Zzippy

Yep I will second all that has been said in the previous 2 posts.

Many thanks lads

As Zed said.I think there will be a few more kayak members joining soon.There has been a great response to a post made on Anglers Afloat.

VHF for me Please.

I echo what Zed said about getting numbers.If we cant get the quota here I am sure some from Anglers afloat will only be too pleased to fill the spaces needed.

A belated Happy Birthday Lads

Looks like you had a nice trip out James.

Sure beats staying in and watching T.V.The grand prix wasnt worth watching.You didnt miss much there

This is the best I could do.

Nice fish

Hiya Graham.

I use a divers video/camera on my kayak.It can be used at depths of 10 meters or less.I got it from Tescos for

Colin,

 

I wouldnt rule the Lowrance out completely, as it does have alot of attractive features that the Humminbird doesnt like HD sonar and the ability to add HD radar these look really good. Also from the little that I have played around with Lowrance it does seem a little easier to use than the Humminbird.

 

I dont see what they would do if Humminbird wins its legal case as there are units already out there, personally I think humminbird will probably allow them to make them and take a cut of their sales for the technology. If the Lowrance is well tuned from the off it shouldnt really matter that much that there potentially wont be any updates.

 

One thing I would say about Humminbird though is the level of support with software upgrades is first class, they are always sending out free software improvements which include new features like the down imaging. There is also a large forum networks, that a couple of guys from humminbird regularly answer, and take note of new ideas for future upgrades.

 

I got mine from Johnson outdoors UK. I have the 997 and I love it, but I believe there is a upgraded model out soon if not already the 998, which has a faster processor, the ability to display AIS radar and a serial connector at the back so you could run the image on a larger laptop screen I havent looked at the prices for a long time though.

 

 

 

Rob

Just heard from a kayaking friend who works for Johnsons outdoors and he said the Fish finder/electronic side of the company has now been sold to an Italian company.Johnsons want to deal just with the kayak and equipment side of the buissines.

Rob.I like the fish finder read out done in Orange/Red,the structures stand out alot better

This is the company I used.They have all different fish finders.You might find them cheeper elsewhere though.Avoid the ones on Ebay which are imports from the states.I think there is an issue with any unit brought from the US.Its not EU certified and may not work.Or so I been told

http://www.mynewcheap.co.uk/products/marin...s/fish-finders/

Hiya Colin.

I dont know if these pictures are any good to you.They were taken from my friends kayak.He has the humminbird side imaging unit.

This one is showing the left and right view.Turn the picture on its side so the black(dark)part of the picture is at the top of your screen.The dark part is the water and the light bit is the lay of the ocean bottom.

Sonar view and side imaging view

Sonar view taken of the reef at Blue anchor Bay(Minehead) along with the side image of the same spot.

The last picture is from the user manual of the humminbird unit.Showing how clear it picks out a tree at the bottom of a lake.

Glad you all enjoyed yourselves today,you were in good hands there Adam

As long as you are kitted out for a dunking you will be fine on a kayak.The paddling is the easiest part its the constant explaining to your wife/partner why you are late home and the new excuse's you have to think up to get out on the water which is the hard part

Hook sands are a good place for a play in the surf.Excellent when a large ship goes through the main channel and pushes the wash across the sands

Have fun guys

I start my nights as from today so wont be able to make it Saturday.Rather you than me on the re-entry drills,Its a tad cold for that

I might just pop down and see whats happening though.Thats if I get up before 1pm.

Thats a nice little paddle Ben I have done that trip a few times in the past.Go to old Harry with the out going tide and paddle back when it turns.

Its a shame I am working nights then.I would have loved to go along with you.

Hope the weather is nice for you all

Many happy returns for the Day Tom

Thanks for the Birthday wishes everyone.Only another 4 hours at work then I can go home for a couple of Shandys

Thanks for the comments lads(saint Anns!! They got nothing on us )

Well thats it for me till the end of Feb now.Give me time to repair my drysuit and strip all my reels down,plus do some more mods on my kayak.If all goes well I will be out for the plaice last week of Feb or beggining of March at the Blocks (Eastney)

Also want to try near the fuel barge in Poole.I have heard you get a few there in the spring.

Then look forward to April when the Big Bream move inshore

Happy Birthday Martin

Happy Birthday Brian

Myself,Steve(Maver) and Ben(Seagypsy) decided to give it one last try for flounders.It would have been rude not too seeing as we had a big tide . The only problem was it would mean either an early morning or a night session.I didnt feel like an early morning not after doing night shifts at work all week so opted for last night.

Got down to evening hill just as the sun was setting and the temprature was dropping rapidly.

All through the winter I havnt felt the cold,but last night I didnt have my drysuit as the seals split and it has to be repaired.Got the kit come through yesterday so thats another job for me later.So out with my neoprene chest waders which I havent worn for at least 5 years.That took me nearly half an hour to get into them .Then my paddling trousers and padling smock on top.

All kitted up so off we went for our 300 yard journey towards Saltans marina.I opted to fish away from the channel and on the flats in 3.5' of water,Dont like fishing deep water with chest waders on.Even though I have practiced self recoveries wearing them I just didnt think it was safe with the temprature as it was.At least in the shallows if I did get tipped out I could just wade back to shore

All was still out on the water and the light breeze had fallen away to nothing but the full was blinding.Wish I had taken my shades out

Not a bite in 2 hours so I decided to up anchor and try right on the end of the pipe at Evening Hill.Result....10 minutes later had my PB flounder for the year of 2lb 10oz

By this time Maver had decided to go in the cold and us keeping on about takeaway food got the better of him .

I had just about lost all feeling in my toes so Ben and I followed Steve in.There was alot of shorefishermen dotted all along the path and car park.I think they had a fair bit of action too.

Steve and Ben Thawing out

Ben practicing his greeting with an Indian bow ready for the Indian Takeaway on the way home

Had a great night with great company,just a shame my feet got cold.I would have liked to fish part of the run off.

But at least my Flounder has now got me started on the year long species hunt

Thanks all, good to finally get out this year, bit of lean patch though now until early April

Dont you mean the end of Feb James .The Eastney Plaice should be showing around then

Well done James thats a nice ray you had there.

Wish we had made the journey up there Saturday instead of listening to the weather forecast which predicted thick fog.

Posted on behalf of Ben

I have been watching the weather hoping for a break so i could make the first launch of 2010, , now i am back at work full time the weekends are the only possible days i get off,, so as the sun was shining and the wind dropping i made a few phone calls and was on the road by about 1.30pm ,

Unfortunately sprinter had put his back out this week so he had to pull out , hope its better by the weekend mate ,i missed my fishing buddy today, ,

Zzippy had to work which left Graham(littlesal) and my self to enjoy a lovely afternoon. . Not really bothered about fishing we just wanted to have a paddle around to stay warm and bouy up in a few places and try for a bass(maybe). .

As littlesal has only been kayaking two or three times we decided to have a go at tying off quick release style to the many of the mooring bouys ,

After a while fishing and with the tide running off quickly , we watched the sunset had a paddle around and headed in just after dark.

Good to get out and try a few things i have been experimenting with on the kayak rigging, , No fish caught but what the heck

Ben

Sorry couldnt resist this one Ben

LittleSal dreaming of a flounder this big

Myself,Ben and Paul will be there....and maybe Steve too

Great report Mark. Are you into whips & self mutilation as well!! Derek

Only when not out fishing Derek

Thanks for the comments everyone

Once we were kitted up and out there it wasnt cold at all.It was just when we got back on land we felt the cold.That even happens in the spring/summer.

I did have a base layer on,then a thermal layer followed by a rollneck ski jumper then my Fleece then Drysuit and on top of that I had my PFD with my fishing smock on top Plus Gortex paddle trousers on top of the drysuit leggings and to keep my feet warm I had Skeetex boots and one of those Russian Hats to keep my head warm .

So that was 6 layers on my top half.

Thank god it was only a short paddle out to where we wanted to fish otherwise I would have got too hot.

Well after the slight snow fall we had on the Wednesday I decided it wouldn't put me off my Flounder Fishing on the Thursday.

I thought the best bet would be to seek shelter from the Northerly wind under Evening Hill.

Wanted to launch at 8.30am but the longer than normal journey because of the icy roads saw me launching closer to 9.30 :.

Got to the car park and looked across the Harbor.Looks like I was the only mad Person venturing out that day.

Within minutes a car with a kayak on its roof turned up.It wasn't anybody I recognized.After a chat I found out it was a new member to Anglers Afloat(James)Jim!.It was his maiden voyage on his new kayak.We were soon joined by another new member,Lee(JustLee).He had only come down to see his mate/Fishing partner James and to see how I rigged my kayak.

Car park frozen solid

James's Kayak(perception scooter)

After chatting for a good half hour we got on the water and decided to fish along the breakwater of Saltans Marina as the wind was coming more from the N/W.

I must say that James really enjoyed the day,although he is new to kayaking it didn't take him long to master paddling and knowing where his tipping point was ;D.Thought it would be safer staying in the shallows(3.2 feet of water) as it was his first trip.

Getting used to his Kayak

Snow covered hills of the purbecks

It was that cold even the shore anglers stayed at home.The Top flounder mark was deserted

LuckyRich passed by and took a few photos.

Now thats the pictures out the way lets get on to the catch report.

Not alot to report really.No Crabs,No small Bass,No Flounders and No Bites.Even the Rag worms were frozen solid.

We did see one nice Flounder caught By a Heron Gull.I tried getting close to it for a photo as it was sat on the pipe trying to eat it,but it flew off with the flounder in its beak before I could get my camera out.

The only time I felt the cold was when we were packing up and got my drysuit off.

It was just nice to get out.But will have to wait till next week now to try and get my first fish of the year for the year long species comp