Kayak meet photos 4 feb

[johnlegg]

Thank you to all who came and made it a fun day. The weather held out and we set off from Dinas Dinlle (later than the optimistic 10.00am) at 11am. Thank you Chris for coming to our rescue in your boat and leading us to the reef: The local fishermen had removed their pots and I was struggling to find the mark without them .... I was 500 yards off target!! Doh.
We didn't stay long as we were eager to get back to try the different yaks in the surf. Menai Marine dropped off theirs for us to try, thank you Tim/Jason.
We had fun playing in the surf as the waves were high.. weren't they Martin?? By the way, have you dried off yet?
Hope to see you all at Dinas Dinlle again in the Spring when the aim will be to bring something back for a BBQ.

[The Image ™]

Yep. Great day ;D
The surf was just right for messing about in unlike the last time I saw Dinas when it was like Hawai five o.
Learned a lot and had fun. I enjoyed trying out various kayaks but annoyed at myself for not trying the Frenzy. One for next time! I did try Menai Marines new kayak though which was exciting. I hope that my assesment below is fair and accurate.

Very fast kayak with little paddling effort. Very sporty.
Precarious stability for those used to the usual sit-ons like prowlers and malibu's. I fell off a few times at first. It was very wobbly going against the surf or across it but very stable when surfing in due to the fins at the back and a very exciting surf in as well. Fast and stable.
Lots of storage space for its size but the front one leaked a bit.
I think it's a brilliant kayak for the white water lovers. We all had a lot of fun with it in the surf and boy does it paddle fast! I think that the surfers and lifeguards would fall in love with it instantly but I'm not so sure about the general sea angling types who are 40+ and want a stable paddle out to sea to catch fish comfortably.
Pity that Dave wasn't there as I'd have loved to see what he'd have done with it, being young and a competent paddler.
I can't understand why it doesn't have carrying handles on the side. Without them it was awkward to carry.
Very exciting kayak but not for the timid!

Paddling speed 10
General Stability 3
Stability surfing in 9
Robustness 4
Easiness to carry 4
Cosmetic Looks 8
Fishability 5

Some interesting yaks turned up.

An inflatable


This one was top of the range




And we were off........


We had some problems finding the reef with Johns directions of 1st left at the 2nd lobster pot. We got there in the end though.


Fishing was typically February style (slow)



We then had fun in the surf swapping yaks.

John test drives Menai's new yak


Martin kept practicing coming in on the surf


And another capsize by Martin. He did a lot of them ;D


Took Ffion (Georges daughter) over the surf and back again. She asked me to hang around for the biggest wave


And 2 other mad brats turned up.

[nifty]

Nice report and pics there Lads (and lasses) Good to see you have a good group of keen yakkers up there.
Would love to tag along one of the days when the days are a bit longer and have a fish with you.

John, Do the Tope still come inshore along Dinas or have those days gone?

nifty.

[stitch]

Looks like you all had a fantastic day, wish i could have been their. The twin finned yak looks the business, hope i get the chance to have a go in the future. ;D

[The Image ™]

Nifty, the tope still do come in at Dinas and even shore anglers have had them. It's a sore point with John though i.e. his secondary e-mail address of topeless John
The next kayak meet is on 16th April at Pensarn and it'd be fab to see you there.
www.nwsa.ukf.net/kayak/pensarn.htm

[nifty]

Cheers Glyn,

What do you expect to catch at that time of year? I've never fished that area.

If you get the chance in late May/ June, you should try and get down to the Aberdyfi area, and I reckon John won't be Topeless for long. There are going to be one or two get togethers by the look of things and anyone who fancies some top notch sport will be more than welcome to join us if they want.

Stuart.

[johnlegg]

Hi Stuart
Its not that they are not out there, they are, lots in spring and summer .They just don't like me, but this year it's all going to change (i hope)

This one was landed by my daughter Sarah (I had to help)
2004

[nifty]

Whey hey John, That's a cracking fish and Well Done Sarah
What a brilliant photo!!!!

Stuart.

[The Image ™]

That's a brilliant picture and Sarahs face and body language says it all. She made sure if anyone was bit, it'd be her dad and not her! Brilliant!

[chrisp]

Good to see you all out there, you got some bottle going out on one of those, it would have to have an engine for me lol . We fished until about 4pm and had rays, dogs, yting.

[zebra]

hello chrisp
i thought you had some bottle going out in a boat with 6 on board we kayakers were all ready though in case you had any trouble we would have rescued you .seriously thanks for your help on saturday
terry

[starvinmarvin]

Hey John,

Great to see so many of you getting out there, nice bit of surf as well, hope that I can get up your way during the summer and join in the fun.

SM

[johnlegg]

Hi Starvinmarvin
I hope you can make the next meet at Dinas Dinlle. I’m hoping to pick a May weekend and spend a day hunting for Black Bream… this time I will take a gps with me! And or a Thornback meet, I know enough good spots for them from my boat days but it’s a 3 or 4 mile out journey.
The paddle should be worth it as there are there are plenty of Huss, Mac, Thornbacks and some of the elusive Tope. I’ll let you know the date as soon as …
john