Malc

Creature baits such as... Work well as do the small minnow lures. Fly spoons have done the trick too with a baited hook behind. Can't wait for my granddaughter to get big enough to go out fishing!

Might be particular to spool width/diameter and line diameter and then the level wind if it isn't happening lower in the spool. Could you put more or less mono backing on and try again?

Click on the underlined part of the first post.

...for someone but not me!

You seem to be doing well, I have redone a few rods since I was a teen but all were awful looking at best but still use able. Just did my GX2 kayak rods as they had rubbish rings and again they are awful to look at but are catching fish, I'm not mad about the aesthetics but can see why some people like to have a working piece of art. All the best to you!

Just browsing and found this wanted ad... Try and guess what he is after... ...a warrior or similar!

Thursday....weather window...😁

Nah, just horses for courses

I had a decent day with my pal on his boat, chucking texas rigged jellyworms at a reef that almost dries on some LW. Caught plenty of pollock from 4 lb to nigh on double figures and they fought like demons in the shallow kelpy water on light spinning rods. On the kayak I had one that was awesome as I managed to pass the bar of the Tyne. It's no mean feat as it kicks up rotten in some tide and wind states and is over a mile from my launch site. I managed codling from a wreck/reef just off the bar the same day, as well as catching mackerel for other boats who need them for bait and added another fish to my list of firsts, a grey Gurnard! A little thing but quite a big thing in a 16ft kayak with ferries, tugs and lots of other marine traffic about. Next year I need a similar day to get to the plaice ground and see what I can get. Last but should be first was my wife out-catching the rest of the boat in the summer, catching 2 codling at a time even and keeping me busy with the net and helping unhook.

Merry Christmas ya filthy animals! Ah, hahahahaha!

Nice! Another really nice crumb is brioche. We always have a few leftover rolls from a BBQ so we let them dry and whizz in the processor or you can use a cheese grater.

Rules is rules!

Looks like a nice enough day, shame about a lack of fish.

Basically this.

We have had some heavy seas recently meaning no getting afloat and had to accept a less than perfect tide and weather, but my friends who own the boat and myself were raring to go. Plenty of bait apart from the rag that ended up in a shopping bag in my boot (oops). MSW was wrong and there were some 2m sets coming in and more so across the bar, so plan B was now plan A. I stuck with baited muppets, two rods with a variety of baits and a lure rod now and again. Early doors was a pout to the bait, but it was very slow I had some small rattles but even they dried up towards high water. The chop flattened too but the bigger sets were still there to keep us on our toes. We moved to the edge of another reef and Pete managed a codling but that was it. The wind started to turn and increase so we headed back before the bar got snotty a with an outgoing tide and opposing wind. Skipper managed to get us just behind a big set and we cruised in between the piers. No fish for two of us but a great day out.

Same as above, if really cold I wear fingerless neoprene gloves. I also think keeping your wrists covered helps.

I still remember a day out from Anstruther in the late 70's on a wooden creel boat and the skipper wasn't watching out and we nose dived into a wave, there was a sudden stop with a terrible crack and we all looked at one another thinking, how far to shore is it! I was convinced that we would sink.

Friday hopefully! Wind and fog permitting, and no slumming it in a yak.

Never going to happen today as the fog never lifted. Inland 4-5 miles and it was 11C and sun, coast was 5C and 50-100m visibility

It's not looking good as I am coughing as I write. However it's still early in the winter and as a kayak user I need to be match fit.

Possibly on Monday if I can shake off this cough! There have been quite a few cod (not codling) caught from the shore recently up to low teens that I've heard of so they may be just offshore waiting for the next bit of weather to hit the shore.

The problem with charters is unless you know who is going to be onboard then you can be in the middle of a load of noobies making your day hellish. I have been out with great skippers and had a ball but it was because everyone had at least a bit of a clue what they were doing. I've also been on the opposite end and been surrounded by people who didn't know which end of the rod to hold! That said, there will be a time when I will have to rely on a charter or give up going to sea and return to dangling from a pier.

Yes, some come with them as standard others add them afterwards (just don't!)

Kayak

How wonderful, grandchildren are a real blessing.