t want to snag the bottom and these run very shallow so were ideal. I wasn’t too bothered about trolling but figured that as I’m a yak angler I should really.

 

 

Well, I set off. GPS was giving me 3-4 mph (around what I was paddling at today) so I was quite happy that I might even avoid snagging up. A few things about the sail: I’d previously used the 1.5 square metre Pacific Action and had found it a good bit of kit. However, I’d found it was of limited use with the obstructions to the wind around here so I’d got rid of it and got the larger 2.2 square metre sail. I’d hoped that I could not only catch lighter winds to good effect but also counteract the shelter/gusty nature of the ‘bay’ where I launch. I’d never actually thought to use it on the broad so can’t compare like for like in this respect.

 

 

I’d also done some fiddling to rig it differently to the standard method. I’d found something online on an American site a while back and passed the link to Richi, who also felt that the modification was a good one. It was simple, too and appeared safer. Basically, instead of the running lines forming a loop (that crosses the cockpit) the loop is cut into two lines. These run through clam cleats instead, keeping the cockpit clear of crossing lines and also allowing accurate, easy positioning. It also simplifies the sailing experience. As an example, I am not an experienced sailor. My sailing has been a few blasts with a PA on my Prowler 15. Today, I was running at 3-4mph, trolling lures and texting (and I’m crap at that as well). That’s how easy it is to use. I’ve got the front bungee attached by carabiner to a strap eye behind the carry handle

 

 

the feet on the hatch cover and the straps going through strap eyes well-nutted to the sides of the bow.

 

 

The rigging lines come back, through a clip attached to a strap eye,

 

 

onto the cleat,

 

 

and then continue to where I have them clipped off behind the seat.

 

 

To sail, I unfurl it, pull the lines to the cleats where suits the wind best and off I go. By using the rudder as well I can stay on the wind (or go off it) with no effort at all. I was using both together and it was great – so much so that a yachtie I stopped and let past shouted across that he loved my sail. ) Does nobody love me for my looks?). The only drawback I have found so far between my old and new sails is length. Being longer it encroaches more on cockpit space when laid down to the side. With the rudder attached, this really narrows the space for your left foot and makes it less than comfortable (and it also presses down on the sonar shield). I got around this by way of the cleats by actually paddling a round today with the sail furled but pointing up at a 45 degree angle and although it catches the wind slightly it proved to be a superior way of carrying an unused sail.

 

Anyway, I carried on sailing along and then…oh…blimey…

 

[Mark Crame]

I think I possibly became the first person in the UK to catch a pike on a lure whilst under sail in a kayak!

 

 

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz! Fish on!

 

 

Blue Mackerel Big S and a nice fighting fit 3lb’er…sail furled in seconds, pulled down to the paddle keeper (quickest option) and I brought it in. Beauty, nice and sleek but solid and well toned too.

 

 

Sail unfurled and I headed back up the side of the broad and onto the dyke again, with the Super Shad Raps once more attached. I went far enough and turned, paddling back.

 

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! Again!

 

 

A good, solid pull but no exciting runs and up came another around 6lb.

 

 

I’d actually thought I’d snagged when it first went.

 

 

 

She swam off happily and I carried on down, intending to sail again. I turned and had a great time, crabbing across wind (tacking and stuff) and back and sailed right down the first stretch of the dyke. Then I figured it was time to start thinking about knocking it on the head and paddled back up the dyke and onto the broad.

 

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ! Yup, capital letters on run number five! This fish was peeling line off, was banging like hell and putting a lovely fight up. And I muffed it. I tried to bring in the other rod with my other hand as I was drifting into the bank. The pike ran towards me, still banging its head, and I didn’t react in time to the slack line – I knew it had shook itself off before actually was perhaps. Gutted, but my own fault. Now, I have never had a fish in the dyke and today I had three. It seems like a good bet on shallow days.

 

Well, I came back down the side, stopping to chat to another blanker in a boat (nice chap) who had not heard of anything decent coming out yet, but confirmed that we had indeed escaped damage from the salt surge. After a natter I headed in, sticking my Blue Shiner Super Shad Rap on again just for the sake of it. I was kicking myself for losing – again - a biggie (actually for losing fish through an error). I was also disappointed slightly as it would have been fish number five and this has always been my ‘lucky’ number.

 

ZZZzzzzz!

 

 

I was 200 metres from the bank (and a blanker) and was into another good fish, this time around 8lb again. I got it alongside and admired it, down to the big scar on its flank. Something was puzzling though; it had gone stiff as a board and just allowed itself to be dragged in. I had hold of the trace and went to hoist it out and it flicked, flapped and unhooked itself, giving my first ever ‘raker rash’ at the same time

 

 

so no out of the water shot but what a cracking end to the best day’s piking since last season – the broad would appear to be a superior venue in winter and by the look of things the bigger fish are starting to move in with not one baby all day. It’s going to be a fine winter…

[musket]

What a great report Mark.It must take ages to put them together.

Sounded like a special day,

Jon.

[BristolLes]

Thanks for sharing Mark. Great photos / informative text

 

Pleased to see your local waters are still producing the goods despite all those tidal surge problems

 

You've encouraged me to look in the garage and blow off all the cobwebs covering my underused tackle - the species hunt beckons !

[baldycoup]

inspirational Mark! and a fantastic report with the ever important pictures.

 

cheers .