tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15247158533273642612024-03-12T20:35:38.763-07:00Donegal kayak AnglerGraham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-36029028337202062702019-09-22T13:56:00.000-07:002019-09-22T14:09:31.750-07:00A couple of sessions locally in the fine weather.Hi all,<br />
I was lucky enough to get a couple of days to myself in a scenic bay in Inishowen.<br />
The first day I woke to blazing and calm inshore, it looked lovely out there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFWA_mbkvahHTSyo4fUhyphenhyphenCzXsrA_R5zEjQji8MjMztxin_Tqid04Z4wKS65r8Lhmd-QBDJ8gc5fnqWD3xkrd_XjKYzIchtepnXEACUiAGOyInnyef5ESjwMriGiLB4WXfywiDz8jSDf_t/s1600/good+morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFWA_mbkvahHTSyo4fUhyphenhyphenCzXsrA_R5zEjQji8MjMztxin_Tqid04Z4wKS65r8Lhmd-QBDJ8gc5fnqWD3xkrd_XjKYzIchtepnXEACUiAGOyInnyef5ESjwMriGiLB4WXfywiDz8jSDf_t/s640/good+morning.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
That was the view from my bed.<br />
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Soon after I was afloat and paddling across the bay trolling a small fiish lure copy and a micro plug.<br />
I wasn't halfway across the bay when the fiish lure took a screamer of a hit with line pouring off the reel at such a rate the I had trouble getting it out of the rod holder.<br />
Whe I finally did the fish went a few more yards and burried into the kelp. I held fast and pumped the fish hard and until unfortunately the 18lb fluro carbon leader broke.<br />
I was gutted, had to be a good bass or a savage wrasse. The spot was no more then ten feet deep and Its rare to hit pollock over 3lb in that section of the bay. Though I'll never know now.<br />
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I trolled on and had a half dozen pollock to 2lb and then headed across the bay out to open water which was over a mile the tide was running quite strong and the was a decent swell running, so it was back in to mess around with the wrasse and pollock.<br />
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The fishing was slow on the ebb tide and I was having no luck with the better pollock and began trying for wrasse on the black coloured z-man lures.<br />
The bigger pollock soon switched on to that and hit it every time. I just gave it a few bumps along the bottom and a slow lift off the bottom and BANG, they would smash it. Great sport and a great laugh on the light gear.<br />
I didn't hit and wrasse on the lure but had a few small but well-marked fish on lugworm<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2FTLCMZlsyFFgaLn4c9eOzkQu599eXfHGvn9ArqgSZYTisCuGGKKgxYiXP0htUELuHoHwo_h5nFkKL6KxlR7duaFzJk5nmfvMwMzBzqhfUiVLZS_0DmHXA4VGSTY_EpsDw_Y5XTjEok-/s1600/P9191120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2FTLCMZlsyFFgaLn4c9eOzkQu599eXfHGvn9ArqgSZYTisCuGGKKgxYiXP0htUELuHoHwo_h5nFkKL6KxlR7duaFzJk5nmfvMwMzBzqhfUiVLZS_0DmHXA4VGSTY_EpsDw_Y5XTjEok-/s640/P9191120.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJdPWbRbftfiv9RxR41VCzjk15h62mVViaJ1TG6M2-gMMp4eGuVyM6l0CZgfSq4KTqIlFVMHQa27sdiPId6FnJnggoeeEzIO7M1MYcDIsdG7Eg73OAbEs3uPNAuD1tD6yevGUoSr54ROj/s1600/P9191135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJdPWbRbftfiv9RxR41VCzjk15h62mVViaJ1TG6M2-gMMp4eGuVyM6l0CZgfSq4KTqIlFVMHQa27sdiPId6FnJnggoeeEzIO7M1MYcDIsdG7Eg73OAbEs3uPNAuD1tD6yevGUoSr54ROj/s640/P9191135.JPG" width="640" /></a>Great colours in them at this time of year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkpYb1J9_WGhWCnUk1_lqzEqKhgmzEU0PaVnqevK4zTP-vK8_cUKtbs0KLtBCxSipn0cUExUiYZNMN7OqUSRKJw4VN0-mGcXFFfv19ePLf46MAbqpApvs0Fwlf8hLJfN8SG2VqVqfFJlY/s1600/G0120987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkpYb1J9_WGhWCnUk1_lqzEqKhgmzEU0PaVnqevK4zTP-vK8_cUKtbs0KLtBCxSipn0cUExUiYZNMN7OqUSRKJw4VN0-mGcXFFfv19ePLf46MAbqpApvs0Fwlf8hLJfN8SG2VqVqfFJlY/s640/G0120987.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some reasonable pollock gave a great fight,</div>
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After a while, I decided to give the sand a try as the tide was now flooding and I was hoping for a plaice, ray or if I was very lucky a turbot. </div>
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I had lugworm on a three-down flowing trace and a jighead with a strip of fresh mackerel. Well I may as well just threw the bait over the side as it was devoured in seconds by hoards of pin whiting.</div>
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So I persevered with the three-down rig with worm baits and I put on the one bait pin whiting wouldn't eat, small whiting. </div>
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I managed a few dabs mids the constant rebaiting and a short while later there was some drag on the light rod with a jighead. I reeled it up only find a little beauty of a small turbot, I was delighted.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAq31-PZ1gssakw38KcMi6SxQwS_Wl1laKl812CPsVulrDoVNOnJZ8S_NHZHOmHQXPuCRa7cwF-IRtpzY6jhyfE-D67b61NDSVUsrsaLmE-BNNL8jBat8CDsDdnUjLkDnJJLCHJEalCOsA/s1600/P9181111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAq31-PZ1gssakw38KcMi6SxQwS_Wl1laKl812CPsVulrDoVNOnJZ8S_NHZHOmHQXPuCRa7cwF-IRtpzY6jhyfE-D67b61NDSVUsrsaLmE-BNNL8jBat8CDsDdnUjLkDnJJLCHJEalCOsA/s640/P9181111.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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A quick picture and away it went like a little flying saucer under the water, Very funny fish to see swimming off.</div>
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The day was getting on and I wanted to try the shore along the inner bay as it got dark and I wanted to use the white feed shallow but didn't fancy losing such an expensive lure in the weed.</div>
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So I trolled a silver and gold savage gear seeker lure and a strip from a large squid since it's also white and I hoped it would get a good response as the feed shallow can.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibreGCEEIo1f2m_y2-Uh0F0cgYDx4uI6mv44PPAl7j3qg53ftS1BpNzwuB67_3kv7Ct9WGq8Y-85arJE39Hzkiikg4XcDQkAT1W1376GjbBUTZr73zSr5Ad5yleMJb-e88wp1nz6weIpJ4/s1600/P9191116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibreGCEEIo1f2m_y2-Uh0F0cgYDx4uI6mv44PPAl7j3qg53ftS1BpNzwuB67_3kv7Ct9WGq8Y-85arJE39Hzkiikg4XcDQkAT1W1376GjbBUTZr73zSr5Ad5yleMJb-e88wp1nz6weIpJ4/s640/P9191116.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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That's similar to what I used.</div>
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Well as soon as I started to troll it was pollock after pollock on the squid strip, they smashed it every few yards while the seeker lure didn't get one hit. I had about 15 pollock again to a max of 2lb, though it was great craic.</div>
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DAY TWO.</div>
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The next day was almost a carbon copy of the previous day, lovely weather and the main lure that worked was the z-man and after that, it was all mackerel strips and squid that done the damage.</div>
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The only difference was the dolphins, at first there was about ten going by, then thirty minutes later a pod of at least fifty young and old, some were very small swimming tight to their mothers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayqdcSJJ4wObXtxn2OHZWWqnyZPkzvrLm8ik88GxN9N-uYVdLp3oPr11yHQVY1aVR23LF_MfW43TvAZxlRPn-ssxJLjo0VbAv7lJBFmz7_FgO29lcykUMZNCkAenkWuq57z7KjN0M5oDN/s1600/P9191151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayqdcSJJ4wObXtxn2OHZWWqnyZPkzvrLm8ik88GxN9N-uYVdLp3oPr11yHQVY1aVR23LF_MfW43TvAZxlRPn-ssxJLjo0VbAv7lJBFmz7_FgO29lcykUMZNCkAenkWuq57z7KjN0M5oDN/s640/P9191151.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6aCbgvSU1QQu0-PJCasfXggK5q3KrpKuPilHp57XjR2cXbrmF96y3gZtdsbxOBQWwulJdg261oMbrOZ67GHZ8rQCFFAco_yIfAY88FKNtw7EhTMoTzHc2LKTZlTaUAdwrotYHBTTuF0P/s1600/P9191180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6aCbgvSU1QQu0-PJCasfXggK5q3KrpKuPilHp57XjR2cXbrmF96y3gZtdsbxOBQWwulJdg261oMbrOZ67GHZ8rQCFFAco_yIfAY88FKNtw7EhTMoTzHc2LKTZlTaUAdwrotYHBTTuF0P/s640/P9191180.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Again I came in along the shore this time a few hours earlier as I was after garfish and as I haven't seen any sign of them this year a strong effort had to be made.</div>
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In I went, one rod out with a size 1/0 hook and a 4inch long thin strip of mackerel trolled behind me very very slowly and as I went, the rod got a tap so light you'd think it was a tiny pollock. </div>
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I saw that tap and just stopped dead, take the rod out of the rod holder, point the rod at the fish and as it takes up the slack and "FISH ON".</div>
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I was delighted, a few minutes trolling and I had one.</div>
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I carried on and had another seven in just over an hour.</div>
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Heres a photo of the best one.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2U4iVpzYkYf7jvj_8iKWh1eQoLbh8Tiaso-cFD_G8Fo9CMXxOYnLeC1MxuvvyLB0WSe4Sm2tQt-qwLk9N9J48TSCR3zSWO6x1CAcRBUZMTxhOIW8u1bz8bAgfwX7CERjutjbOs2QGXQY/s1600/P9191202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2U4iVpzYkYf7jvj_8iKWh1eQoLbh8Tiaso-cFD_G8Fo9CMXxOYnLeC1MxuvvyLB0WSe4Sm2tQt-qwLk9N9J48TSCR3zSWO6x1CAcRBUZMTxhOIW8u1bz8bAgfwX7CERjutjbOs2QGXQY/s640/P9191202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Two very enjoyable days away, though no spectacular fish the ones I had I was very pleased with.</div>
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Although I have my eye on a spot for bigger turbot but the winter weather may creep in before I get a chance to hit them.</div>
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<b>Well, thanks for reading and paddle safe out there.</b></div>
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Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-39164771842786986032019-08-01T11:50:00.000-07:002019-08-01T11:52:35.002-07:00Dog day and strong tides.Hi all,<br />
Thankfully this year has been as good as last year in regards to sunny days and warm weather.<br />
While on the shore or near the beach it's great, though it is causing havoc for us inshore anglers that are vulnerable to strong sea breezes can be quite fierce.<br />
Though I'm getting the odd session in sheltered areas, mostly chasing pollock and tope.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantastic scenery. </td></tr>
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The pollock have been fantastic, to the point they were unavoidable at times when trying for garfish in open water.<br />
I even tried to use a micro plug which I find excellent at times, I was just paying out the line as I paddled and as I put the bail arm on the microsurface plug was stuck some 30+ feet down. A sneaky pollock shot up in clear water on a sunny day and grabbed it off the surface.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh185cYmlWfvrYo36B49bABiMy3QrL6E8nBku6cXIdU2FEJzLVQkOGgyqGPWBl6yOD8ENT-gTkSddlThSLBzo7Jta-wki2bL7wepDBXP9pn6O6CFe-5M7a01SqCPwkkKiv_0PeiDwTBAY4D/s1600/G0170697.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh185cYmlWfvrYo36B49bABiMy3QrL6E8nBku6cXIdU2FEJzLVQkOGgyqGPWBl6yOD8ENT-gTkSddlThSLBzo7Jta-wki2bL7wepDBXP9pn6O6CFe-5M7a01SqCPwkkKiv_0PeiDwTBAY4D/s640/G0170697.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The pollock was from a previous session, that fish was about 5lb.<br />
The last day the majority were not great average of 3lber a few 4lbers and a good few 2lbers. Even bigger lures didn't improve the pollock size.<br />
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So on this day, I fancied a crack at the tope. Though the tides were strong enough and it was quite breezy it was worth a shot.<br />
At this stage of the year, most tope have headed out of the loughs and can be found less than a mile offshore. As weather conditions could be better I just went half a mile off.<br />
On my tope rod I had a pulley rig which consists of 1ft of 100lb wire to 150lb swivel which is tied to 150lb mono body that has a 150lb swivel between two beads that stay in place by stop knots on the main mono body of the trace.<br />
The other rod had a two up and one down rig.<br />
I use a pulley rig for tope around donegal as I get plagued by dogfish. Though on this day it didn't matter no matter how many baits I put down or what they were it was devoured by dogfish.<br />
I even tried holding the pulley rig off the bottom to no avail.<br />
As a last resort, I tried head and shoulders of decent mackerel despite that when most lads come to fish here I always say to avoid the heads as it can result in a lot of dropped runs.<br />
I still caught dogfish, but a lot less, and eventually while I was really in my other rod, the tope rod went from sitting there to almost shooting off the front of the kayak.<br />
Ah, it was fantastic. Scared the crap out of me but it was great to have the line peeling off the reel and an impressive rate. For a moment I thought it was a small porbeagle as there seemed to be no stopping it. Though eventually it did and it gave a great fight, a handy tope of 30lb came in with the usual thrashing and splashing, a quick picture and away it went back to the depths.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOpsmYof3mNCngx7XZKYWorZlZgbVMzk3uD2z9VTn0nU8zImZ0CoWKSSMwlV-sH1VEAfUzpB3G4fnemzAKS06Fjro_X47ZKAihTOSZWn1bnriAxp6E4_Uk4gmXLjeXj8Osr9vLFMszIb0/s1600/G0030362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOpsmYof3mNCngx7XZKYWorZlZgbVMzk3uD2z9VTn0nU8zImZ0CoWKSSMwlV-sH1VEAfUzpB3G4fnemzAKS06Fjro_X47ZKAihTOSZWn1bnriAxp6E4_Uk4gmXLjeXj8Osr9vLFMszIb0/s640/G0030362.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Over the next thirty minutes, the wind freshened and it became quite rough with multiple white tops landing in the rear well of the kayak so unfortunately, it was time to go.<br />
As always it was great to be out and I was looking forward to tomorrow would bring.<br />
Until the next time, paddle safe.<br />
<br />Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-88496164447229918602019-06-24T12:51:00.000-07:002019-06-25T04:16:19.406-07:00Common skate, a fantastic day and fantastic weather.Hi all,<br />
The good spells in the weather have come like buses, one for ages and a bunch come at once.<br />
Thankfully this calm spell was perfect for an offshore attempt for common skate.<br />
This day, Michea'l Bates was keen to get out so he was up in good time and a plan was hatched to get up at silly O'clock being 5am and hit the road.<br />
<br />
<b>It was flat calm and were raring to get out</b>.<br />
Yeah , it was a perfect day and we were launched and fishing for bait by 7am.<br />
Though the bait fish seemed to have missed that memo and were very scare.<br />
We did have a few nice pollock but they are poor bait for common skate. Eventually we managed eight mackerel between us so that was enough to get started.<br />
Out we went out to an area I have fished before, though it is littered with large boulders so it can be pure pot luck if your bait lands in a bare patch or in between some boulders where large species can't reach it.<br />
<br />
<b>Thirty minutes later,</b><br />
We were doing alright, red gurnard, ling all the usual stuff when Michea'l shouted I think I am getting a bite. He was getting the tell tale signs of the skate settling on his bait. With using a short trace you can feel the skate rubbing the mainline as it takes the bait.<br />
Soon after he reeled down and heaved like hell to set the hook and the fish took off.<br />
A good fight saw a nice male skate of at least 120lb, Michea'l was delighted and after a few quick pics the Skate took off back down to the bottom none the worst for its few pohots.<br />
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<br />
<b>AGAIN, ANOTHER SKATE TAKE.</b><br />
Sitting there fishing away I had some nice bits and pieces and unusually for this spot a bullhuss of 7lb 10.<br />
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Though no sign of any skate for me and I was not expecting one either as I only ever see one a day here, and Michea'l and I were laughing about as I was calling him a bugger for nicking my skate when his skate rod took a good hit.<br />
Rod bent ninety degrees and heaving hard and after a 20 minute fight the beast was only a leader lenght under the kayak when all of a sudden NNOOO, the rod went skyward and a bullhuss came flying out of the water.<br />
Turns out the skate was not hooked at all. When the huss took the bait a large skate jumped on it immediately ate the huss. The bull huss was not small either it was a hefty 12lber.<br />
<br />
<b>Move or hang tight.</b><br />
It was obvious by now that I was in the boulders, I had a at least three ling by now, a good coalie, ect.<br />
<b></b><br />
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Though the tide was picking up by now I was hoping that my baits would land on a clear patch, though Michea'l could feel his gear sliding down the side of the boulders as the lead reached the bottom so he up anchor and moved.<br />
General bottom fishing was not bad apart from the endless stream of dogfish.<br />
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Though on two occasions they vanished, so I was watching the skate rods closely as normally they scatter when a skate comes near.<br />
The third time it happened was mid tide and the top of my rod started to get some action, I was hoping it was not a huss. I gave it a minute then gave it a lift to see what happens.<br />
<br />
<b>Fish on,</b><br />
I thought I was not going to get the chance to yell those words out that day. The fish was on and putting up a cracking fight, though it took the rod with the fin nor offshore reel on which some how had a very damaged wire on the bail arm.<br />
The fight continued for about 20 mins and it was using the full of the tide so as it came to the top to came up under Michea'l's kayak and its wings actually slapped off his kayak, lol.<br />
So I just let my anchor go and in no time I had a nice female skate alongside that was a good 150lb, again a few nice pics of fantastic animal and away she went back to the depths.<br />
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<br />
We were elated, two skate in the one day for the area was a cracking result.<br />
<br />
<b>Though we hadn't finished yet.</b><br />
Back on our anchors the general fishing kept coming, I managed another surprise bull huss again just over 7lb followed by a 10lb spurdog. Plus more gurnards red and tub.<br />
With a nice ling for this spot of 4lb10.<br />
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<b>I know eyes closed, lol.</b><br />
By now the day was getting on and the forecast gave a breezy evening so we would soon have to leave despite the sea being near flat calm.<br />
Again, I was sitting there out of the corner of my eye my skate rod began to nod. At this stage I normally hold the line in my hand to get a better idea of what is happening.<br />
It had seemed to stopped so I lifted the lead of the bottom to try gauge if the was anything there.<br />
I lifted it at least 5ft off the bottom to be sure but no nothing there, when WHALLOP.<br />
Something grabbed it and yanked it out of my hand. The rod was grabbed but nothing happened unfortunately and I was about to shout to Michea'l what just happened when I could see he was lifting into a heavy fish.<br />
<br />
<b>Fish on,</b><br />
Yeah he shouted in a strained voice fish on. Another good fight saw a fine male skate on the better side of 150lb. More photos and video of the goings on and away the beast sailed to the bottom.<br />
They actually look like they are flying, cool fish.<br />
What a day, good company and great craic and fantastic fish.<br />
Fingers crossed for another chance to get out where monsters swim.<br />
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Thanks for reading and paddle safe out there, the current forecasts have been very changeable.<br />
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<br />Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-36669350098438647262019-06-18T14:56:00.000-07:002019-06-18T15:02:28.671-07:00From blank to an excellent session, Hi all,<br />
Thankfully we're getting a few breaks in the weather that are fishable.<br />
So one day towards the end of last week I hit lough Foyle looking for tope.<br />
Not only did not even get a take from a tope I couldn't even tempt tiddlers with chum.<br />
The river was full of long strands of muck and dirt.<br />
So it seems it completely ruined my chances.<br />
<br />
<b>A blast along the sea shoreline.</b><br />
Since the Foyle was out of action I decided to try some rocky shore marks, first a short session of spinning along the shore then a drift across the bay and a rock mark on the other side of the bay was the plan.<br />
Ten yards from my launch spot I began trolling a metal lure that works well while paddling at a decent rate, so I wouldn't be all day going across the bay. Halfway across the pollock were interested and I caught three pollock between two to three pound. Which was a good sign as the tide was in the first hour of the flood tide.<br />
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Happy enough I neared the end of my troll when I got some more interest in the lure, about four light taps then the rod arched over into a very energetic fight which had to be a trout or a coalie.<br />
Thankfully it was a seatrout which after a quick pic was released.<br />
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Again I started to troll and I watch 3 good swirls come from the area where the lure was and as I reeled the lure near and a figure shot after it but missed it. I thought it was gone but it turned in a heartbeat nailed the spinner and done a backflip out of the water onto my leg and shot off with the spinner not attached to him, lol.<br />
<br />
<b>Time for the sand.</b><br />
By now it was time for a drift on the sand towards my last intended mark.<br />
I drifted for a good half of the bay with only 4 dogfish for my efforts.<br />
So lines up and headed for some wrasse and pollock bashing, with a chance of a run out for some tope.<br />
First I tried for the wrasse with my favorite rig two up and one down. Unfortunately, the wrasse were playing hard to get and the wind was making things very tricky.<br />
So I went behind a huge rock to shelter from the wind and the wrasse rig went down and I began to spin with a 22g Sandy Andy from westin. The pollock were a fish a cast, the lure absolutely hammered the lure bumped along the bottom.<br />
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I was hoping for wrasse with this technique but I was only getting pollock. Although I was getting a lot of plucks as it bounced along the bottom.<br />
Sure I wasn't worried and I was having a blast with thhe pollock testing my gear to the limit.<br />
Since the pollock were feeding well, I thought I'd try and get some pollock takes on camera.<br />
Boom rigged with camera 4ft of line and 8oz lead to keep it down as I trolled.<br />
Well I didn't get far and the rod lurched over and although it's great to see, it is a bit of a squeaky bum moment until you get that fish clear of the bottom with your camera.<br />
Clear of the bottom I thought great but no sooner had I thought that he was away back down again. Thankfully and to my extreme delight I had my first wrasse on a lure and it was a cracker, a lovely red colour and just over 3lb.<br />
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Happy as I thought I could be I the pollock action continued culminating in a mega-powerful take with multiple very strong runs a fine pollock of 8lb surfaced by my kayak and the hook was just sitting in the roof of its mouth. The soft part of the lure came off in its mouth and its mouth was big enough to put my whole hand into get it back lol.<br />
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I was getting the impression I may need to go soon as the breeze was freshening, despite the forecast saying different. I just glanced at the point of the rocks to see what it was like and the corner was pure white tops, not very big but a pure bugger to paddle in,. Seemed more water was coming over the top of me than under me lol.<br />
Some extra exercise going home but didn't bother me paddling back with a big dopey grin on me with the days fishing.<br />
<b>Love those days afloat.</b><br />
Thanks for reading and paddle safe out there.Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-85460352330014446702019-05-09T06:44:00.000-07:002019-05-09T08:00:26.020-07:00Technology saving the day even with strong tides<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hi all,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With the supposed good spell in the forecast, Micheal and I decided to have a crack out deep for some early beasts. The tides were obviously big but it was worth a try to see what we could catch during the few hours when the tide wasn't so strong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So out we went but not only was the breeze a lot more than the forecast we could see a huge swell running were we wanted to fish. So we anchored up and fished for bait and whatever else was about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Very quiet.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was quiet where we were trying so we decided to try a spot which I believed to be a steep rise on the edge of a reef. So I hauled anchor and dropped on the mark some 3/4 of a mile from where we were.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This mark was 105ft deep so I was hopeful of some spurdogs and all the usual hard ground species. Though like the other mark it was very quiet and with a bitter cold breeze holding us across the tide it was far from pleasant out there.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">GOFISH camera.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As said above it was not to nice out there so I thought I would try the Gofish camera down to see what was knocking around down there. I put 6ft of line from my camera to an 8oz ball lead with a small coalie flapper about 2 ft off the bottom to see what I could attract into the view of the camera.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The idea of this was that I'd give it ten minutes take it up and since this camera has WIFI I could connect to my phone to see what was down there. Now, remember I thought I was on a reef and on the `Navionics charts the nearest symbol to it marked rock, I was sure I was fishing a reef.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The pink circle is where we fished and the yellow circle is marking the nearest bottom type. R means rock so we were surprised what would soon happen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well when the camera came up, and when I checked the camera we were on pure clean sand although</span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I could clearly see a few decent flat fish attacking the collie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rig change.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With that, I changed my rigs more suitable for flatfish and I was instantly catching dabs, I had a decent few in a short time. I didn't notice at that time that one of the better dabs on the gofish camera had a distinctive piece out of his side fin I had actually caught.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Conditions not getting better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With conditions not calming or warming up, we decided to cut our session short as we had an early session planned for the next day. So in we went, some new knowledge of a mark that could be very fruitful in the warmer months. There is bound to be some nice rays and possibly an odd turbot on it later in the year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Day Two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The plan for day two was to get out early and see what we could catch with the promise of calmer weather. Though that was before a kind offer of a BBQ with Mark and Tommy of seafishingNI.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Very nice it was too, thanks lads. With no alcohol consumed, we were fresh for the next day lol.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">6AM,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Six am was not long coming and we were up and out catching bait by seven o'clock. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thankfully the wind had eased but the tide was roaring past our proposed mark so I decided to anchor out of the worst of it again. Though the tide had come and gone the fierce tide had not settled enough for us to get near the marks we had planned to fish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">By now the tide had seemed even worse so it was time to move somewhere safer as we were not holding bottom with 8oz of lead. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hauling a stuck anchor in a fierce tide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was time to haul the anchor but as usual, the anchor was stuck solid and after many tries, it was not coming. I normally haul it across the sole of my shoe but this time with the tide so strong and the swell the anchor line sawed threw through the sole of my crocs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No big deal really but the anchor was not coming up so, unfortunately, this time one I had the reel in my hand the anchor chord had to be cut.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had caught plenty of mackerel and most of the mackerel were really good ones except for the one I took a photo of, losing the anchor brought our day to an abrupt end. It is too risky offshore without an anchor off the northwest coast of Ireland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With kayak angling, there is always something to make the paddle home seem shorter, its either gannets diving, guillemots bobbing about or strange sunfish slapping its unusual fin around as it suns itself on the surface.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This time we were lucky enough to paddle past three basking sharks.One beast and two smaller ones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately, they didn't stay on the surface long enough for us to get any photos, but it was great to see them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks for reading and until next time paddle safe.</span></div>
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Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-84246685936098195452019-03-05T09:01:00.002-08:002019-03-05T09:01:28.637-08:00Lures rigging for porbeagle sharksHi all,<br />
It's been a while as I have been posting on mad4yak, I still will be posting on mad4yak but I plan to keep this page up and running also.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Back to fishing.</b><br />
It is that<b> </b>time of year again when we start think about porbeagle shark and tope. Though the tope will not really show up until May it is nice to get some rigs made and be ready to fish when the chance arrives.<br />
The unforgiving Porbeagle Shark has by now landed on our shores leaving us all very keen to get out there and have a go.<br />
I as always will be fishing from my kayak which currently is an Ocean kayak Trident 13, 2018 model.<br />
This kayak is well able to do battle with a Porbeagle shark, as long as you are.<br />
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Though the biggest disadvantage is hauling large blocks of chum as most boat anglers do.<br />
Instead I drop a shark bait halfway down and fish for what ever bait fish are around me at the time, this can be pollock, coalfish, herring, mackerel, whiting or cod. My favorites are coalfish and whiting, preferably around 3/4lb mark.<br />
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Saying this, nothing gets the adrenaline going more than a Porbeagle chasing a lure to the surface. It is a pure adrenaline rush. Literally I do be shaking with the adrenaline.<br />
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So heres how I have rigged a Westin Shadteez and how I plan to fish it.<br />
First off was hook placement, as using large hooks will change how the lure swims.<br />
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I am using 300lb single strand wire with 10/0 mustad catfish hooks. I had a little mess about with rigging it with the hook on top like you would if was a giant jig head. Though with the hook being so big it would no doubt swim upside down.<br />
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I was convinced it would work with adding weight to the belly so I decided to rig it through the belly.<br />
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With the wire re-positioned to the belly I wanted the hook tucked out of the way and not put the sharks off from taking the lure.<br />
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With a sharp knife a slit was cut in its belly to allow the hook to be held in place and give a more natural presentation.<br />
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Hook in, all that was needed was some glue and I was happy.<br />
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I added just one ounce to the nose on the wire before making the eye in the wire.<br />
The shadteez though not weighted sinks quite well and the area I will be fishing will be no more than ninety feet deep the lure will have more natural when rigged as light as possible.<br />
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<br />Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-38497037824350233482019-03-05T06:41:00.003-08:002019-03-05T06:41:24.188-08:00Two Porbeagle shark in one session.<span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hi all, yes you read that right.</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I was out last sunday the 28th of may chasing jaws and family.</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Its hard for me to believe I posting about 2 porgies in a session, as at one time I was thinking they where a myth and would be over the moon at one per season.</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But hey new tactics and new stratagies have payed off.</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sunday was my third trip after them and using the Vanstaal 80lb to 130lb class rod and a Dam quick royal 990 I am well equipped to tackle near any beast out there , well I hope in anyway </span><img alt=":lol:" class="smilies" height="17" src="http://www.irishkayakangling.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif" style="background-color: #e1ebf2; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Laughing" width="15" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> .</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sunday came and the fore cast was to settle down about 1pm and I was busting to get some good under water video of sharks so I went out at eleven with the intention of getting video first and then go after sharks.</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As I paddled out it was very lumpy out side the shelter of the land with the boat men getting a hammering. I hugged the shore trolling a live coalie all the way with no interest from sharks. </span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I got to my mark and all was quiet I lowered my camera and coalie down to try and get a shark to chase it to no avail. 5 mins later the radio crackled into life with Alastair saying he had a double hook up and they were decent fish.</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I was shaking with the excitement and although the swell had not died down yet I was baiting up the shark rod. </span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As I was rigging my shark bait(takes a while when your shaking like a leaf </span><img alt=":lol:" class="smilies" height="17" src="http://www.irishkayakangling.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif" style="background-color: #e1ebf2; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Laughing" width="15" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> ) my rod with the camera on bent over and began to head off then POP the top of the rod sprung up. I grabbed it praying my camera was still there and thankfully it was, but as I reeled it in I could see a large shape coming up. </span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><img alt=":shock:" class="smilies" height="17" src="http://www.irishkayakangling.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif" style="background-color: #e1ebf2; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Shocked" width="15" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><img alt=":shock:" class="smilies" height="17" src="http://www.irishkayakangling.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif" style="background-color: #e1ebf2; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Shocked" width="15" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> believe me your heart nearly stops every time they do. coming up like a torpedo and turning at the last second under your kayak and then circle you. It is a class experience.</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I flung a mackerel flapper over the side and let it down about 20ft. He went after it and looked at it, poked it and swam away. I gave it a big lift and dropp and back he came like a shot and grabbed it. </span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">What happens next is always an unknown, will they run on the surface, dive straight down or knock the hell out of you before peeling off a 100yards of line.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_bWNTRTE50nY3d-kXKYgxgPlssM0ZC9gkZfBwWz9U-pJ-leNX2tmyq2k6O1El-DQbKEMooLVgCUvhyogzFlCm6Zdj7VfJSXDic8a48AAZjlRXSZI3yQwo-wyq_fmvX0_dH50uQcugof0/s1600/FILE0038+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1037" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_bWNTRTE50nY3d-kXKYgxgPlssM0ZC9gkZfBwWz9U-pJ-leNX2tmyq2k6O1El-DQbKEMooLVgCUvhyogzFlCm6Zdj7VfJSXDic8a48AAZjlRXSZI3yQwo-wyq_fmvX0_dH50uQcugof0/s640/FILE0038+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This one run like hell under the surface and as he was about 120lb I could tighten the drag and let him tow me all over the place. Unfortunatley this lad found a crab buoy rope so I had to heave like hell to keep him from wrapping.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Thankfully after a very tough fight I got him up to the surface.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">That shark was released in a blaze of white water and it was still very early. I was wondering will I try for another </span><img alt=":P" class="smilies" height="17" src="http://www.irishkayakangling.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif" style="background-color: #e1ebf2; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Razz" width="15" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> and began to paddle back to my mark, but 100yards into the paddle as the adrenaline subsided my right should started to spasm like mad and was a tad sore for as I went and was putting me off trying again, but as I got closer to the mark I am not sure was it the excitement at trying again over powered it or it faded but hell I was going to try again </span><img alt=":D" class="smilies" height="17" src="http://www.irishkayakangling.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif" style="background-color: #e1ebf2; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Very Happy" width="15" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> . </span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Again a bait went out and I began to chunk away with bait fish and didn't see any sharks until I went to move away and out of no where came a nice 150lber powered up and grabbed my bait. Rod still in the holder it poured line off the reel with me being towed side ways, as is becoming the norm these days </span><img alt=":lol:" class="smilies" height="17" src="http://www.irishkayakangling.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif" style="background-color: #e1ebf2; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Laughing" width="15" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> .</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I got the rod in hand and another epic fight was on. again lots of drag and a really tough fight forced the shark up to the surface in good time. But this bugger was mental. I had the trace in hand holding tight for the 3rd time and with a swipe or two of it's tail near filled the kayak cockpit. All in the video below.</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I was just glad I didn't get whacked with it's huge tail.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Another good tussle saw a fine 150lber released and then that was me done, battered, bruised and couldn't be happier. Just recovering for the next session</span>Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-27317491989952310222019-03-05T06:25:00.001-08:002019-03-05T06:25:56.300-08:00Porbeagles 2018 came in with a bang.<span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">What a weekend, </span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1 camera eaten,</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1 rod tip eye wrecked,</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Camera boom destroyed,</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Also a shark trying to fight with my kayak, all in a weekends </span><span class="posthilit" style="background-color: #f3bfcc; color: #bc2a4d; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 0px 2px 1px;">porbeagle</span><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> shark fishing from a kayak.</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Here's my catch report in the form of a video. The swell and the shark having a pop at the kayak was considerably more dramatic in real life than the video.</span><br style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But it will give you a tastier of how it went.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #e1ebf2; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-71163481928167500422019-03-05T06:12:00.001-08:002019-03-05T06:19:36.696-08:00Pollock bashing on a lumpy day.<div class="content" style="background-color: #e1ebf2; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.4em; min-height: 3em; overflow: auto hidden; padding-bottom: 1px;">
Through the wonders of our forum myself and Mike [from Galway] met up in a sheltered bay in Inishowen for a session at what ever may turn up.<br />
It was a mere 6 degrees but in the sun shine it seem quite nice.<br />
We first went out and had a look for herring but ended up catching a decent few small mackerel. Though there was very little else.<br />
So with that we headed in for a bash at the pollock and maybe a wrasse on the lure.<br />
In the bay it was sheltered enough but once outside the bay and with in 200yards of the rocks the decent lazy swell was busting up the rocks and making it quite treacherous to be in close.<br />
Though how could we not have a few casts before getting out of there.<br />
<img alt=":D" class="smilies" src="http://www.irishkayakangling.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif" height="17" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Very Happy" width="15" /> <img alt=":D" class="smilies" src="http://www.irishkayakangling.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif" height="17" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Very Happy" width="15" /> <img alt=":D" class="smilies" src="http://www.irishkayakangling.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif" height="17" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Very Happy" width="15" /><br />
Smallest ones to start us off.<br />
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Every time I cast the lure in it was FISH ON. Litterly a fish a cast and all good fish. Think the smallest was about 3lb, it was class.<br />
Though it was dicey I said to Mike about three times we should go, and the two of would go ah sure another cast or two <img alt=":D" class="smilies" src="http://www.irishkayakangling.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif" height="17" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Very Happy" width="15" /> .<br />
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But after half an hour with the tide building in strength that we would have to paddle against and the swell making it interesting we head for the shelter of the bay.<br />
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We both continued fishing inside the bay and we did catch some more fish but nothing as thick and fast as it was outside.<br />
By now Oliver had come out to fish with us<br />
So you can nearly guess what happened next, we went back for a look and the worst of the swell had half settled so we went back and the fantastic fishing continued.<br />
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I ended up with four pollock just under 6lb and at least twenty between 3 to 4.5lb it was great fun on light gear. I had them all on a 20g HTO lure very similar to the fiish lure. It worked best fished close to the bottom.<br />
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We called it a day in good time to get in before dark though it was bitter cold when were unloading the kayaks it was down to 2 degrees a tad nippy on the hands.<br />
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A very enjoyable day and it was good to meet up with a new member of the club.</div>
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Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-19407295361622491062016-09-18T05:59:00.003-07:002016-09-18T05:59:59.553-07:00Fish finders, part 2.<b>Hi all,</b><br />
This is part 2 to getting that fish finder up and running on your kayak.<br />
Since that last post we will assume you have bought your fish finder.<br />
I chose the Raymarine Dragonfly 4, which is a combined unit with a plotter and fishfinder in it.<br />
As said in the previous post it has a bonded screen so it will never fog fog up even in direct sun light.<br />
I have heard some concerns about these units having high power consumption rate , but mine runs for 2 long days fishing on a 12v 7ah battery. Which is what most of us use. It is basically a battery from a house alarm. Can be got from most electrical retailers. Should cost less than E20.00<br />
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<b>The actual fitting of the fish finder. </b><br />
So fitting a fish finder couldn't be easier. No drill bits need or cutting holes in your pride and joy.<br />
At the moment I am paddling a trident 13, which has a sonar shield in front of the tackle pod.<br />
A very handy piece of kit. Here is mine on the Ocean kayak 13.<br />
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So for this kayak all you need is 3 stainless steel screws and screw it to the front of the sonar shield.<br />
You do this so you and mold the head unit down as much as possible for a surf landing.<br />
Once I had done that I plugged the unit in and brought the wires and transducer out and under the hatch lid. No holes needed as the Ocean kayak hatch lid has an over lap meaning you bring wires under without much fear of water getting.<br />
To secure the wire I unscrewed one of the hatch strap fixings and secured the wire under it.<br />
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So how easy is that, ANSWER, VERY.<br />
Please use a a screw driver and not a cordless drill or you could over tighten the screw and ruin the fixing.<br />
<b>So that's done, what about the transducer.</b><br />
Well on the Raymarine dragonfly it has a very long transducer.<br />
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In fact it is so long that I find it hard to get it to stay on the hull. I have fixed it on with good puraflex with the hull flexing when tying to the roof rack etc. It knocks it if again. But with this unit I found out by mistake that if you just sit it upright in the hull it works fine. Excluding the chirp the transducer really needs to be outside the hull to work at it's best.<br />
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<b>Siting your transducer .</b><br />
Ideally your transducer should be fitted to the hull with a generous blob of good adhesive/silicone.<br />
I use puraflex as it is reasonably priced at about E8.00 and has great holding power.<br />
So adhesive at the ready you want to place the transducer as close to the seating position as possible. Reason being it will be under the water all the time and less likely for air bubbles to interfere with the image on the screen.<br />
Saying this it is easy done on a trident as the center hatch makes access to the hull very easy.<br />
In a standard kayak I would just place the transducer as far back as you can reach from the forward hatch.<br />
There is no magic in fixing the transducer. Just cut the nozzle well back on the tube of adhesive and put nozzle to spot you want your transducer to be and squeeze at least half the tube out in one big blob. Making sure there is no air bubbles int it.<br />
Once you have you big blob done just press the transducer into the adhesive and rock it back and forward until it is pushed well into it. It normally doesn't make any odds if the sides are covered. So don't worry to much about that.<br />
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<b>Power supply.</b><br />
This is the one that causes the most problems in the long term. If you can get a hold of stainless spade connectors they would be great, other wise you have to replace you connectors at least once a year.<br />
I have spent mad money on connectors and they were not worth the money. So I have gone back the way and will be using this version in the future. This is a socket from an old PC. plus the plug from the power lead makes a great power plug and socket. The one below is for a different application. But the one on my battery box below is off an old kettle. The plug and socket seem resistant to corrosion for now. So all good so far. Best of all there free,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHshvy0eT9ZOSZpkVnE3j-RWne9sKbZDTBpfsDB7zqI_r1zvn2_5ti79fNuzi2kVVdMZf7A6odyOpZnH8aZ5cEyLvpGp6NG_8AeorXe2_QzmuJIhiXW3qx-LpvKDMVThctOoUGWVyklzPs/s1600/20160831_143319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHshvy0eT9ZOSZpkVnE3j-RWne9sKbZDTBpfsDB7zqI_r1zvn2_5ti79fNuzi2kVVdMZf7A6odyOpZnH8aZ5cEyLvpGp6NG_8AeorXe2_QzmuJIhiXW3qx-LpvKDMVThctOoUGWVyklzPs/s400/20160831_143319.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFsSngPaylrU9QuQ_PABg6mFsxy38dZipz982O2QCnHI3eZtE3uKRjoXV_N4Noo-m6ffMY0XyMPJByXPKnXhNsQiMvolXMRprhk5el0DPhr9p93Wi6UZnKhn1syBcN9thDkicVbmw0bhj/s1600/20160831_143333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFsSngPaylrU9QuQ_PABg6mFsxy38dZipz982O2QCnHI3eZtE3uKRjoXV_N4Noo-m6ffMY0XyMPJByXPKnXhNsQiMvolXMRprhk5el0DPhr9p93Wi6UZnKhn1syBcN9thDkicVbmw0bhj/s400/20160831_143333.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The one below is from an old kettle. As you can see the standard screws are rusting and the socket is like new. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsPgDP16dMGj1X2ETSqhHfaarGnsUpIyaZSo9vFjzvn9ih_KOXX29JKdblRUuFLpRD4EeRILlraf-8x-Xj5FNaRFUcFM8qAmsR6yWQXEVNRcVyVb8uXtQBUu6deKgommcV-hcdk3J11bu/s1600/20160917_191621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsPgDP16dMGj1X2ETSqhHfaarGnsUpIyaZSo9vFjzvn9ih_KOXX29JKdblRUuFLpRD4EeRILlraf-8x-Xj5FNaRFUcFM8qAmsR6yWQXEVNRcVyVb8uXtQBUu6deKgommcV-hcdk3J11bu/s400/20160917_191621.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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This box is not water tight but will do for inside the kayak. A sandwich box would be a better choice if your doing surf landings as you may get some water in the hull.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjokEWEAHosrarHsyEi7TGkbNmeNIvfTmuuvV8XkiaYUIforvmubM762VXzaEfvidSMmbZIanmFOe1Vypv5DvY_DjyT_YqRCTqcfkCDiefTseVPcuwms07WQQc6euMJzqaPF2P6i4GyIGH/s1600/20160917_191640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjokEWEAHosrarHsyEi7TGkbNmeNIvfTmuuvV8XkiaYUIforvmubM762VXzaEfvidSMmbZIanmFOe1Vypv5DvY_DjyT_YqRCTqcfkCDiefTseVPcuwms07WQQc6euMJzqaPF2P6i4GyIGH/s400/20160917_191640.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
The trident 13 has battery bag up in the front of your kayak so you can just slide the box inside it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjR3C6KXp5adA8lxaqt5XlronkfzV0PvGsWCkzVwJwRQ45lOpW46pzs-a5XVJb9VsVkqxCOJ447OpueX4UV0AsVLYomVE9T8cNF7uC8OohQ4z2AoB5hNfPH4s6CIFlTpiPSYTWLHDMGZC/s1600/20160917_191543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjR3C6KXp5adA8lxaqt5XlronkfzV0PvGsWCkzVwJwRQ45lOpW46pzs-a5XVJb9VsVkqxCOJ447OpueX4UV0AsVLYomVE9T8cNF7uC8OohQ4z2AoB5hNfPH4s6CIFlTpiPSYTWLHDMGZC/s400/20160917_191543.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
Not the tidiest looking but it does the job.<br />
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<b>Things to be careful with.</b><br />
There are a few things you really have to watch out for with a fishfinder on a kayak.<br />
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<ol>
<li>Never ever leave your battery connected when the fish finder is not in use. Meaning when the kayak is lying in the garden or on the car roof. Moisture and the power from the battery will totally destroy the plug connection in a short period of time. As little as one will destroy some units plugs.</li>
<li>Always have an inline fuse. Connected up wrong once could be enough to ruin a unit.</li>
<li>When putting the unit head away be sure the plug is not lying in water when not in use. </li>
<li>Always keep your head unit indoors when not in use. Damp garages and sheds are very hard on any electrics.</li>
</ol>
So I hope that makes your install cheap and easy. A total install cost should be no more than E15.00 including adhesive and battery box.<br />
Good luck with your install and I hope this helped you with your install.<br />
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<br />Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-72197598481717018392016-09-05T12:26:00.000-07:002016-09-06T05:56:52.001-07:00Glorious killybegs and giants jumping.Hi all,<br />
By a stroke of amazing luck last Sunday the 4th of September the forecast changed for the better at the last minute. With the forecast being up and down all week we had near give up when the forecast changed for the better on Saturday morning. So car packed and down to Killybegs for the night for an early start on Sunday.<br />
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<b>Not as calm as hoped , 5am.</b><br />
5am came and it was blowing a stiff breeze and was no where near settled enough to think about heading out. So it was back to bed for another hour until it got bright at least.<br />
6am still a bit breezy but it was still breezy but we where well sheltered from the land.<br />
So a slow rig up and out we went, witha good session on the ballan wrasse, squid and maybe some cod.<br />
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First stop was not very far away, but it is a regular spot for fantastic sized cuckoo wrasse. But they were no where to be seen. It was very quiet we had a couple of small ballans and that was it.<br />
So on we went to another mark close in and I was looking for cuckoo's and ballan wrasse.<br />
They were at home and we had some good fishing but none of them of any real size. But big enough for a good scrap on the light gear.<br />
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They were good fun and we had quiet a few over the next hour or so.<br />
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So with a change in order I upped my bait sizes in hope of ling or small conger and as fished one rod for wrasse the other was baited with mackerel and sandeel with a dose of Bioedge shrimp wand.<br />
It wasn't down very long altogether when I got a nice take and a short wrestle brought up a grand ling of 4.4lb I was happy with that.<br />
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That was a good start but still no decent cuckoos', another move along the ledges produced lots of ballan and at last the cuckoo's came out to feed. We had a good few none breaking the specimen size but great to see them. </div>
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Some cracking colors in the male cuckoo's. </div>
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Again the heavier set up was doing it's thing fishing away and again another good take, this fight felt decent and was similar to a conger kind of fight with out to much reverse fighting from him. </div>
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But to my surprise it was a very nice bullhuss. Also nearly jet black. One cool looking huss.</div>
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We were having a blast and the fish were flying in, many different species. At least 15 in total and this little comedian came in ink the hell out of the kayak as he buggered off lol.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAN2Rbxqjs_0psBaitpP9r-UhSP51_7X6or29-4IUgPRm4dwPaRWYBN1sTCUok8HqnL0XCPZFln_A0YnzOdT2xToXK-ADAsAZ4fGBNOyO7GoFnm0PTO4K2qXN4B2u1s9K0Xp2cLuDCOT-/s1600/DSCF3463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAN2Rbxqjs_0psBaitpP9r-UhSP51_7X6or29-4IUgPRm4dwPaRWYBN1sTCUok8HqnL0XCPZFln_A0YnzOdT2xToXK-ADAsAZ4fGBNOyO7GoFnm0PTO4K2qXN4B2u1s9K0Xp2cLuDCOT-/s400/DSCF3463.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I also managed a good few goldenshinney, they are comical how they wreck a small bait. If they grew to 10lb we would need wire traces for them.</div>
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With Mike spotting my fine Golden Shinney he was over to try poach my monster shinney lol. </div>
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With that we where for heading out deep to see if we could catch a few of the rarer species that frequent the deeper water around Killybegs. </div>
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But it was savage quiet out there. I had a few nice whiting and Mike's luck was in as he haul up 2 or 3 doggies up from 180ft of water. I was crying laughing. </div>
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This was us some 1.75 miles out. Ah it was glorious out there. All that was needed was for Mike to get another doggie out of that depth lol. </div>
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But a\as we were about to head back What sounded like a huge wave crashing turned out to be huge tuna. One was a monstrous size and the rest were around the 300lb plus size. We paddled around a few times and saw the 3 more times over the next hour. It was an unbelievable sight and was worth the trip just to see them. We were not close enough to get any pics but maybe the next time I'll get a few on camera.</div>
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But with that it was time for home and we had a few stops for bait. Hitting some fine scad 1 of which was 1oz shy of specimen weight. I also had the camera down and got some very unusual video of squid and mackerel working together. So if I can clean it up enough I'll get that video up soon.</div>
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Thanks for reading tight lines everyone.</div>
Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-70123054452568460582016-06-27T08:21:00.000-07:002016-07-18T10:19:26.745-07:00Porbeagle, a cracker at last.Hi all, <br />
Well half the country knows about my porgie from the kayak on the 12th of June.<br />
It has all gone a bit mad since then, from RTE, Unilad and even over to Arizona where 4 presenters had a right laugh with it. <br />
<br />
<strong>Back to the fishing,</strong> <br />
Ivor [aka fisher man] met near Malinhead for an early launch. He had his nicely rigged out van with him so he was there ahead of me.<br />
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<br />
We geared up on the pier and paddled out in search of bait. From reports of shark about the previous weekend I was trolling baits the second I had a decent one.<br />
I had one 50lb class standard rod with a big Okuma multiplier, and the other rod which was handed the other week an asked to catch something decent on it. The convo went along the lines of its a " bit thin, I'll probably break it". The response I got was " heave as hard as you like it's under warranty".<br />
The rod was a Big Bite 30lb to 80lb class can cast 200g. It had a Fin nor lethal on it loaded with 300yards of 60lb braid.<br />
The 2 rods had 15ft of 250lb wind on leaders and 3ft of 400lb 49 strand AGF wire, one had a 10/circle hook and the other had a cat fish hook on.<br />
<br />
<strong>Fresh baits rigged and out we went to the mark.</strong><br />
I also had some huge soft lures with me to try as we went. <br />
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Although the weather was to be good later it was still pretty wild out there. So we had a bash in the shelter. Ivor went after Pollock and had 2 shark set ups on. Fishing was just ok Ivor had lots of coalie and small Pollock but still wasn't great.<br />
But things began to pick up. Ivor start getting better Pollock and I had red gurnard and 2 nice bullhuss , each a new PB as they came 8lb3 and 10lb6 I was delighted.<br />
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<br />
<strong>The weather finally eased.</strong><br />
At last the weather settled and we moved out closer to where beasts are meant to frequent. But this time when we moved I tried a short drift to check the ground out. But I didn't really move. The wind and tide cancelled each other out, so no anchor needed a huge bonus when fishing for beasts.<br />
We fished away and that's where I had my 10lb6oz huss. I was happy with when.<br />
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<br />
<strong>A SHARK A SHARK</strong>,<br />
Ivor shouted a shark a shark is after my fish. I laughed and assumed it was a basking shark passing by. But he said no its a blue one. <br />
I turned that quick I near gave myself whiplash lol.<br />
As I looked over there was a beast of a porgie head butting Ivors kayak looking for a coalie.<br />
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<br />
With that I reeled in my swim bait rigged mackerel and casted it at Ivor. The mackerel sank as nice as you like down in front of the shark and he didn't even give it a second glance, no interest at all.<br />
Ah but I had an ace up my sleeve. With it rigged swim bait style I started reeling in and it swam like one of those tru line lures. As I reeled this shape appeared from behind it and gave chase.<br />
<br />
My heart was going like steam train. She was catching up fast but the bait had made it to my kayak. <br />
I stopped reeling and waited for the bait to be engulfed. <br />
But no, as soon as I stopped reeling she stopped opened her mouth and dodged the bait. <br />
<br />
<strong>OH SHIT</strong><br />
But it could never be as simple that she turned away with her mouth open and got the wire in her mouth and the circle hook on her pectoral fin. So I quickly shook some line off and with that she sat there thrashing the water until the wire came out of her mouth and thankfully the hook just fell off her pectoral fin. <br />
With that she put her head down and swam away. I was in a state of shock, get the cameras out or recast.<br />
For fear of missing my chance I cast in the general direction she went and half way through the retrieve up she came through the water and again stopped at the side of the kayak. <br />
So I thought I'd troll the baits as I would get a longer run if she chased. I had the 2 rods out 1 with Pollock and 1 with the swim bait mackerel. The Pollock was spinning as I trolled and the mackerel was swimming away nicely. <br />
<br />
<strong>Trolling away.</strong><br />
I was now trolling and with info from Alastair to keep the baits close I had them about 30yards behind me or even less. The baits where high in the water no more than 6inches under the water as I trolled. <br />
<br />
<strong>Up came a Fin.</strong><br />
5 minutes later Up came a fin, Oh and what a sight. I nearly forgot to keep paddling lol.<br />
Paddling away and that fin was coming up on the baits like jaws after that water skier in the film.<br />
As I was afraid of a violent take I stopped paddling and began reeling. She sped up and grabbed the bait. No real panic and passed me as she did. I tightened the line as she passed but the bait pulled from her mouth.<br />
I was heart broken, and convinced that was my last chance. But now I was convinced that I needed a live coalie. I shouted to Ivor could he catch one while I kept the shark entertained.<br />
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Knackered mackerel and Pollock rerigged as a swim bait I trolled as Ivor got some livies.<br />
Again she came and now was keen on the Pollock swimming away up right. But this time the hook folded over and the hook went into the Pollock instead of the shark and again she was gone.<br />
<br />
<strong>Ivor to the rescue.</strong> <br />
Over he came with 4 lively coalies. Swim bait rigged and again I was trolling and again jaws came to the surface fin out of the water and she was making an impressive bow wave as she charged after me. This time she meant business. She was coming much faster and was not playing this time. She tore through the water and grabbed the coalie. But this time I kept paddling and she swam straight past me.<br />
As she did I grabbed the rod held on and let the line tighten.<br />
<br />
<strong>FISH ON</strong>.<br />
Well it was like hooking a bus that didn't know it was hooked. She just sped up a bit and kept going and I held on and away she went. She was not that really bothered. she would go a bit and then shake her self as if she was just going to snap the line and carry on. This went on for a little while and she towed me into the rocks. But still it was as if she was going for a look around and taking me along for the craic.<br />
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But I put heavy drag on her at least 20 to 24lb of drag to get her coming up. I was sure the rod would break. But after 40 mins up she came I had the leader in my hand she done a circle around me, I heaved the line, I even had the 3ft wire in my hand and THEN.<br />
<br />
<strong>Then she looked at me.</strong><br />
She went on her side as I grabbed the end of the wire and looked at me. Ye one of those looks. With that she turned and darted down and out. I let the line go and she came around and rammed me as hard as she could. What a slap. She sent me at least 5ft through the water.<br />
Ivor got it on camera. <br />
From then on the fight was seriously tough. She dragged beside every rock she could find.<br />
At one point she even tried to get me into a gulley. <br />
Thankfully Ivor was on hand and towed me out away from the rocks as the shark done her best to get me on the rocks.<br />
<br />
<strong>Down deep and very tough</strong>.<br />
She gave up on the rocks and headed out down deep and a seriously heavy fight was on I had at this stage at least 24lb of drag [which is a ton of drag on a kayak] on and heaving like hell. But she had no interest in coming up. This went on for hours and I was in bits at this stage, the long butt on the rod was making it tough. I wasn't able to heave the rod anymore and my back was aching. I was now using my knee to lift the rod and reeling any slack.<br />
But I was getting no more than an inch of line at a time. But eventually She came up and I thought it was over, well she came up 4 times before the end and every time she powered off with big drag on her. I had to slack it off several times as she went off so strong. One of these times she came up and breached in front of me and smashing the water as she went.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Eventually up she came.</strong><br />
She eventually came up for the last time and she was immense. Bigger than I had thought. Her body was twice the girth of her head. She was like of those big fat ones Andrew Alsop gets on his boat. <br />
As she did come up the wild life ranger/basking shark tagging team came by.<br />
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<br />
They got a couple of nice pics and Emmet our shark expert reckoned she was easily 300lb. I reckoned it was comfortably 250lb but she was very hard to fathom her size when she is right beside you. All I could get into the pic was her head. <br />
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But it was great to see the shark I was sure I'd never get up. I had her along side and as the lads where in a boat I got them to tow me for a few seconds and she swam along side nicely. hook out and away she went.<br />
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<br />
The beast released and I was delighted and set to paddle home. Oh but I was wrecked lol. So a ditch on a rocky bay was in order, and a quick call to Linda my wife for a pick up.<br />
So a week to recover from that one, Rod handle cut shorter and ready for the next one.<br />
<br />
<strong>So until the next round of mayhem, Tight lines.</strong><br />
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<strong></strong><br />Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-88260769851444775022016-05-23T10:54:00.000-07:002016-05-23T11:37:30.415-07:00Tope have landedWell the long awaited tope have landed.<br />
But with bait being very scarce at the moment we headed out near Malin head for a bait hunt on Saturday afternoon.<br />
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<b>Sodding weather.</b><br />
As the general theme this year. The weather for cast was a bit out and it was considerably breezier than we had hoped for.<br />
But we got out and fished away until the weather made it to uncomfortable to fish. We done well and we all had some fine coalies and I managed 1 mackerel. But the beer and steaks made up for weather. It's looking like it will be a great year for it all going well. we are well set up now.<br />
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<b>Mackerel.</b><br />
Sunday came way to quick as we may still have been recovering from the refreshments from the night before. But up at 7am and out we went in search of bait. We gave it 2hrs and I only found 2 mackerel. A lonely grey gurnard. And a good helping of some fine coalies. I had my mark3 live bait tube out on trial again to see if putting the floats inside would help stream line it will paddling. It ended up not too bad and still works very well. This 2lb coalie was in it for well over an hour while I paddled around.<br />
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He was returned after his little trip around the area. So with that, we had e<span style="text-align: start;">nough bait and away went went. The lads were under pressure and didn't have time to hang around. So I was heading out on my own for the tope.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><b>Time to try the tope.</b></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Oh I was busting to hit the tope and with the lads catching some on Lough Swilly I had high hopes.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">So 3 nice fresh mackerel and some more coalies things were looking good.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I was launching close to time low water so it was out asap and anchor down. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I had the new fin nor lethal 100 out to see what it was like and the usual tope set up on the other. So 2 lovely mackerel fillets on pulley rigs and even though the fillets were fresh I couldn't resist give them a dose of Bio Edge sardine oil. I didn't have a bag to marinade them in so I just stuck the nozzle into the mackerel fillet a few times squeezed some in and it had a great scent trail coming off it.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><b>Time was ticking and would the bad weather come in before the tope.</b> </span></div>
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By now the lines had been in about 30 mins and not a tap and the tide was easing off. Normally I would be hitting tope by now if they where around. But my fears eased as the rod tope got a classic bob,bob take. The heart was near jumping out of my chest waiting for some thing to happen. </div>
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But no nothing. After a few minutes I lifted it and there was a couple of nicks at the edge of the bait so it definitly was a tope. Line down again and 10mins later the bait on the rod with the new beast of a reel got a take.</div>
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Doesn't matter how many tope you catch, the first of the year is epic. Pure tension, excitement and delight all rolled into one. </div>
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A bonus flounder while trying for bait.</div>
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<b>The take.</b></div>
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Sorry got side tracked there lol. Ye the take. I had the Fin nor drag set very light so the tope could take the bait with no resistance. As he took the bait and started to go I sank the hook. I had my finger on the spool so he could run a bit. But the drag was a bit light. So a I quickly turned the drag 1 full turn and, well I kind of over done it and stopped a tope in full run dead in his tracks lol.</div>
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He wasn't happy he turned and gave a mad close hand fight and rolled the trace all around him. The bugger was mental. I also had the water wolf camera on and he mangled that. Bent the wire and all sorts. But it is still working, thankfully.</div>
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So a mental tope along side the kayak , wrapped in my trace and still full of life. In he came and as every year their sheer power amazes me every year. Pure muscle and power. </div>
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Oh he was a handful, but I wouldn't have it any other way. So after a wrestle , hook out and away he went. He was a feisty bugger lol.<br />
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So that was my first tope of the year. Oh it was great to have one in and released to start the season. But I had hopes of more but the weather rolled in. You can see from the time on the photo's how quick it changed. In less than an hour it went from a light breeze to strong breeze. I had to up anchor and make a run for shore and dodge the yachts as I went , or they dodged me lol.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaFsUUNGwOJCZt_BZ1j56YNuCVHAIYPOdQ7iQqypl3LJgnQK43L_oVjlffLFLws6iEnY7SyRSnWuyKJmuzS8qT4HAXQeQCvpIijLOnh9vm1IdEplqrEVFwQDXBOxAz2xkCdlYYAW_J5sZ/s1600/DSCF4916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaFsUUNGwOJCZt_BZ1j56YNuCVHAIYPOdQ7iQqypl3LJgnQK43L_oVjlffLFLws6iEnY7SyRSnWuyKJmuzS8qT4HAXQeQCvpIijLOnh9vm1IdEplqrEVFwQDXBOxAz2xkCdlYYAW_J5sZ/s400/DSCF4916.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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So That was it, tope account opened and ready for more.</div>
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Until the next time tight lines and thanks for reading.</div>
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Also don't forget.<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.08px;">Boat angling Ireland tope meet greenore co. Louth 10th/11th/June</span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.08px;"> </span></b></div>
<b><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.08px;">Tope 80lbs possible all welcome </span><br style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.08px;" /><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.08px;">Find us on face book</span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-39528600393513070682016-05-03T12:07:00.001-07:002016-05-03T12:07:24.465-07:00While I'm waiting on the tope.Hi all,<br />
As the title says, since the weather was to dodgey to heading to far from shore in search of tope I head to a local in shore mark.<br />
I was hoping pollock and wrasse but fishing the ebb tide it was never going to be a bumper session.<br />
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<b>Something new.</b><br />
I had some nice fresh rag with me and the usual assortment of feathers and some new soft lures from <a href="http://www.fish-dynamix.co.uk/">http://www.fish-dynamix.co.uk/</a> . Their that new they don't have a name or packaging lol.<br />
I am as bad as most anglers always looking to try something new so it will be interesting the try the whole range out over the summer.<br />
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<b>On my pollock mark.</b><br />
I got on my Pollock mark, But today there was an unsual amount of coalies on the mark. Lots of them hitting the feathers when I was looking for mackerel.<br />
Great to see a hard fishing fish about but a bugger when your after Pollock or mackerel.<br />
So the feathers I use for early mackerel is the bleeding glow worm rig. Always a killer for early mackerel and herring. But it was a waste of time with the coalies around. So it was on to rag on a flowing trace or soft lure.<br />
By now the lovely sunny day had turned to over cast and quiet breezy. But I was alright sitting aound the head land out of the breeze.<br />
As the tide was running very fast I decided to anchor and tried the new lure with a 1.5oz lead head. I fished it for 30 mins with not so much as a tap.<br />
So it was onto the rag, but as the breeze was getting up all the time I didn't route out a boom I just run a line from above the jig head and use it as a weight as it was an ideal weight.<br />
So rag down and fished very slow and deep and as expected on my second cast and retrieve I got the bump bump and take of a lively little pollock. I was sure he took the rag but no he took the new lure fished dead slow and deep.<br />
Which surprised me, it did have a rub of the smelt wand on it too so that may have encouraged the take when fished so slow, I'm not sure yet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4QqkotHj5DfSGUMadIbRU1uq4aubqvtRUrpIvddZcdRdwvPKf-dYSJK739PWoVOKY2Mk35XO4i26bdqczoe6NrnsGGNd0oeNGcGQCDYp0UGq8HW-TN4pro-KXZjbubMnR-tZHX1Kl4e5/s1600/IMG_20160501_151541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4QqkotHj5DfSGUMadIbRU1uq4aubqvtRUrpIvddZcdRdwvPKf-dYSJK739PWoVOKY2Mk35XO4i26bdqczoe6NrnsGGNd0oeNGcGQCDYp0UGq8HW-TN4pro-KXZjbubMnR-tZHX1Kl4e5/s640/IMG_20160501_151541.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOFA7vkXBAc9CegsmhbgHF2dLBAJIiPNqR-seBgWrUcYVxY2zok5QBHEn7M7uIRgvtWhduRq3vYUvkwGPjYtcb-t1ExLurW3yg_z17eOqSehLqQ7rsmYulZNzaLPeWx7fNq3fD6BuXOA2/s1600/IMG_20160501_151556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOFA7vkXBAc9CegsmhbgHF2dLBAJIiPNqR-seBgWrUcYVxY2zok5QBHEn7M7uIRgvtWhduRq3vYUvkwGPjYtcb-t1ExLurW3yg_z17eOqSehLqQ7rsmYulZNzaLPeWx7fNq3fD6BuXOA2/s400/IMG_20160501_151556.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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No beast by any means but it was encouraging to see him on the lure when there was a nice rag worm behind it. </div>
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Another couple of casts later and another classic pollock take with a much feistier fish this time and nearly up and another burst of life and a tustle and up came 2 pollock one on the rag and one on the lure.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QA3sIe0AN5CH6S-bD1JJtEoPgZXbB9fmBecPolld45CXItiS9oq65wpiSjHNBIm721tNZ_OneUDzjxexAMghukDJl9W6woeD-gBolSFocjt-h9BQHwLVxzLUJQF1s0AS6tn6_K9jtr1q/s1600/IMG_20160501_153517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QA3sIe0AN5CH6S-bD1JJtEoPgZXbB9fmBecPolld45CXItiS9oq65wpiSjHNBIm721tNZ_OneUDzjxexAMghukDJl9W6woeD-gBolSFocjt-h9BQHwLVxzLUJQF1s0AS6tn6_K9jtr1q/s400/IMG_20160501_153517.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The better fish was on the new lure, with a little one on the rag. Seems the better fish took the lure before the rag again. May be coincidence but some more testing in the future will give a better picture of how the new lure is working. I have a right few to try out so its going to be fun trying the them all. </div>
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<b>Getting very windy.</b></div>
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By now the wind was kicking up rightly and it would soon be time for home. I had to try the wrasse before I went home so I whacked some rag on the glow worm rig and let that sit while spun for pollock.</div>
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It was down only a short while when I had my first wrasse.</div>
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Another 20 minutes passed and I hadn't another bite from pollock or wrasse and as the wind was howling by now it was a pain fishing at anchor. So lines up and in I went. It was a tough paddle in and I was glad I didn't go out to the tope or I would have had a nasty run in for sure.<br />
Mind you when I got back on the shore the wind was totally missing the beach. Typical. I should have went after the seatrout.<br />
But sure I had edible size pollock for the dinner and got at least one new lure tried out so it was a good run out despite the weather.<br />
Until next time tight lines.Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-12282415407549218502016-04-12T13:32:00.001-07:002016-04-12T13:38:59.777-07:00Fish finders how to choose and fit yours.<strong>Hi all,</strong><br />
Its the start of most kayak anglers and boat anglers angling season. Soon the tope, coalie and ray will be in. Long with the warmer weather species as the summer approaches.<br />
A lot of you will be getting ready kayak or boat ready and choosing a fish finder and fitting it will be top priority. <br />
<br />
<strong>Choosing a fish finder</strong>.<br />
First of all before you break out the cash what do you want it to do. <br />
<ol>
<li>Do you just want general depths and basic features along with thick fish shoals to show up. Price from E80.00 up.</li>
<li>Do you want a fish finder to show the above and pick up as much fish as possible as more basic units will not show up mackerel and herring unless the shoals are very thick. Usually from E160.00 up.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DnklDDbrQCp_HHJqrKFZ5IN51ExTE5bbp9A0lm9zF9xpPiZIs0RTEu8BJOZTAqCq9OIz_qbyHpnWRj-SQW63fx4BUfJyhjHjNkBiOutOlFk8Dqc8x1WFb3U0gHfcNiqaAmwzbpMwOEvv/s1600/DSCF0644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DnklDDbrQCp_HHJqrKFZ5IN51ExTE5bbp9A0lm9zF9xpPiZIs0RTEu8BJOZTAqCq9OIz_qbyHpnWRj-SQW63fx4BUfJyhjHjNkBiOutOlFk8Dqc8x1WFb3U0gHfcNiqaAmwzbpMwOEvv/s400/DSCF0644.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Do you want a unit that will do all of number 2 and have CHIRP which shows huge bottom detail and very accurately show up even individual fish. Normally from E250.00 up.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvXfycaMvFtah2iJbmuZx4w_a19AqTvrZDXb0-TOmiwjEohcosLfOJsGDckHsPvk4pEtrOJBLSj12vrV0_2kOaJ9oxTsk95KKLeaOo1ayrXWHX5aZgk8VnYq5Q2Gd_3mpDe_hzDVHvqyK/s1600/Oaks+dec+2015+%252839%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvXfycaMvFtah2iJbmuZx4w_a19AqTvrZDXb0-TOmiwjEohcosLfOJsGDckHsPvk4pEtrOJBLSj12vrV0_2kOaJ9oxTsk95KKLeaOo1ayrXWHX5aZgk8VnYq5Q2Gd_3mpDe_hzDVHvqyK/s400/Oaks+dec+2015+%252839%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></li>
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Or all of number 3 and have a built in gps unit with chart plotter. Can be got from E350.00 up</div>
</li>
</ol>
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<ol>
<li>Sounds a mine field but it is easy with a little help to get you going. For option number 1 the Garmin 90 is not a bad choice. I have had an older version and it was not a bad unit. I did up permanently sealing the leads into the back of the unit as they did start to suffer from corrosion.</li>
<li>In my view if you are on a tight budget try and push towards a better unit I have seen the lowrance 4xdsi for E160.00 new from a French seller but normally nearer the E200.00 . You will have to google that one they come up on sale from time to time. This unit has exceptional image quality and can even show he shape of lobster pots in 40ft of water. The only problem I had with this unit was it did fog up at times. But did clear with in a few minutes when out of direct sun light.</li>
<li>Now if you have the cash a top class unit that has CHIRP is worth the money, the Raymarine dragonfly 4 has this. But can be hypnotic, they can show up amazing detail and can be a real eye opener to what the bottom is really like. It is a big bonus to finding areas holding fish and will show even light shoals of sandeels.</li>
<li>Well option 4 is the top of the game and you could spend a small mortgage on one. The Dragonfly 4 is one of the cheaper ones out there. An excellent unit and well worth the money, the screen is bonded so it can never fog up. The only down side to this unit is, in my view the maps that come with it are very poor, they lack detail and when zoomed in show next to no detail. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You can get Navionics for it, which are excellent but I was quoted E200.00 to get them on my unit. I was not happy about that but it is a good unit. Lowrance do a similar unit which I have great things about, but I have not had the privilege of trying one out. I have heard they are more expensive. </li>
</ol>
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Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-86663213561093655212016-04-06T12:42:00.002-07:002016-04-06T12:43:46.763-07:00Will we see a calm weekend again,<b>Hi all,</b><br />
Still not much improvement in the weather and signs of fish are just as scarce out there.<br />
Last weekend April 2nd I decided I would get the tear drop out for a fishy weekend.<br />
I decided to try local, near enough should there be problems I had not far to got and far enough away that I wasn't going back for anything if I forgot it.<br />
<br />
<b>Forecast was poor.</b><br />
The forecast was poor but I had hopes Kinageo would have some shelter.<br />
Well in a word it wasn't, there was a decent bunch of breakers constantly breaking on the shore and my launch trough the rocks not as nice as I normally would like it.<br />
I try and get a pic of what it is like but it never seems to portray what it is really like.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7hjYwK2crkxKqDH6T9xDAOPI2UXa0qtlivMCSWdOamtkI5pqebBPkJy1R489KJ6AGMxlAZZfRaohADpx3CXn0aAuxx5rsRi-nnRQAprJpbJsZXz3eVRMGhvaa4IYqcT6ooK3YaMDj74w/s1600/DSCF4863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7hjYwK2crkxKqDH6T9xDAOPI2UXa0qtlivMCSWdOamtkI5pqebBPkJy1R489KJ6AGMxlAZZfRaohADpx3CXn0aAuxx5rsRi-nnRQAprJpbJsZXz3eVRMGhvaa4IYqcT6ooK3YaMDj74w/s400/DSCF4863.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
It was rougher than I would normally try, but it was safe enough so out I went.<br />
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Ye as always it was not nice out there. There was a stiff breeze, cold and it was a rodeo.<br />
I was rattled and rolled all over the place, but it was nice to be out. I had planned to troll as close to the back of the breakers as possible but even 100yards from the shore was to close and a couple of large swells getting up the wrong side of had me heading out away from them. I trolled around and tried by the rocks and all the while the swell was getting bigger.<br />
With the waves crashing on the shore and now some making it into the gully I came out, I headed for the shore. Damn that is nerve racking heading in a gully when its rough.<br />
But the with the rods stowed in the hatch for a rough landing it was no bother and I managed to get into the shore between the swell and all was good.<br />
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So I was out and back in under 30 mins lol, gives you an idea of what it was like.<br />
So ashore in loads of time I was going to just go home, but sure it was a miserable evening and no better night to try it all out. I got the kettle on while I put the kayak away and the tea was ready by the time the kayak was away.<br />
By now it was raining hard and it was time for dinner. The back door makes a great canopy and I could cook away in the shelter. I must have looked cracked sitting there cooking away but it was a good trial. Also it was a cold night out but in the tear drop the insulated walls made it a very comfortable night by the sea.<br />
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So I am all set for the next break in the weather and no doubt myself and a few others will be out there in search of some fun afloat. Won't be long now until it kicks off.<br />
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<b>Thanks for reading and tight lines all.</b>Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-57026914696024087812016-04-06T12:01:00.000-07:002016-04-06T12:01:00.682-07:00We can but try.<b>Hi every one.</b><div>
I will be keeping this up to date as much as possible. I had let it slide as I have been busy, but I have been surprised at the amount of people kids and adults that have an interest in what I get up to. </div>
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So keep the feed back coming it's always great to hear from you all.</div>
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<b>Back to the fishing, well attempts at fishing.</b></div>
<div>
The winter has been hard on us this year and there has been little or no let up in the weather. </div>
<div>
But the small breaks we have had myself and others have been trying. </div>
<div>
Since Darren , one of the shore lads had been catching some ray from the shore and there was no where else fishable I had to give it ago. </div>
<div>
It was off to Lough Swilly with kayak newbee Georgie. </div>
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The times where pick and a few hours near the top of the flood tide were decided on. </div>
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<b>On the anchor</b></div>
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We tandem anchored as it's a bit much to try and anchor on your first trip or 2. </div>
<div>
So anchored up and lines in. I had sandeel with Bio Edge squid potion on them, mackerel and squid.</div>
<div>
Georgie was using sandeels. </div>
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The tide was not overly strong but again it was very cold out there. </div>
<div>
We were there about an hour before the first bite came to my rod. The usual first pounce on the bait followed by some shuffling around. I gave him a minute and lifted hard into a decent enough fish. No beast but more than a tiddler. She gave a good scrap and came along side after making the most of the tide to get away. </div>
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So I was delighted with a reasonable thornie of 6lb and the dreaded blank was averted.<br />
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Soon after that mr.dogfish appeared, I think this is the only time of year we are glad to see them appear. They can be relentless in the summer.<br />
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On the bitter cold day that it was I would have been happy enough with that, but there was more to come. This nicely marked also devoured the sandeel in squid potion and made a fine brace.<br />
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The tide turned and that was it. Georgie was more getting to grips with kayak angling rather than the fishing and is all set for the next trip out. We had some anchoring practice on the way in and he's all set for the next day out.</div>
Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-57572437456582707922016-04-06T11:21:00.001-07:002016-04-06T11:21:50.205-07:00It's not easy out there.<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;"><b>Hi everyone.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">It has been a while since I have put a report up.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">Not that I have not been trying, it's just there is not alot about.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">The weather has been terrible since last October but I have a had a few runs out. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">Nothing amazing but I did have a good time, from getting near frozen in Ards fishing for pike to get tossed around like a little cork on those lumpy breezy days</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6px;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;"><b>My trip to Belfast looking for crocs.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6px;">Lucky for me us kayak anglers pass fishing info back and forward and when the chance arises we visit each other to see what we can catch.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6px;">As the angling show was on in Dublin and I was going sure how could I pass all those lakes wit out giving them a try. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6px;">So a few extra days off work and I was set to visit Mike Sherwood for some pike Action. Yes at a secret venue, as all pike venues are lol.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6px;">I had planned to meet mike at a lake and with the weather being terrible and snow on the roads on the way down I was about 30mins late. Mike was out already and the bugger had gone for heat over kayak and had the boat out. He was wrapped up like a mummy lol. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6px;">Out we went and fished a breezy very cold lake. There was a lot of sleet melt flowing into the lake and the pike were sulking and sitting very low in the water and we didn't get a tap all day.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We don't give up easily.</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">We it was back to Mike's place to have a rethink and come up with a plan B.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">Well to inspire us we had to call to Brian and see his monster aquarium. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">Gobsmacked is an understatement. He has can fish over 20lb in it, plus lots more. So fish talk and a few beverages plan B was sorted.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">The next day came and it was even colder than the first day, but we were going regardless. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">Out on another secluded lake I was raring to go and I had 1 rod set with a herring for slow trolling and the other rod got a storm curly tail lure with a good rub of sardine Bio Edge this lure has good action trolled slow. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">As it was cold that was my plan, very slow and see what happens. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">Out for a slow troll and I had not gone 100yards and I had a half hearted hit on the herring. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">That was dropped and the lure was trolled over the area and bang he/she grabbed it. A nice scrap and I had at least 1 pike of 7.5lb for my efforts.<b> I know he doesn't look it.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">But it was not going to improve from then on. Myself and Mike fished the rest of the day and we had several jacks under 2lb and that was it. No beasts that trip but sure we will be back.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">Hopefully when its warmer.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PYSNiU_PAljChHrvegHLiFraTVCPxeNkX0YQ4Zu4tMCExqQZOe1vX3OpnkitQlxFMWoiF5uXS_rqy4uP8r5cOx-9eloW6ftnTwZ-qIGU78tvSfzKph0qxT3kt1Wq4tf-hSTcv879Pugw/s1600/pike+Ni+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PYSNiU_PAljChHrvegHLiFraTVCPxeNkX0YQ4Zu4tMCExqQZOe1vX3OpnkitQlxFMWoiF5uXS_rqy4uP8r5cOx-9eloW6ftnTwZ-qIGU78tvSfzKph0qxT3kt1Wq4tf-hSTcv879Pugw/s640/pike+Ni+%25289%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-23020975725298662122015-11-19T10:14:00.001-08:002015-11-19T10:32:54.577-08:00Exciting times ahead.<div style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"> <strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some exciting news.</span></strong></span></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hi all,</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes exciting news indeed.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The very kind people at<strong> Fish Dynamix</strong> have asked me to become a brand ambassador. </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How could I say no with an excellent range of attractants from scent wands to potions [oils].</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why a brand ambassador.</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That's easy as I won't be testing them as they are already tried and tested long ago with excellent results.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From commercial long liners in Norway catching cod just using cod Kvalvik on cotton wool buds. </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So add it to a soft lure on a lead head and it should become a killer combination.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As of the 28-9-15 I have yet to use them but I am really looking forward to using them at sea and of course during the pike season.</span><br />
<strong><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well I did get to try it.</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes I did get out to try the wands and bioglow with very good results. I tried a couple of things such as the sardine wand on cotton with cod and squid hitting attacking it as soon as it went down. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OTWv6jzLISw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OTWv6jzLISw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me that was all the proof I needed. As the codling hit the cotton wool with the sardine wand twice before taking a set of baited rigs not more than 3ft away on another rod.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then the opportunity of a settled spell in the weather came and myself and Mike Sherwood took advantage of the settled spell and we hit our favourite mark and we had some monster squid and I got a beast of a skate coming in at 170lb. The big bait and small hook was held in position by the heavy bioglow bait elastic </span><a href="http://www.fish-dynamix.co.uk/"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.fish-dynamix.co.uk/</span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Mike was on hand to show off his photography skills and took this excellent picture. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCsJAq8rKb-6dphy8n6a9efR_SpamQSkw2bt5VKZErmLycG3e-AozPQRkIKVHGWthI2HLdR9ClJXE7yjAIj7QuPq2eqP7qO8TdPn97rge5mQe9LKsYYDeXbl2ShBAdkQHXuZUDAENb5p1/s1600/Cover+page+youtube+new+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCsJAq8rKb-6dphy8n6a9efR_SpamQSkw2bt5VKZErmLycG3e-AozPQRkIKVHGWthI2HLdR9ClJXE7yjAIj7QuPq2eqP7qO8TdPn97rge5mQe9LKsYYDeXbl2ShBAdkQHXuZUDAENb5p1/s640/Cover+page+youtube+new+1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>So, so far so good.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>So far its doing very well. Although the winter winds have hit Donegal and they don't leave in a hurry when they come. But they will drop sooner or later and we will be ready to tempt them with what ever flavour they want.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>What I am really looking forward too.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>At the moment the main species I am really looking forward to trying these products on are.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Sea; </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Plaice, wrasse and cod, and if the weather permits common skate.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Fresh water;</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Pike, perch and trout.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>I am really looking forward to trying it on pike as they can be difficult at times so it will be an excellent test.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong> </strong></span><br />
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For now Bioglow is available at Breakaway, Veals, Gerry’s, Christchurch Angling, Ritegear, etc ….online and around 20 other shops at present. Its only been out 6 weeks although catch reports are going well over social media.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>BioEdge:</strong></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><strong>BioEdge Potions applied to Bait, 15 - 30 minutes</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">BioEdge Potions applied to Bucktails, 15 to 30 minutes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: white;"><strong><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">BioEdge Potions applied to soft plastics by marinating, 1 hour plus.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">BioEdge Wands applied to soft baits 45 - 60 minutes.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>BioEdge Wands applied to hard baits (metal, hard plastics), 30 - 45 minutes.</strong></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span><span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><strong><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; line-height: 18px;">BioEdge Products works well on all cut bait. Marinate cut bait in the Potion to give it a very powerful long lasting scent trail, much stronger than bait alone can produce </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; line-height: 18px;">or live fish bait use BioEdge Wands. Apply to body and tail behind gills.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; line-height: 18px;">Apply Potion directly onto worms, or other none gill baring live baits. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; line-height: 18px;">Note Avoid getting BioEdge Potion into fish gills.</span> </span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><strong><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Wands are best stored out of direct sunlight and below 80F, the cooler the better to prevent the loss of volatile oils.</span></span><span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; line-height: 18px;">Potions are best stored between 50F and 70F. Some Potions will partially solidify if kept cold. This is because some of the fats have solidified. Shake bottle and warm it up and solids will melt. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; line-height: 18px;">BioEdge Potions and Wands will remain very effective for more than 18 months. There is a large selection of wands and Potions on line.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><strong><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #fffefe;"><span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The crab potion is from a blueback crab which has the same qualities as cart and peeler crabs. Blood worm is actually marine worm (Glycera dibranchiata) and this </span></span></span><span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">would be suitable to use with any marine worm that you chose. Sandworm is directly from </span></span><span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">rag worm.</span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffefe; color: #231f20; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>RRP Wands: £11.99 RRP: £12.99 </strong></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfd; color: #231f20; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Bioglow:</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><strong><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #fdfcfc; color: #231f20; line-height: 18px;">Natural raw earth that makes it glow</span><span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">…lasts up to 15 mins per charge. Used in daylight and darkness…found to be effective as both and can be charged using a normal torch. I have included a UV torch for you to get the extra power. The 0.1mm is still quite thick and will cut through soft baits</span></span><span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">…so our suggestion would be to use normal bait elastic and use some bioglow on top. Bioglow is an attractant and where it is suitable for bigger and tougher baits</span></span><span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">…it can be used as an elastic. We are still working on making it finer, but its very hard to get enough raw earth into the cotton to enable it to glow brightly.</span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><strong>0.1mm RRP: £2.89 0.2mm RRP: £2.99 0.</strong></span></span><strong>mm RRP: £3.10</strong></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5XNpnvpuefV5_F5GHFMdRV10fVf0Q9ch3dtruRE6OAlm1PZGBY85cQqk-f2PmUf2-X_BYEFIh0sTe2CxgwoXHR0mTCdu2IDcXrn3dJ4y62MF4NpPrXVzMGtKWrZmj2cpDMJkKPo3piDg/s1600/Fish+dynamix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5XNpnvpuefV5_F5GHFMdRV10fVf0Q9ch3dtruRE6OAlm1PZGBY85cQqk-f2PmUf2-X_BYEFIh0sTe2CxgwoXHR0mTCdu2IDcXrn3dJ4y62MF4NpPrXVzMGtKWrZmj2cpDMJkKPo3piDg/s640/Fish+dynamix.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-7908729424367586192015-10-21T10:57:00.000-07:002015-10-25T15:54:01.208-07:00A day of monsters at the end of a fantastic year.<strong>Back again,</strong> <br />
More grey hair and slightly worse for ware.<br />
Another excellent day appeared on the forecast and where else would you find me on a day like it.<br />
This day Mike Sherwood was up for a monster hunt to, so rods, reels and hooks where gathered that would look out of place on a small boat never mind a couple of kayaks. <br />
It was a belter of a day and all was calm.<br />
There was a light easterly forecast so we where gear for a cool if not cold day out there.<br />
The 2 of us headed out 1hr before high water which was ideal for some bait hunting before we headed out.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Bait fishing can be great fun.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Lines where dropped as we went dipping here and there looking for bait. When a nice shape appeared on the sounder, I was thinking mackerel or herring. So line down with white euro champs and the rod buckled over. </span><br />
It could only be Pollock or coalie and to our delight it was coalie. An excellent skate bait, plus the best of craic catching them.<br />
Every drop the rod buckled and the line was peeling off the reels with three to four 2lb+ coalie. <br />
It was that much fun we nearly didn't head out, but come the turn of the tide they would settle down and be very hard to tempt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6szmzR6FN3mahzwCuyuhTGWvacQzSSJcUeylD_NtUbBCfsnB4z6C-s4uHDrJLlvGN2Ic3tEZEDT2kt8Pk0KCcnmISJOYq-Nhe3Ie2OrlR-T-MmVuZ2VvSQbMM7B8EEN_drUHlGGYb0uKG/s1600/DSCF4657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6szmzR6FN3mahzwCuyuhTGWvacQzSSJcUeylD_NtUbBCfsnB4z6C-s4uHDrJLlvGN2Ic3tEZEDT2kt8Pk0KCcnmISJOYq-Nhe3Ie2OrlR-T-MmVuZ2VvSQbMM7B8EEN_drUHlGGYb0uKG/s320/DSCF4657.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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So enough for the day fishing were kept and away we went trolling the rigs looking for mackerel but we only got one. As always I had the porgie rod with me and since there was really only squid out there I am assuming that any porgies that are left out here must be after squid. So I stuck a big squid on and bound it in place with the heavy bioglow elastic thread. It was good, and held the hook in position very well, as we all know hook position is half the battle. You don't want the hook lost inside the bait when you are trying to hook a fish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvJzpSuux9ZAiqjdvomW2xAkUOhLG110Cn9Ut0ywB-8y8fbqI8hiW5-yCa1bXild5YLwH0K_GQGf47M7VETAEi7skfMsVm7NBRc-9EqS8FJgvyw8-WFrx2ocOEWZFjIKS3nP092nEPmoP/s1600/DSCF4658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvJzpSuux9ZAiqjdvomW2xAkUOhLG110Cn9Ut0ywB-8y8fbqI8hiW5-yCa1bXild5YLwH0K_GQGf47M7VETAEi7skfMsVm7NBRc-9EqS8FJgvyw8-WFrx2ocOEWZFjIKS3nP092nEPmoP/s320/DSCF4658.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Out that went on a balloon and I wanted it very deep as that's where the squid are. So I let out about 80ft of line and set the balloon 2.5oz of lead and away down tide it went. </div>
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Then the skate rod got a whopper coalie on and it also got lowered to the bottom. </div>
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Then the light rod got the usual rig when there's a chance of spurdogs, a mickey fish rig with a squid jig on top.</div>
The wait was on and we had some doggies and small ling. <br />
As I sat there my balloon came free of my line, no runs or tugs. The small swell just pulled the line free as it takes a lot to hold them at depth.<br />
By now the tide had eased and my line was slowly sinking to the bottom. <br />
I was quiet happy to let it go to the bottom as I had been toying with the idea of trying this to drop a bait down tide for skate so I could use 2 rods for skate. Plus I had that monster hit me in the dark on the bottom a couple of weeks ago. <br />
More doggies and small stuff for the both of us, the banter was good and the slagging is never far away, <br />
As it was quiet I decided to give the porgie bait that was now on the bottom a lift and reeled in about 20 yards, as Mike was telling me the sharks lads where getting hits with moving baits. <br />
Rood back in the holder, clutch set for a take, but I forgot to put the ratchet on. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The silent zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I was sitting there and I started to feel a rattle trough the kayak and turned to look at the porgie rod to see the rod top bouncing. I was thinking a skate had just jumped on the bait so I reeled the light rod in quick. </span><br />
Then lifted the porgie rod and struck hard. The line went for another few yards and then came to a solid stop.<br />
The porgie rod is a penn 30lb to 50lb class rod. Its a bit soft yanking skate off the sea floor but that's what he hit and it was about to be tested to the full.<br />
The line had come to a solid stop and no amount of pulling would shift it. <br />
So I let the anchor go and worked the rod until I was directly over the spot it stopped at. It was this point I realised the bugger had peel of near 100yards of line very quickly. <br />
He had wrapped the line around several rocks so a bit of paddling and heavy had the line poping off each rock as I paddled and each time I got a bit of slack line for a second thinking each time I lost it.<br />
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Eventually I could feel my lead bouncing off the bottom so my hook was now I was either hooked to a lump of Donegal or a dam big skate as she was not shifting with out a scrap.<br />
I heaved like hell and mike was heckling me from a far YOUR STUCK ARE YE LOL.<br />
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<strong>HEAVE,</strong><br />
Oh I heaved like a mad thing either that was coming up or I was going down lol. Either way something was going to give and then movement. I got it up about 10ft off the bottom and shouted over its up and then back down again it went. It done that about 3 times. But I could clearly see it on the fish finder and you can just see it on the fish finder screen the blue line, its about 25ft off the bottom here. the screen is zoomed here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6GOg_ssaTuJhDnhYzgOuHjquNa9D-Dg-9BVuaqshNyCQCpXyIRxynbENPkMY6f7-bbNj0gmBkZwwySsEr8xVuCc336A3vIQyP8GpM4YeAO0lD7GW0UpBPB6WRX7FP0b5zlyGy7OODSJp/s1600/DSCF4659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6GOg_ssaTuJhDnhYzgOuHjquNa9D-Dg-9BVuaqshNyCQCpXyIRxynbENPkMY6f7-bbNj0gmBkZwwySsEr8xVuCc336A3vIQyP8GpM4YeAO0lD7GW0UpBPB6WRX7FP0b5zlyGy7OODSJp/s400/DSCF4659.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<strong>Up she comes.</strong><br />
Ye she was coming up and the seriously damaged line was coming to. The rod was holding up well to the abuse but myself and Mike where wondering if the line would as there where slivers of line coming off as it came trough the rigs. The skate gave it a terrible doing on the boulders. So no braid for me any more. The other rod is getting mono soon.<br />
At last the bright yellow lead end of Alain Storey's was coming up and I was delighted to see it come into the top eye of the rod as the piece of line near the leader was in a shocking state. <br />
I grabbed the leader and the skate came along side slapping splashing along side. She was immense. The big ones are an unbelievable site when they come along side.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbexfj8RbovlCL8OC_phzSPkbhbz-UmGBlXLRBf6QLqkqiJ7mDtzWezOpYv7rbzsBfm1faoqRiOwYU1hsTcsTl0W1MvDzAO_w6Yy7sKrIkgKcMC9eblJkjiqv1talYWh0-roC3aUSmogeh/s1600/DSCF4667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbexfj8RbovlCL8OC_phzSPkbhbz-UmGBlXLRBf6QLqkqiJ7mDtzWezOpYv7rbzsBfm1faoqRiOwYU1hsTcsTl0W1MvDzAO_w6Yy7sKrIkgKcMC9eblJkjiqv1talYWh0-roC3aUSmogeh/s400/DSCF4667.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
She looked a similar size to my last big one but was 5ft4" across and 78" long working out at 170lb.<br />
A massive thanks to Mike for helping me get her measured. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ux_XASV8lq01AqpFh0NGjo0sPdTjUK3qEfFqFUTYkIng9SQpX9hWK5xdtCLyKPc5WPfgn_wQnfzdKDbJTlHTD52Oy8orPyvcarP2H2u4hIPavf_wA8Jvl2_ZQ4xwI9mnS_731xEK8chZ/s1600/Skate+october++%252827%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ux_XASV8lq01AqpFh0NGjo0sPdTjUK3qEfFqFUTYkIng9SQpX9hWK5xdtCLyKPc5WPfgn_wQnfzdKDbJTlHTD52Oy8orPyvcarP2H2u4hIPavf_wA8Jvl2_ZQ4xwI9mnS_731xEK8chZ/s400/Skate+october++%252827%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48JEbfbHH2mxZnrYNHzaLpZ4YVc0PpDGbOhYW2RyO1fcXtHOexYEHTPvykRUMgdZENV_pMgBu7QW4J46XszCeIv91xc1OSDlj07ilxefpPejkyJcc6QrIaxsD3KYvalCouhq2hMeq2GlI/s1600/DSCF4661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48JEbfbHH2mxZnrYNHzaLpZ4YVc0PpDGbOhYW2RyO1fcXtHOexYEHTPvykRUMgdZENV_pMgBu7QW4J46XszCeIv91xc1OSDlj07ilxefpPejkyJcc6QrIaxsD3KYvalCouhq2hMeq2GlI/s400/DSCF4661.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF696Hr1PSX2pQMIH8rTVFitZDWN6YBTXc9xeCmH8f0Kt1QZ1KtXbAh6pYAvR8Vg9z2edzs-1O08xQ5nTHjBEtCmnDkpZlsbD9v38esxmcglWI5tXRL-msaJF5sexd3KvtuK0ABurcrOKd/s1600/October+skate+170lb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF696Hr1PSX2pQMIH8rTVFitZDWN6YBTXc9xeCmH8f0Kt1QZ1KtXbAh6pYAvR8Vg9z2edzs-1O08xQ5nTHjBEtCmnDkpZlsbD9v38esxmcglWI5tXRL-msaJF5sexd3KvtuK0ABurcrOKd/s640/October+skate+170lb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Thanks to Mike for this pic, Its a great shot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQnFVnLsXI3v3QLUNWCjpzf6PbE22ztbIMzI9j9fUoR2u0YgGvk7N6Z3F9iDOg1s2YCmsgCASuHYy-6cSkSYCFw8xNOk4zmNtrre_LYHL9P6qTlzlorOvIMPnPYd9lft3bFgbbwj9whAm/s1600/DSCF4668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQnFVnLsXI3v3QLUNWCjpzf6PbE22ztbIMzI9j9fUoR2u0YgGvk7N6Z3F9iDOg1s2YCmsgCASuHYy-6cSkSYCFw8xNOk4zmNtrre_LYHL9P6qTlzlorOvIMPnPYd9lft3bFgbbwj9whAm/s400/DSCF4668.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Here is what my bait looked like after that beast devoured it. And it was still held in place with the heavy elastic thread.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The excitement wasn't over yet</strong>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We had been towed and drifted about a mile at this stage so a brisk paddle back with an aching arm lol. We where soon at anchor. Mike and I whacked large squid baits on down they went. </span><br />
Not 30mins later I could hear mikes rachet going at a good rate.<br />
Mike grabbed it and struck hard and hoofed up the drag and it kept going it was going mad and trying to get away but it was coming up not to bad and after a minute or so it was looking like Mike was going to get his first kayak skate and all of a sudden BUMP, off it came. F#####KKK echoed around the area as Mikes disappointment was very clear. <br />
The hard fighting beauty was gone. <br />
We fished on with more doggies and squid some of which where huge. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBb1iNQVGnCXwqpgKEJb0npIGmtp_9Szq1oi4vCf0Zirhpgh9VRsVWCj_2AarQJKZIUmc5pPCNxyP8f3TxKz-kfeBqLfq1EinHs_B-O7MpBHWyqXlmv9mgwL2UW9_3gBaKWC4E2kbHKCG/s1600/Skate+october+%252817%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBb1iNQVGnCXwqpgKEJb0npIGmtp_9Szq1oi4vCf0Zirhpgh9VRsVWCj_2AarQJKZIUmc5pPCNxyP8f3TxKz-kfeBqLfq1EinHs_B-O7MpBHWyqXlmv9mgwL2UW9_3gBaKWC4E2kbHKCG/s400/Skate+october+%252817%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>A monster of another kind</strong></div>
So Mikes skate didn't come back but he did get a brute of a spurdog when I had the skate on so no pic of that fish unfortunately.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov71YJTinVIF6mZJQLRTgSV-mqF8E_n52QECMarlkN4yBjH-Xja43zGygwpSjfSgXouzE_LXc4Kq_zalchJp4PX2iLo1287f9r7FFwpds_c8z6qtJdZ-hcmISSRm1oDP6LRBYDeZLlg62/s1600/DSCF4670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov71YJTinVIF6mZJQLRTgSV-mqF8E_n52QECMarlkN4yBjH-Xja43zGygwpSjfSgXouzE_LXc4Kq_zalchJp4PX2iLo1287f9r7FFwpds_c8z6qtJdZ-hcmISSRm1oDP6LRBYDeZLlg62/s400/DSCF4670.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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But he got the dinner no bother to him, with a good few huge squid.</div>
As the year is nearing the end on the big salt stuff, I thought a pic of how the typhoon suit was getting would be appropriate. Here it is not even washed yet after a day fighting with Skate, Squid and lots of baits. It is still in perfect condition despite many lads prediction that it would never survive my kind of fishing. Thank you Typhoon with Wet and Wild in Belfast you make an excellent suit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUm8lW9KPhRSn4ezzjUmBJfaK03rLaiV-ONy_D1Wbwnsk7NjcKf2IFmxCAG316ZljpnQ6Unkfqsv4ck3Bv_fKbQ6pS3JY6GgC85O8bf4S6-vMkEhfWnH__jwh-qPXz8SEJGZ_iw-2lq9r/s1600/DSCF4673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUm8lW9KPhRSn4ezzjUmBJfaK03rLaiV-ONy_D1Wbwnsk7NjcKf2IFmxCAG316ZljpnQ6Unkfqsv4ck3Bv_fKbQ6pS3JY6GgC85O8bf4S6-vMkEhfWnH__jwh-qPXz8SEJGZ_iw-2lq9r/s400/DSCF4673.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Thanks for reading and paddle safe out there.Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-43610111752422834812015-10-20T09:18:00.001-07:002015-10-20T09:18:45.281-07:00A day of brown trouser moments.Hi all,<br />
Its been hectic the last few weeks expecting every trip to be the last trip of the year out deep. <br />
But come mid week a settled spell appears and its' FISH ON.<br />
We are having a better autumn/winter than we had a summer. <br />
I never expect to get out deep at this time of year but myself and a couple of the lads are always ready no matter what time of year it is. But I was on my own this day.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The perfect day.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Ye it was perfect, nearly no wind nearly no swell forecast and I had the day off. </span><br />
What's the chances of all those circumstances coming together at this time of year.<br />
So in at my launch spot at Malin and out I went. Geared up and I had forgotten to repair my battery clips for the gps/ff. So I just wrapped them onto the terminals and away I went.<br />
Unfortunately I was heading out at the end of the ebb tide which is a killer for catching bait. <br />
I have been unlucky with launch times and tides of late but you fish what you get at this time of year. <br />
So with nothing to show for the bait search out I went. <br />
This spot has a nice deep flat area not that far off shore. I was on the hunt for skate, squid and maybe an odd stray porgie.<br />
The days fishing was tricky with not a lot about. The squid fishing was excellent again and I was rubbing the sardine wand on the jigs and it worked a treat,. It helped to keep the squid off the baits.<br />
I also had a good few scad<br />
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<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Brown trouser moment NO.1 coming.</span></strong><br />
So apart from the squid there was not a pile happening, I was enjoying the weather catching squid hoping for a big rod to peel off when again a nice long lazy arsed take on the light bait rod. <br />
I assumed it was another squid, and began to reel up nice and easy.<br />
By now the line should be nearly up, feet over the side nice and relaxed as you should be on a day like it. I looked over the side to see was it a small ling, nice squid or a lazy doggie.<br />
FF######CCCCKKKKK.<br />
I leaned over as I love to see them coming up trough the crystal clear water. <br />
Then what was coming up, no squid or a fish. But a massive shark, mouth opened coming straight up at a moderate pace.<br />
Now picture it, all relaxed legs over the side and leisurely glance over the side to see a real monster heading straight up for you no more than 25ft under you. I near leapt out the other side of the kayak with the freight. <br />
What a sight. I took me half a second to see it was a basking shark all 20ft plus of it. A real big bugger.<br />
It was late in the day and in the afternoon light he was a bright light blue colour. Mad looking altogether.<br />
More fishing and another squid with a couple of minutes.<br />
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<strong>Oh and yes it was a squid that was on the line lol.</strong></div>
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Shaking starting to fade.</span></strong><br />
If I where a cat I think I would have used up 2 lives with that freight from that basking shark lol.<br />
But the fuss was over and I was settling down again and my plan to fish into the dark was still ago. Despite the voices in my head saying get the fook out of here lol.<br />
Fishing away and I was sorting my torch etc for the dark and low and behold moby dick came back for the craic, he didn't have the same scare factor this time . I was starting to think he was doing it on purpose this time. He came up under me done a big turn and rubbed off my 2 light lines and away he went. He thankfully didn't foul in any of them. <br />
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<strong>Not a lot of light left.</strong></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>WTF.</strong></span><br />
Heading into the twilight now and the gps/ff shut off out of the blue. Oh this wasn't good at all as even if I upped anchor now I still wouldn't be ashore before the darkness. <br />
It had to be a loose terminal as the battery was full. <br />
I was contemplating my fate here and what the plan was. Either way I was making a paddle for shore in the dark to a rocky coast line looking for a 100 yard wide gulley which almost always has a swell braking on it and it did this evening. I could hear it breaking on shore from a mile out.<br />
So I fished away and darkness fell very quickly I had planned to fish well into the dark but with my predicament I decided I would head in soon. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Pitch dark now. </span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Pitch dark now and the old curiosity was getting to me. I have never had a squid in the dark so I upped my gear and gave my squid jig multiple wraps of the bioglow from fish dynamix. [<strong>Shameless plug</strong>] But that's what I done, a flick of the black light and it glowed like a nuclear rod and down it went.</span><br />
It wasn't down more than 10 mins and yes my first squid in the dark was on. Its the little things that brighten your day even in the dark lol. It was a cracker too.<br />
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So I felt I had pushed my luck enough and that was it. I decided to pack up and head in. Light rods up and then the big rods. First big rod in was the skate rod. It was baited with a fresh scad. <br />
Up the skate rod came and the hook was bare. DAM it I thought. how long was it like that.<br />
So I still had the porgie rod to reel in so I whacked a fresh scad on and dropped it down as I assumed if there was a skate there he would hit it soon.<br />
That went down and I picked up the porgie rod to reel in and as I did the skate rod was far bouncing.<br />
I reeled the porgie rod in record time grabbed the skate rod and struck hard. <br />
It was now pitch dark and I wanted a short fight. So I struck into him with a good bit of drag so I could pump him off the bottom.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Pressure on.</span></strong><br />
<strong>ZZZZZZZZZZZZ </strong>Then<strong> ZZZZZZZZZZZZ.</strong><br />
I drove the hook into him and was waiting for him to instantly slow to some degree but he took off.<br />
I pushed the drag to the max of about 14lb of drag and he just went even faster. the line was flying off the reel at an impressive rate. I was thinking about letting go of the anchor as I was soon going to loose my 400yards of 80lb braid that he was pouring off. The kayak was surging forward even my anchor buoy has half under the water from the sheer force of the run.<br />
But No I wasn't going to be blindly towed in the dark by what could only be a porgie. It couldn't have been a skate. I have had a couple of belter skate this year and this lad was like a Ferrari compared to to them. Full drag on and now I was trying to hold the spool to slow him as the line flew off.<br />
Then BANG the 80lb braid broke midst the unbelievable run. <br />
I reeled up and the lead had shot up the leader onto my braid and had twisted and buried into the zip slider, got fouled and breaking the under the huge pressure. <br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Heart broken</span></strong>.<br />
Ah I was very disappointed to say the least. I really wanted to at least see what it was. It was very big what ever it was vey fast.<br />
But now I was still out off a rocky coastline in the dark having to paddle into a gulley 100yards wide. That sounds very wide but in the dark 1 mile out its like a needle in a hay stack.<br />
I packed everything away and mulled over my options. <br />
They where all pretty shit to be honest but to hell with it I shimmied up forward and reconnected the wires to the gps/ff.<br />
Now the raymarine screen comes on black then a mid dark colour screen before it goes to the main screen.<br />
It has never been a problem before but I never used it in the dark before and the brightness was up full for those sunny days.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Another Brown trouser moment and another 2 cats lives used.</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I sat back as it fired up and I was happy for a moment until the super bright blinding screen light up.</span><br />
Dam I could see nothing but the screen and my centre console.<br />
That's not great, but add a small quick chop and it gets very bad very quick. <br />
The blinding light totally disabled my sense of stability. and every bit of chop and swell came as a surprise. I couldn't believe how disorientated I became in less than a minute. <br />
A quick shuffle forward to dim the screen down helped.<br />
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So the screen was sorted and I was starting to be able to sense what was happening around me.<br />
I still had my anchor to pull and I was considering just leaving it there but I decide to haul it.<br />
I got it in and I still had a sense of being drunk from the glare of the screen. <br />
But the gps was going and I started off.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Heading for shore with the gps.</span></strong> <br />
I had a reasonable idea of where I was going but a mistake out here heading into the wrong gulley would leave you washed up on the rocks in the dark with no way of walking out of it. <br />
So in I headed and 10mins later the screen went dead again.<br />
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I took a pic in pure disbelief at it happening again. I was far to unsettled to shimmy up and connect it again. I also had a spare gps in the back but I wasn't reaching around for it as I was still not fully at myself. </div>
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<strong>Safety point.</strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="color: red;">At this point unless you are sure of yourself get your anchor or drogue out and call the coast guard for help. They will be more than happy to help you and it is a lot easier to help you on the water than washed up on the rocks.</span></strong></div>
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I was paddling in with no help now but thankfully the light from some town in the distance showed a faint edge of the head land I need and with the help of some street light from peoples houses I knew where I was going. Still it was nerve racking paddling in looking for the gulley in the dark with swell breaking along the rocks as you looked for the gulley.</div>
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So all ended well. A lot more grey hair for that days fishing but I still enjoyed.</div>
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When I came a shore I took a pic of my kayak in the dark to show what mine looks like when a light is shone on it. </div>
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It is vitally important to be seen at night afloat. You can buy lorry grade reflective tape in many places now and E5.00 will be enough to make your kayak look like a Christmas tree in the dark.</div>
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That can easily be seen from a .5 of a mile away. We have tried it.</div>
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Oh I ended with a good bag of squid.</div>
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So paddle safe out there. Be ready for all circumstances.</div>
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Even the most experienced of us get caught out an odd time by situations you could never fore see.</div>
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<strong>Tight lines and paddle safe.</strong></div>
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Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-76969712094342816012015-10-06T12:45:00.001-07:002015-10-06T12:45:16.691-07:00Making the most of a settled spell.Yes the wind actually settled for a little while last week.<br />
So with cabin fever starting to settle in I was ready to hit the water. <br />
Out to my launch site near Malin head, and the tide was the lowest I have ever seen out there. <br />
Also some clown had the slip block so it was a long carry down to the water,.<br />
But karma was on its way as the ejit came in expecting to be able to get out of the water at low tide of the biggest tides of the year lol. He had about 2hrs of a wait lol.<br />
<br />
<strong>Get out there.</strong><br />
Ye the tide was very low so the kayak was dragged off the slip and across the weed to get to the water. Mad seeing the place like this. Its normally at least 4ft deep here at low tide.<br />
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It was a slippy carry to the water.<br />
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As the tide was low bait gathering options where not going to be great, the coalies and Pollock are very tough on an ebb tide. Today was no different. I didn't hit 1 coalie or Pollock on the way out nor did I get any mackerel. Never have I seen the mackerel so bad. even quiet years they are every where at the end of September. <br />
<br />
<strong>Anchors away.</strong><br />
Out to what I had hoped was spot for skate and squid and all I had was a rank ling and some frozen macks and squid. But the macks where not what I thought they where. They where macks from the last session put back for chum. Oh I could have cried the first chance in 2 weeks and all I had was squid. Not the best bait here by far but it was better than nothing. I did have an ace up my sleeve in the form of the new fish dynamix attractants. <br />
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<br />
First out was the stinking ling down for a skate. I had hoped a skate would be mad for the smell of it.<br />
Then the light rods first a small set of feathers with tiny bits of squid on them for macks and scad. <br />
But there was not a tap on it so. So light rod 2 was sent down with a set of rainbow warriors with bigger bits of squid with a good lick of the sardine bio edge. <br />
It had hardly hit the bottom and the rod was hopping. a quick strike and up this lad came a nice red.<br />
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Rod down again and again a nice red.</div>
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Not a bad sign for low tide, so I whacked the camera on the line hoping for more gurnard.<br />
But no they where away, but a few minutes later a grand ling came to the kayak. I got him on camera.<br />
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As I didn't have any shark baits he was impaled and sent out on a balloon.<br />
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<strong>Oh so quiet</strong>.<br />
But then every thing went quiet, very quiet. <br />
A couple of doggies and that was it. I realised there was something more substantial down there so I took the camera in as I didn't want it to get eaten.<br />
With that I stuck half a doggie on the skate rod to see would that coax a monster to the hook but no.<br />
I didn't get a touch on it.<br />
The rest of the day went pretty much like that. I had planned to stay on into the dark but the conditions worsened and it is not the place to be in choppy conditions during the day never mind in the dark. <br />
So for once sense prevailed and away I went for home, paddling under a fantastic sunset.<br />
It was great to be out.<br />
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Home I went a bit disappointed about the result but I was happy enough.</div>
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Of course I was itching to check the video and what do you know. It was deja vu.</div>
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Out of the clear blue came a skate and spent his whole time bashing my rig with the sardine bio edge wand scent on it. I couldn't believe it. It was no more than 10ft from my skate bait.</div>
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Hey sure that's fishing. It'll just be all the better if I get to battle him again. The video is below </div>
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I hope you enjoy.</div>
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Just a note of safety, the temps out there have dropped considerably. So even if its warm on the shore you'll need some extra clothing out there.</div>
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Until next tight lines,Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-15078511158448250362015-09-20T06:27:00.001-07:002015-09-20T06:27:13.070-07:00Common Skate off Donegal. Day 2 of 2Yes after a good days craic with Mike fishing off killybegs paddling after tuna and catching all sorts it was back to Inishowen for day 2.<br />
It was back to Malin head area to see what could be caught. <br />
It was a great morning and I was mad keen to get out. So with a speedy loading the kayak was ready for launch. <br />
I had the usual monster fish gear 2 heavy rod set ups. Along with 2 light rod set ups for some fun while I wait.<br />
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<strong>On the usual marks.</strong><br />
Again it was great to be out and you never know what's going to pop up here. <br />
I think that's part of the draw here for me, oh and the possibility of anything from fish well over 100lb to multiple species. <br />
All from the one spot surrounded by excellent scenery, <br />
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<strong>Some general bottom fishing.</strong><br />
I have scrapped the idea of carrying a camera rod now, which was a reel loaded with 80lb braid and a very heavy wind on leader. As it ruins the fishing and takes up a rod holder and adds to clutter.<br />
So I have upped the line on one of the rods to 50lb braid and a 150lb leader so it is fishable with the camera.<br />
On the way out it was a bait searching session with not a lot of mackerel to show for it. <br />
But I did hit some nice Pollock on the white euro champs on the way out and I managed these 3 in one drop. <br />
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So with that it was general bottom he fishing with the camera down as well. A shark rod out in the distance and a skate rod off to one side while the light rod with the camera got a session on the bottom. <br />
The bottom fishing was just ok, with lots of scad, gurnard and small ling.<br />
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I had this grey on the silver eurochamp as well, a fine grey for this area.</div>
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There where lots of scad about and when I changed to squid to get away from the doggies I started getting a good few more as the doggies where not as fond of the squid as they where the mackerel baits.</div>
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The general bottom fishing was keeping me busy when the rod with the camera got a long slow pull that was quiet strong and as it took off it straightened the fine wire hook. </div>
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And for once the one that got away was on camera, its about half way trough you'll se it.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Soon after that that the skate rod got a pick up and the line began to peel off.</span></div>
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So the light rods where reeled up very quickly and I lifted the skate rod and it was still there and taking some line. It didn't feel as it was on right as when I lifted there was a poor connection. Sure enough 5 seconds into the lift it was gone.</div>
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I let it settle and gave it 15mins with no return so I reeled it in too check it out. </div>
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I had a coalie and a scad on lip hooked and the coalie was gone and the scad had to very interesting tooth marks in it. They where 2large single tooth holes about 1.5" apart. It wasn't a skate or tope that done it so maybe a pogie not sure really, it may have been he grabbed the 2 at once and that's the reason for the wide gap in the tooth marks. Didn't get that lad on camera unfortunately.</div>
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<strong>Another hour of small stuff and doggies.</strong></div>
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It was good craic at the scad and gurnards and not a lot else to be honest. </div>
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But thankfully after an hour the skate rod started to go again. </div>
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ZZZZZZ the reel went and I reeled down and sank the hook into him. </div>
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Oh he didn't like that and he took off he gave a great scrap. shooting all over the place. </div>
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Its a special feeling when you have a 50lb class rod bent like a banana when fishing from a kayak. </div>
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It really is brilliant fun.</div>
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So after a good scrap wondering what sort of size it would a modest 60lber common skate came up.</div>
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I was quiet surprised, I was expecting bigger but I take a better scrap of size any day.</div>
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Get in here the bugger lol. </div>
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This brought an end to a couple days of great fun afloat. </div>
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It's not all about big fish, it's the fun of getting out catching what's there and having what's there frustrate you trying to catch it. </div>
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Well tight lines for now make the most of this month, it's lining up for a tough winter. </div>
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The video is below of the action, plus some other interesting under water stuff. </div>
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Next week there will be some epic new stuff coming to the angling world from Fish Dynamix.</div>
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Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-77612013964612562202015-09-20T04:44:00.002-07:002015-09-20T04:44:46.576-07:00Two days fishing in Donegal. Hi all, <br />
Where to start, mad weather, tuna jumping all over the place and hard fighting skate. <br />
All in 2 days fishing. <br />
If you have never been afloat around the Donegal coast line now has never been a better time.<br />
If there isn't dolphins and porpoises about there's monster blue fin tuna leaping all over the place at the wright time of the day.<br />
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<strong>The fishing,</strong><br />
Mike Sherwood and myself had planned to hunting shark at a deep mark off killybegs.<br />
The weather was not the best but it was good enough to give it a try. <br />
So we headed out off st.johns point and paddled to 209ft of water, ye its deep off there. <br />
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<strong>Anchoring</strong>.<br />
Anchoring in 200+ft of water is never fills me with excitement, the thoughts of hauling the anchor all the way back up is a torture.<br />
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But lucky for us we saw a crab boat shooting his pots out deep so away we went and he was shooting his pot ends as we got there. <br />
He did looked surprised to see us lol, he even got the camera out for a pic lol.<br />
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Yes, that's st.john point light in the distance. Don't think to many kayak anglers get to see it from out here.</div>
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We tried the sharks for about 2 or 3 hrs but the weather was brutal and I keeping full lumps of water over the side of my kayak every few swells. So with that we headed back for the shore. While we where out there we did give the bottom a try. Mike had a cracking whiting the first drop and the rest of the time it was doggie, doggie, doggie.<br />
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<strong>A run for shelter.</strong><br />
So we paddled for shelter to try along the point and in no time Mike was into all sorts of small stuff and some good ones while after wrasse.<br />
I was still being plagued with doggies while looking for ling etc.<br />
While we fished cracker of a tuna jumped about 200 yards off the shore, so with no time to waste I was away for a paddle with them. <br />
But he was the only one at that time.<br />
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<strong>Poor enough fishing.</strong><br />
The fishing was quiet poor for the point, the mackerel where not a patch on what they are normally like for this time of year. <br />
But we where doing not to bad compared to the shore anglers.<br />
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Mike had 2 good codling and I was getting a few squid. <br />
We had a good days craic and about 11 species between us and it was great to be out. I was heading for Malinhead in the morning and Mike was in work so it was we headed for home about 3.40pm.<br />
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<strong>TUNA TUNA TUNA, foooooooooook.</strong><br />
That<strong> </strong>was the call from Mike as several large tuna came hurtling out of the water.<br />
If you never seen it your going to have to try. It is unbelievable to see it.<br />
So away we went paddling like mental trying to get near them as they came up every where. <br />
There where busts all over the place. <br />
It started with 1 bust then 2 and in the end up there where 5 separate busts happening at once. <br />
As we paddled between the busts 3 tuna came up beside Mike no more than 20yards away.<br />
Epic stuff. <br />
So that was that, after 2hrs chasing tuna get a good look at them it was time for home. Heres a pic of Mikes fine codling.<br />
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Here is a video of the squid action below. The tuna busts where close to us but no close enough for the gopro.<br />
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Day 2 is coming soon.<br />
Good luck and tight lines and beware of flying tuna while paddling out there lol.<br />
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Graham Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341580514052988732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524715853327364261.post-47165848828998069362015-09-12T13:11:00.001-07:002015-10-29T12:48:18.181-07:00Teardrop camper, the build.This is a diary of my progress making my own teardrop camper. As the colder weather creeps in camping up this end of the country becomes more of chore than a pleasure. So a few youtube videos later it was time to make one myself.<br />
Well I think there will be more tears than a camper lol. But sure I'll give it a go and see how it works out. <br />
I have the main frame made and the dimensions of the living space are 5ft wide by 4ft high and 8ft long. I am making this in 2 parts, a base and the upper frame.<br />
WHY , well it is so I can add a water proof layer under the living area and add insulation with out compromising on axle strength. <br />
Here are the pics so far.<br />
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I started off with chalking my design on the concrete and bending the bar bit by bit. A slow arduous task but it is worth taking your time. </div>
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The over all length of the outer bars is close to 14ft 6" so I cut it 15ft and trimmed the excess to allow for the curve of the bar. </div>
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In this pic you can see I tacked the 2 bars together so the 2 sides would be the same.</div>
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The budget didn't allow for a hire of a benders so a lamp post and some concrete for purchase worked a treat.<br />
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The very basic frame to check out size and was it going to be worth while.<br />
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At 5ft wide theres even room the bait bucket in there lol.<br />
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Here it is all the frame bars added, cross bars and supports in place. Some metal paint and it's time for the next stage.<br />
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It is obviously upside down here for painting. There's seven lengths of 3/4" box in it, weighting 95lb<br />
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Time for the base trailer frame to be made. Two 25ft lengths of 2.5"x 1.5" box iron. Two lengths weight 150lb<br />
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With this build I am concise of the overall weight and will be keep a close eye on it. I hope to have and end weight of 700lb to 800lb.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMf1Jy399w8RiAEwe05UxaANODSycTMBC8TwK8rl9hfFsl41ERDBmAoUhZuBYCNG0uSEmwZgK4kjAOJ7L1EGUnxQj25N0cRusr2S693exWtW9962rXJ4CpP54MFo0CHSkA39w8Apo6CKhI/s1600/DSCF4561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMf1Jy399w8RiAEwe05UxaANODSycTMBC8TwK8rl9hfFsl41ERDBmAoUhZuBYCNG0uSEmwZgK4kjAOJ7L1EGUnxQj25N0cRusr2S693exWtW9962rXJ4CpP54MFo0CHSkA39w8Apo6CKhI/s320/DSCF4561.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
So axel, draw bar and trailer frame is a total of 207lb, add the sprung hubs and wheels you could add about 70lb.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqiA5bYkiomttvF_9NCeL1VKSZ_f7NqxJUNaWj1mGNp7inWn70rih22yOZBOou9IbSGgaKb0POPx1AmJKh51JG5eduzQmKiAnxDTOCqvVZWDAY65SvIpRUpLaLNKwDreMKoGvNOb6kz4u/s1600/DSCF4562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqiA5bYkiomttvF_9NCeL1VKSZ_f7NqxJUNaWj1mGNp7inWn70rih22yOZBOou9IbSGgaKb0POPx1AmJKh51JG5eduzQmKiAnxDTOCqvVZWDAY65SvIpRUpLaLNKwDreMKoGvNOb6kz4u/s320/DSCF4562.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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So as it sits now we have a grand total of 375lb. So not to bad considering that's all the metal major metal work done. Just hope the cladding is light lol.<br />
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiN4PHp9El_RsSSqffTVpEg4NcP5x4mv_68TGrQh0pqmXyMOX1AjGkZtmiQ30-ZSgSKmVUQVnEZw0oDj3pngLkCtn1l31D7Qjchipwq1zL59vK1h6VviEyIwqbitE-h2khdnemMPjKkuB7/s320/DSCF4563.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSY1Q63ENFJftmKJW_MNTb-COfhHFL_AbJaAy6uwXVAs2yn0hLkEfY5xXVV1WIC6grVq8xIiq6Uxi3ljLS2aCewfZIQxS0idmRTIsRLeS-hI4c8V0HKVnlPG5US2AILETQvLMydp3s77vn/s1600/DSCF4564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSY1Q63ENFJftmKJW_MNTb-COfhHFL_AbJaAy6uwXVAs2yn0hLkEfY5xXVV1WIC6grVq8xIiq6Uxi3ljLS2aCewfZIQxS0idmRTIsRLeS-hI4c8V0HKVnlPG5US2AILETQvLMydp3s77vn/s320/DSCF4564.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Here is the apprentice bodger, a great help but don't tell him I said that lol.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbyTHveJIVux3zxWfQOdl14f0qxfu41dn24pnmRxzYZUZp9OFTfhdcm_biHuC7CcLdB4cuF0PVbGXhq6rFm2dF1k2b1QKmb2VAcRNkXJQxfn1iN5RyeJOBMopZvHe8-C1zFkh3tXhDSGw/s1600/DSCF4566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbyTHveJIVux3zxWfQOdl14f0qxfu41dn24pnmRxzYZUZp9OFTfhdcm_biHuC7CcLdB4cuF0PVbGXhq6rFm2dF1k2b1QKmb2VAcRNkXJQxfn1iN5RyeJOBMopZvHe8-C1zFkh3tXhDSGw/s320/DSCF4566.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dam it I nearly caught him smiling.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">The outer covering/cladding </span></strong></div>
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Well between the rain and wind and when there was no wind we where eaten alive by midges, Donegal is not the spot for an out door project lol, but we are stubborn buggers up here and don't give up easy.</div>
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So between the and the vicious onslaught of ravenous midges got some cladding done.</div>
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As said before I was fortunate enough to get some stainless sheet scrap. They where 7ft x 4ft. Not enough to do the whole lot but enough to do the roof and back door,</div>
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Dam it's heavy stuff. </div>
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I got 2 sheets of .9mm galvanised tin and that was a lot easier worked than the Stainless.</div>
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So here's some pics of how things have progress.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21D-ZLzH4nE1nII-uRoWPQZs0An_fycs3M-nAyz3IpDNDnCadQlx1VpN2tO5k_-1AuGJv1PS1K6Kc1elCzGfRkcusWtCB3pVUxVDfv9OlCGjAI6YZO4_Daiyfhjxvz4yvSYDfTKqa3wh3/s1600/DSCF4570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21D-ZLzH4nE1nII-uRoWPQZs0An_fycs3M-nAyz3IpDNDnCadQlx1VpN2tO5k_-1AuGJv1PS1K6Kc1elCzGfRkcusWtCB3pVUxVDfv9OlCGjAI6YZO4_Daiyfhjxvz4yvSYDfTKqa3wh3/s400/DSCF4570.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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After getting it lined up, it had to come off for painting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4AJN2-4gXf3oSSO6mhxWDyMAqQZbztncbhdI6p9-QWHrNSPfAYTXD7lZrfwxi2UND8ILuwZJhQWWR5rceA50rGP2OAfIThKIprKOx_gsSHS1Rs6p_AyOypwCZq4-65qY_4P6NQNBg-yA/s1600/DSCF4572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4AJN2-4gXf3oSSO6mhxWDyMAqQZbztncbhdI6p9-QWHrNSPfAYTXD7lZrfwxi2UND8ILuwZJhQWWR5rceA50rGP2OAfIThKIprKOx_gsSHS1Rs6p_AyOypwCZq4-65qY_4P6NQNBg-yA/s400/DSCF4572.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
An improvement, painted and wheels lined up. I am using 3/4 ton sprung hubs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ed9cb4RpeOhGMzcdZEmULON4j7ijMbLLhOnIyffPob_yXnBhYEkHTeBAaJF5ltRVl8i7J8a3IWJd78N1bvEbXn-fiaA629WLGWJn2sgor58h6DwQ_rCh3kRMe7qdd5SJLfEL4KL0afEh/s1600/DSCF4577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ed9cb4RpeOhGMzcdZEmULON4j7ijMbLLhOnIyffPob_yXnBhYEkHTeBAaJF5ltRVl8i7J8a3IWJd78N1bvEbXn-fiaA629WLGWJn2sgor58h6DwQ_rCh3kRMe7qdd5SJLfEL4KL0afEh/s400/DSCF4577.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ready for the plywood base, when that paint eventually dries.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiQxDskinFFTg-D_J0h2NleB5lRAGh_Jd39X-NuvJ9ht3B3yADthZ_jMg4yDH4yXDtqkWO1W26VZ67mk_iKXgUOiPts6X17ytJUfmcXzpQFJvaj8vINsCBunkwlU-3XOsw4T2m8UBAE9-/s1600/DSCF4578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiQxDskinFFTg-D_J0h2NleB5lRAGh_Jd39X-NuvJ9ht3B3yADthZ_jMg4yDH4yXDtqkWO1W26VZ67mk_iKXgUOiPts6X17ytJUfmcXzpQFJvaj8vINsCBunkwlU-3XOsw4T2m8UBAE9-/s400/DSCF4578.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here I have added a seem of CT1 to stop any rattle and for added security for the roof sections.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmI2wrqSQ7sj7vmz8S_zNaLj76Z-3Crje7ahRzBSlvpj9OpGu7Bv6QQ9yr-QhmdhKEetR_q3CGAJqoOR9oWltPnF95WyA3eTytbEMDBK7CZQNR9HBGVIA1wwdoHKzdiXpxmqgbbg9Dm5R/s1600/DSCF4579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmI2wrqSQ7sj7vmz8S_zNaLj76Z-3Crje7ahRzBSlvpj9OpGu7Bv6QQ9yr-QhmdhKEetR_q3CGAJqoOR9oWltPnF95WyA3eTytbEMDBK7CZQNR9HBGVIA1wwdoHKzdiXpxmqgbbg9Dm5R/s400/DSCF4579.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Adding the first sheets, nerve racking stuff. Here's where you find out if everything is as square as you thought lol.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBX-NiJGGbG3LQ5X-1jO7yDMvhi_FlBdPG2t5gzX01uGnckS6wV9kY49Yom04KUB-qdx10DEjOv7gde0qFQBT0QKcDTC_CCBrinpHqPANlN90gek9xOwGtWKMpgylJVlYTjh96gMcz0m5/s1600/DSCF4580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBX-NiJGGbG3LQ5X-1jO7yDMvhi_FlBdPG2t5gzX01uGnckS6wV9kY49Yom04KUB-qdx10DEjOv7gde0qFQBT0QKcDTC_CCBrinpHqPANlN90gek9xOwGtWKMpgylJVlYTjh96gMcz0m5/s400/DSCF4580.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I had a pain in my backside trying to work out proper rams to I made up some handy self setting catches which lock in place when you lift the rear door all the way up.</div>
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Shit weld, I know I was being slaughtered by midges at the time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoSv9cu7FgMsBWdlG3aUdI2zjZ7hlSombwQatyPNa8pNt7nrWtEfduQEo_sRCYXP1vb5rl58EA-NXwdYozF8MgceuoKn9OltlfbrYGcVj-AxKwXnoiApdbsBdKgKZxkEThHbhqmIAn0gi/s1600/DSCF4581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoSv9cu7FgMsBWdlG3aUdI2zjZ7hlSombwQatyPNa8pNt7nrWtEfduQEo_sRCYXP1vb5rl58EA-NXwdYozF8MgceuoKn9OltlfbrYGcVj-AxKwXnoiApdbsBdKgKZxkEThHbhqmIAn0gi/s400/DSCF4581.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Here the door in the up right position. Will it stay up with a a heavy sheet of Stainless steel on it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4c2DpVYmB-amsRXpak8LiKn7Bh-FN8A4wNZWDsX6kS2RGP3E1n59fCMdI-mUAtCHOdWM8cSA8nfVf7MQsSDzayV-y9Wdy83H5r_ravtqAJ2G7X6gDfviWoI51Uwda20rO66sjqxs8uToD/s1600/DSCF4582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4c2DpVYmB-amsRXpak8LiKn7Bh-FN8A4wNZWDsX6kS2RGP3E1n59fCMdI-mUAtCHOdWM8cSA8nfVf7MQsSDzayV-y9Wdy83H5r_ravtqAJ2G7X6gDfviWoI51Uwda20rO66sjqxs8uToD/s400/DSCF4582.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The stainless sheet is stubborn stuff so it need a bit of pre bending before applying. So a gas bottle was a similar size curve and it worked out well.</div>
The rear door is only temporarily done, and will be fully riveted soon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bdA-_UGxwCTLeOpkJYqwA3kQ2xc0_hZqhPBoLCPWEs0uJnfSHeyEKV5Spk8bJPBOPkBxZJ9jk_hEcQx4uEU32O8Ni_Cw8G53D_nLKTCvghRjpL5tabbDAxZgO0iWpPlkU3gui2r_0A6r/s1600/DSCF4587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bdA-_UGxwCTLeOpkJYqwA3kQ2xc0_hZqhPBoLCPWEs0uJnfSHeyEKV5Spk8bJPBOPkBxZJ9jk_hEcQx4uEU32O8Ni_Cw8G53D_nLKTCvghRjpL5tabbDAxZgO0iWpPlkU3gui2r_0A6r/s400/DSCF4587.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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So all covered except the very front which I will sort soon. Then it's time for the window, door and vents before insulating, inner cladding and electrics. Fook this is one hell of a project lol.</div>
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The chief bodger in the photo for some scale.</div>
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More up dates soon.</div>
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<strong>Update 3</strong></div>
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<strong>Well more up dates and not so soon.</strong></div>
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Its easy starting. Its the finishing that is the hard part. Brining it together to make it look half decent.</div>
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