Last blast in 2014

Hi all,
With cabin fever setting in a small break in the weather set the old head thinking of winter skate.
There was some swell forecast but I was hoping it would be a lazy enough swell for a bit of skate fishing.
Also I had the new waterwolf busting for its first outing as well.

Out I went to my launch site and first glimpse of the sea didn't fill me with confidence. Mist hovering along the shore line could only mean one thing, a decent swell breaking on the shore.
I went down and got ready and it looked fishable and it was possible the swell wouldn't be as bad on out.

On out I went.
So kayak readied and all the gear on including a bag of the finest chum stowed away I was ready for action.
The swell was interesting and my initial hopes of the swell being less on out was a bit optimistic.
I wouldn't normally anchor up in this size of swell but with the tide being strong and a decent swell the drift was wicked so it was anchor or go home. So 1.5 miles out anchor down and 1 rod down it wasn't looking good as instead of my line leading in front of  me it was heading behind me, which meant my anchor weak link had broke, Not so good.
Anchor up and I tried again. But that weak link didn't last any time at all.
So I tried a drift or 2 with the waterwolf and got it stuck twice. So after 2 minor heart attacks lol over thinking I would loose the camera it was time for more sheltered waters.

It was great to be out on such a fine day.

Sheltered waters
Well sheltered is an over statement. I still had the swell but a lot less tide.
My weak link was holding and I sent the rods down. One with the camera and with the shamrock sabiki muppets with a small boom on the bottom all baited with mackerel also some boobie beads added and one with a set of kilmore killers.
I sat there and I had a few nice rattles on the rod with the camera which I missed a couple of hits but I
was happy to see I could still feel the bites with the camera on. I could feel any bites with the gopro set up.

 

Not such a swell time.
With the tide and swell running across each other it was far from comfortable. In fact it was like a rodeo. Up down side to side every 2 seconds.
After about 2hrs of that I was getting a bit fed up and very little fish action it wasn't worth staying out. I was considering heading home when the camera rod got another rattle and fish on this time.
Up he came, a nice dab was dangling under my rig. With that I was hope full of some good action on the camera when I got home. So I fished on.

But the action didn't continue and all was fairly quiet. The swell was really getting up now and they where getting steeper as time went on.
I regularly try to get the swell on camera but it never shows on the camera lol.

The mist on the shore line from the swells breaking on shore.

Rodeo over,
It was time for home and the rodeo was over. Despite the coloured water I was hopeful of some  action on camera.
So home I went and checked the camera. Well as the camera descended down past the 40ft the light faded and there was just blackness on the screen. But the funny thing was I could clearly see my sabiki muppets on the traces glowing away in the darkness. Also the boobie beads that Trevor sent up where to my surprise making some serious racket in the water. I didn't realise how much they spun and rattle in the tide. So they will be on the rigs more often for sure.

So that was the height of the trip a nice dam a mini rodeo and although not much to see on the camera a valuable bit of info was gotten off it.

With that, that was my last trip of 2014 and I can't wait for next year I am looking forward to trashing the length and breath of the country on my Stealth Profisha 525.
Thanks for reading and I hope to see you all in 2015.

What a road trip.

Hi everyone.
It has neared the end of the year and with some holidays left it was time for a road trip.
We had a Stealth kayak demo day in skerries on the Saturday so I went down a few days early for some pike fishing.
So with the car jammed to the roof with all sorts I was on the road.

Stupid O'clock.
It was Thursday morning and I was up at stupid O'clock [5.30am] and got the breakfast in me as it was going to be a long day.
I headed for Monaghan first with pike on my mind. I had 9 fresh herring and 3 mackerel. I was expecting to get the 2 days piking out of that lol.
Well I hit the road and the dam fog and frost slowed things to a snails pace at times and you can imagine what I was like I was busting to get to the lake. As there isn't much day light is at this time of year. But thankfully I wasn't overly late on the water.
I got to my venue a small lake near Monaghan.

That didn't take long.
It was a fantastic sight the sun was still very low and the lake was flat calm and very cold. I geared up and had the 2 rods set up for slow trolling dead baits. I pushed onto the water and set the floats about 20ft above the baits and began to slowly head across the lake.
I was going nicely out about 50 yards but one float was right so I reeled in to set it and the other got a good thump. I put the other rod out of the away gave the pike a second and the float started to head across the lake, I reeled down and struck and but he hadn't got a great hold of it.
2 floats set again and I went another 20 yards and whollop a pike nailed it properly this time and a great lively fight ensued, But unfortunately the bugger came off. This happened a few times, As I was fishing a single treble. So I changed to a double treble set up and on I went.
Things went quiet for a little while and later I got a hit and I was in to a good sporty fish that was not coming off [ hopefully].
 It's be a long time since I pike fished and I had forgotten how hard they can go when they want to.
Not a monster but great fun and a nice start to the day after a few losses.

I was delighted a nice fish in and it was in nice condition.

Things went quiet,
Yes it was quiet after that and initial warmth the sun brought as it rose was no gone and it was bloody freezing. So after 2hrs of nothing I paddled in to the shore warm up a bit and got chatting to a local and a bailiff,  They where all chat and very help full and reckoned what I was doing was as good as anything for that venue.
The day was cracking on now so out I went and near enough the same spot as most of the other hits I got a dead stop take.
As if I hit a branch so I watched the float for a second and off it went heading away and bobbing across the water so I reeled down and struck hard. I was on again and she was a great fighter. She stormed around the kayak and didn't give up easy. In she came and I was delighted a low double of around 12lb.

I was delighted and that had me warmed up nicely.

So off I went again and done another lap of the lake with out a sniff. So of course I couldn't resist trolling over the spot that was producing hits all day.

 

Oh yes in again.

Again as I came to the spot I was trolling the baits again.[ It was a raised shelf that went from about 14ft to 6ft in a short distance]. So this time I decided let the bait sink down trough the water as I set the other rod up with a lure to see how that would work. I unclipped my dead bait and started to pick a lure when my float kept going. I was waiting for the bait to settle, but it didn't get the chance. A pike took it on the drop and kept going. Again as the float went down I struck hard and it was a powerful fish. When I struck it was solid and went on like a tope, where you strike and she strikes back and keeps going. Oh it was great and I was expecting a monster.

She was a great fighter and poured line off the reel a few times and near caught me off guard as she came along side the kayak.  As she eased up and I got her under the kayak I slightly tightened the drag to get her up and she went ballistic and dived like mad. A short time later up she came and she wasn't as big as I expected but was still a fine fish of around 15lb.

Not a great pic I know but she was a well conditioned fish.

That was the last fish of day one and I was over the moon with my day.

 

DAY 2

Day 2 was on another and I was meeting Dave24 off the Irish kayak angling site.

He had a lake in mind and had high hopes of big fish. Also with this lake being a whole field away from the nearest road. So that was the plan a little lake  again near Monaghan that had no road to it.

I met Dave at shops and after a bit of banter he lead the way . We soon where at the unreachable lake just as it was getting bright and what did we see but 3 of our  foreign  friends that had drove down the field to the lake.

I have to say my heart sank I had serious doubts about launching there. Myself and Dave mulled over our options and as we did one of the lads drove the car back up to we where and parked up.

Dave was on the ball and politely asked how they where getting on.

He then told us they had 24 pike the weekend before. To say I was miffed was an under statement. But he swore they returned them all and don't kill pike.

Your probably thinking what I was thinking, but we went out and they where catching away at jacks and myself and Dave where like 2 seagulls watching them and sure enough they returned every one of them thankfully. Fair play to them I was relieved.

I still couldn't catch one.

The foreign Lads where catching away at jacks and I hadn't a sniff on the dead baits. I had anchored up in some deep water while Dave trolled all over the place.

We where out about 2hrs now and Dave came by me trolling a dead bait and casting a lure. A bit of slagging from the as he casted around me and, ye you guessed it he  caught one from near under my kayak lol. A double bonus for Dave lol.

Now if that was bad enough. about 15 mins later he done the same thing and nabbed a pike very close to me. He was laughing his arse off and I was freezing mine off lol. As the dead baits where doing nothing I put a large prologic lure one and start casting that around the place. It was like a dolphin landing in the water each time it was that big a lure lol. So anchor up and I worked the lure while the dead bait did its own thing behind me.

At last a take.

 Oh yes I  finally got a take as Dave had just landed his third.

I was surprised it was on the monster lure too. It wasn't a big pike either. Probably around 4lb lol.
The lure must have been half a pound lol.
Agh it was a fish and I was saved from a blank. It was dam cold out there so a bit of trolling was in order. But no sooner had I started to paddle again I got a hit on the dead bait. I struck again and he was hooked and in she came after a decent scrap. A fish of about 8lb.

After that it was very quiet for a while and I tried various lures big and medium sized to no avail until I tried a large copper spoon and little bugger nailed it. 

 

 

 

 That left myself and Dave 3 each but with Dave not happy with a Donegal sea angler drawing level with him he fished hard and managed 2 more pike in the last hour . The jammy bugger lol.

So the score was Dublin [Dave] 5 pike and Donegal [Graham] 3 pike.

A re-match is on the cards soon lol.

Great to meet you Dave and no doubt you'll bash me the next day we are out again lol.

Fair play to you and  thanks for the guide around a new venue for me.

 

Action packed Day 3

Action packed sums it up nicely. Again no rest for the wicked off I went to meet Stealth Pro Team mate Anthony in Dublin for a wonder around the famous south side angling centre. I met most of the lads that worked there. Now I know I should not be let loose in a tackle shop with out the wife being present lol. But sure needs must, I was like a child in a sweat shop .

Its a spectacular shop. With all you need and all you don't need too. To make it even more inviting I had 2 vouchers that I won that South side Angling sponsored for fish of the month. I was unusually restrained in my spending, well not really. I spied the new waterwolf camera and accessory kit behind the counter and sure I had to buy it.

With that it was off to Skerries for the Stealth kayaks Demo day and meet up with Eric Devois who organised it.. Yes Skerries was bloody freezing to and myself and Anto would be on and off various kayaks all day.

Now we where in dry suits and feeling the cold at first, then we met some of the lads that wanted to try the Stealth kayaks out and low and behold here comes Adam in a pair of shorts. No bother to him out he went like an Olympic paddler and was flying around in the Stealth kayaks.

Lots of lads turned up from all over the place some from Kerry and Belfast to.

We had a great day and thanks to all the lads for making the effort to come and try out the kayaks on a bitter cold day.

There's Adam away before I could even get a pic. Fair play to him.

Here is Peter deciding which kayak to take out first.

Here wait for me lads.

Here's Adam again. If he robbed a bank they would never catch him on the Profisha 525. She's a flying machine.

Anto finally got ago of his favourite coloured kayak. He liked the colour so much he took it home.

Here's Tony from Belfast again flying around in a Stealth kayak. This one is the Evo  495.

In the pic above from left, Eric Dvois, Peter, Anthony Byrne, Tony Powell, Anto's brother, Kevin Murphy, Anto's dad and far right Mike Henry.

We had a great days craic and the lads all got to see what myself and Anto where talking about.

 

Oh the day wasn't over yet.

It was back for a scrub up and back into Dublin to Humphrey's Bar for Irish kayak anglings awards night and Christmas knees up.

Now if you haven't been to Humphreys bar you should get in there some night for a great night out.

As always we had a great night and I think every one had a prize from some aspect of there years kayak angling. I was spectacularly lucky and on a face book vote I won first and second fish of the year. With my Blue shark and my common skate. I have to say a big thanks for all that voted I really appreciated it.

There where lots of sponsors that gave fantastic prizes. From Darrens kayak, Fishing Fever Ireland, Shamrock Tackle, Bantry Bay Canoes. I hope I didn't leave anyone out.

Now the prizes they sponsored where exceptionally generous in these tough times.

But I received a very special memento that night Sponsored by Joe Stenning.

It was this clock with all the details of my blue shark from this year. I am delighted with it and it now hangs pride of place in my sitting for all to see, Thanks a million Joe.

 

 

Well thanks for reading everyone, I hope its a while before my next road trip as I am knackered lol.
So until next time tight lines and stay safe in the coming days, the weather over the next 10 days looks like it's going to be a rough.

Hunting for a winter skate.

Hi everyone.
This has been an exceptional year for sea angling.
We have had quiet a few settled days at sea, which we don't normally get at this time of year. Most other years you would get out on the open sea after September between swell and wind.
Thankfully the herring are in and we are getting out at times.
So with it not being to good out side we fished inshore in the shelter.
Myself and Oliver hit the herring the other night and managed about 40 each and had a great evening craic. It also was my first run in the dark on the Stealth profisha 525.
It was no bother and felt very comfortable in the dark.

 

Finally a settled spell for off shore.

Finally the weather and swell was forecast had come good and I was for out first thing sunday.

The forecast was giving 8pmh to 10mph and a 6ft swell at 11seconds. The seconds apart are a big factor the further apart they are the better it is. So 6ft at 11seconds is not to bad.

 

The launch.

I landed at my venue and it was definitely looking good inshore but a bit interesting on out, out side the shelter of the bay.

 

I paddled out and it was good enough. Definitely breezier than forecast but it was more than fishable.

This would also be my first day anchoring up in some lumpy weather in a tide out at sea.

I was 1.5 miles off on my own so it was going to be interesting to say the least.

I did my usual paddle and with my fish finder on the blink I just paddled a while and when I thought I was near I got the gps out to see how far away I was.

I laughed I had paddled well past my mark instead of not being there.

That was good enough and just out past the depth marker so I was happy at that.

There was a good lump on and it was every bit of the 6ft swell even if the pics just make it look like nothing.

 

Big baits down.

So the anchor was down and holding well and it was time for the big baits down.

As I hadn't a doggie caught yet I put a whole scad tipped with half a mackerel.

And my second rod I had a small eurochamp rig on the other.

I fished away and it was so quiet I could believe it I had 2 tiny ling in the first 15 mins and that was it for hours. As I sat there my skate rod started dip down and the excitement was building and as the swell rolled past the rod took a good bend. I lifted the rod and gently lifted into what was there. Well there was bugger all there but large brown crabs having the craic dragging my bait around the place.

 

The forecast was a tad wrong.

I fished on and checked my skate bait intermittently and it was in good condition every time.

By now a few hours on the breeze was getting up instead of settling and the swell was getting up also.

So since I was catching sod all it was getting a to lumpy for me I decided to call it a day. But before I could reel in my light rod got a rattle and I had a decent rod battering scrap to the surface. Thankfully it was cracking whiting, which made my day to be honest.

So with that it was time for home.

 

As usual my anchor was stuck.

Yes as per usual my anchor was stuck, So a lumpy day in a moderate swell on my first session at anchor was going to end with the Profisha 525 ultimate test. Hauling a stuck anchor at sea in a swell and decent breeze.

Looks like nothing I know lol.

No small task I can assure ye.

I picked up the anchor line and heaved hard and brought my kayak into the weather and heaved like hell. This brought me broad side with not much leverage so I put the line around my foot and brought the kayak head on into the weather for added leverage and broke my weak link.

So easy enough the profisha done the job in a tricky situation and I was ready for the paddle home.

So a blank on the winter skate hunt but the couple of whiting and tiny ling saved the day.

 

So that was it Home I went and it was like a summers day on the shore. I nearly went back out lol.

But no the big flatties will have to wait until next time.

 

So thanks for reading and hope you all are doing better at the moment.

 

 

Getting taught a lesson from a rainbow trout

Hi everyone, hope your all still catching as the weather gets colder and wetter.
I have been giving it a go when I can and my first winter session of the year at the Oaks Fishery in the maiden city happened the other week.
It was a lovely mild clear morning with a coolness in the air that screams fishing the minute you walk out the door. You know the type, it's normally when ye have to go to work lol.

What a sight,
I landed at the Oaks and got my kayak ready for wheeling down to the waters edge already rigged in the car park and all I would have to do is slide it in to the lake.

As per usual I have a cast on my rods ready to go but, as ever conditions where different and I decided a change of flies where needed. As there was a nice slow hatch of olives on the water and there where some fine trout showing.
As I re-tied my cast it was a fantastic sight hardly a ripple on the water bar the trout hitting buzzers and olives.
But as I stood there I could see what looked like a massive fish cruising up and down just under the water, I was now tying my trace at break neck speed at the sight of him. But as he slowed on one pass a bright orange bubble float appeared,
It was actually a good trout towing an orange bubble float around the place.

Out I went
Flies tied and as I was about to launch the fishery manager [ Ian] landed for a chat and was telling me that, that trout had the float on him for a day or so and asked me to try and snag the float if the chance arose.
[Note] Ian is a top class fly casting instructor so if you need help or even a brush up on your casting he's your man. Contact details below.
So out I went hopes where I had 2 rod set, one sinking line and 1 intermediate. As it had been a tad cold for a while and it being November I didn't bring the floating line BIG mistake.
There was lots of action on the surface and I had sod all to tempt them in the floating department.

So I tried various lures and nymphs to no avail. A few pike men had landed by now and I went over for a chat as I was catching nothing not even a pull. I paddled over and as I was saying I was having no luck, BANG a nice 2lb trout nailed my fly.
I had cast behind myself away from the pike mens gear and picture it a trout nailing my fly in the most uncomfortable position lol. It went mad and the lads had a good laugh at me trying to play the fish over my shoulder lol.
Fish in and I was a happy lad, a cracking full finned fish.

Here comes old bubbly
As I ventured back out and casting on any thing that moved, what do you know here comes the old bright orange bubble waddling across the surface like jaws towing a yellow barrel.
I thought no bother I'll cast across it and hook the float off him.
Well not a chance, I cast well a head of him so the line would sink and the hook could catch the line.
But not he turned and dodge the fly line.
I was quite surprised as my line had settled on the water before he got to it so it was purely the line above him that spooked him. I was quiet surprised as I had assumed that they where quiet dopy and would swim under a line no bother.
I had many failed attempts to hook the float to no avail. But as I fished I thought this was quiet a unique opportunity to test a few theories, Like how close could I get to the trout, as the bright bubble float was an excellent marker. Now this is a coloured lake and visibility that day was about 6ft. So I expected to get quiet close. On a few attempts the closest I got was about 10yards paddling to it, and about 5 yards if I sat still as he swam to me.
So that was lesson number 1.
For me was how close I could get to a nervous trout.
I didn't for a second think that rainbows could be that whiley, So anytime I was near it I would cast at various distances before and past the fish to see it's reaction.
It seems that he wouldn't swim under a fly line at all. He had about 5ft of line off the float and even when he had it just under the water he could still avoid the fly line above him. So over casting seems to be far more of an issue than I had first thought.
So that was lesson number 2
The lessons went on.
Well by now I had nearly forgot I was there to fish lol.
Any time I would cast in a way that put the fish with the bubble float down he would stay down for at least 30 mins. The float he was towing was mostly full of water so it wasn't the float that was bring the trout up, it was actually still feeding and I saw it take a few flies from the surface.

Back to the fishing,
Ye the trout where still rising and I was still flogging the intermediate line at them and letting it sink slowly through them to no avail, My line was sinking to quickly, I was fishing away with 2 sparse tied buzzers and a nymph on the bottom .
Then I covered a fish, and as soon as my line hit the water the fish rose again in the middle of my cast. I thought sod ye, pity he didn't hit my fly and with that bang a lively 1.25lb trout tore off giving me the run around. A great little scrapper and I was a happy lad trout 2 on such a tough day.

Off  the hook
By now the pike lads had a few long casts out into the lake and wouldn't ye know it the trout with the bubble float appeared and swam into there line. Pike alarms squealing and one of the lads ran up to the rod and struck but nothing. He was just walking away and the alarm squealed again lol, another big strike and nothing I think he thought I was messing lol. A minute later a lone bubble float came across the lake lol. Thankfully the float was off the trout and he was free to go where ever he wanted.

Time for home
It was one those evenings you could have stayed there all night it was idyllic in the fantastic setting surrounding of the oaks. But it was getting dark and I was getting cold. So home I went with a bit more appreciation for how cute rainbows can be when they want to be.
I had a great day as usual and it won't be long until I get back there.

So until next time all tight lines and stay safe by the water.
Here are the oaks fishery details,

14 judges road

Derry, Northern Ireland

+44 28 7186 0916

Open 24 Hours

http://www.foylefishingtackle.com/

Stealth profisha 525 has landed, tried and tested in a big swell.

Hi everyone,
You guessed it, the new kayak landed thanks to Eric Devos and Stealth kayaks Ireland. What can I say it's a beauty.
At 17ft long in grey and lime green, 4 flush rod holders, 1 large hatch behind the seat that It looks the business, It is a lot bigger than the opening, also huge center hatch. The 525 has an excellent rudder as well.
It also has 2 bunges one for the center hatch and 1 for the main hull.

The centre hatch
At first glance you do have to wonder where would all your gear go.
But that question is soon answered when you open the center hatch.
To say it's massive is an under statement.
I had to see what would go in the hatch and the hatch will take two 10L barrels and a Flambauge water proof box, and still have room for some rods too. I was amazed.
The centre hatch is a separate compartment to the rest of the kayak and has a bung at the bow for draining afterwards.
The hatch lid itself is held closed by 2 quick release straps that can be opened with one hand, so it is handy if you have the fishing rod in the other hand and you need your pliers or net.

The hatch behind the seat
This hatch also looks small from the out side but it's like Mary Poppins hand bag inside. I emptied my full dry box into it and it didn't even half fill it. It's an excellent hatch for electrics and any thing else you want kept dry.

The rod holders
On this model there are 4 flush rod holders. The 2 nearest the paddler are angled and are in a very handy position for trolling and for keeping the rods separated as the 2 behind them are near straight up and also a are clear of each other when rigged.

The rudder system
The rudder system is a serious bit of kit. It is worked by 2 adjustable pedals to suit any paddler. Again to look at the rudder it seems a modest size but turn it full to one side when paddling at a good pace and you will near do a donut. It turns very quickly. It was a bit of a surprise the first time I tried it lol.

The seating position.
The seat is an interesting bit of  craftsmanship, You are in a position with you legs a small bit bent with your legs fully supported. The seat is also moulded in such away that an added seat is not needed. I was out for 6.5hrs today and at no stage did I feel I needed the extra seat.

Stability
Well coming from paddling my old kayak that was very stable this kayak did feel less stable at first.
I was not keen to go out off shore on a kayak that I hadn't paddled before so I went for a run up and down the shore while Eric got ready. Yes at first it did feel tippy at first but with in 10 mins paddling about I was feeling a lot more confident and really getting the feel for this kayak. The initial unsteadiness soon faded and I was really getting to like this kayak. It was far from a calm day with a large lazy swell running. The swell was to big to anchor up but I felt at ease 1.5miles off shore on my own. As well all know when you try to get a pic of a big swell it always looks tiny. This was the only pic I got. This was the top of a large swell passing under me.

Speed and effort.
With this kayak speed and effort go hand in hand, It is definitely the fastest kayak I have ever sat in. I am bringing effort into the speed category as once your doing your normal pace the amount of effort needed to do your normal speed is considerably less. It really is effortless to push on out to sea. At an easy pace I was doing 6.5km against a 1.5km tide and a wicked swell.

Fish ability.
Most importantly for me is it suitable for fishing.
With this kayak being a long kayak it is tricky to get the rods around the bow but you can move yourself up a bit and a 7ft will pass around the bow. But what I found even better when fishing 2 rods was there is ample room to fish 2 rods on the same side. Simply lye the rod on the forward deck and it sits perfectly. I would say it would be no problem to fish for tope like this.
This was my first time out on this kayak and I didn't hit any whoppers but I did snag the bottom with 30lb line and broke the 30lb mono 4 times with out feeling as though I would fall out the other side so I was impressed and I am busting to get out again.

Loading.
Another great feature of the Pro fisha 525 is it's weight, at only 54lbs it really is easy to carry and load onto the roof of the car. We had a kayak trolley with us on Sunday and we didn't even bother to take it out of the car, I just put the kayak on my shoulder and walked down the beach. I did the same when I got back in.

 

 

This is the slimmest in the Stealth kayaks profisha stable range, There are many other models to choose from to suit your needs. I went for this one as I intend to do distance when possible to further deeper  marks. Here are some links below to help you choose the kayak that is right for you.
http://stealthkayaksireland.com/choosing-your-kayak-stealth-kayaks-the-ride-of-your-life/

http://stealthkayaksireland.com/stealth-range-of-kayaks/


What I really liked.
Very fast,
Effortless to paddle,
2 excellent hatches,
Very comfortable seating position,
The rudder is excellent,
Very easy lockable hatches.
Easily adjustable foot pedals.

What I didn't like.
The only thing I didn't like was that I didn't have one years ago lol.

There is a Stealth kayaks demo day on the 6th of December 2014
It will be great to see you all there and see what you think of this phenomenal range of kayaks.

So thanks for reading and I am looking forward to snagging some beauties in the very near future.
Until then, tight lines every one.

Exciting news from Stealth kayaks.

Hi all as per title I have some exciting news.
I have been kindly asked to join the Stealth kayaks Irish kayak angling team, and I have gladly accepted.
This will open a new world of kayak angling for myself and others, a kayak with a potential to paddle further than ever before. These sleek kayaks are about as close to a sea kayak as you get.
Don't get me wrong I love my old kayak and it helped me catch a few monsters this year.
But I believe the stealth range will open new grounds and possibilities that where not possible before.
Here is the kayak and it looks great. Nice colour to.

 

 

Next year
So next year will be very interesting, after an initial few runs to get the feel for the new stealth kayak it will on out to see what I can do. As it won't be the kayak that will hold me back it will be my own ability and nerve. It's a bit nerve wracking paddling out and loosing the shore line behind you.
I am excited just thinking about it here now as I write. Dam it will be a long winter waiting for the chance of a long run out. But lough Foyle will get a good run up and down.
So watch this space and I hope I can do these fine kayaks justice on our fine Irish angling grounds.
Also you can get your own Stealth kayak at this link. https://stealthkayaksireland.wordpress.com/

Regards
Graham Smith
Stealth Kayak Angling team.

Common Skate from a kayak in Ireland. We got a good one.

Hi all.
Ye you read that right, following on from our last success of getting a common skate of 37lb there was nothing else for it but to do it all again.
Well the weather  forecast finally settled down and myself and some of the lads decided to hit the skate mark near Malin head. Plans where made and the final head count was Mike Henry, Brendan Moyna and myself [Graham Smith].

The launch
The 3 of us met up near malin and got ourselves on the water as soon as we could, It was a late start and 1pm was the earliest we could get out with work and travel.
I was first pushing out, and the initial calmness of our launch point was soon gone once we cleared the shelter of the bay. It was rather lumpy to say the least with the wind and swell running against the tide so we got battered on all sides lol.

Anchors away
I didn't bother messing about with getting bait as myself and my son Craig had gotten a bucket full the day before. But I did drop a set of euro champs on a mark of fish, the first drop I got a good fish on and lost it half way up but as soon as my gear went down again, BANG another had hit and he was a good scrapper. And to my surprise it was a nice codling. Very rare for this spot only my second this year from this venue

We all paddled out and it was clear that the weather was considerably worse than expected so much so we stopped short of our intended mark. Anchors down and myself  Mike anchored about 200yards apart began to fish. I had forgotten my scads so all I could do was to double up some mackerel and try that. I fished away for about 1.5 hours catching small stuff. When the skate rod got a bit of a take and a short run, but then nothing. I waited for about 10mins but nothing happened. I reeled up and the bait was in perfect nick so he may have been eating the chum bag.
I decided to go big on the bait and from recent advice from quiet a few skate anglers and friends I put on a large dogfish for bait. I cut it in half at the lower end of the gut section and just hooked it in the nose.
 Down it went and the adrenaline was flying at this stage, but in the back of my mind I was convincing myself it a lobster at the bait or a bullhuss.

The weather worsened
By this stage the weather was really making things uncomfortable. We had a reasonable tide running west with a NW wind with a dirty sharp lump coming from the NW. All this meant we where getting a good battering so much so that Mike called it a day and began to head in. Myself and Brendan where for staying out.  But no sooner had he let go of his anchor and started paddling ashore my rod started to go.

FISH ON GET THE CAMERA LOL
Ye my rod was going quiet a gentle take and nothing mad or screaming runs. I lifted the rod wound down on her and lifted as hard as I could. I felt a short bit of movement and some shifting about, but then nothing but solidness. I heaved and heaved for about 10 full minutes and she didn't budge an inch. I was making so little progress that I was thinking I was just stuck. DAM it I thought and mulled over my options. So I eased up the pressure to see would she move and no not inch did she move. I got the line in my hand to get a better idea of what was happening and heaved and she was solid and now I was think I really was stuck, That was until she had enough of being heaved and started to shift and she could shift.

The battle
Ye there's no other description for it, it was a battle. I heaved some line up and she would just pour it back off. It was mental. I was delighted to have her peel the line off the reel but the effort to get every last yard back on the reel was a killer.
I was using a 50lb class rod and it was bent like it was light fly rod. By now the weather really wasn't helping with the tide holding me side on to the swell and fighting the skate from the side it was tough going.
Thankfully half way up I got the kayak into the wind and it got easier I had more stability and gave her all I had, Oh it was great craic. I'd get some line in and she'd take some line all the way up.

Up she came.
My leader appeared and I shouted to Brendan that she was coming up and over he came.

The anticipation was serious every foot of leader I was trying to catch a glimpse of her in case the gear gave up under the pressure. First a flash of white and then what looked like a sitting room carpet appearing on the top of the water with those black eyes popping up like a crocodile.
It was a fantastic sight only for her to turn and dive like a submarine, but thankfully only a short dive.

I got her back up again and I grabbed the hook trace and held tight. At this stage I was wrecked and Brendan was laughing his head off at me. You'd think I ran a marathon lol.

No time to rest.
You'd think it was over now, trace in hand and a big skate nose poking up from under the kayak.

She was massive, but I wanted to get at the very least a wing span measurement to have a rough idea of weight, but with the tide constantly pushing her under the kayak it was very tough going to turn her over. This was as far as I could get the skate up on my own.

So Brendan came along the lower side of my kayak and the plan was he would heave the trace and I'd haul the skate itself.
Dam she was heavy we heaved together and up she came. She actually sunk the kayak down on its side as she came in. What a sight she was immense and really heavy she was squashing my legs lol. I got the tape out and could only manage a wing span measurement which came in at 142cm.

We went mid range on the possible weights and ended up with a weight of 130lb. A chat with the lads that catch them all the time reckon she was comfortably 130lb so I was over the moon even more, if that was possible.
What a day it was unforgettable and to top it off I managed another codling on the way in.

So that was day one and day 2 didn't let us down. There was another skate caught, not by me but by Mike Henry. Unfortunately Brendan had to head home so it was just Mike and myself out on Sunday.  It was Mike's turn for a skate and after the skate nudging and pulling his bait for half the day it eventually took the bait and Mike was into another nice skate. She put up a good scrap and between the 2 of us we got it on to Mike's kayak for a trophy shot. She was estimated at 60lb to 70lb. Very well done Mike cracking fish.

 

What a way to end a week end. Absolutely brilliant. 

                                       
                                             So until next time, tight lines.